Personalized tamoxifen dosing: can a PET scan show the way?
NCT ID NCT04174352
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 22, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This pilot study tests whether a special PET scan (FES-PET/CT) can help doctors find the best dose of tamoxifen for people with metastatic breast cancer that has an ESR1 mutation. These mutations can make standard tamoxifen doses less effective. The study will enroll 12 participants and use the scan to measure how well tamoxifen blocks estrogen receptors at different dose levels. The goal is to identify the optimal dose for future studies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Tamoxifen
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show how to personalize tamoxifen dosing for patients with ESR1 mutations, potentially improving treatment effectiveness.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early-phase pilot study with only 12 participants. It is designed to find the right dose, not to prove the treatment works, so results may not lead to immediate changes in care.
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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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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About 12 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Oct 2020
- 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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19 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: * Participants must have histologically confirmed breast cancer that is metastatic or unresectable with the following: * Estrogen receptor expression by immunohistochemistry greater than or equal to 10% * ESR1 mutation identified using a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified assay via tumor biopsy tissue or circulating free DNA (cfDNA) * human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative * Participants must have measurable disease as defined by RECIST 1.1 or evaluable bone disease with at least one lesion measuring 10 mm or greater in size. (Participants with bone and non-bone disease are eligible. One disease site must meet either the measurable or evaluable criteria outlined.) Participants with liver-only disease are not eligible due to the inherent hepatic uptake related to the radiopharmaceutical's hepatobiliary route of elimination. * Participants must have received at least 1 prior line of endocrine therapy in the metastatic setting or have had progression within 12 months of adjuvant endocrine therapy. Prior Tamoxifen is allowed in any setting. Prior CDK4/6 in the metastatic setting per NCCN guidelines is allowed. * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1 (See Appendix A) * Life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks. * Ability to take oral medications. * Informed consent: participant must be informed of the investigational nature of the study and must be able to sign a written informed consent. * Participants with central nervous system (CNS) metastases must be stable after therapy for CNS metastases (such as surgery, radiation, or stereotactic radiosurgery) for at least 1 month. * Participants must have adequate normal organ and bone marrow function as defined below: * Absolute neutrophil count \>/= 1,000/mcL * Hemoglobin \>/= 9.0 g/dL * Platelets \>/= 100,000/mcL * Total bilirubin \</= 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST (SGOT)/ ALT (SGPT) \</= 2.5 x ULN; \</= 5 x ULN in the setting of metastatic liver disease * Creatinine \</= 1.5 x ULN or creatinine clearance \>/= 50 mL/min Exclusion Criteria: * Prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted, immunotherapy or investigational therapy within 2 weeks or major surgery within 4 weeks of study enrollment or those who have not recovered (to grade ≤ 1 or baseline) from clinically significant adverse events due to agents administered more than 2 weeks earlier (alopecia and fatigue excluded). * Participants must not be receiving an ER blocking endocrine therapy (includes fulvestrant, tamoxifen, toremifene, raloxifene) and must be off the agents for a minimum of 60 days prior to planned FES PET/CT to allow for adequate uptake of FES. * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of chemical or biologic composition similar to those of tamoxifen or \[18F\]-fluoroestradiol. * Peripheral neuropathy of severity greater than grade 1. * Current optic nerve disorders, retinopathy, lattice degeneration, macular degeneration, retinal vascular disorder, or retinal tears of severity greater than grade 1. * History of cerebellar disorders, ataxia, and uncontrolled seizures unless related to transient medical condition and in investigator's opinion is not an active medical issue. * History of venous thrombosis/thromboembolic event, including pulmonary embolism and stroke. * Have a heart-rate corrected QT interval (using Fridericia's formula) (QTcF) ≥ 470msec or other factors that increase the risk of QT prolongation or arrhythmic events (e.g., heart failure, chronic hypokalemia, family history of long QT interval syndrome). * Are taking medications that are known to prolong the QT interval, unless they can be transferred to other medications ≥ 5 half-lives prior to dosing or unless the medications can be properly monitored during the study. If equivalent medication is not available, QTcF should be closely monitored. * Tamoxifen has demonstrated vaginal bleeding, birth defects and fetal loss in pregnant women. Tamoxifen use during pregnancy may have a potential long-term risk to the fetus of a Diethylstilbestrol syndrome (DES)-like syndrome. Women of childbearing potential (WOCP) must not be pregnant (confirmed by a negative urine/serum pregnancy test within 14 days of tamoxifen treatment). In addition, a medically acceptable method of birth control must be used such as an intrauterine device (IUD), use of a double barrier method (condoms, sponge, diaphragm, or vaginal ring with spermicidal jellies or cream), or total abstinence during the study participation and for 3 months after last dose of study drug. Women who are postmenopausal for at least 1 year or surgically sterile (bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy, or hysterectomy) are not considered to be WOCP. * Ongoing treatment with other investigational agents. Participants cannot be receiving concomitant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, experimental therapy or any other therapy not otherwise outlined by the trial for the purposes of anti-cancer treatment. * History of uterine malignancy unless participant has had hysterectomy with no evidence recurrent disease for ≥ 3 years from definitive therapy. * Concurrent malignancy except for the following: * Basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * In situ cervical cancer * The following medications are contraindicated or must be used with caution. * Contraindicated: * CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP2C9 strong inhibitors * CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP2C9 strong inducers * Use with caution: * CYP2C9 sensitive substrates * CYP2D6 moderate inhibitors or inducers * CYP3A4 moderate inhibitors or inducers Note: Transdermal products designed for systemic delivery must be assessed for interaction potential. Topical products not designed to provide systemic delivery (including inhaled products, ophthalmologic products and transvaginal preparations) do not need to be considered. Contraindicated medications are not allowed. Participants taking these concurrent medications are ineligible unless they can discontinue or switch to alternative medications prior to initiation of study drug (at least 5 half-lives). Use with caution agents are permitted if a) discontinuation is not feasible or b) no acceptable alternatives are available as determined by the treating physician; however, caution should be used. Consider monitoring by symptoms, labs or drug levels and dose adjustments of the medication. * Uncontrolled intercurrent clinically significant illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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 study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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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
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
RECRUITINGMadison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
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Wisconsin Oncology Network (WONIX) sites
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGMadison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
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