Promising combo for brain metastases? trial ends early
NCT ID NCT04791384
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-phase trial tested two oral drugs, abemaciclib and elacestrant, in women with a type of breast cancer (HR+/HER2-) that had spread to the brain. The goal was to see if the combination was safe and could shrink brain tumors. However, the study was stopped early after enrolling only 5 people, so we have very little information about how well it works.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- abemaciclib (Verzenio) and elacestrant
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could offer a new oral treatment option for breast cancer that has spread to the brain, potentially controlling the disease and improving outcomes.
- What could go wrong
- The trial was terminated early with only 5 participants, so results are very limited. It is unclear if the combination is safe or effective, and it may not work for others.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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5 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2022
- Finished
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Sep 2024
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients will be eligible for inclusion in this study if all of the following criteria apply: 1. Post-menopausal women with histologically or cytologically diagnosed metastatic HR+/Her2- breast cancer defined as positive for estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor (more than 1% staining by immunohistochemistry, as defined in 2010 ASCO recommendations, Hammond 2010) and negative for HER2 amplification (immunohistochemistry result of 0-1+, or a negative in situ hybridization). Post-menopausal status is defined as: 1. Documented surgical bilateral oophorectomy 2. Age \> 59 years with amenorrhea for \> 1 year since last menses 3. Age \< 60 years with amenorrhea for \> 1 year since last menses and serum estradiol and FSH in post-menopausal laboratory range. 2. Patients must have measurable brain metastasis (patients with leptomeningeal disease and measurable parenchymal disease are permitted) with documented intracranial disease progression. One measurable lesion \>10mm, or previously irradiated lesion with increase in size by at least 5mm as defined by RANO-BM criteria and revised RECIST criteria (version 1.1, Appendix C). Patients with prior whole brain radiotherapy are permitted. 3. Prior treatment with up to two lines of systemic chemotherapy for metastatic disease and two weeks from any previous anticancer therapy including biologics and recovered from expected toxicity; at least 4 weeks from major surgery and recovered; at least 3 weeks from radiation affecting more than 25% of bone marrow and recovered; and 2 weeks from other palliative radiation and recovered. 4. ECOG performance status ≤ 2 (see Appendix B). 5. Patients who received chemotherapy must have recovered (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] Grade ≤1) from the acute effects of chemotherapy except for residual alopecia or Grade 2 peripheral neuropathy prior to randomization. A washout period of at least 14 days is required between last chemotherapy dose and randomization (provided the patient did not receive radiotherapy 6. Patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy must have completed and fully recovered from the acute effects of radiotherapy. A washout period of at least 14 days is required between end of radiotherapy and randomization. 7. The patient has adequate organ function for all of the following criteria, as defined in Table 1 below. Table 1: Laboratory Value Guidance to Establish Adequate Organ Function System Laboratory Value Hematologic ANC: \>/= 1.5 × 109/L Platelets: \>/=100 × 109/L Hemoglobin: \>/=8 g/dL Patients may receive erythrocyte transfusions to achieve this hemoglobin level at the discretion of the investigator. Initial treatment must not begin earlier than the day after the erythrocyte transfusion. Hepatic Total bilirubin: \</= 1.5 × ULN Patients with Gilbert's syndrome with a total bilirubin \</=2.0 times ULN and direct bilirubin within normal limits are permitted. ALT and AST: \</= 3 × ULN Renal Serum creatinine: \</= 1.5 × ULN Abbreviations: ALT = alanine aminotransferase; ANC = absolute neutrophil count; AST = aspartate aminotransferase; ULN = upper limit of normal. 8. Ability to take oral medications. 9. Women of child-producing potential must agree to use effective contraceptive methods prior to study entry, during study participation, and for at least 30 days after the last administration of study medication. A serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to the initiation of therapy will be required for women of childbearing potential. 10. Have the ability to understand the requirements of the study, provide written informed consent which includes authorization for release of protected health information, abide by the study restrictions, and agree to return for the required assessments. 11. Availability of archival tumor tissue (core biopsy or surgical tumor blocks) for analysis. Sites will be asked to submit archival tissue (subjects may start the study if tissue is available at an outside hospital, but not yet requested or received). Exclusion Criteria: * Patients will not be eligible for inclusion in this study if any of the following criteria apply: 1. Women who are pregnant or lactating and men. 2. Patients under age of 18 3. Prior use of abemaciclib or elacestrant (use of other cdk4/6 inhibitors are allowed) 4. The patient has serious preexisting medical condition(s) that would preclude participation in this study (for example, interstitial lung disease, severe dyspnea at rest or requiring oxygen therapy, history of major surgical resection involving the stomach or small bowel, or preexisting Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis or a preexisting chronic condition resulting in baseline Grade 2 or higher diarrhea). 5. The patient has active bacterial infection (requiring intravenous \[IV\] antibiotics at time of initiating study treatment), fungal infection, or detectable viral infection (such as known human immunodeficiency virus positivity or with known active hepatitis B or C \[for example, hepatitis B surface antigen positive\]. Screening is not required for enrollment. 6. The patient has a personal history of any of the following conditions: syncope of cardiovascular etiology, ventricular arrhythmia of pathological origin (including, but not limited to, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation), or sudden cardiac arrest. 7. Wome who are pre-menopausal (women with chemically induced menopause are eligible). 8. More than two seizures in the last 4 weeks. 9. Have uncontrolled serious medical or psychiatric illness. 10. Have any medical condition that would impair the administration of oral agents including recurrent bowel obstructions, inflammatory bowel disease or uncontrolled nausea, vomiting. Baseline grade 2 or greater diarrhea. 11. Have an additional malignancy diagnosed within 5 years of study enrollment with the exception of basal or squamous cell skin cancer or cervical cancer in situ. 12. Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents. A washout period of 14 days is required for all prior anti-cancer therapies.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Cancer Care Northwest
Spokane Valley, Washington, 99216, United States
-
Duke Cancer Center
Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
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Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center
Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, United States
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University of Colorado
Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
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