Detecting Tumor DNA in Blood to Find T-DXd Candidates in HR+/HER2-Low Metastatic Breast Cancer
Official title: A ctDNA Screening Program in Patients With HR+, HER2 Low Metastatic Breast Cancer for Detection of High-risk Relapse Patients on Any CDK4/6 Inhibitor Followed by a Single Arm Phase II Trial of Trastuzumab-deruxtecan in Patients With Persistent ctDNA After 1 Month of Treatment With Endocrine Therapy Combined With CDK4/6 Inhibitor
Run by Unicancer · NCT06680596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We test whether persistent tumor DNA in blood after starting standard therapy can identify HR+ HER2-low metastatic breast cancer patients who may benefit from trastuzumab deruxtecan.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Unicancer Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | trastuzumab, chemotherapy, radiation |
| Locations | 40 sites (Amiens and 39 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 30, 2025 |
| Main results expected | August 1, 2028 |
| Study ends | August 1, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 29, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06680596 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18) with metastatic HR+/HER2-low or HER2 ultralow breast cancer, whose blood contains persistent tumor DNA after 4 weeks of standard therapy, and who can undergo biopsy for confirmation.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients without persistent tumor DNA after initial therapy or without biopsy-confirmed HER2-low/ultralow status may not be eligible for T-DXd in the treatment phase.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This phase II, open-label, multicenter study screens patients with metastatic HR+/HER2-low or ultralow breast cancer to see if tumor DNA remains detectable in the blood after 4 weeks of standard therapy. If persistence is confirmed, participants receive trastuzumab deruxtecan to assess progression-free survival. The study uses biopsy-confirmed tumor material and local guidelines to classify HER2 status and HR positivity. Enrollment includes informed consent, adult eligibility, and biopsy for histological or cytological confirmation when required. Primary goals focus on efficacy signals for PFS with the targeted therapy in this molecularly screened population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients who have persistent tumor DNA in blood may gain access to a potentially effective targeted therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in molecular screening for HER2-targeted therapies have shown signals of benefit in selected patients, but this approach remains exploratory in this specific molecularly defined population.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
SCREENING PHASE\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Inclusion criteria 1. Patient must have signed the written informed consent for screening phase prior to any trial specific procedures. Note: When the patient is physically unable to give their written consent, a trusted person of their choice, independent from the investigator or the sponsor, can confirm in writing the patient's consent. 2. Patient is ≥18 years of age. 3. Documented breast cancer that: * Is metastatic and eligible to biopsy for subsequent histological or cytological confirmation, * Is HER2 low (HER2 1+, or 2+ and in situ hybridization (ISH) negative) or HER2 ultra low (IHC 0 with incomplete and faint membrane staining in \>0 and ≤10% of tumor cells) on the most recent tumor material available, as defined by the local pathologist under ASCO/CAP guidelines, * Is HR-positive (positive for estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor ≥10% of tumor cell nuclei are immunoreactive) in the metastatic setting. 4. Patient has either: * a metastatic relapse during or within 1 year after termination of the adjuvant endocrine therapy (AI resistant), or * a metastatic relapse more than one year of completing adjuvant AI or a de-novo metastatic breast cancer (AI sensitive/naive). 5. For AI resistant population: patient has previously gone through the ctDNA screening part of the SAFIR 03 - SCREENING/ARRIBA study and fulfilled all the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria. 6. Patient did not receive any therapy in the metastatic setting. 7. Patient is eligible for a first-line treatment with a marketed CDK4/6 inhibitor (palbociclib, ribociclib, or abemaciclib) in combination with either AI or fulvestrant, according to its marketing authorisation. 8. Patient has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status ≤1. 9. Patient has an adequate bone marrow and organ function. 10. Patient has a measurable or an evaluable disease according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1). 11. Availability of an archived metastatic tumor sample (FFPE) for exploratory research. Bone metastasis are accepted if tissue is representative of tumor tissue (at least 10% tumor cellularity). 12. Patient must be willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study including scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests and other study procedures. 13. Registration in a National Health Care System (or equivalent). Exclusion criteria: 1. Patient is eligible to chemotherapy because of visceral crisis. 2. Patient has a breast cancer amenable for resection or radiation therapy with curative intent. 3. Prior exposure to antibody-drug conjugate or CDK4/6 inhibitors (in metastatic setting). CDK4/6 inhibitors given in adjuvant setting must be stopped for at least 12 months prior screening 4. Patient who has initiated the CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment. 5. Patient is unable to swallow tablets. 6. Patient has a history of (non-infectious) interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis requiring steroids, has current ILD/pneumonitis, or where suspected ILD/pneumonitis cannot be ruled out by imaging at baseline 7. Patient has a history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to either the drug substances or inactive ingredients in the drug product. 8. Patient has a history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to other monoclonal antibodies. 9. Person deprived of their liberty or under protective custody or guardianship. 10. Social, familial, or geographic factors that would interfere with study participation or follow-up. TREATMENT PHASE\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Inclusion criteria 1. Patient must have signed the written informed consent for the treatment phase prior to any trial specific procedures. Note: When the patient is physically unable to give their written consent, a trusted person of their choice, independent from the investigator or the sponsor, can confirm in writing the patient's consent. 2. Patient must have discontinued CDK4/6 inhibitor (palbociclib, ribociclib, or abemaciclib) at least 7 days before enrolment, but no longer than 14 days 3. Patients must present a no drop of ctDNA determined by a ctDNA assay after 4 weeks of standard of care treatment with a CDK4/6 inhibitor 4. Patient has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status ≤1. 5. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% within 28 days prior to enrolment. 6. Participant has adequate bone marrow and organ function within 14 days before enrolment, defined as the following laboratory values: * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1500/mm³, * platelet count ≥100,000/mm³, * haemoglobin ≥9.0 g/dl, * Serum creatinine ≤1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) or creatinine clearance ≥30 mL/min, * Serum albumin ≥2.5 g/dL, * Total bilirubin ≤1.5 × ULN (\<3 ULN if Gilbert's disease), * In absence of liver metastases, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤3 × ULN. If the participant has liver metastases, ALT and AST \< 5 × ULN, he/she will be eligible for the study, * Adequate blood clotting function: defined as an international normalized ratio/prothrombin time ≤1.5 × ULN and either partial thromboplastin time or activated partial thromboplastin time within normal limits. Note: Transfusion (red blood cell or platelet) or G-CSF administration is not allowed within 14 days prior to the day on which bone marrow function is assessed, or at any time after this day and prior to cycle 1 day 1. 7. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test (with a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL) result within 3 days of enrolment. 8. Men or women of childbearing potential must agree to the use of effective contraceptive for the study duration and for at least 7 months after the last dose of study treatment for women, and at least 4 months for men. 9. Patient must be willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study including scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests and other study procedures. Exclusion criteria: 1. AI resistant patients who are eligible to SAFIR 03 - ARRIBA trial (i.e. PIK3CA mutated patients), until SAFIR 03 - ARRIBA study closure or study steering committee's decision. 2. Patient has received more than 2 cycles of the ongoing CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment combined with either AI or fulvestrant. 3. Patient has interrupted the ongoing CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment for more than 14 days. 4. Patient has evidence of clinical or radiological disease progression. 5. Patient has unresolved toxicities from previous anticancer therapy, defined as toxicities (other than alopecia) not yet resolved to Grade ≤1 or baseline. Note: Patients may be enrolled with chronic, stable Grade 2 toxicities (defined as no worsening to \>Grade 2 for at least 3 months prior to enrolment and managed with standard of care treatment) that the investigator deems related to previous anticancer therapy, such as: Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and fatigue. 6. Patient has malignancies within 3 years, other than that under study, with the exception of: adequately resected non-melanoma skin cancer, curatively treated in-situ disease, other solid tumors curatively treated, or contralateral breast cancer. 7. Patient is at high medical risk because of severe or uncontrolled systemic disease, such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, clinically significant pulmonary disease, clinically significant neurological disorder, chronic pancreatitis, chronic active infection with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, or HIV, active untreated or uncontrolled fungal, bacterial or viral infections, active primary immunodeficiency etc. 8. Uncontrolled or significant cardiovascular disease, including any of the following: * History of myocardial infarction within 6 months before enrolment, * History of symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Class II to IV), * Patient with a corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation to \>470 ms (females) or \>450 ms (males) based on average of the screening triplicate12-lead ECG, * Patients with known troponin levels above ULN at screening (as defined by the manufacturer), and without any myocardial related symptoms, should have a cardiologic consultation before enrolment to rule out myocardial infarction. 9. Clinically severe pulmonary compromise resulting from current pulmonary illnesses including, but not limited to, any underlying pulmonary disorder (i.e., pulmonary emboli within three months of the study enrolment, severe asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), restrictive lung disease, pleural effusion, etc.), and any autoimmune, connective tissue, or inflammatory disorders with pulmonary involvement (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's, sarcoidosis, etc.), or prior pneumonectomy. 10. Patient has spinal cord compression or clinically active central nervous system metastases, defined as untreated or symptomatic, or requiring therapy with corticosteroids or anticonvulsants to control associated symptoms. 11. Major surgery within 4 weeks before study enrolment. 12. Patient who has received radiotherapy ≤4 weeks or limited field radiation for palliation ≤2 weeks prior to enrolment, or who has not recovered to grade 1 or better from related side effects of such therapy (exceptions include alopecia) and/or in whom ≥25% of the bone marrow was irradiated 13. Patient using drugs that could have pharmacokinetics interaction with investigational drugs. Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or OATP 1B inhibitors should be avoided. If concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 or OATP 1B inhibitors is unavoidable, consider delaying T-DXd treatment until the inhibitors have cleared from the circulation (approximately 3 elimination half-lives of the inhibitors) when possible. If a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor or an OATP 1B inhibitor is co-administered and T-DXd treatment cannot be delayed, patients should be closely monitored for adverse reactions. 14. Patient receiving drug that may cause QTc prolongations or cardiac arrhythmia. Pimozide (Orap®) and cisapride (Prepulsid®) are strictly contraindicated: they are associated with a major risk of ventricular rhythm disorder. 15. Receipt of live, attenuated vaccine (mRNA and replication deficient adenoviral vaccines are not considered attenuated live vaccines) within 30 days prior to the first dose of trastuzumab deruxtecan. Note: Patients, if enrolled, should not receive live vaccine during the study and up to 30 days after the last dose of T-DXd. 16. Participation in a therapeutic clinical study within 4 weeks before enrolment. 17. Patient is currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant 18. Patient has substance abuse history or any other medical conditions such as clinically significant cardiac or psychological conditions, that may, in the opinion of the investigator, interfere with the patient's participation in the clinical study or evaluation of the clinical study results. 19. Person deprived of their liberty or under protective custody or guardianship. 20. Social, familial, or geographic factors that would interfere with study participation or follow-up.
Where it's running
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Sainte Catherine Institut Du Cancer Avignon Provence
Avignon, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier de Beauvais
Beauvais, France Recruiting -
Chu de Brest - Hôpital Cavale Blanche
Brest, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier William Morey
Chalon-sur-Saône, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier de Cholet
Cholet, France Recruiting -
Centre Jean Perrin
Clermont-Ferrand, France Recruiting
Show 34 more locations
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Centre Léon Bérard
Lyon, France Recruiting -
Icm Val D'Aurelle
Montpellier, France Recruiting -
Institut Godinot
Reims, France Recruiting -
Centre Eugene Marquis
Rennes, France Recruiting -
Institut de Cancerologie de Lorraine
Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France Recruiting -
Gustave Roussy
Villejuif, France Recruiting -
Chu Amiens Picardie
Amiens, France Not yet recruiting -
Clinique de L'Europe Amiens - Cthe
Amiens, France Not yet recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier D'Auxerre
Auxerre, France Not yet recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier de la Côte Basque
Bayonne, France Not yet recruiting -
Institut de Cancerologie Des Hauts de France - Centre Pierre Curie
Beuvry, France Not yet recruiting -
Hôpital Simone Veil de Blois
Blois, France Not yet recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier de Boulogne-Sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer, France Not yet recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier de Boulogne-Sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer, France Not yet recruiting -
Clinique Pasteur Lanroze - Cfro - Groupe Vivalto Sante
Brest, France Not yet recruiting -
Pôle Santé République (Elsan)
Clermont-Ferrand, France Not yet recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Alpes Léman
Contamine-sur-Arve, France Not yet recruiting -
Clinique de Flandre
Coudekerque-Branche, France Not yet recruiting -
Chi Fréjus-Saint-Raphaël
Fréjus, France Not yet recruiting -
Chd Vendée
La Roche-sur-Yon, France Not yet recruiting -
Hopital Prive Jean Mermoz
Lyon, France Not yet recruiting -
Clinique de La Sauvegarde
Lyon, France Not yet recruiting -
Institut Paoli Calmettes
Marseille, France Not yet recruiting -
Medipôle de Nancy - Cog-Ilc (Polyclinique de Gentilly)
Nancy, France Not yet recruiting -
Centre Médico-Chirurgical (Cmc) Ambroise Paré-Hartmann
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France Not yet recruiting -
Centre Antoine Lacassagne
Nice, France Not yet recruiting -
CHU de Nimes
Nîmes, France Not yet recruiting -
Hôpital Saint-Louis
Paris, France Not yet recruiting -
Groupe Hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint-Simon
Paris, France Not yet recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier de Pau
Pau, France Not yet recruiting -
Hopital Privé Des Côtes D'Armor (Hpca) - Cario
Plérin, France Not yet recruiting -
Chp Saint-Grégoire - Groupe Vivalto Sante
Saint-Grégoire, France Not yet recruiting -
Clinique Sainte-Anne - Gh Saint-Vincent
Strasbourg, France Not yet recruiting -
Hôpitaux Du Léman
Thonon-les-Bains, France Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Fabrice ANDRE, MD — Gustave Roussy, Cancer Campus, Grand Paris
- Study coordinator: François LEGRAND
- Email: safir03libherty@unicancer.fr
- Phone: 01 73 79 73 02
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Radiology-based prediction of HER2 level and T‑DXd benefit in metastatic breast cancer
This study tests whether patterns in CT or FDG‑PET images can show HER2 level and help predict response to trastuzumab deruxtecan for people with metastatic breast cancer.
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Evorpacept plus trastuzumab and chemotherapy for metastatic HER2‑positive breast cancer after trastuzumab‑deruxtecan
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Predicting outcomes for advanced breast cancer patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors and endocrine therapy
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Testing a new drug for patients with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer
This study is testing a new drug called T-DXd to see if it can help adults with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer feel better and improve their treatment outcomes.
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Imaging HER2-low breast cancers using a specialized PET scan
This study is testing a new type of PET scan that uses a special version of a breast cancer drug to see if it can better find HER2-low breast cancers that might have been missed before.
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Testing Abemaciclib with Radiation Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.