Could a 3-Month pill course spare older breast cancer patients from radiation?

NCT ID NCT06507618

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: University of Virginia Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This Phase III trial is for women aged 65 and older with early-stage, hormone-sensitive breast cancer. Half will take hormone-blocking pills for three months before surgery, while the other half will proceed directly to surgery as usual. The goal is to see if the pre-surgery pills help women feel more confident about skipping radiation therapy afterward. The study will track how well women tolerate the pills and whether they stick with the treatment plan.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: endocrine therapy (tamoxifen, letrozole, anastrozole, or exemestane)
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could help older women with early breast cancer avoid unnecessary radiation therapy by using a short course of hormone-blocking pills before surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a Phase III trial, but it focuses on decision-making and adherence, not on curing cancer. The results may not apply to younger women or those with more aggressive tumors. Side effects from endocrine therapy can include hot flashes, joint pain, and fatigue.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast neoplasm estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer female breast carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

BREAST CANCER FEMALE

Contacts and locations

Locations

INOVA Schar Cancer
RECRUITING

Fairfax, Virginia, 22031, United States
Riverside Health System
RECRUITING

Newport News, Virginia, 23601, United States
University of Virginia
RECRUITING

Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903, United States
University of Virginia Community Health
RECRUITING

Culpeper, Virginia, 22701, United States
Virginia Commonwealth University
RECRUITING

Richmond, Virginia, 23298, United States
Yale University
RECRUITING

New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, United States

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