Could an alcoholism drug plus copper fight breast cancer?
NCT ID NCT03323346
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Phase 2 trial tested whether disulfiram (Antabuse), a drug used for alcoholism, combined with copper supplements could help people with metastatic breast cancer who had run out of standard options. Only 9 patients took part, and researchers measured tumor response and survival. The study is complete, but results are not yet widely available.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- disulfiram (Antabuse) plus copper supplement
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for metastatic breast cancer when standard therapies have failed.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small Phase 2 trial with only 9 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The drug combination may not shrink tumors or improve survival, and side effects 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
-
Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
9 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Sep 2017
- Finished
-
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
-
18 years and older
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
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. Patients with stage IV breast cancer with metastases demonstrated by appropriate imaging techniques (computer tomography - CT, positron emission tomography - PET or PET/CT, MRI, ultrasound, etc.) 2. Histologically or cytologically confirmed tumor 3. Age of 18 years or more 4. ECOG performance status of 0 - 2 5. Patients have failed, untolerated or refused standard therapeutic modalities 6. Not received systemic anticancer therapy or radiation or had major surgery in last 2 weeks 7. Not currently participating in another study 8. Anticipated survival of at least 2 months 9. Baseline AST and ALT not greater than 2.5 X upper institutional limit 10. Serum copper within normal limits 11. Serum ceruloplasmin \> 17 mg/dL 12. Able and willing to sign informed consent and to comply with study procedures 13. Able to ingest oral medications 14. No known allergy to disulfiram or copper 15. Willing to refrain from ingestion of alcoholic beverages while on the study Exclusion Criteria: 1. Participation in another clinical trial of a therapeutic drug during the past 14 days 2. Addiction to alcohol or drugs 3. Baseline AST or ALT greater than 2.5 X upper institutional limit 4. Unable to ingest oral medications 5. Unable to undergo CT/SPECT scanning because of inability to lie recumbent in the scanner 6. Actively receiving cytotoxic cancer chemotherapy agents 7. Anticipated survival of less than 2 months 8. Women of child-bearing potential who are not using a commonly accepted effective means of contraception; women of child-bearing potential will have negative pregnancy test before enrollment 9. History of active liver disease, including chronic active hepatitis, viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, C and CMV), cholestatic jaundice of any etiology, toxic hepatitis, or cholestatic hepatitis or jaundice with bilirubin greater than 2.0 X upper institutional limit 10. History of Wilson's disease or family member with Wilson's disease 11. History of hemochromatosis or family member with hemochromatosis 12. History of other iron overload syndrome such as hemochromatosis 13. Need for metronidazole, warfarin and/or theophylline medication, the metabolism of which is likely influenced by disulfiram 14. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are not allowed to enroll on this study 15. Patients who are taking medications metabolized by cytochrome P450 2E1, including chlorzoxazone or halothane and its derivatives
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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
-
University Hospital Olomouc
Olomouc, 77900, Czechia
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