Breast CancerPhase 4NCT04928261
Evaluating 6-months of HER2-targeted Therapy in Patients With HER2 Positive Early-stage Breast Cancer That Achieve a Pathological Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
A Phase 4 study testing Trastuzumab in people with Breast Cancer, run by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The activity of trastuzumab in early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer, has been demonstrated in many studies, with meta-analyses showing that in combination with a variety of chemotherapy backbones, trastuzumab reduces the risk of recurrence by nearly half, and death by a third. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Breast Cancer
- What is being tested?
- Trastuzumab
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 52 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 13 Dec 2021to Dec 2028
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Early-stage (I-III, i.e. non-metastatic) as per AJCC 8th edition, ER/PR positive or negative, HER2-positive as per 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing in breast cancer guidelines.
- Treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and HER2 targeted therapy preoperatively with a pathological complete response (pCR) defined as the absence of residual invasive cancer on hematoxylin and eosin evaluation of the complete resected breast specimen and all sampled regional lymph nodes following completion of neoadjuvant systemic therapy at surgery. Must have received less than 6 months of HER2 targeted therapy
- Able to provide verbal consent and complete questionnaires in English or French
Who cannot join
- Residual invasive disease following neoadjuvant therapy, or metastatic disease
- Contraindication to further HER2-targeted therapy following completion of neoadjuvant treatment
- Any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the trial protocol
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: A Single-arm, Multicentre, Pragmatic Trial Evaluating 6-months of HER2-targeted Therapy in Patients With HER2 Positive Early-stage Breast Cancer That Achieve a Pathological Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy (REaCT-HER TIME)
The activity of trastuzumab in early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer, has been demonstrated in many studies, with meta-analyses showing that in combination with a variety of chemotherapy backbones, trastuzumab reduces the risk of recurrence by nearly half, and death by a third. However, treatment with trastuzumab can result in cardiotoxicity, including heart failure, as well as the significant cost of treatment and the requirement for patients to attend the chemotherapy unit for treatment every 3 weeks for one year. Therefore there has been increasing interest in identifying which patients can safely have less treatment. The investigators therefore propose a real-world, single arm, multicentre trial evaluating 6 months of HER2 targeted therapy, for patients with early-stage, HER2 positive breast cancer, who achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) with upfront systemic chemotherapy and HER2 targeted therapy.
Read the detailed description
The activity of trastuzumab in early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer, has been demonstrated in many studies, with meta-analyses showing that in combination with a variety of chemotherapy backbones, trastuzumab reduces the risk of recurrence by nearly half, and death by a third. However, treatment with trastuzumab can result in cardiotoxicity, including heart failure, as well as the significant cost of treatment and the requirement for patients to attend the chemotherapy unit for treatment every 3 weeks for one year. Therefore there has been increasing interest in identifying which patients can safely have less treatment. The duration of adjuvant trastuzumab in early-stage breast cancer in the majority of studies was empirically set at 12 months, which became the de facto standard of care. Neoadjuvant treatment has become the new standard of care for patients with early-stage HER2-positive disease. While patients with residual disease benefit from further alternative treatment those with a pathological complete response (pCR) have an excellent outcome and are candidates for treatment de-escalation. The investigators therefore propose a real-world, single arm, multicentre trial evaluating 6 months of HER2 targeted therapy, for patients with early-stage, HER2 positive breast cancer, who achieve a pCR with upfront systemic chemotherapy and HER2 targeted therapy.
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer
- Being tested
- Trastuzumab
- Keywords
- Cardiac toxicities, Her2 Positive, Pathological complete response
- Medical subject headings
- Breast Neoplasms, Cardiotoxicity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
TrastuzumabDrug
Also called Herceptin
Patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who demonstrate a pathological complete response at time of surgery will be treated with HER2 targeted therapy for a total of 9 treatments every 3 weeks (or its equivalent if given weekly) including the treatment received preoperatively.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| De-escalated HER2 targeted treatment | Experimental | Patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who demonstrate a pathological complete response at time of surgery. Receives: Drug: Trastuzumab |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Multiple site activation
Evaluating the feasibility of multiple Canadian site activation within the first year of study accrual. Achieved by the activation of at least 4 Canadian sites within 1 year of the first patient being accrued into the study.
Measured: 1 year after first participant is accrued
Medical oncologist active participation
Evaluating the number of medical oncologists at each study site who actively participate in the trial. Active participation includes approaching eligible patients for the study, as well as following up with the patients who are taking part in the study.
Measured: Through to end of accrual - average 2 years
Enrolment of at least 50 participants across all sites within 9 months of the fourth site accruing its first participant
Enrolment of at least 50 participants across all sites within 9 months of the fourth site accruing its first participant.
Measured: 9 months after fourth site accrues first participant
Secondary outcomes (6)
Cardiac events
Cardiac events defined as death from a cardiac or heart failure of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV, or with a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction of at least 10 percentage points from baseline to a value of less than 50%. Cardiac monitoring will be assessed as per physician standards
Measured: 3 years after study enrolment
Rate of HER2-positive treatment discontinuation
De-escalated HER2-positive treatment discontinuation and the reasons why treatment was discontinued
Measured: 6 months after study enrolment
Health-related quality of life
Health-related quality of life measure using the EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire.
Measured: Baseline, 3, 6, 12 and 36 months after study enrolment
Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios
The difference in cost between 6 months of HER2-positive therapy versus the standard 12 months of HER2-positive therapy.
Measured: 3 years from study enrolment
Disease free survival
Disease Free Survival (DFS), defined as the percentage of people in the trial who are alive and disease-free (no local invasive breast cancer recurrence, new local invasive breast cancer) at 3 years
Measured: 3 years from study enrolment
Overall survival
Overall Survival (OS), defined as the number of people alive, with or without signs of cancer at 3 years
Measured: 3 years from study enrolment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Jun 2021
- Study start13 Dec 2021
- Primary completion15 Dec 2025
- Study completionDec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Breast CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 52 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Sharon McGee, MD, Principal investigator, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04928261
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REaCT-HER TIME
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 4 May 2021
- Last updated
- 16 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Bradbury M, Savard MF, Vandermeer L, Clemons L, Pond G, Hilton J, Clemons M, McGee S. Shorter Durations of Anti-HER2 Therapy for Patients with Early-Stage, HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: The Physician Perspective. Curr Oncol. 2023 Dec 14;30(12):10477-10487. doi: 10.3390/curroncol30120763.
PubMed 38132397
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Single-arm, Multicentre, Pragmatic Trial Evaluating 6-months of HER2-targeted Therapy in Patients With HER2 Positive Early-stage Breast Cancer That Achieve a Pathological Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy (REaCT-HER TIME)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04928261
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REaCT-HER TIME
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer
- Keywords
- Cardiac toxicities, Her2 Positive, Pathological complete response
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 52 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ottawa Hospital Research InstituteUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 13 Dec 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- Dec 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Jun 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The activity of trastuzumab in early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer, has been demonstrated in many studies, with meta-analyses showing that in combination with a variety of chemotherapy backbones, trastuzumab reduces the risk of recurrence by nearly half, and death by a third. However, treatment with trastuzumab can result in cardiotoxicity, including heart failure, as well as the significant cost of treatment and the requirement for patients to attend the chemotherapy unit for treatment every 3 weeks for one year. Therefore there has been increasing interest in identifying which patients can safely have less treatment. The investigators therefore propose a real-world, single arm, multicentre trial evaluating 6 months of HER2 targeted therapy, for patients with early-stage, HER2 positive breast cancer, who achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) with upfront systemic chemotherapy and HER2 targeted therapy.
Detailed description
The activity of trastuzumab in early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer, has been demonstrated in many studies, with meta-analyses showing that in combination with a variety of chemotherapy backbones, trastuzumab reduces the risk of recurrence by nearly half, and death by a third. However, treatment with trastuzumab can result in cardiotoxicity, including heart failure, as well as the significant cost of treatment and the requirement for patients to attend the chemotherapy unit for treatment every 3 weeks for one year. Therefore there has been increasing interest in identifying which patients can safely have less treatment. The duration of adjuvant trastuzumab in early-stage breast cancer in the majority of studies was empirically set at 12 months, which became the de facto standard of care. Neoadjuvant treatment has become the new standard of care for patients with early-stage HER2-positive disease. While patients with residual disease benefit from further alternative treatment those with a pathological complete response (pCR) have an excellent outcome and are candidates for treatment de-escalation. The investigators therefore propose a real-world, single arm, multicentre trial evaluating 6 months of HER2 targeted therapy, for patients with early-stage, HER2 positive breast cancer, who achieve a pCR with upfront systemic chemotherapy and HER2 targeted therapy.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| De-escalated HER2 targeted treatment | Experimental | Drug: TrastuzumabPatients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who demonstrate a pathological complete response at time of surgery. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Early-stage (I-III, i.e. non-metastatic) as per AJCC 8th edition, ER/PR positive or negative, HER2-positive as per 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing in breast cancer guidelines.
- Treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and HER2 targeted therapy preoperatively with a pathological complete response (pCR) defined as the absence of residual invasive cancer on hematoxylin and eosin evaluation of the complete resected breast specimen and all sampled regional lymph nodes following completion of neoadjuvant systemic therapy at surgery. Must have received less than 6 months of HER2 targeted therapy
- Able to provide verbal consent and complete questionnaires in English or French
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Residual invasive disease following neoadjuvant therapy, or metastatic disease
- Contraindication to further HER2-targeted therapy following completion of neoadjuvant treatment
- Any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the trial protocol
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| TrastuzumabAlso: HerceptinPatients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who demonstrate a pathological complete response at time of surgery will be treated with HER2 targeted therapy for a total of 9 treatments every 3 weeks (or its equivalent if given weekly) including the treatment received preoperatively. | Drug | De-escalated HER2 targeted treatment |
Primary outcome
Multiple site activation
Time frame: 1 year after first participant is accrued
Evaluating the feasibility of multiple Canadian site activation within the first year of study accrual. Achieved by the activation of at least 4 Canadian sites within 1 year of the first patient being accrued into the study.
Medical oncologist active participation
Time frame: Through to end of accrual - average 2 years
Evaluating the number of medical oncologists at each study site who actively participate in the trial. Active participation includes approaching eligible patients for the study, as well as following up with the patients who are taking part in the study.
Enrolment of at least 50 participants across all sites within 9 months of the fourth site accruing its first participant
Time frame: 9 months after fourth site accrues first participant
Enrolment of at least 50 participants across all sites within 9 months of the fourth site accruing its first participant.
6 secondary outcomes
Cardiac events
Time frame: 3 years after study enrolment
Rate of HER2-positive treatment discontinuation
Time frame: 6 months after study enrolment
Health-related quality of life
Time frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 12 and 36 months after study enrolment
Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios
Time frame: 3 years from study enrolment
Disease free survival
Time frame: 3 years from study enrolment
Overall survival
Time frame: 3 years from study enrolment
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38132397Bradbury M, Savard MF, Vandermeer L, Clemons L, Pond G, Hilton J, Clemons M, McGee S. Shorter Durations of Anti-HER2 Therapy for Patients with Early-Stage, HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: The Physician Perspective. Curr Oncol. 2023 Dec 14;30(12):10477-10487. doi: 10.3390/curroncol30120763.
- The Rethinking Clinical Trials (REaCT) websiteLink provided by the sponsor.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Sharon McGee, MD principal investigator
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing Trastuzumab in people with Breast Cancer, run by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Multiple site activation (time frame: 1 year after first participant is accrued). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04928261, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.