New combo aims to stop breast cancer return after surgery
NCT ID NCT02654119
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This phase II study tested a combination of two chemotherapy drugs (cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel) plus the targeted drug trastuzumab given after surgery to 20 patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. The goal was to see if this regimen is safe and can help prevent the cancer from coming back. Researchers tracked side effects like low white blood cell counts, nerve damage, and heart problems, as well as how long patients stayed cancer-free.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, and trastuzumab
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could help prevent HER2+ breast cancer from coming back after surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study with only 20 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Side effects like low white blood cell counts and nerve damage are possible.
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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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2015
- Finished
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Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
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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19 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: * Histologically confirmed newly diagnosed stage I-II HER2/neu positive breast cancer * Women of reproductive potential must be non-pregnant and non-nursing and must agree to employ an effective barrier method of birth control throughout the study and for up to 6 months following treatment * Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days of initiating study (no childbearing potential is defined as age 55 years or older and no menses for two years or any age with surgical removal of the uterus and/or both ovaries) * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 * Within 30 days prior to enrollment: Absolute neutrophil count greater than or equal to 1,500/mcl * Within 30 days prior to enrollment: Platelet count equal to or greater than 150,000/mcl * Within 30 days prior to enrollment: Hemoglobin \> 11 gm/dl * Within 30 days prior to enrollment: Alkaline phosphatase equal or less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) * Within 30 days prior to enrollment: Total bilirubin equal to or less than 1.5 times the ULN * Within 30 days prior to enrollment: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) no greater than 1.5 times the ULN * Within 30 days prior to enrollment: Creatinine less than 1.5 times the ULN * Able to give informed consent * All included subjects must have normal cardiac function as defined by an ejection fraction of \> 50% by echocardiogram * Able to return for treatment and follow-up on the specified days Exclusion Criteria: * Prior malignancy; except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or noninvasive carcinomas * Subjects with pre-existing grade II peripheral neuropathy * History of previous chemotherapy * Stage IV or metastatic breast cancer * Pregnant or nursing women * Inability to cooperate with treatment protocol * No active serious infections or other conditions precluding chemotherapy * Any comorbidity or condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the assessments and procedures of this protocol e.g. unstable angina, myocardial infarction within 6 months, severe infection, etc. * Known hypersensitivity to any component of required drugs in the study * Known positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or infectious hepatitis, type A, B or C or active hepatitis * Any serious medical condition, laboratory abnormality, or psychiatric illness that would prevent the subject from signing the informed consent form * Myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to enrollment or has New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV heart failure uncontrolled angina, severe uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias, or electrocardiographic evidence of acute ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities; prior to study entry, any electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormality at screening has to be documented by the investigator as not medically relevant
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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
Locations
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Faith Regional Health Services Carson Cancer Center
Norfolk, Nebraska, 68701, United States
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Nebraska Medicine-Village Pointe
Omaha, Nebraska, 68118, United States
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University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska, 68198, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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