Breast cancer trial combines targeted drug with hormone therapy to shrink tumors before surgery

NCT ID NCT02764541

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase 2 trial investigates whether adding the targeted drug palbociclib to standard endocrine therapy (letrozole or tamoxifen) improves tumor shrinkage before surgery in people with hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer. The study includes both invasive lobular and ductal carcinoma types. Participants receive either endocrine therapy alone or combined with palbociclib, and researchers measure how well the cancer responds by looking at cell growth markers and residual tumor burden after treatment.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Palbociclib (Ibrance) and letrozole (Femara) or tamoxifen
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a more effective pre-surgery treatment for hormone receptor positive breast cancer, potentially improving outcomes for patients with invasive lobular and ductal carcinoma.
What could go wrong: This is a phase 2 trial with a moderate sample size, so results may not confirm benefit in larger populations. Adding palbociclib can increase side effects like low blood cell counts, and not all patients may respond.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast cancer breast neoplasm Carcinoma, Lobular invasive ductal breast carcinoma invasive lobular breast carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

BREAST CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
DF/BWCC at Milford Regional Medical Center

Milford, Massachusetts, 01757, United States
DF/BWCC in clinical affiliation with South Shore Hospital

South Weymouth, Massachusetts, 02190, United States
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Dana-Farber at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02135, United States
Eastern Maine Medical Center

Brewer, Maine, 04412, United States
Lifespan

Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States
MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Sarah Cannon Research Institute

Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States
Stamford Hospital

Stamford, Connecticut, 06904, United States
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

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