Phase II Study of Ultrasound and ctDNA Guided Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy for Patients With HER2-positive Early Breast Cancer (UC HER Trial)

Summary

Although neoadjuvant dual anti-HER2-targeted therapy, pertuzumab and trastuzumab, combined with taxanes increased the pCR rate for patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer when compared with single blockade combined with chemotherapy, certain patients did not achieve pCR after receiving dual blockade or single blockade targeting HER2 combined with taxanes. Based on the cardiac safety and promising ORR rate of the regimens consisting of PLD and cyclophosphamide and trastuzumab in treating patients with HER2-positive breast cancer in the neoadjuvant or metastatic setting, the investigators hypothesized that dual blockades targeting HER2, trastuzumab and pertuzumab, combined with PLD and cyclophosphamide, will not only increase the pCR rate but also cause less cardiotoxicity for participants with residual cancer via core biopsy or non-clinical CR after receiving taxanes plus trastuzumab and pertuzumab or taxanes plus trastuzumab. The investigators also showed that ctDNA served as the surrogate prognostic marker for participants with HER2-positive EBC who received neoadjuvant trastuzumab-based regimens. In this study, the investigators will explore whether the combination of PLD (Lipo-Dox®, Liposomal Doxorubicin Injection), cyclophosphamide, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab can increase the pCR rate of participants with HER2-positive EBC if they have residual cancers (core biopsy, non-clinical CR, or positive ctDNA) after receiving a trastuzumab and taxanes-based NAT regimen. In addition, the cardiac safety, adverse effects, and clearance of ctDNA will be explored for these patients. The investigators further assess the feasibility of VAB (before operation) in these participants who achieved negative ctDNA after receiving Lipo-Dox® plus cyclophosphamide, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab.

Timeline

Start

2026-04-30

Primary completion

2029-12-31

Completion

2032-12-31

Publications

• Background Gianni L, Pienkowski T, Im YH, Roman L, Tseng LM, Liu MC, Lluch A, Staroslawska E, de la Haba-Rodriguez J, Im SA, Pedrini JL, Poirier B, Morandi P, Semiglazov V, Srimuninnimit V, Bianchi G, Szado T, Ratnayake J, Ross G, Valagussa P. Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant pertuzumab and trastuzumab in women with locally advanced, inflammatory, or early HER2-positive breast cancer (NeoSphere): a randomised multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2012 Jan;13(1):25-32. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70336-9. Epub 2011 Dec 6.
• Background van der Voort A, van Ramshorst MS, van Werkhoven ED, Mandjes IA, Kemper I, Vulink AJ, Oving IM, Honkoop AH, Tick LW, van de Wouw AJ, Mandigers CM, van Warmerdam LJ, Wesseling J, Vrancken Peeters MT, Linn SC, Sonke GS. Three-Year Follow-up of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With or Without Anthracyclines in the Presence of Dual ERBB2 Blockade in Patients With ERBB2-Positive Breast Cancer: A Secondary Analysis of the TRAIN-2 Randomized, Phase 3 Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2021 Jul 1;7(7):978-984. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.1371.
• Background Tseng LM, Chen FM, Chen ST, Cheng FT, Chao TY, Dai MS, Kao WY, Yeh MH, Chen DR, Liu LC, Wang HC, Chang HT, Wang BW, Yu JC, Chen SC, Liao GS, Hou MF. Comparison of the Efficacy, Safety, and Quality of Life of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin-Cyclophosphamide versus Epirubicin-Cyclophosphamide in Patients with Early-Stage HER2-Negative Breast Cancer: A Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter, Phase II Study. Oncol Res Treat. 2024;47(10):484-495. doi: 10.1159/000540369. Epub 2024 Jul 19.
• Results Lin PH, Tsai LW, Lo C, Kuo SH, Ni CC, Yu CH, Huang CS. ctDNA Detected after Neoadjuvant Therapy for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Is Associated with Inferior Outcomes and May Inform Adjuvant Therapy. Cancer Res Commun. 2026 Jan 1;6(1):105-114. doi: 10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-24-0234.

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Indications