Glow-in-the-Dark drug could slash repeat breast cancer surgeries
NCT ID NCT04815083
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This phase 3 trial tested a drug called PD G 506 A that makes cancer cells glow under a special camera during breast-conserving surgery. The goal was to help surgeons see and remove leftover cancer in real time, reducing the need for a second operation. The study enrolled 57 women with breast cancer scheduled for lumpectomy. The trial was terminated early, so the full benefits and risks are not yet clear.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride (PD G 506 A)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help surgeons remove all cancer in one operation, reducing the need for repeat surgeries and preserving more healthy breast tissue.
- What could go wrong
- The trial was terminated early with only 57 participants, so results are limited. The drug may not reliably highlight all cancer cells, and there is a risk of false positives or side effects from the imaging agent.
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 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
-
57 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Apr 2021
- Finished
-
Dec 2024
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
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
-
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. Female, 18 years or older 2. Histologically or cytologically confirmed primary breast cancer (includes invasive lobular carcinoma, invasive ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, papillary breast cancer, adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast, mucinous breast cancer, metaplastic breast cancer, cribriform carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ, alone or in combination with invasive disease) 3. Scheduled for a lumpectomy (including bilateral lumpectomy) of a breast malignancy (eligibility for breast conserving surgery/partial mastectomy based on clinical staging using TNM staging system (AJCC Cancer Staging Manual: Breast Cancer, 8th Edition70). 4. Patient must have normal organ and bone marrow function and be appropriate surgical candidate per site standard of care 5. Women of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) starting the day entering the study, and for the duration of the study period (until the Week 2 visit) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Currently on (neo)adjuvant therapy to treat another cancer 2. Receiving or intended to receive neoadjuvant therapy to treat the primary breast cancer (including chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and radiotherapy) 3. Stage 4 cancer, inclusive of metastatic disease 4. Non-invasive diseases of the breast (includes lobular carcinoma in situ, phyllodes and Paget's disease of the breast) 5. Patients who have had the following procedures performed on the involved breast: 1. Surgery for a benign lesion(s) within 1 year of the BCS date 2. Breast implants inserted within 1 year of the BCS date 3. Breast reduction, surgery for malignant disease or mastectomy (at any time prior to the BCS date) 4. Surgery for a benign lesion(s) or insertion of implants \>1 year prior to the BCS date and who have signs of ongoing inflammation, active tissue healing and/or extensive scarring 5. Radiation at any time prior to the BCS date and who have signs of ongoing inflammation, active tissue healing and/or extensive scarring 6. Patients for whom intraoperative frozen section analysis is planned 7. Patients who have not recovered from adverse events due an investigational pharmaceutical or diagnostic agents administered more than 30 days prior to their scheduled surgical procedure 8. History of hypersensitivity to ALA HCl or porphyrins 9. Known or documented personal or family history of porphyria 10. Patient has a recording of any parameter as defined below: 1. Bilirubin: Above upper limit of normal 2. Aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT): \> 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal 3. Alanine aminotransferase ( (SGPT): \> 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal 11. Patient has serum creatinine \>1.5 times institutional upper limit of normal, OR calculated creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min/1.73 m² for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal. 12. Uncontrolled concurrent illness, that in the opinion of the Investigator would prevent the patient from participation in the study, including but not limited to: 1. Ongoing or active infection; 2. Cardiovascular disease (e.g. symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia). 13. Patients who have the following collagen vascular diseases: 1. Lupus 2. Scleroderma 14. Use of an investigational drug within 30 days of their scheduled surgical procedure 15. Simultaneous use of other potentially phototoxic substances (such as St. John's wort, griseofulvin, thiazide diuretics, sulfonylureas, phenothiazines, sulphonamides, quinolones and tetracyclines), and topical preparations containing ALA for 24 hours during the perioperative period. 16. Social or medical situations including uncontrolled psychiatric illnesses that would in the opinion of the Investigator limit compliance with study requirements (e.g. ability to travel for follow-up) 17. Patients who are pregnant or become pregnant (it is unknown if ALA HCl is teratogenic or has abortifacient effects) 18. Patients who are breast feeding (there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with ALA HCl, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with ALA HCl) 19. Inability to consent
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Breast cancer are added.
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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Aurora St. Luke's Medical Centre
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53215, United States
-
BayCare Morton Plant Hospital
Clearwater, Florida, 33756, United States
-
BayCare St. Joseph's Hospital
Tampa, Florida, 33607, United States
-
Montefiore Medical Center
The Bronx, New York, 10467, United States
-
Orlando Health, Inc.
Orlando, Florida, 32806, United States
-
Stamford Hospital
Stamford, Connecticut, 06902, United States
-
University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a common steroid shield breast cancer patients from a dangerous drug side effect?
- Tiny magnetic seeds could guide surgeons to the right lymph node
- New PET tracer aims to light up hidden cancer targets
- Gut bacteria supplement tested against chemo hair loss
- Can a mindfulness program boost Self-Compassion in breast cancer survivors?
- Can a Decades-Old Anti-Inflammatory drug quiet the joint pain that drives women off breast cancer therapy?