Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 to 70 Women only

T-DXd with or without Neratinib for HER2-positive breast cancer with brain metastases

Official title: Trastuzumab Deruxtecan With or Without Neratinib for HER2-positive Unresectable and/or Metastatic Breast Cancer With Brain Metastasis: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open Label, Phase II Trial (THUNDER Trial)

Run by Fudan University · NCT07152782 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial tests whether adding Neratinib to Trastuzumab Deruxtecan helps treat HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexWomen only
Enrollment202 (estimated)
SponsorFudan University
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsnalatinib, radiation, Trastuzumab, Neratinib
Locations1 site (Shanghai)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 24, 2025
Main results expectedAugust 2029
Study endsNovember 2031
Registry record updatedSeptember 28, 2026
Trial IDNCT07152782 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Eligible patients are women aged 18-70 with ECOG 0-1, confirmed HER2-positive breast cancer with brain metastases, measurable/unmeasurable disease, and no recent brain-directed therapy that would preclude participation.

Probably not a fit

Patients with poor performance status, uncontrolled or rapidly progressing brain metastases, or intolerance to study drugs may not benefit.

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

What this trial studies

This is a Phase II, open-label, randomized trial conducted at multiple centers in China. Participants with HER2-positive breast cancer and brain metastases are randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either Trastuzumab Deruxtecan with Neratinib or Trastuzumab Deruxtecan alone, until progression outside the brain or until unacceptable toxicity occurs. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination compared with monotherapy. Eligible patients include adults aged 18-70 with good performance status and confirmed HER2-positive disease, measurable or non-measurable disease, and untreated or stable brain metastases. Key outcomes focus on intracranial and extracranial disease control and overall safety.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve control of brain metastases and overall disease management for HER2-positive breast cancer.

How similar studies have gone: Previous trials in HER2-positive breast cancer with brain involvement show potential but results vary; this study explores a novel combination approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

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Participants must meet all of the following inclusion criteria in order to be enrolled in this study:

1. Female, aged 18-70 years old.
2. ECOG score ranges from 0 to 1.
3. Expected survival period is greater than 12 weeks.
4. Histologically confirmed invasive HER2 positive breast cancer (HER2 IHC+++or FISH/CISH positive, all samples need to be verified by the pathology department of the research center).
5. Tumor staging: recurrent or metastatic breast cancer; Patients with local recurrence need to be confirmed by the researcher that radical surgical resection cannot be performed.
6. The subject has at least one lesion (measurable and/or unmeasurable) that has not received radiation therapy in the past.
7. MRI or CT shows brain metastasis and meets one of the following conditions:

   i) Untreated brain parenchymal metastases detected through imaging screening;

   Ii) Stable or progressive brain parenchymal metastases that have undergone previous local treatment and meet one of the following conditions:
   1. Stable imaging for ≥ 4 weeks;
   2. New brain parenchymal metastases detected by MR or CT.
8. Transfer treatment ≤ 2 lines, and did not receive T-DXd or nalatinib.
9. The main organ functions are basically normal, meeting the following conditions:

   1. The standard for blood routine examination should meet: HB ≥ 90g/L (no blood transfusion within 14 days); ANC≥1.5×109/L;PLT≥75×109/L;
   2. Biochemical tests must meet the following standards: TBIL ≤ 1.5 × ULN (upper limit of normal value); ALT and AST ≤ 3 × ULN; If there is liver metastasis, ALT and AST should be ≤ 5 × ULN; Serum Cr ≤ 1.5 × ULN, endogenous creatinine clearance rate ≥ 30mL/min (Cockcroft Gault formula).
10. Prior to enrollment, the use of mannitol and hormone therapy is allowed, but the medication dosage should be stable for at least one week without the need for an increase.
11. Female participants with fertility agreed to take effective contraceptive measures until 3 months after the last use of medication.
12. The subjects voluntarily joined this study, signed informed consent forms, had good compliance, and cooperated with follow-up.

Exclusion Criteria:

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Subjects with any of the following conditions are not eligible for inclusion in this study:

1. Transfer treatment exceeding 2 lines, or previous use of T-DXd or nalatinib.
2. Meningeal metastasis.
3. Brain metastases that require emergency intervention treatment, or brain metastases that require treatment with more than 3mg/d dexamethasone or equivalent drugs.
4. A history of clinically significant or uncontrolled heart disease, including congestive heart failure, angina, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, or ventricular arrhythmia.
5. Due to ongoing grade ≥ 2 adverse reactions caused by previous treatments (excluding hair loss).
6. Pregnancy period.
7. Other malignant tumors within the past 5 years, excluding cured cervical carcinoma in situ, basal cell carcinoma of the skin, or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
8. Unable to swallow, chronic diarrhea, and intestinal obstruction, there are multiple factors that affect medication intake and absorption.
9. There is a third interstitial fluid accumulation that cannot be controlled by drainage or other methods (such as a large amount of pleural fluid and ascites).
10. Participated in clinical trials of other anti-tumor drugs within 4 weeks prior to the first use of the investigational drug.
11. Long term unhealed wounds or fractures with incomplete healing.
12. Known subjects with active HBV or HCV infection.
13. Active primary immunodeficiency, known to be HIV positive.
14. Uncontrolled infections requiring intravenous injection of antibiotics, antiviral drugs, or antifungal drugs.
15. A history of non communicable ILD/pneumonia requiring steroids, currently suffering from ILD/pneumonia, or unable to rule out suspected ILD/pneumonia through imaging during screening.
16. Lung standard:

    1. Pulmonary specific comorbidities with clinically significant diseases, including but not limited to any potential pulmonary diseases (such as pulmonary embolism, severe asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive pulmonary disease, pleural effusion, etc. within 3 months of recruitment).
    2. Any autoimmune disease, connective tissue disease, or inflammatory disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, sarcoidosis, etc.). There are records or suspicions of lung involvement during screening. For participants participating in the study, all detailed information about the disease should be recorded in the CRF.
    3. Previous complete lung resection surgery.
17. Individuals with allergies, or those with a known history of allergies to the components of this medication regimen, or subjects who are allergic to other monoclonal antibodies.

Researchers believe that substance abuse or medical conditions may interfere with participants' participation in clinical studies or the evaluation of clinical study results.

Where it's running

  • Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
    Shanghai, China
    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.