What are plain language summaries (PLS)?
Our breast oncology experts have developed short summaries using everyday language describing the design and results of select clinical trials and studies. These summaries provide an overview of the specific clinical trial or study – how and why it was conducted, who participated, and the overall results. These summaries do not include data about individual trial participants.
We are pleased to make this important information available to a wider audience and hope that it is informative to trial participants, family members, loved ones, researchers, and members of the public. We are grateful to the patients who participated in these clinical trials, as well as to those who have supported them.
How are these summaries developed?
A team of our experienced science writers and research patient advocates worked together to summarize the research results published in highly respected, peer-reviewed medical journals in everyday language. The physician researchers who led the published research have verified that these summaries are accurate.
Do all trials and studies have a plain language summary?
The trials and studies summarized here were developed and led by physician researchers in the Breast Oncology Program at Dana-Farber. If the trial or study you are looking for was led by another institution or directly sponsored by a pharmaceutical company, it will not appear here.
This work is ongoing; more clinical trial and study summaries will be added to this page over time.
How do I find more information about this research?
If you have questions about the trial you participated in or your experience, please speak to your treating provider.
You can find more information at the end of each plain language summary in the "Where can I learn more about this trial/study?" section.
Plain Language Summaries of Clinical Trials and Studies by Breast Cancer Subtype
Some of the plain language summaries are for interventional clinical trials and some are for observational studies.
- Interventional clinical trials evaluate new treatments or procedures, or other action taken to treat disease or improve health in other ways.
- Observational studies monitor people and compare changes over time. Observational studies do not test a medical intervention, such as a drug or device, but may help identify new treatments or prevention strategies to test in clinical trials.
Within each subtype and stage of breast cancer, the most recent research is listed first. If applicable, the Dana-Farber Protocol ID is listed after the trial name. The year shown after the trial name represents the publication year of the research paper. A clinical trial or study may appear under more than one subtype if it included patients with different subtypes of breast cancer.
Estrogen-Receptor (ER+) Positive Breast Cancer (also called HR+)
Early Stage
- CHiRP: Study of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to identify risk of breast cancer returning, Protocol ID: 20-674 (2022)
- Estudio CHiRP: Estudio del ADN tumoral circulante para identificar el riesgo de que el cáncer de mama regrese (Spanish), ID de Protocolo: 20-674 (2022)
- Feasibility and safety of avoiding granulocyte colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis during the paclitaxel portion of dose dense doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel regimen, Protocol ID: 15-516 (2020)
Advanced Stage (Metastatic)
- A phase 2 study of eribulin in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: evaluation of efficacy, toxicity, and patient-reported outcomes, Protocol ID: 13-077 (2020)
HER2-Positive (HER2+) Breast Cancer
Early Stage
- ATEMPT: A phase 2 study of trastuzumab emtansine (TDM1) vs. paclitaxel in combination with trastuzumab for stage I HER2-positive breast cancer, Protocol ID: 13-048 (2021)
- Feasibility and safety of avoiding granulocyte colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis during the paclitaxel portion of dose dense doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel regimen, Protocol ID: 15-516 (2020)
Advanced Stage (Metastatic)
- A phase 2 study of eribulin mesylate in combination with trastuzumab and pertuzumab in women with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, Protocol ID: 13-163 (2021)
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)
Early Stage
- Feasibility and safety of avoiding granulocyte colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis during the paclitaxel portion of dose dense doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel regimen, Protocol ID: 15-516 (2020)
Advanced Stage (Metastatic)
- A phase 2 study of cisplatin + AZD1775 in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and evaluation of pCDC2 as a biomarker of target response, Protocol ID: 16-264 (2021)
- A phase 2 study of eribulin in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: evaluation of efficacy, toxicity, and patient-reported outcomes, Protocol ID: 13-077 (2020)