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Breast CancerPhase 1/2INOVATENCT07134153

Phase I/II Study of Intrathecal/Ommaya T-DXd in HER2-Expressing Breast Cancer With Leptomeningeal/Brain Metastases

A Phase 1/2 study testing T-DXd in people with Breast Cancer, run by Fudan University at 2 sites in China.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Multiple trials confirm systemic T-DXd efficacy in HER2+ breast cancer with leptomeningeal/brain metastases, yet median LM survival remains 3-4 months, highlighting unmet needs. While systemic therapies improve survival, intracranial disease control remains limited due to poor BBB penetration. 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?
T-DXd
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
139 participants
Where
2 sitesChina
Study dates
12 May 2025to 28 Jun 2027
Phase
Phase 1/2
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

  • Age ≥18 years, regardless of gender.
  • HER2-expressing advanced or metastatic breast cancer
  • Leptomeningeal metastasis
  • Subjects with active brain metastases only must have at least one intracranially measurable lesion (RANO-BM criteria).
  • Adequate organ and bone marrow function
  • No radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, endocrine therapy, or surgery within 2 weeks prior to enrollment (or within 5 half-lives of prior therapy, whichever is shorter).
  • All prior treatment-related toxicities must have resolved to ≤Grade 1

Who cannot join

  • Diagnosis of other malignancies within the past 5 years, except for cured carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, other in situ carcinomas, or papillary thyroid carcinoma.
  • Uncontrolled concurrent illnesses including, but not limited to: persistent or active infections, uncontrolled or clinically significant cardiovascular diseases, severe chronic gastrointestinal disorders with diarrhea, or psychiatric/social conditions that may compromise compliance with study requirements, significantly increase AE risks, or impair the subject's ability to provide written informed consent.
  • History of (non-infectious) ILD/non-infectious pneumonitis requiring steroid therapy, current ILD/non-infectious pneumonitis, or suspected ILD/non-infectious pneumonitis that cannot be ruled out by imaging during screening.
  • Clinically significant pulmonary comorbidities
  • Use of immunosuppressants or systemic corticosteroids (>10 mg/day prednisone equivalent) for immunosuppression within 2 weeks prior to first dose (excluding intranasal/inhaled corticosteroids).
  • Any active autoimmune disease or history of autoimmune disease with potential recurrence.
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Uncontrolled infections requiring IV antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals.
  • Active primary immunodeficiency, known HIV infection, active HBV (HBsAg+ with HBV DNA ≥500 IU/mL) or HCV infection. HCV antibody-positive subjects are eligible only if PCR confirms HCV RNA negativity.
  • Radiographic evidence of tumor encasement/invasion of major blood vessels, or investigator-determined high risk of fatal hemorrhage due to probable vascular invasion during treatment.
  • Pregnant/lactating women, or subjects of reproductive potential unwilling/unable to use effective contraception.
  • Any other condition deemed by investigators to potentially affect trial conduct or outcome interpretation.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

China2 sites, 2 recruiting
  • Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center

    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200032

    Jian Zhang, MD,PhD, +8664175590 ext. 85000, syner2000@163.com

    Recruiting
  • Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Cancer

    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200043

    Jian Zhang, MD,PHD, +8664175590 ext. 85000, syner2000@163.com

    Yanchun Meng, MD, +8664175590 ext. 63028, ycmclinicaltrials@126.com

    Recruiting

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of INtrathecal or Ommaya ReserVoir Administration of T-DXd in Patients With HER2-Expressing Breast Cancer With Active Leptomeningeal and/or Brain Metastases Based on Systemic Therapy: Phase I/II Study

Multiple trials confirm systemic T-DXd efficacy in HER2+ breast cancer with leptomeningeal/brain metastases, yet median LM survival remains 3-4 months, highlighting unmet needs. While systemic therapies improve survival, intracranial disease control remains limited due to poor BBB penetration. Preclinical data show no detectable T-DXd/DXd in CSF, though intrathecal trastuzumab demonstrates preliminary safety/efficacy in HER2+ LM.

This study evaluates intrathecal/intra-Ommaya T-DXd plus systemic therapy in active HER2+ meningeal/brain metastases, assessing safety, intracranial efficacy, and CSF/peripheral blood T-DXd distribution to clarify BBB penetration potential. Findings may guide novel therapeutic strategies for this high-need population.

Read the detailed description

Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of systemic T-DXd in advanced HER2-expressing breast cancer with leptomeningeal and/or brain metastases. However, the median survival of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) patients remains only 3-4 months, and treatment options for isolated brain metastases are limited, underscoring the need for more effective therapeutic strategies.

While systemic therapies have prolonged survival in advanced breast cancer, intracranial disease management remains constrained by a lack of effective local treatments. As the use of T-DXd increases, the progression of intracranial lesions in patients who have received prior local therapy or lack indications for radiotherapy has become a critical unmet clinical challenge.

Conventional understanding holds that large biologic molecules poorly penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Preclinical studies detected neither T-DXd nor free DXd (payload) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and the distribution of T-DXd in human CSF remains uncharacterized. However, preliminary data suggest that intrathecal trastuzumab-alone or combined with pertuzumab-exhibits acceptable safety and efficacy in HER2-positive LM.

Correction Notice: The Study Start Date was initially listed as April 18, 2025 (the date of Ethics Committee approval). It has been corrected to May 12, 2025, which is the actual date of first participant enrollment.

Conditions
Breast Cancer
Being tested
T-DXd
Medical subject headings
Breast Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • T-DXdDrug

    Also called DS8201a

    Evaluating safety and efficacy of intrathecal or ommaya reservoir administration of T-DXd in patients with HER2-expressing breast cancer with active leptomeningeal and/or brain metastases based on systemic therapy

Study groups in NCT07134153
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Phase I/Arm A(Intrathecal Dose-Escalation Phase)ExperimentalPopulation : T-DXd-naïve subjects with leptomeningeal metastases (LM), with or without concurrent brain metastases (BM). Cycle 1 : Intrathecal (IT) T-DXd monotherapy to assess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and systemic pharmacokinetics (PK). Cycles 2+ : IT T-DXd combined with intravenous (IV) T-DXd in a dose-escalation design to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) . DLT Evaluation : The first two cycles serve as the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) observation window . Endpoint : The recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) will be determined by investigator assessment
Receives: Drug: T-DXd
Phase I/Arm B(Systemic-to-Intrathecal Transition Phase)ExperimentalPopulation : T-DXd-naïve subjects with LM ± BM. Cycle 1 : IV T-DXd monotherapy to characterize CSF and systemic PK profiles. Cycles 2+ : IT administration of the RP2D of T-DXd combined with IV therapy
Receives: Drug: T-DXd
Phase II/Arm AExperimentalHER2-positive advanced breast cancer with progressive leptomeningeal and/or brain metastases after prior T-DXd therapy
Receives: Drug: T-DXd
Phase II/Arm BExperimentalHER2-low (IHC 1+ or 2+/ISH-) advanced breast cancer with progressive leptomeningeal and/or brain metastases after prior T-DXd therapy
Receives: Drug: T-DXd
Phase II/Arm CExperimentalHER2-positive advanced breast cancer with progressive brain metastases (without leptomeningeal involvement) after prior T-DXd therapy
Receives: Drug: T-DXd
Phase II/Arm DExperimentalHER2-low advanced breast cancer with progressive brain metastases (without leptomeningeal involvement) after prior T-DXd therapy
Receives: Drug: T-DXd
Phase II/Arm EExperimentalT-DXd-naïve HER2-positive advanced breast cancer with progressive leptomeningeal and/or brain metastases
Receives: Drug: T-DXd
Phase II/Arm FExperimentalT-DXd-naïve HER2-low advanced breast cancer with progressive leptomeningeal and/or brain metastases
Receives: Drug: T-DXd
Phase II/Arm GExperimentalT-DXd-naïve HER2-positive advanced breast cancer with progressive brain metastases (without leptomeningeal involvement)
Receives: Drug: T-DXd
Phase II/Arm HExperimentalT-DXd-naïve HER2-low advanced breast cancer with progressive brain metastases (without leptomeningeal involvement)
Receives: Drug: T-DXd

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Phase I Stage Cohort A: Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)

    Cohort A: Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of intracapsular administration,In the dose increment stage, the highest dose whose estimated DLT rate is closest to the target DLT rate but does not exceed the upper bound of the equivalent interval of DLT rate is selected as MTD.

    Measured: Up to 21 days after the first dose

  2. Phase I Stage Cohort B: Maximum serum concentration (Cmax)

    Cohort B: Maximum serum concentration (Cmax) of T-DXd in cerebrospinal fluid and blood will be investigated.

    Measured: Up to 21 days after the first dose

  3. Phase I Stage Cohort B:Time to maximum serum concentration (Tmax)

    Cohort B: Time to maximum serum concentration (Tmax) of T-DXd in cerebrospinal fluid and blood will be investigated.

    Measured: Up to 21 days after the first dose

  4. Phase I Stage Cohort B:Half-life (T1/2)

    Cohort B: Half-life (T1/2) of T-DXd in cerebrospinal fluid and blood will be investigated.

    Measured: Up to 21 days after the first dose

  5. Phase II Stage Cohorts A: LM-OS

    Cohorts A: leptomeningeal metastasis-overall survival(LM-OS)

    Measured: 18 months

  6. Phase II Stage Cohorts B: LM-OS

    Cohorts B: leptomeningeal metastasis-overall survival(LM-OS)

    Measured: 18 months

  7. Phase II Stage Cohorts C: LM-ORR

    Cohorts C: leptomeningeal metastasis-Objective Response Rate(LM-ORR)

    Measured: 18 months

  8. Phase II Stage Cohorts D: LM-ORR

    Cohorts D: leptomeningeal metastasis-Objective Response Rate(LM-ORR)

    Measured: 18 months

  9. Phase II Stage Cohorts E: LM-OS

    Cohorts E: leptomeningeal metastasis-overall survival(LM-OS)

    Measured: 18 months

  10. Phase II Stage Cohorts F: LM-OS

    Cohorts F: leptomeningeal metastasis-overall survival(LM-OS)

    Measured: 18 months

  11. Phase II Stage Cohorts G: LM-ORR

    Cohorts G: leptomeningeal metastasis-Objective Response Rate(LM-ORR)

    Measured: 18 months

  12. Phase II Stage Cohorts H: LM-ORR

    Cohorts H: leptomeningeal metastasis-Objective Response Rate(LM-ORR)

    Measured: 18 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted21 Aug 2025
  2. Study start12 May 2025
  3. Primary completion30 Jan 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion28 Jun 2027 (estimated)

Resources

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 1/2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
139 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07134153
Sponsor's protocol ID
2501313-7
Acronym
INOVATE
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
11 May 2025
Last updated
26 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1/2 study testing T-DXd in people with Breast Cancer, run by Fudan University at 2 sites in China.

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 7 inclusion and 11 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in China. 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 combined phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

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?

Contact Jian Zhang, MD, PhD (+8664175590 ext. 85000, syner2000@163.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Phase I Stage Cohort A: Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) (time frame: Up to 21 days after the first dose). The study lists 12 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 26 Oct 2026.

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