Could a diabetes drug slow breast cancer growth?
NCT ID NCT07676331
First seen Jun 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 08, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This phase 2 trial investigates whether tirzepatide, a drug used for weight loss and diabetes, can slow tumor growth in people with early-stage hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Participants receive tirzepatide alone, the standard hormone therapy letrozole alone, or both together before surgery. The main goal is to see if these treatments reduce a marker of cell growth called Ki67 in tumor tissue.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- tirzepatide (a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist) and letrozole (an aromatase inhibitor)
- What this could lead to
- If tirzepatide reduces tumor cell growth, it could offer a new way to help control early breast cancer, especially in patients with higher body weight.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial with a small number of participants, so results may not apply broadly. Tirzepatide can cause side effects like nausea and vomiting, and it is not yet proven to treat cancer.
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 168 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Aug 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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May 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. Voluntary written informed consent of the participant has been obtained prior to any screening procedures 2. Patient is \>18 years of age 3. Patient is postmenopausal, as defined per local practice 4. Tumour size of ≥1 cm 5. The patient has a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of GII-III ER+, HER2 - early stage breast cancer scheduled for primary surgery as per standard-of-care 1. To fulfil the requirement for HR+ disease by local testing on primary disease specimen, tumour must be ER positive defined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) according to American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines for hormone receptor testing. 2. To fulfil the requirement of HER2- disease by local testing on primary disease specimen, tumour must be HER2- according to ASCO/CAP guidelines for HER2 testing 3. All histological subtypes are eligible, including but not limited to invasive breast cancer of no special type (IBC-NST) , invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) etc. 6. Have a BMI of 1. ≥30 kg/m2 or 2. ≥27 kg/m2 and previously diagnosed with at least 1 of the following weight-related comorbidities: i. Hypertension: treated or with systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mmHg ii. Dyslipidaemia: treated or with LDL ≥160 mg/dL (4.1 mmol/L) or triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L), or HDL iii. Obstructive sleep apnoea iv. Cardiovascular disease, for example, ischemic cardiovascular disease, New York Heart Association Functional Classification Class I-III heart failure 7. Patient should be able to read/understand Dutch, French or English 8. Willing to commit to the study program and comply with all related protocol procedures 9. Willing to undergo a new biopsy of the breast lesion in case no formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) block can be made available for the trial. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Have Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, history of ketoacidosis, or hyperosmolar state or coma. 2. Have at least 1 laboratory value suggestive of diabetes during screening : HbA1c ≥6.5% (≥48 mmol/mol) or fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL (≥7.0 mmol/L) 3. Have a history of BC exceptions are made for: 1. Contralateral in situ BC without systemic treatment 2. Ipsilateral in situ BC without systemic treatment or radiation therapy 4. Have a history of an additional invasive malignancy that is progressing or that has required active treatment in the 3 years prior to breast cancer diagnosis. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer 5. Are receiving or has received within 3 months prior to screening systemic glucocorticoid therapy (excluding topical, intraocular, intranasal, intra-articular, or inhaled preparations) or have evidence of a significant, active autoimmune that has required (within the last 3 months) or is likely to require, in the opinion of the investigator, concurrent treatment with systemic treatment (such as glucocorticoids (excluding topical, intraocular, intranasal, intra-articular, or inhaled preparations)) during the course of the study. Note: Replacement therapy with thyroxine is not a contraindication for inclusion if patient is already on same dose for 3 months 6. Have a history of any other condition, such as known drug or alcohol abuse, diagnosed eating disorder, or other psychiatric disorder, that, in the opinion of the investigator, may preclude the participant from following and completing the protocol 7. Family or personal history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN-2) 8. Have a self-reported change in body weight \>5 kg within 3 months prior to screening 9. Have a prior surgical treatment for obesity, excluding liposuction or abdominoplasty 10. Have endoscopic and/or device-based therapy for obesity or have had device removal within the last 6 months prior to screening 11. Have renal impairment measured as eGFR \<30L/min/1.73m2 12. Have a known clinically significant gastric emptying abnormality (for example, severe gastroparesis or gastric outlet obstruction) or chronically take drugs that directly affect GI motility 13. Have a history of chronic or acute pancreatitis 14. Is treated with insulin or other hypoglycaemic drugs 15. Participation in another interventional Trial with an investigational medicinal product (IMP) or device in the neoadjuvant setting 16. Have obesity induced by other endocrinologic disorders, for example, Cushing syndrome, or diagnosed monogenetic or syndromic forms of obesity 17. Has acute or chronic hepatitis, signs and symptoms of any other liver disease other than NAFLD, or any of the following, as determined by the central laboratory during screening: 1. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level \>3.0x ULN for the reference range 2. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level \>2.0x ULN for the reference range, or 3. Total bilirubin level \>1.5x ULN for the reference range (except for cases of known Gilbert's Syndrome) Note: Participants with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are eligible to participate in this trial if their ALT level is ≤3.0x ULN for the reference range 18. Has used systemic hormonal substitution therapy within 2 months before screening 19. Has used a GLP1/(GIP)/(GC) Receptor Agonist within 2 months of screening 20. Has used medications (prescribed or over-the-counter) within 2 months prior to screening that promote weight loss.
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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
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