Clinical trial Recruiting at 12 sites Interventional Ages 18 to 100

Personalized pre-surgery treatment for ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer using blood tumor DNA and early hormone-response

Official title: ABCSG 61 / TEODOR (Neoadjuvant TrEatment Optimization Driven by ctDNA and endOcrine Responsiveness): A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Openlabel Multicenter Phase II Study Investigating Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy Versus Chemotherapy in HR-positive, HER2negative, ctDNA-negative and Endocrine Responsive Early and Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Run by Austrian Breast & Colorectal Cancer Study Group · NCT07084558 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial tests whether people with ER+/HER2− early or locally advanced breast cancer who have no detectable tumor DNA in the blood and show an early hormone response can be treated with pre-surgery hormone therapy instead of chemotherapy and have similar outcomes with better quality of life.

More Locally Advanced Breast Cancer trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 100 Years
SexAll
Enrollment350 (estimated)
SponsorAustrian Breast & Colorectal Cancer Study Group
Research network
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations14 sites (Vienna, Austria and 13 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedAugust 13, 2025
Main results expectedJune 30, 2028
Study endsJune 30, 2033
Registry record updatedAugust 19, 2026
Trial IDNCT07084558 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults (≥18) with newly diagnosed, unilateral ER-positive, HER2-negative stage IIA–III breast cancer who have not received prior treatment, are ctDNA-negative by Signatera, and show endocrine responsiveness (Ki-67 ≤10% after a 3-week aromatase inhibitor run-in) are ideal candidates.

Probably not a fit

Patients with detectable ctDNA, a Ki-67 value >10% after the run-in, HER2-positive or metastatic disease, prior breast cancer treatment, or inability to provide required tissue/blood samples or undergo biopsies are unlikely to benefit from the endocrine-deescalation approach.

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

What this trial studies

Participants with newly diagnosed ER+/HER2− early or locally advanced breast cancer first have a Signatera blood test and start a 3-week aromatase inhibitor run-in (or tamoxifen if AI is not tolerated). If ctDNA is undetectable and the tumor Ki-67 falls to ≤10% after 3 weeks, participants are randomized 2:1 to continue neoadjuvant endocrine therapy or receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while those with detectable ctDNA or Ki-67 >10% receive chemotherapy. Treatments follow standard-of-care regimens for approximately 6–8 months after the run-in, and the primary outcome is the modified PEPI score measured after surgery with five years of follow-up. The design tests a biomarker-guided approach to safely reduce chemotherapy exposure where appropriate.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could allow some patients to avoid chemotherapy and its side effects while maintaining similar cancer control and improving quality of life.

How similar studies have gone: Earlier trials have shown early Ki-67 changes predict endocrine response and ctDNA can track residual disease, but combining ctDNA and early Ki-67 to guide neoadjuvant de-escalation is relatively novel and not yet widely validated.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Signed informed consent obtained prior to any study specific assessments and procedures
2. Women and men of age ≥18 years
3. Patients must have histologically confirmed invasive, unilateral and locally advanced breast cancer with the following characteristics:

   * Stage IIA-III per AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) Breast Cancer Staging version 8
   * Histologically confirmed hormone receptor positive and HER2 negative tumor(s); HER2 measurement to be assessed locally according to the ASCO/CAP guidelines. In case the tumor is multicentric and/or multifocal, all histopathologically examined tumors must meet the pathologic criteria for hormone receptor positive and HER2 negative
   * ER positive tumors, i.e. \>20% positive stained tumor cells
   * PR positive or negative tumors
4. Systemic chemotherapy indicated by multidisciplinary tumor board
5. Absence of prior breast cancer specific treatment for the current malignancy when entering screening
6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2
7. Adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined by the following local laboratory values within 8 weeks before study treatment start:

   1. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 × 109/L
   2. Platelets ≥ 100 × 109/L
   3. Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL
   4. Serum creatinine within normal institutional limits or creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m² for patients with serum creatinine levels above institutional ULN.
   5. Alanine amino transferase (ALT or SGPT) ≤ 1.5 × Upper Limit Normal (ULN); Aspartate amino transferase (AST or SGOT) ≤ 1.5 × ULN f. Total serum bilirubin ≤ ULN; or total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 × ULN with direct bilirubin within normal range in patients with well documented Gilbert's Syndrome
8. Patients must be able and willing to swallow and retain oral medication without a condition that would interfere with enteric absorption.
9. Patient must be willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plans, laboratory tests, and other study procedures.
10. In women of childbearing potential, urine or serum pregnancy test must be negative within 28 days prior to registration. In postmenopausal women or hysterectomized patients, pregnancy tests do not need to be performed

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Ineligible for appropriate locoregional treatment (breast surgery and or radiotherapy when indicated)
2. Bilateral invasive breast cancer or synchronous DCIS in contralateral breast
3. Patients receiving concurrent systemic exogenous sexual hormone therapy during the study (hormone replacement therapy, oral or any other hormonal contraceptives such as hormonal contraceptive coil, etc.) are not eligible but topical vaginal estrogen therapy is allowable.
4. Any chronic medication contraindicated for antineoplastic treatment
5. Participation in a prior or concurrent interventional study and receiving study treatment (concurrent or within 30 days prior to treatment start) 6) Patients receiving any prior systemic cancer therapy for invasive breast cancer

7\) Patients with a history of any malignancy are ineligible except for the following circumstances:

* Patients with a malignancy history other than adequately treated invasive breast cancer are eligible if they have been disease-free for at least 2 years and are deemed by the investigator to be at very low risk for recurrence of that malignancy (e.g. stage I gastric cancer or skin cancer)
* Patients with the following cancers are eligible, even if diagnosed and adequately treated within the past 2 years: ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, cervical cancer in situ, and non-metastatic nonmelanomatous skin cancers 8) Patient has medical or psychiatric disorders that would, in the investigator's judgement, interfere with the patient's safety or informed consent (e.g. known uncontrolled HIV infection, chronic/active viral or other known hepatitis and/or chronic liver disease, cirrhosis etc.).

  9\) Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. Ability to comply with study requirements is to be assessed by each investigator at the time of screening for study participation 10) Patient has current impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of the oral study treatments (e.g., uncontrolled ulcerative diseases, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, or small bowel resection) 11) Patient has any other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical condition that would, in the Investigator´s judgment, cause unacceptable safety risks, contraindicate patient participation in the clinical study or compromise compliance with the protocol or limit life expectancy to ≤5 years 12) Pregnant or breast-feeding (lactating) women or women who plan to become pregnant or breast-feed during study treatment and 6 months thereafter

Where it's running

  • Allg. Gynäkologie u. gyn. Onkologie/Senologie
    Vienna, Austria, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Landesklinikum Baden BGZ; Abt. f. Allgemein- u. Viszeralchirurgie
    Baden, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch Interne E
    Feldkirch, Austria
    Recruiting
  • MUG - LKH Graz Klin. Abt. f. Onkologie
    Graz, Austria
    Recruiting
  • MUG - Univ. Frauenklinik Graz, Gyn. Abteilung
    Graz, Austria
    Recruiting
  • MUI - Univ. Klinik f. Frauenheilkunde Innsbruck Klin. Abteilung f. Gynäkologie u. Geburtshilfe
    Innsbruck, Austria
    Recruiting
Show 8 more locations
  • TumorZentrum Kepler Universitätsklinikum Linz
    Linz, Austria
    Recruiting
  • LKH Salzburg - PMU, Univ.Klinik f. Innere Medizin III / SCRI CCCIT
    Salzburg, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Universitätsklinikum St. Pölten, Klin. Abteilung f. Innere Medizin 1
    Sankt Pölten, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Hanusch Krankenhaus, 3. Medizinische Abteilung
    Vienna, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Klinik Hietzing, Gyn. Abteilung; Karl Landsteiner Institut f. gyn. Onkologie u. Senologie
    Vienna, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Universitätsklinikum Wiener Neustadt, Abteilung für Innere Medizin, Hämatologie und int. Onkologie
    Wiener Neustadt, Austria
    Recruiting
  • Dornbirn BGZ; Frauenheilkunde u. Geburtshilfe
    Dornbirn, Austria
    Active not recruiting
  • KH BHB St. Veit/Glan Brustzentrum Kärnten
    Sankt Veit an der Glan, Austria
    Active not recruiting

Study contacts

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.