New drug T-DXd could outperform standard chemo in HER2+ breast cancer
NCT ID NCT05900206
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial compares the experimental drug trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) to standard chemotherapy given before surgery for HER2-positive breast cancer. About 370 participants will receive either T-DXd or standard treatment for three cycles, then further treatment is chosen based on the tumor's molecular type. The main goal is to see if T-DXd leads to a higher rate of complete tumor disappearance at surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd, Enhertu)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that T-DXd is more effective than standard chemo at shrinking HER2-positive breast tumors before surgery, potentially leading to a new treatment option.
- What could go wrong
- This is a phase 2 trial with 370 participants, so results are still early. T-DXd may not prove superior, and side effects like lung inflammation or heart issues are possible.
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 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
About 370 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
Oct 2023
- Expected to finish
-
Apr 2032
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
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
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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.
To be eligible for the study, patients must fulfil all inclusion criteria: 1. Women or men 18 years or older 2. Before patient registration/randomization, written informed consent must be given according to ICH/GCP, and national/local regulations 3. Histologically confirmed breast cancer with an invasive component measuring ≥ 20 mm and/or with morphologically confirmed spread to regional lymph nodes (stage cT2-cT4 with any cN, or cN1-cN3 with any cT). 4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1 at the time of randomization (see Appendix B). 5. Known estrogen-receptor and/or progesterone receptor status, as assessed locally by IHC. The cut-off for positivity for ER/PR for this study is at least 10% of cell nuclei staining for ER or PR, respectively. 6. Known HER2-positive breast cancer defined as an IHC status of 3+. If IHC is 2+, a positive in situ hybridization (FISH, CISH, or SISH) test is required by local laboratory testing. ISH positivity is defined as a ratio of ≥ 2 for the number of HER2 gene copies to the number of signals for chromosome 17 copies. 7. Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% 8. Adequate bone-marrow, hepatic and renal function defined as laboratory tests within 7 days prior to enrolment: i. Hematology: 1. Absolute granulocytes \> 1.5 x 109/L 2. Platelets \> 100 x 109/L 3. Hb \> 90 gr/L ii. Biochemistry <!-- --> 1. Bilirubin ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN) 2. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN 3. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 1.5 x ULN 4. Albumin ≥ 30 gr/L iii. Coagulation: <!-- --> 1. INR/PT ≤ 1.5 x ULN, unless the subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy and INR/PT is within intended therapeutic range 2. aPTT ≤ 1.5 x ULN, unless the subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy and aPTT is within intended therapeutic range 9. Availability of tumor and blood samples as described in the protocol 10. Negative serum pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential or for patients who have experienced menopause onset \<12 months prior to randomization. 11. Patients of childbearing potential must be willing to use one highly effective contraception or two effective forms of nonhormonal contraception. See also 5.6 Precautions. 12. Participants must be able to communicate with the investigator and comply with the requirements of the study procedures To be eligible for the study, patients must not fulfil any exclusion criteria: 1. Participation in other interventional trials 2. Presence of distant metastases, including node metastases in the contralateral thoracic region or in the mediastinum 3. Other malignancy diagnosed during the past five years, except adequately controlled limited basal cell carcinoma or squamous-cell carcinoma of the skin, in situ melanoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix. 4. History of invasive breast cancer 5. History of DCIS, except for patients treated exclusively with mastectomy \>5 years prior to diagnosis of current breast cancer 6. Active cardiac disease or a history of cardiac dysfunction including any of the following: 1. History of unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction or recent (\<6 months) cardiovascular event including stroke and pericarditis 2. History of documented congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association functional classification II-IV) 3. Documented cardiomyopathy 4. QTc \> 450 msec as measured by Fridericia's formula, family or personal history of long or short QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome or known history of QTc prolongation or Torsade de Pointes. 5. Uncontrolled hypertension 6. Symptomatic or uncontrolled arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation. 7. Patients with ER-positive BC being treated with drugs recognized as strong inhibitors or inducers of the isoenzyme CYP3A (see table 5) which cannot be discontinued at least 7 days prior to planned treatment with ribociclib. 8. Concomitant medication(s) with a known risk to prolong the QT interval and/or known to cause Torsades de Pointes that cannot be discontinued or replaced by safe alternative medication 9. Pregnant or breastfeeding female patients, or patients who are planning to become pregnant 10. History of (non-infectious) Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) / pneumonitis that required steroids, has current ILD/pneumonitis, or where suspected ILD/pneumonitis cannot be ruled out by imaging at screening. 11. Lung-specific intercurrent clinically significant illnesses including, but not limited to, any underlying pulmonary disorder (e.g. pulmonary emboli within three months of the study enrollment, severe asthma, severe COPD, restrictive lung disease, pleural effusion etc.) 12. Any autoimmune, connective tissue or inflammatory disorders (e.g. Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's, sarcoidosis etc.) where there is documented, or a suspicion of pulmonary involvement at the time of screening. Full details of the disorder should be recorded in the eCRF for patients who are included in the study. 13. Prior pneumonectomy 14. History of positive testing for HIV or known AIDS 15. Acute or chronic infection with hepatitis B or C virus 16. Any impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of the study drugs (e.g., uncontrolled ulcerative diseases, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, or small bowel resection). 17. Receipt of live, attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of trastuzumab deruxtecan. Note: Patients, if enrolled, should not receive live vaccine during the study and up to 30 days after the last dose of study drug. 18. Any psychological, including substance abuse, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial. 19. Allergic reactions or hypersensitivity to the study drugs or other monoclonal antibodies 20. Administration of other experimental drugs, either concomitantly or during the past 30 days before treatment initiation. 21. Pre-treatment axillary surgery 22. Recent major surgery (within 4 weeks from start of study treatment) or anticipated need for major surgery during the study. 23. A pleural effusion, ascites or pericardial effusion that requires drainage, peritoneal shunt, or Cell-free and Concentrated Ascites Reinfusion Therapy (CART).
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Breast cancer are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
7 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Karolinska University Hospital
RECRUITINGStockholm, 17164, Sweden
-
Norrlands University Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGUmeå, 90185, Sweden
-
Sankt Gorans Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGStockholm, 11219, Sweden
-
Skåne University Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGMalmö, 21428, Sweden
-
Stockholm Southern Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGStockholm, 11861, Sweden
-
Uppsala University Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGUppsala, 75185, Sweden
-
Örebro University Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGÖrebro, 70185, Sweden
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Retrospective analysis of pyrotinib in the treatment of HER2-Positive advanced breast cancer previously treated with trastuzumab and pertuzumab
- Mind and body: does resilience leave a molecular mark in breast cancer?
- Which pain block works better for breast surgery?
- Can a Triple-Drug combo erase HER2-Positive breast tumors before surgery?
- Bacteria inside tumors may hold the key to breast cancer treatment
- Can a newer drug ease the bone pain of chemotherapy support?