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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.
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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 #18-516: Phase II trial of GDC-0084 in combination with trastuzumab for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastases
Principal investigator: Jose Pablo Leone, MD
- Trial #22-067: DESTINY-Breast12: Trastuzumab
deruxtecan for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer with or without brain metastases
Principal investigator: Nancy U. Lin, MD
- Trial #20-515: HER2CLIMB-04: Trastuzumab
deruxtecan plus tucatinib for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer with or
without brain metastases
Principal investigator: Nancy U. Lin, MD
- Trial #20-683: ZN-A-1041 combinations for
patients with HER2-positive breast cancer with or without brain metastases
Principal investigator: Nancy U. Lin, MD
- Trial #21-531: Sacituzumab govitecan for patients
with HER2-negative brain metastases
Principal investigator: Nancy U. Lin, MD
- Trial #21-137: OP-1250 for patients with metastatic,
ER-positive breast cancer
Principal investigator: Nancy U. Lin, MD
- Trial #16-305: Whole-brain radiation vs. stereotactic
radiation for patients with 5-20 brain metastases
Principal investigator: Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS
- Trial #19-066: Screening MRI of the brain in
metastatic breast cancer or inflammatory breast cancer
Principal investigator: Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS
Ask your provider if any of these clinical trials may be right for you.
Search Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center clinical trials
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
Sheheryar Kabraji, MB, ChB
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
Sandro Santagata, MD, PhD
Timothy Smith, MD, PhD
Shyam Tanguturi, MD
Sara Tolaney, MD, MPH
Jean Zhao, PhD