Neoadjuvant sacituzumab tirumotecan plus KL-A167 for triple-negative breast cancer

Multicenter, Phase II Clinical Study of Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (Sac-TMT) in Combination With KL-A167 for Neoadjuvant Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

This trial will test whether giving sacituzumab tirumotecan together with KL-A167 before surgery helps people aged 18–65 with primary triple-negative breast cancer (tumor ≥2 cm, no distant spread).

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality)
• Trial ID: NCT07371208 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a multicenter Phase II trial enrolling about 40 patients with primary triple-negative breast cancer (tumor size ≥2 cm, clinical node stage cN0–cN3, M0) to receive combined neoadjuvant therapy of sacituzumab tirumotecan and KL-A167. Participants must have measurable disease per RECIST v1.1, available tumor tissue for biomarker testing, and ECOG performance status 0–1. The study will monitor tumor response and safety throughout the preoperative treatment period. Results will inform whether this combination can produce substantial tumor shrinkage and acceptable tolerability before surgery.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 18–65 with histologically confirmed primary triple-negative breast cancer (ER/PR <10%, HER2 negative), tumor ≥2 cm, clinical node stage cN0–cN3, no distant metastasis, ECOG 0–1, measurable disease, and available tumor tissue for biomarker testing.

Not a fit: Patients with inflammatory breast cancer, distant metastases, only skin- or bone-only lesions, ECOG >1, inadequate organ or marrow function, or hormone-receptor/HER2 profiles outside the TNBC definition are unlikely to benefit from this neoadjuvant regimen.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the combination could increase tumor shrinkage before surgery and potentially improve surgical outcomes for people with primary triple-negative breast cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Antibody–drug conjugates targeting Trop-2 (for example sacituzumab govitecan) have shown activity in metastatic TNBC, lending biological rationale, but the specific sacituzumab tirumotecan plus KL-A167 combination in the neoadjuvant setting is novel and not yet established.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age: 18-65 years old.
* Diagnosis: Histologically and/or cytologically confirmed primary triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (excluding inflammatory breast cancer), meeting the criteria of tumor size ≥2 cm, clinical lymph node stage cN0 to cN3, and M0 (no distant metastasis). TNBC Definition: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showing ER and PR \<10%; HER2-negative: IHC 0 or 1+, or IHC 2+ with negative in situ hybridization (ISH).
* Tissue Sample: Availability of tumor tissue sample for biomarker testing.
* Measurable Disease: At least one measurable lesion according to RECIST v1.1 criteria. Lesions previously irradiated cannot be selected as target lesions. Subjects with only skin lesions or bone lesions are excluded.
* Performance Status: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status score of 0 or 1 within 7 days prior to treatment initiation.
* Adequate Organ and Bone Marrow Function: Hematology: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L; Platelet count (PLT) ≥ 80 × 10⁹/L; Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL. Liver Function: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 2.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN); Total bilirubin (TBIL) ≤ 1.5 × ULN. Renal Function: Creatinine clearance (Ccr) ≥ 60 mL/min (calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula). Coagulation: International normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and prothrombin time (PT) ≤ 1.5 × ULN. Cardiac Function: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 55% as measured by echocardiography (ECHO) or multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan.
* Prior Treatment: No prior anti-tumor therapy for the current breast cancer.
* Contraception: Female subjects must have a negative serum pregnancy test. Female subjects of childbearing potential and male subjects with partners of childbearing potential must agree to use highly effective medically approved contraceptive methods from the time of signing the informed consent form until 6 months after the last dose of study drug.
* Informed Consent: Patients must voluntarily enroll in the study, provide written informed consent, and be able to comply with the protocol-specified visits and procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Cardiovascular Disease: Baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 55% assessed by echocardiography (ECHO) or multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan at screening, or any other significant cardiovascular disease, or myocardial disease classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV.
* Prior Ipsilateral Breast Cancer: History of ipsilateral invasive breast cancer.
* Prior Treatment for Current Breast Cancer: Any prior chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or radiotherapy for the currently diagnosed breast cancer prior to enrollment.
* Prior Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: Previous treatment with anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways.
* Prior TROP2/Topo I Inhibitor Therapy: Previous treatment with any TROP2-targeted therapy and/or topoisomerase I inhibitor.
* Other Malignancies: History of other active malignancies within the past 5 years, except for cured carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell carcinoma of the skin, or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
* Clinically Significant Pulmonary Impairment: Clinically significant pulmonary impairment due to concurrent pulmonary disease, including but not limited to: Any underlying pulmonary disease (e.g., pulmonary embolism within 3 months prior to treatment, severe asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive lung disease, pleural effusion, etc.) Any autoimmune, connective tissue, or inflammatory disease with potential pulmonary involvement (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, sarcoidosis, etc.)
* History of pneumonectomy.
* CYP3A4 Modulators: Requirement for strong inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) within 2 weeks prior to the first dose or during the study period (Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers is prohibited in this study; representative agents are listed in Appendix 2). All subjects must avoid concomitant use of any known CYP3A4-inducing drugs, herbal supplements, and/or food.
* Contraindications/History: Known history of allergy/hypersensitivity to the study drugs or their components; history of immunodeficiency; history of organ transplantation.
* Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)/Pneumonitis: History of (non-infectious) interstitial lung disease (ILD) or non-infectious pneumonitis requiring systemic steroid therapy. Current ILD or non-infectious pneumonitis. Suspicious ILD or non-infectious pneumonitis on imaging at screening that cannot be ruled out by imaging evaluation.
* Ocular Diseases: Documented severe dry eye syndrome, severe meibomian gland dysfunction and/or blepharitis, or history of corneal disease that may delay corneal epithelial healing.
* Active Autoimmune Disease: Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment within the past 2 years (Note: Hormone replacement therapy is not considered systemic treatment; e.g., type I diabetes, hypothyroidism managed with thyroid hormone replacement only, adrenal or pituitary insufficiency managed with physiologic corticosteroid replacement only).
* Active Infection: Active infection requiring systemic therapy within 2 weeks prior to the first dose.
* Uncontrolled Comorbidities: Any significant concurrent illness, in the investigator's judgment, that may jeopardize patient safety or affect study completion, including but not limited to uncontrolled hypertension, severe diabetes, active infection, etc.
* Investigator Discretion: Any condition that, in the investigator's opinion, could interfere with the evaluation of the study drug, compromise patient safety, or interpretation of study results, or any other condition that makes the subject unsuitable for study participation.

Where this trial is running

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality

• Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine affiliated Ruijin Hospital — Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Xiaosong Chen

Conditions Breast Cancer; breast cancer; triple negative; Sac-TMT; SKB264; KL-A167; neoadjuvant