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Looking for participantsPhase2

A Trial of Early Detection of Molecular Relapse With Circulating Tumour DNA Tracking and Treatment With Palbociclib Plus Fulvestrant Versus Standard Endocrine Therapy in Patients With ER Positive HER2 Negative Breast Cancer

Sponsor: Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

NCT ID: NCT04985266

View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

At a glance

What the study gets you
Access to the study treatment being tested
Type of study
Interventional (receives a drug or procedure)
Time in hospital
In-person visits at study sites — visit count not specified by the sponsor
Drug or intervention
Palbociclib 125Mg Tab (drug), Fulvestrant injection (drug), Tamoxifen (drug), Letrozole (drug)
How long the study runs
Study runs about 102 months (dates as stated)
About the drug or intervention
Palbociclib 125Mg Tab — drug: Palbociclib Tablets, 125 mg orally once daily, beginning on Cycle 1, on Days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle. · Fulvestrant injection — drug: Fulvestrant Intramuscular injections, 500 mg as two injection of 250mg fulvestrant in 5ml solution at each visit. · Tamoxifen — drug: As per clinical guidelines · Letrozole — drug: As per clinical guidelines · Exemestane — drug: As per clinical guidelines · Anastrozole — drug: As per clinical guidelines
Patient visit burden
Not specified by the sponsor

In plain English

This trial, run by the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, is for people with hormone-sensitive (ER positive) breast cancer that lacks the HER2 protein and has a high risk of coming back after surgery. It tests whether regular blood tests can spot cancer DNA returning very early, and whether treating this early return with palbociclib plus fulvestrant works better than continuing standard hormone (endocrine) therapy.

Who can take part

  • Adults aged 18 or over, male or female, who are well enough for everyday activity (or need some rest during the day)
  • ER positive, HER2 negative breast cancer confirmed by laboratory tests
  • High risk early stage breast cancer - for example, cancer in 4 or more lymph nodes, a tumour larger than 5 cm, or cancer still in lymph nodes after chemotherapy before surgery
  • Already having standard hormone therapy (such as letrozole, anastrozole, exemestane or tamoxifen) for at least 6 months and up to 7 years, with at least 3 more years planned
  • No sign that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, and surgery that removed the cancer with clear margins
  • A stored tumour tissue sample available, and willingness to have frequent blood tests
  • For the treatment stage: good blood, kidney and liver function, and use of contraception for a period during and after treatment if you could have children

Who may not be able to

  • Any other cancer treatment planned besides hormone therapy or a bone-strengthening drug (bisphosphonate)
  • Having had a CDK 4/6 inhibitor (such as palbociclib-type drugs) within the last 12 months, or taken part in a trial using one after surgery
  • Previous treatment with fulvestrant (one very low dose is allowed)
  • Another cancer diagnosed in the last 5 years (apart from some skin and cervical cancers)
  • Serious uncontrolled heart problems, or lung conditions such as pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis
  • Known HIV, or active hepatitis B or C
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Problems with blood clotting, or taking warfarin; some other blood thinners are allowed
  • Severe liver disease or very low kidney function
  • Bowel disease or conditions that stop oral medicines being absorbed properly
  • Still recovering from serious side effects of earlier cancer treatment, or major surgery in the last 4 weeks (treatment stage)
  • For the treatment stage: grapefruit, pomelos, starfruit or Seville oranges and some medicines and supplements that affect how palbociclib is broken down, if these cannot be stopped

What taking part involves

  • • Stage 1: regular blood tests to look for circulating tumour DNA (pieces of cancer DNA in the blood) that could show the cancer is coming back
  • • If no cancer DNA is found, you carry on with your standard hormone therapy as usual
  • • If cancer DNA is found and scans show no cancer spread, you are randomly assigned (by chance) to one of two groups
  • • One group takes palbociclib tablets plus fulvestrant (given as an injection) with ovarian suppression if you have not been through the menopause
  • • The other group continues their standard hormone therapy
  • • Everyone continues to be monitored with blood tests and scans as part of the trial

Time commitment: Taking part involves frequent blood tests during the surveillance stage, and if you join the treatment stage, regular hospital visits for up to several years with scans, blood tests and either tablets, injections or both - exact schedule and total duration: not stated - ask the trial team.

Plain-English summary (AI-generated) from registry data. Not eligibility advice — only the trial team can confirm whether you can take part. Use the eligibility checker to see how your health profile matches this trial.

Type of study
Testing a treatment
Ages
18 Years and over
Who
All
Number of participants
1,100
Started
2022-03-30
Last checked
2024-12

Plain English Summary

What is this study?

  • • Testing a new treatment for er+ breast cancer
  • • Phase2 - 1,100 participants
  • • Detection of molecular relapse with circulating tumour DNA analysis can identify which patients with ER positive breast cancer are relapsing on adjuvant endocrine therapy

Who can take part?

  • • Ages 18 Years and over
  • • Diagnosed with er+ breast cancer

Where?

  • • London - Barnet Hospital
  • • Truro - Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
  • • Bournemouth - University Hospitals Dorset: Royal Bournemouth Hospital
  • • Brighton - Royal Sussex Hospital
  • • +24 more UK sites

This is a simplified summary. Always discuss with your doctor before making any decisions.

About This Trial

Detection of molecular relapse with circulating tumour DNA analysis can identify which patients with ER positive breast cancer are relapsing on adjuvant endocrine therapy. This trial will aim to demonstrate that palbociclib and fulvestrant, can defer or prevent relapse in patients with ctDNA detected molecular relapse. The TRAK-ER trial will have two phases, a ctDNA surveillance phase and a randomised therapy trial in patients with positive ctDNA. The TRAK-ER trial will establish a ctDNA screening programme for patients with ER positive breast cancer receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy with at least a further three years of standard adjuvant endocrine therapy planned. Patients recruited into the TRAK-ER study will have high-risk clinical features to identify patients at higher risk of future relapse. ctDNA assays will be used to identify which people are at very high risk of relapse (i.e. those with a positive ctDNA result), and randomise this high risk population between standard endocrine therapy versus palbociclib plus fulvestrant for up to two years.

More detail

The TRAK-ER trial is a multi-centre, randomised, open-label trial in patients with early stage oestrogen reception positive (ER+) human epidermal growth receptor-2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer, whom have detectable circulating DNA (ctDNA) but no overt macroscopic disease on imaging. TRAK-ER aims to demonstrate that fulvestrant plus palbociclib improves relapse free survival compared to standard endocrine therapy in this patient group. Despite current treatment, patients with ER+HER2- breast cancer are considered high-risk of distant recurrence for more than the first two decades after initial diagnosis. ctDNA analysis provides a non-invasive, serial source of tumour material which can monitor tumour dynamics and detect molecular relapse. TRAK-ER will be split into two phases, the first surveillance phase aims to investigate the use of ctDNA to identify and predict the risk of molecular relapse in early ER+/HER2- breast cancer patients whom are receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy with no overt macroscopic disease on imaging. Using ctDNA assays, patients enrolled on TRAK-ER will receive ctDNA testing on a three-monthly basis for up to three years. In the instance where ctDNA is detected, imaging will determine whether overt disease is present. If a patient had a positive ctDNA detection and no macroscopic disease on the staging scan, the patient will be randomised to one of the treatment groups in the second phase of TRAK-ER, the treatment phase. The treatment phase of TRAK-ER will be a randomised, open-label study which aims to determine whether fulvestrant plus palbociclib (intervention arm) improves relapse free survival compared to standard endocrine therapy (control arm) in patients carried through from the surveillance phase. Patients on each arm will receive treatment (fulvestrant plus palbociclib or standard endocrine therapy) for up to 24 months. Six monthly imaging will determine the presence of macroscopic disease. If macroscopic disease is observed, the patient will discontinue TRAK-ER treatment and commence standard therapy outside of the TRAK-ER trial.

ER+ Breast CancerHER2-negative Breast Cancer

How this trial compares with your answers

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What we know so far

Condition· Matched your search
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Preliminary match based on your answers. Full eligibility requires on-site assessment including medical history, physical exam, and lab tests. This does not guarantee enrolment.

Eligibility at a Glance

Key info

  • Age: 18 Years and over
  • Who can join: All genders
  • How fit you need to be: ECOG 0 or better

Biomarkers mentioned

ERHER2or negativenodes or positivenode positivenode negativehave a negativesince positive

Treatment history

Treatments you must have had:

  • ✓ had surgery achieving clear margins (as per local guidelines)
  • ✓ commenced licensed GnRH analogues at least 2 weeks
  • ✓ as part of study screening)

What the study is looking for

  • ✓Inclusion Criteria for ctDNA Surveillance:
  • ✓Written agreement to take part to participate in the trial and to donation of tissue and blood samples
  • ✓Male or female patients aged 18 years or older
  • ✓ECOG performance status 0, 1 or 2 (see https://ecog-acrin.org/resources/ecog-performance-status)
  • ✓Patients with high risk early stage breast cancer according to at least one of the following criteria:
See the full criteria
Inclusion Criteria for ctDNA Surveillance: 1. Written informed consent to participate in the trial and to donation of tissue and blood samples 2. Male or female patients aged 18 years or older 3. ECOG performance status 0, 1 or 2 (see https://ecog-acrin.org/resources/ecog-performance-status) 4. Histologically proven primary ER+ (Allred score 6/8 or greater, or stain in ≥10% of cancer cells) and HER2- (immunohistochemistry 0/1+ and/or negative by in situ hybridization) breast cancer as determined by local laboratory 5. Patients with high risk early stage breast cancer according to at least one of the following criteria: Primary surgery (no other treatment prior to surgery) A. Four or more involved axillary lymph nodes or positive supraclavicular lymph node at diagnosis, or B. Tumour size \> 5 cm, regardless of lymph node status, or C. 1-3 involved axillary lymph nodes and at least one of the following; i) Tumour size \> 3 cm, ii) histological grade 3 iii) high genomic risk defined as Oncotype Dx Recurrence Score \>=26, Prosigna score \>=60, EPclin risk score \>=4.0, or Mammaprint high risk category, or Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy prior to surgery) D. At least one lymph node positive (micrometastasis or macrometastasis) after chemotherapy E. Lymph node negative and tumour size \> 3 cm after chemotherapy Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (endocrine based therapy prior to surgery) Use the primary surgery criteria - staging tumour size and lymph node status may be either the pathological staging after endocrine therapy or on the initial clinical staging prior to neoadjuvant therapy 6. Available tissue from one archival tumour tissue sample (either from diagnostic biopsy, primary surgery or where available residual disease post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy) 7. No evidence of macroscopic distant metastatic disease or incurable locally advanced disease on staging scans conducted at any time since initial diagnosis. 8. Patients receiving standard endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors (letrozole, anastrazole, exemestane), tamoxifen, or combination of such for a minimum of 6 months\* and maximum of 7 years duration with an additional three years of endocrine therapy planned. Pre- or peri-menopausal patients may also receive GnRH analogues. \* patients may enrol during the first 6 months of standard endocrine therapy, and wait until at least 6 months of endocrine therapy has been received prior to starting ctDNA surveillance 9. Patients must have had surgery achieving clear margins (as per local guidelines) 10. Female and male patients of reproductive potential must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception for the first three years of the trial, if randomised to standard endocrine therapy for the duration of trial treatment through to at least 4 weeks after the last dose of trial treatment, and if randomised to fulvestrant and palbociclib to 2 years after the last dose of fulvestrant (see section 4.6). Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the patient. 11. Patients willing to have frequent blood tests. Inclusion Criteria for Interventional phase: 1. Signed informed consent for treatment 2. ECOG performance status 0, 1 or 2 3. Women of childbearing potential should have a negative serum pregnancy test prior to randomisation. If randomisation occurs more than 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of treatment the test must be repeated before treatment. 4. Female and male patients of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception (section 4.6), starting with the first dose of treatment through 4 weeks after the last dose of treatment if randomised to standard endocrine therapy and 2 years after the last dose of fulvestrant if randomised to fulvestrant and palbociclib. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the patient. Female patients will be deemed not of childbearing potential if they are postmenopausal or have had irreversible sterilisation 5. Patient has adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined by the following laboratory values: 1. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 × 109/L 2. Platelets ≥ 100 × 109/L 3. Haemoglobin ≥ 100 g/L 4. INR ≤1.5 5. Creatinine \<1.5 x ULN and creatinine clearance ≥30ml/min 6. Total bilirubin \< ULN except for patients with Gilbert's syndrome who may only be included if the total bilirubin is ≤ 3.0 × ULN or direct bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN. 7. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 2.5 x ULN 8. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \< 2.5 × ULN 6. Patients must be post-menopausal OR Pre- or peri-menopausal patients or men may be enrolled if they have ovarian/gonadal suppression with licensed GnRH analogues. Patients must have commenced licensed GnRH analogues at least 2 weeks prior to Cycle 1 Day 1 and continue throughout the study if randomised to fulvestrant and palbociclib. Post-menopausal female patients, as defined by at least one of the following: * Age ≥60 years; * Age \<60 years and cessation of regular menses for at least 12 consecutive months with no alternative pathological or physiological cause, and serum estradiol and FSH levels within the institutional laboratory's reference range for post-menopausal females; * Documented bilateral oophorectomy; Exclusion Criteria for ctDNA Surveillance: 1. Any concurrent or planned treatment for the current diagnosis of breast cancer other than adjuvant endocrine therapy or a bisphosphonate. 2. Patients with prior exposure to a CDK 4/6 inhibitor as part of standard of care may enrol only after at least 12 months from completing CDK4/6 therapy. 3. Prior exposure to therapeutic dose of fulvestrant is not permitted. One subtherapeutic dose of fulvestrant is permitted. 4. Prior diagnosis of cancer including prior diagnosis of breast cancer in the previous 5 years, other than for non-melanoma carcinoma of the skin or cervical carcinoma in situ 5. Patients previously entered into a therapeutic trial where experimental therapy is continued post-surgery. Patients who have entered a clinical trial of a CDK4/6 inhibitor in the adjuvant setting are not eligible. Patients who received a CDK4/6 inhibitor only before an operation, with no post-operative adjuvant use, are eligible. 6. Treatment with an unlicensed or investigational product within 4 weeks prior registration to trial 7. Patient has not recovered to ≤ grade 1 (except alopecia or certain other toxicities, which in the opinion of the Investigator should not exclude the patient) from related side effects of any prior antineoplastic therapy, not including side-effects of endocrine therapy 8. Patient with impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of oral medication (e.g. Crohn's disease, ulcerative diseases, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, malabsorption syndrome, or small bowel resection) 9. Patient has any other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical condition that would, in the Investigator' opinion cause unacceptable safety risks, contraindicate patient participation in the clinical trial or compromise compliance with the protocol. 10. Clinically significant uncontrolled heart disease including any of the following: 1. History of myocardial infarction (MI), angina pectoris, symptomatic pericarditis, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) within 6 months prior to trial entry 2. Symptomatic congestive heart failure 3. Long QT syndrome or family history of idiopathic sudden death or congenital long QT syndrome. 4. Cardiac arrhythmia. 11. History of pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease or pulmonary fibrosis 12. Known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (testing not required as part of study screening) 13. Known active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C (testing not required as part of study screening) 14. Females who are known to be pregnant or breastfeeding 15. History of bleeding diathesis (i.e. disseminated intravascular coagulation, clotting factor deficiency), other known abnormalities in coagulation or treatment with anticoagulants. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), low dose aspirin or clopidogrel are permitted. 16. Child-Pugh class C hepatic impairment or creatinine clearance \< 30ml/min. 17. Patient with bilateral tumours, or unilateral multifocal cancers with multiple separate primary cancers.(Multifocal cancer that reflects a single primary cancer, in the opinion of the investigator, are eligible) Exclusion Criteria for Interventional phase: 1. Evidence of recurrent disease (metastatic or local, see section 6.6 for management of patients with potentially curable local recurrences) on staging scans conducted since positive ctDNA result 2. Known hypersensitivity to the excipients of palbociclib plus fulvestrant 3. Any anti-cancer treatment since enrolling in the TRAK-ER study other than hormonal therapy or a bisphosphonate. Prior exposure to fulvestrant is not permitted. 4. Diagnosis of an alternative cancer since enrolment in the trial other than non-melanoma cancer of the skin or cervical carcinoma in situ 5. Patient has had major surgery within 4 weeks prior to starting trial treatment or has not recovered from major side effects of such procedure 6. Patient is currently receiving warfarin or other coumarin derived anti-coagulant, for treatment, prophylaxis or otherwise. Therapy with unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), or a direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC such as rivaroxaban or fondaparinux) is allowed 7. Patient has not recovered to ≤ grade 1 (except alopecia or certain other toxicities, which in the opinion of the Investigator should not exclude the patient) from related side effects of any prior antineoplastic therapy, not including side-effects of endocrine therapy 8. Patient with impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of oral medication (e.g. Crohn's disease, ulcerative diseases, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, malabsorption syndrome, or small bowel resection) 9. Patient has any other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical condition that would, in the Investigator' opinion cause unacceptable safety risks, contraindicate patient participation in the clinical trial or compromise compliance with the protocol. 10. Clinically significant uncontrolled heart disease including any of the following: 1. History of myocardial infarction (MI), angina pectoris, symptomatic pericarditis, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) within 6 months prior to trial entry 2. Symptomatic congestive heart failure 3. Long QT syndrome or family history of idiopathic sudden death or congenital long QT syndrome. 4. Cardiac arrhythmia. 11. Patient is currently receiving any of the following substances and cannot be discontinued 7 days prior to Cycle 1 Day 1: * Medications that are strong inducers or inhibitors of CYP3A4 (section 8.5.2) * Herbal preparations/medications, dietary supplements, fruits (e.g grapefruit, pomelos, starfruit, Seville oranges) and their juice 12. History of pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease or pulmonary fibrosis 13. Known history of HIV (testing not required as part of study screening) 14. Known active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C (testing not required as part of study screening) 15. Patient has a history of non-compliance to medical regimen 16. History of bleeding diathesis (i.e. disseminated intravascular coagulation, clotting factor deficiency), other known abnormalities in coagulation or treatment with anticoagulants. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), low dose aspirin or clopidogrel are permitted. 17. Females who are known to be pregnant or breastfeeding.

Where Is This Study? (28 UK sites)

Barnet Hospital

London EN5 3DJ, United Kingdom

NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Site contact (verified)

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

Truro TR1 3LJ, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

University Hospitals Dorset: Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Bournemouth BH7 7DW, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)
PI: Dr Amit Chakrabartiamit.chakrabarti@uhd.nhs.uk

Royal Sussex Hospital

Brighton BN2 5BE, United Kingdom

NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Site contact (verified)
PI: Prof Gianfilippo Bertelli01273696955g.bertelli@nhs.net

Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre

Bristol BS2 8ED, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

Velindre Cancer Centre

Cardiff CF14 2TL, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

Velindre University NHS Trust

Cardiff CF14 2TL, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

Darlington Memorial Hospital

Darlington, United Kingdom

NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Hospital R&D contact (matched)

Research and Development Team cdda-tr.Research@nhs.net

nencadmin@nihr.ac.uk01325 743366

Western General

Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital

Exeter EX2 5DW, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

Glasgow G12 0YN, United Kingdom

NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Site contact (verified)

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust: Hinchingbrooke Hospital

Huntingdon PE29 6NT, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)
PI: Dr Indrani Bhattacharya01480416428indrani.bhattacharya@nhs.net

St James's University Hospital

Leeds LS9 7FT, United Kingdom

NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Site contact (verified)
PI: Dr David Jacksondavidpjackson@nhs.net

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)
PI: Professor Carlo Palmieri0151 556 5277cpalmi@liverpool.ac.uk

Barts Health NHS Trust

London EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

Mount Vernon Hospital

London HA6 2RN, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)
PI: Dr Andreas Makris0333 332 5470amakris@nhs.net

University College London Hospital

London NW1 2BU, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)
PI: Dr Rebecca Roylancer.roylance@ucl.ac.uk

The Royal Free Hospital

London NW3 2QG, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

London SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)
Nicholas TurnerPrincipal Investigator

Maidstone Hospital

Maidstone ME16 9QQ, United Kingdom

NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Site contact (verified)
PI: Dr Catherine Harper-Wynne01622228631charperwynne@nhs.net

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)
PI: Dr Ciara O'BrienCiara.obrien3@nhs.net

Nottingham University Hopsitals NHS Trust

Nottingham NG5 1PB, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

Oxford Cancer & Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital,

Oxford OX3 7LE, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust: Peterborough Hospital

Peterborough PE3 9GZ, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)
PI: Sarah Ayerss.ayers@nhs.net

Derriford Hospital - UHPNT

Plymouth PL6 8DH, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)
PI: Dr Sidharth Dubey01752 431957sdubey@nhs.net

University Hospitals Dorset: Poole Hospital

Poole BH15 2JB, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)
PI: Dr Amit Chakrabartiamit.chakrabarti@uhd.nhs.uk

Weston Park Hospital

Sheffield S10 2SJ, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Taunton TA1 5DA, United Kingdom

Recruiting
Site contact (verified)

How to Get in Touch

Project Manager

Sponsor contact

CONTACT

020 7808 2887 trak-er@rmh.nhs.uk
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov · Last verified: 2024-12