Can a common steroid make hormone therapy work better against breast cancer?
NCT ID NCT07786051
First seen Aug 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase II trial is testing whether adding dexamethasone, a steroid, to standard hormone therapy can help people with ER+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer whose disease has progressed on the same hormone therapy. The study will enroll 80 participants and will evaluate how well the combination controls the cancer at 16 weeks. The goal is to see if this approach can improve the clinical benefit rate compared to hormone therapy alone.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- dexamethasone
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a new way to boost the effectiveness of standard hormone therapy for people with ER+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer, potentially extending the time before the cancer progresses.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase, single-center study with a small number of participants. The addition of dexamethasone may not improve outcomes and could cause side effects such as increased blood sugar, weight gain, or immune suppression.
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
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 80 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Nov 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Nov 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Female participants only
- 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: 1. Have provided written informed consent and are willing to comply to study procedures and treatment plan. 2. Documentation of histologically confirmed diagnosis of oestrogen receptor (ER) expression \>10% breast cancer based on local laboratory results. Tumour must be HER2 negative as defined by American Society of Clinical Oncology - College of American Pathologists (ASCOCAP) guidelines. If HER2 status is unavailable, then testing must be performed/repeated. 3. Have relapsed/refractory to treatment with aromatase inhibitors or Fulvestrant as monotherapy or in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors in the 1st or 2nd line in metastatic setting. Prior treatment discontinuation must not be \> 8 weeks ago. 4. Participants must meet one of the following criteria: 1. Pre-menopausal women are required to have ovarian function suppression by means of bilateral oophorectomy or continued LHRH/GnRH agonists treatment. 2. Are over the age of 60 years or are of postmenopausal status as defined by no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high FSH level (\>35 mIU/mL) in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a postmenopausal state. 5. Have metastatic disease. 6. At least 1 measurable lesion that would qualify as target lesion by RECIST v1.1, (assessed by the investigator) that can be accurately measured at baseline with CT or MRI and that is suitable for accurate repeated measurements. Lesions previously irradiated or subjected to other locoregional therapy will only be deemed measurable if disease progression at the treated site after completion of therapy is clearly documented. 7. ECOG performance status 0-2. 8. Have adequate organ function defined as follows: 1. Hb: \>5.7 mmol/L. 2. ANC: \>1.0 mmol/L 3. Platelets: ≥ 75 x109/L 4. Transaminases: ASAT and ALAT ≤3 x ULN (≤5.0 x ULN if liver metastases present); 5. T. Bilirubin: ≤1.5 x ULN (≤3.0 x ULN if Gilbert's disease); 6. eGFR: \>30 ml/min/1,73 m2 (CKD-EPI) 9. Has negative HIV (Ag+Ab), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), or Hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) test. 10. For participants opting to provide an on-treatment and/or EOT biopsy: 1. Lesion to be biopsied for this study is deemed accessible and clinically feasible according to the (sub) investigator. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Primary endocrine resistance: Progressed on endocrine therapy within 6 months of initiating treatment in the 1st line for advanced or mBC, or relapsed within first 2 years of endocrine therapy in the adjuvant setting. 2. Metastases such as massive uncontrolled effusions (pleural, pericardial, peritoneal), pulmonary lymphangitis, and \>50% liver involvement which have risk of life-threatening complications in the short term. 3. Known Central Nervous System (CNS) metastases. 4. Current use of corticosteroids including local administration such as intranasal, intraocular, intra-articular, inhaled or topical application, and/or having ongoing conditions requiring long-term use of corticosteroids. 5. History of hypersensitivity and/or other adverse effects to corticosteroids. 6. Known Diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2) or Random Blood Sugar (RBS) of ≥11.1 mmol/L. 7. Clinically significant osteoporosis unless treated with denosumab or bisphosphonates. 8. Have (history of) clinically significant ocular conditions such as glaucoma, papilledema and retinopathy. 9. Presence of clinically significant or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease such as: 1. Congestive Heart Failure: \> New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II. 2. Coronary Artery Disease: Participants must not have unstable angina or angina de novo within the last 3 months and myocardial infarction in the last 6 months. 3. Clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias. 4. Therapy resistant hypertension in the opinion of investigator. 5. For participants receiving Ribociclib: QTcF \> 480 ms. 10. Diagnosis of any other malignancy prior to C1D1, except those that are not believed to influence the participant's prognosis and do not require any further treatment. This includes but is not limited to adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer and carcinoma in situ of the cervix. 11. Known history of psychosis or suicidal ideation. 12. Are taking a prohibited medication (as defined in section 9.1.2) that cannot be discontinued for the duration of the study. 13. Any other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the clinician or investigator, would make the participant inappropriate for entry into this study. 14. Participation in any other interventional study or receiving any other anti-cancer therapy other than endocrine therapy.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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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.
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