New hope for metastatic breast cancer: pill combo may replace chemo

NCT ID NCT02942355

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health Sciences Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This pilot study tests two oral drugs, anastrozole and palbociclib, in postmenopausal women with a common type of metastatic breast cancer (HR+/HER2-). The drugs are given either as the first treatment or as maintenance after chemotherapy. The main goal is to see if the combination is safe and tolerable, especially regarding low white blood cell counts.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: anastrozole and palbociclib
What this could lead to: If successful, this combination could offer a new way to control metastatic breast cancer without chemotherapy, potentially delaying disease progression.
What could go wrong: This is a small pilot study with only 40 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The drugs can cause neutropenia (low white blood cells), which may lead to stopping treatment.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast cancer breast neoplasm female breast carcinoma hormone receptor-positive breast cancer

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BREAST CANCER FEMALE BREAST CARCINOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Levine Cancer Institute

Charlotte, North Carolina, 28204, United States

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