Blood test may predict breast cancer treatment success
NCT ID NCT02743910
First seen Jul 09, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates whether tumor DNA found in the blood (called plasma tumor DNA or ptDNA) can predict how well breast cancer responds to chemotherapy given before surgery. Researchers will collect blood samples from 228 people with early-stage, high-risk breast cancer (HER2-positive or triple-negative) at several time points before, during, and after treatment. The goal is to see if the absence of ptDNA after chemotherapy accurately indicates that no cancer remains at surgery, and whether ptDNA levels can forecast long-term outcomes like cancer recurrence.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could help doctors quickly tell whether a breast cancer treatment is working, potentially guiding more personalized therapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. The test may not accurately predict outcomes for all patients, and results may not change current care.
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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.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
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