The team at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center offers more clinical trials for breast cancer patients with brain metastases than any other center in the world. Our physicians and researchers are on the forefront of developing more effective treatment options for patients living with brain metastases.
Should you participate in a clinical trial?
In recent years, clinical trials — some of which have been led at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center — have led to many advances in the care and treatment of people with breast brain metastases. Today we have access to a range of options beyond radiation and surgery, including targeted immunotherapy and systemic treatments.
Participating in a clinical trial is a very personal decision and a choice that is completely yours to make. If it feels right to you, there are several good reasons to participate:
- Clinical trials are how we make progress against cancer.
- Taking part in a clinical trial can offer you new treatment options.
- By participating in a clinical trial, you contribute to knowledge that can help future patients.
Speak to your doctor about your clinical trial options. Learn more about clinical trials and whether participating in a clinical trial is right for you.
Research Advances in Breast Cancer with Brain Metastases
In addition to providing expert care for patients with breast cancer, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center physician scientists have been on the forefront of developing more effective treatment options for patients living with brain metastases for many years.
Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center investigators led the first clinical trials of HER2-targeted therapy for the treatment of breast cancer brain metastases. A combination of Lapatinib (Tykerb) with capecitabine (Xeloda) was the first targeted, systemic treatment to demonstrate effectiveness in the brain in clinical trials. Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center investigators led the very first trials of this regimen, which is now included in national and international guidelines for treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
The combination of Neratinib (Nerlynx) and capecitabine (Xeloda) can also be effective in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastases. Dana-Farber investigators led the trial leading to the inclusion of this treatment regimen in national treatment guidelines.
Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center physicians have led national and international efforts to improve the design of clinical trials for patients with breast cancer that has spread to the brain. Close collaborations between laboratory scientists and clinical investigators has led to a series of exciting new clinical trials currently recruiting patients.
Current Clinical Trials
- Trial #22-671: BRIDGET: Secondary BRain metastases prevention after Isolated intracranial progression on trastuzumab/pertuzumab or T-DM1 in patients with aDvanced human epidermal Growth factor receptor 2+ brEast cancer with the addition of Tucatinib
Principal investigator: Sarah Sammons, MD - Trial #20-683: Phase 1 clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of ZN-A-1041 enteric capsules as a single agent or in combination for HER2-positive advanced solid tumors
Principal investigator: Nancy U. Lin, MD - Trial #21-137: Phase 1 dose escalation and dose expansion and phase 2 monotherapy open-label, first-in-human, multicenter study of OP-1250 for advanced and/or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
Principal investigator: Nancy U. Lin, MD - Trial #18-516: Phase 2 trial of GDC-0084 in combination with trastuzumab for patients with HER2- positive breast cancer brain metastases
Principal investigator: Jose Pablo Leone, MD - Trial #21-531: Phase 2 trial of sacituzumab govitecan for HER2-negative breast cancer and brain metastases
Principal investigator: Nancy U. Lin, MD - Trial #16-305: Phase 3 randomized trial of whole-brain radiation versus stereotactic radiation in patients with 5-20 brain metastases
Principal investigator: Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS - Trial #19-066: Screening MRI of the brain for metastatic breast cancer managed with chemotherapy or inflammatory breast cancer managed with definitive intent
Principal investigator: Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS - Trial #20-240: Phase 2 randomized study of brain-directed stereotactic radiation with or without AGuIX gadolinium-based nanoparticles for brain metastases at higher risk of local recurrence with radiation alone
Principal investigator: Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS
Ask your provider if any of these clinical trials may be right for you.
Research Team
Hugo Aerts, PhD
Ayal Aaron Aizer, MD, MHS
Omar Arnaout, MD
David Barbie, MD
Linda Bi, MD, PhD
Ugonma Chukwueke, MD
Rachel Freedman, MD, MPH
Alexandra Golby, MD
Daphne A. Haas-Kogan, MD
Raymond Y. Huang, MD, PhD
Jose Pablo Leone, MD
Eudocia Quant Lee, MD
Keith Ligon, MD, PhD
Nancy U. Lin, MD
J. Ricardo McFaline-Figueroa, MD, PhD
Heather Parsons, MD, MPH
Pier Paolo Peruzzi, MD, PhD
Rifaquat Musaffa Rahman, MD
Sarah Sammons, MD
Sandro Santagata, MD, PhD
Timothy Smith, MD, PhD
Shyam Tanguturi, MD
Sara Tolaney, MD, MPH
Jean Zhao, PhD