Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 120

ENLIGHT algorithm to find treatment options for advanced metastatic breast cancer

Official title: An Exploratory Study Using a Synthetic Lethality-Focused Algorithm to Identify Therapeutic Options in Advanced Metastatic Breast Cancer (SYNTHESIS-Breast)

Run by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) · NCT07067138 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This test uses the ENLIGHT algorithm to try to find approved drugs that might work better for adults with triple-negative or endocrine therapy–resistant metastatic breast cancer.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 120 Years
SexAll
Enrollment175 (estimated)
SponsorNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
NIH
Drugs / interventionstrastuzumab, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy
Locations1 site (Bethesda, Maryland)
StatusRecruiting
StartedFebruary 23, 2026
Main results expectedAugust 4, 2027
Study endsAugust 4, 2029
Registry record updatedAugust 21, 2026
Trial IDNCT07067138 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults (18+) with histologically confirmed metastatic breast cancer that is triple-negative or endocrine-refractory and who have progressed after at least one line of systemic therapy are the intended participants.

Probably not a fit

Patients whose tumors do not show actionable vulnerabilities by ENLIGHT or who cannot access recommended drugs locally may not derive benefit from this approach.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional protocol applies whole-transcriptome and genomic testing of tumor tissue and runs the ENLIGHT computational algorithm to identify expression-network and synthetic-lethality–based therapeutic vulnerabilities. Samples will also be analyzed with TruSight Oncology 500 and a matched tumor-normal whole exome assay for comparison. Participants are assigned to groups based on ENLIGHT results: those with no recommended option continue standard care, while those with identified approved-drug options may be directed to those therapies by their treating physicians. The focus is on adults with metastatic TNBC or endocrine-refractory HR+ disease who have progressed after prior systemic therapy.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, ENLIGHT could match more patients to existing approved drugs they might not otherwise receive, potentially improving responses and extending time without progression.

How similar studies have gone: Retrospective analyses of transcriptomics and synthetic-lethality approaches suggest improved prediction over single-gene matching, but prospective clinical evidence is still limited.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
-INCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Participants must have a histologically confirmed diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. Note: Pathology testing outside NIH will be accepted for eligibility purposes.
2. Participant tumor subtypes will be enrolled as follows:

   * TNBC Cohort: TNBC will be defined as ER \< 10% or PR \< 10% by immunohistochemistry (IHC).
   * Endocrine-Refractory Cohort: HR+ (ER+ and/or PR+) will be defined as ER \>= 10% or PR \>= 10% by IHC.
   * For both cohorts, HER2 will be considered negative if not amplified as per ASCOCAP guidelines per IHC/FISH. Note: HER2-low status will be regarded in accordance with NCCN guidelines (in which this designation serves as a predictive marker for trastuzumab deruxtecan, but participants are otherwise not considered eligible for other HER2-directed therapies).
3. Participants must have been treated with at least one (1) line of systemic therapy after diagnosis of metastatic disease, anticipate or have progressive disease or adverse events requiring discontinuation of their current regimen, and must not be able to transition to another approved systemic therapy shown to improve overall survival.

   -Participants with HR+ disease must be deemed refractory to endocrine therapy per their clinical team, with concordance by study team.

   Note: Participants who cannot receive or decline to receive standard therapy that has been shown to prolong overall survival, or if such therapy is not deemed in the participant s best interest, will be eligible, if other eligibility criteria are met. If appropriate, participants may remain on treatment during biopsy, screening and initial tissue review/testing for this study.
4. Participants must have measurable disease per RECIST v1.1. Note: Palliative radiotherapy to site(s) of disease may be completed during screening as long as disease outside of the planned sites of radiation is available for response assessment.
5. Archival tumor (preserved via FFPE) must be available from a biopsy performed within the past 6 months. The timeframe of 6 months is required to optimize reliability of ENLIGHT results. It is assumed that a participant has had no more than one (1) line of systemic treatment since the last biopsy. Participants who have had multiple intervening lines of therapy since biopsy was obtained will be reviewed by the study team to determine if another biopsy may be needed. Note: If archival tissue is not available within that timeframe, tissue from the next scheduled biopsy can be sent to NIH for testing. If it is not possible for a biopsy to be scheduled, the study team will evaluate the possibility of a biopsy being performed at the NIH for enrollment purposes.
6. Age \>=18 years.
7. ECOG performance status \<2 (Karnofsky \>60%)
8. Participants must have organ and marrow function as defined below:

   * Hemoglobin \>= 8g/dL
   * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,200/mcL
   * Platelets \>=75,000/mcL
   * Total bilirubin \<= 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (In the case of known Gilbert's Disease, total bili \>1.5 may be considered.)

   (For participants with known liver involvement, \<=3x institutional upper limit of normal)

   -AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) \<= 3x institutional upper limit of normal

   (For participants with known liver involvement, \<=5x institutional upper limit of normal)

   -Creatinine \< 1.5 x normal institutional limits OR Creatinine clearance \>=30 mL/min/1.73 m2
9. Ability to take oral medications.
10. Participants with an existing diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension, must have disease well-controlled with at least annual physician follow-up.
11. Women of child-bearing potential and men with a partner of child-bearing potential must be willing to use appropriate contraception in the event that they match to a therapy that requires such. The duration of contraception use will depend on the therapy assigned.
12. Willingness to comply with required study procedures and visits for the duration of study.
13. Participants with asymptomatic brain metastases may be included if metastases have been previously treated with local therapy including radiation at least 4 weeks prior to first dose of treatment and there is no indication for additional local therapy (including active progression).
14. Participants with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) must be on an effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load for at least the last 6 months.
15. Participants with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, must have HBV viral load that is undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated.
16. Participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. Participants with HCV infection must be currently on treatment, with undetectable HCV viral load.
17. Participants with a prior or concurrent malignancy are eligible if the natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the off-label therapies offered on this study in the opinion of the Principal Investigator (PI) and are otherwise eligible for this trial.
18. Participants with current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. Note: To be eligible for this trial, participants should be class 2B or better.
19. Ability of participant to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Participants in active visceral crisis, symptomatic brain metastases requiring local therapy, or active leptomeningeal disease given the time required for testing and therapy selection.
2. Participants with uncontrolled intercurrent illness evaluated by physical exam and chemistries or situations that would limit compliance with study requirements, interpretation of results or that could increase risk to the participant.
3. Participants with the following active cardiac conditions: symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris or cardiac arrhythmia (per medical record).
4. Participants with lung disease requiring continuous oxygen supplementation.
5. Participants with decompensated cirrhosis and/or end-stage kidney disease on dialysis.
6. Participants with positive serum or urine beta-HCG pregnancy test performed at screening.
7. Participants who are unable to provide tissue specimens of sufficient quality for use in this study. Quality of DNA and RNA is determined during screening. This may be due to issues with biopsy sample collection, inadequate RNA extraction, or quality control failure. Participants may be re-screened if initial specimens are not adequate, if they are amenable to re-biopsy, and additional site(s) of disease for adequate re-sampling are available.

Where it's running

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
    Bethesda, Maryland, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Stanley Lipkowitz, M.D. — National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Study coordinator: Ann C McCoy, R.N.
  • Email: ann.mccoy@nih.gov
  • Phone: (240) 760-6021

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.