Can a Four-Drug cocktail tame a tough breast cancer?
NCT ID NCT03304080
First seen Jul 29, 2026 · Last updated Jul 30, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial is testing whether combining four drugs—anastrozole, palbociclib, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab—can safely and effectively treat HR-positive, HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer as a first-line therapy. The study involves people who have not received prior systemic treatment for metastatic disease. Researchers are evaluating the safety of the combination, the best dose of palbociclib, and how well the treatment controls the cancer.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a combination of anastrozole, palbociclib, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could offer a new first-line treatment option that targets both hormone receptors and HER2, potentially improving outcomes for people with this type of metastatic breast cancer.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial, so safety and the best dose are still being determined. Side effects from combining multiple drugs could be significant, and the approach may not work for everyone.
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 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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44 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2017
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
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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Anyone
- 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: * Women or men with metastatic breast cancer, measurable or evaluable disease including bone metastasis only (as per the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors \[RECIST\] v1.1) * No prior systemic treatment for metastatic breast cancer * Pathologic confirmation of metastatic breast cancer diagnosed by core needle biopsy * Metastatic breast cancer with any evidence of ER or PR positivity in ≥ 1% cells in biopsy specimens from either a primary or metastatic site * Evidence of HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer in either a primary or metastatic site, if 3+ by an IHC method defined as uniform membrane staining for HER2 in 10% or more of tumor cells or demonstrate HER2 gene amplification by an ISH method (single probe, average HER2 copy number ≥6.0 signals/cell; dual probe HER2/CEP17 ratio ≥2.0 with an average HER2 copy number ≥4.0 signals/cell; dual probe HER2/chromosome enumeration probe (CEP) 17 ratio ≥2.0 with an average HER2 cop number \<4.0 signals/cell; and HER2/CEP17 ratio \<2.0 with an average HER2 copy number ≥6.0 signals/cell) or amplified by FISH \> 2.0. High average copy number of HER2 (≥6.0 signals/cell) is considered positive regardless of the HER2/CEP17 ratio. * Women or men 18 years and older * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0-2 * Stable brain metastasis allowed (\>2 weeks, clinically stable post treatment with surgery +/- radiation or radiation alone and off steroids) * Transthoracic echocardiogram with ejection fraction \> 50% * Postmenopausal status or receiving ovarian ablation with a GnRH agonist such as goserelin or leuprolide. Postmenopausal status is defined by any one of the following criteria: * Prior bilateral oophorectomy. * Prior ovarian radiation for the purpose of ablation. * Age ≥ 60 years. * Age \< 60 and amenorrhea for 12 or more months (in the absence of chemotherapy, tamoxifen, or ovarian suppression) and FSH, LH, and estradiol in the postmenopausal range per local normal. * Written informed consent prior to beginning specific protocol procedures, including expected cooperation of the patients for the treatment and follow-up, must be obtained and documented according to the local regulatory requirements * A baseline CT chest/abdomen/pelvis and bone scan or PET/CT * Negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 7 days prior to starting treatment * Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 90 days following completion of therapy. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Note: Recommended methods of birth control are: The consistent use of an intrauterine device (IUD), double barrier methods (diaphragm with spermicidal gel or condoms with contraceptive foam), sexual abstinence (no sexual intercourse) or sterilization. Men must agree to use a condom and not father a child for the duration of the study and for 90 days after completion of therapy Laboratory values (≤ 28 days prior to registration) * Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/mm3 * Platelet Count ≥ 75,000/ mm3 * Hg \>9 g/dL * Total Bilirubin ≤1.5 x upper limits of normal (ULN) * Serum ALT and AST ≤ 2.5 x ULN (≤ 5 x ULN in patients with liver metastasis) * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN Exclusion Criteria: * HER2 negative metastatic breast carcinoma defined as 0 or 1+ by IHC or with a FISH ratio (HER2 gene copy/ chromosome 17) \<2 if IHC 2+ by local institution standard protocol * Any prior treatment for metastatic breast cancer. (excluding radiation therapy for the purpose of ovarian ablation). Note: Prior adjuvant therapy with trastuzumab and pertuzumab is permitted after a 6 month window following completion of adjuvant therapy has passed. * Patients currently receiving anticancer therapies or who have received anticancer therapies within 2 weeks of the start of study drug (including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biologics). Patients who have received prior endocrine therapy for fertility purposes will be eligible. * Patients, who have had a major surgery or significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks of start of study drug, patients who have not recovered from the side effects of any major surgery (defined as requiring general anesthesia) or patients that may require major surgery during the course of the study * Prior treatment with any investigational drug within the preceding 2 weeks * Co-administration with strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., phenytoin, rifampin, carbamazepine, St John's Wort, bosentan, efavirenz, etravirine, modafinil, and nafcillin), strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lopinavir/ritonavir, nefazodone, nelfinavir, posaconazole, ritonavir, saquinavir, telaprevir, telithromycin, verapamil, and voriconazole), and CYP3A4 substrates (e.g., alfentanil, cyclosporine, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, everolimus, fentanyl, pimozide, quinidine, sirolimus and tacrolimus). For a current table of Substrates, Inhibitors and Inducers please access the following website:http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/" See Appendix C. * Uncontrolled brain metastases * Leptomeningeal metastases * Other malignancies within the past 3 years except for adequately treated carcinoma of the cervix or basal or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. * Patients who have any severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions or other conditions that could affect their participation in the study such as: * Symptomatic congestive heart failure of New York heart Association Class III or IV * Unstable angina pectoris, symptomatic congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within 6 months of start of study drug, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia or any other clinically significant cardiac disease * Severely impaired lung function as defined as spirometry and DLCO that is 50% of the normal predicted value and/or 02 saturation that is 89% or less at rest on room air * Uncontrolled diabetes as defined by fasting serum glucose \>1.5 x ULN * Active (acute or chronic) or uncontrolled severe infections * Liver disease such as cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis or chronic persistent hepatitis * Impairment of gastrointestinal function or gastrointestinal disease that may significantly alter the absorption of palbociclib (e.g., ulcerative disease, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome or small bowel resection) * Patients with an active, bleeding diathesis * History of noncompliance to medical regimens * Patients unwilling to or unable to comply with the protocol * Ongoing alcohol or drug addiction * Female patients who are pregnant or breast feeding, or adults of reproductive potential who are not using effective birth control methods. If barrier contraceptives are being used, these must be continued throughout the trial by both sexes. Hormonal contraceptives are not acceptable as a method of contraception. (Women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to starting treatment) * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to palbociclib, anastrozole, trastuzumab or pertuzumab.
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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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Mount Sinai Beth Israel Comprehensive Cancer Center West
New York, New York, 10011, United States
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Mount Sinai West
New York, New York, 10019, United States
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New York Presbyterian Columbia Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
New York, New York, 10032, United States
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New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center
New York, New York, 10065, United States
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Perlmutter Cancer Center NYU Langone
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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