Can a skin cancer drug reboot chemo for tough breast tumors?

NCT ID NCT04664829

Completed Disease control Sponsor: National Cancer Centre, Singapore Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This early-phase trial tested whether the drug bexarotene (Targretin) could make chemotherapy-resistant triple-negative breast cancer cells sensitive to chemo again. Twelve women with metastatic, taxane-resistant breast cancer took bexarotene pills plus capecitabine (Xeloda) chemotherapy. The study looked at changes in tumor genes and proteins, and monitored side effects.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: bexarotene (Targretin) and capecitabine (Xeloda)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a way to make chemotherapy effective again for some people with hard-to-treat breast cancer.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small Phase 1 trial with only 12 people. It is designed mainly to check safety and biological changes, not to prove the treatment works.

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.

triple-negative breast carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

METASTATIC TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CARCINOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

National Cancer Center Singapore

Singapore, 168583, Singapore

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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.