Metastatic Breast CancerGIM21NCT05735392
Liquid Biopsy: Intercepting Mutational Trajectories of HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2) Breast Cancer (GIM21 Trial)
A study testing Both blood and tissues collection for patients with metastatic breast cancer HER2+ pretreated with no more than one line of anti-HER2 therapy for advanced breast cancer. in people with Metastatic Breast Cancer, run by Consorzio Oncotech at 9 sites in Italy.
Trial summary
This is an open, interventional, non-pharmacological, prospective study. Patients will receive trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) at 3.6 mg/kg intravenously every 21 days, as per Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). This is a no-profit study. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Metastatic Breast Cancer
- What is being tested?
- Both blood and tissues collection for patients with metastatic breast cancer HER2+ pretreated with no more than one line of anti-HER2 therapy for advanced breast cancer.
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- 9 sitesItaly
- Study dates
- 7 Nov 2018to 12 Jan 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Male and female patients with a documented diagnosis of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) as defined by an immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 3+, alternatively score 2+ and HER2 amplification ratio ≥ 2.0
- All patients eligible to treatment with T-DM1, according to SmPC previously treated with a taxane and trastuzumab. Patients who previously underwent first-line treatment with an association of TTZ with PTZ are also eligible. No more than one line of anti-HER2 treatment for advanced disease are allowed.
- Available tissue from the primary tumor. If possible, newly obtained core or excisional biopsy on metastatic site at baseline (this biopsy won't impact on timing for patient enrollment and not leading to patient exclusion). High quality genomic DNA from the above for NGS mutational analysis.
- Patients with both measurable and non-measurable disease (according to modified RECIST 1.1 criteria) are eligible.
- 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
- a left ventricular ejection fraction of 50% or more (determined by echocardiography or multiple-gated acquisition [MUGA] scanning);
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- an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1.
- Adequate organ function (obtained within 14 days prior to treatment study) as evidenced by:
- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 1.5 X 109/L without myeloid growth factor support for 7 days preceding the lab assessment;
- Haemoglobin (Hgb) 9 g/dL (90 g/L); < 9 g/dL (< 90 g/L) is acceptable if hemoglobin is corrected to 9 g/dL (90 g/L) ;
- Platelet count 75 X 109/L without blood transfusions for 7 days preceding the lab assessment;
- Bilirubin 1.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN), except for patients with a documented history of Gilbert's disease;
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 2.5 X ULN (for patients with liver metastases 5 X ULN);
- Life expectancy > 12 weeks;
- Written informed consent obtained before any screening procedure and according to local guidelines.
Who cannot join
- Prior treatment with T-DM1.
- Symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastases, or treatment for these metastases within the 2 months preceding enrollment.
- Current participation in study therapy, or previous participation in a study involving the administration of an investigational agent within 4 weeks of administration of the first dose of treatment.
- History of symptomatic congestive heart failure or serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring treatment; a history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months before.
- Female patients who are pregnant or lactating, who plan to get pregnant, or who have a positive serum pregnancy test prior to first dose of study treatment.
- Prior malignancy (other than breast cancer) except for non-melanoma skin cancer and carcinoma in situ (of the cervix or bladder), unless diagnosed and definitively treated more than 5 years prior to enrollment.
- Any other significant co-morbid conditions that in the opinion of the Investigator would impair study participation or cooperation.
- Patients with psychiatric illness, social situation or geographical situation that would preclude informed consent or limit compliance with study requirements, as determined by the Investigator.
Trial locations and contacts
9 sites in 1 country.
9 sites in 1 country
Italy9 sites
A.O. Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII - Oncologia
Bergamo
I.R.C.C.S. A.O.U San Martino - IST
Genova
A.O.U. Policlinico di Modena
Modena
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Federico II
Naples
Ospedale S. Cuore Don Calabria
Negrar
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli - Oncologia Medica
Roma
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli - Senologia Oncologica
Roma
Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Regina Elena"
Roma
Policlinico Umberto I
Rome
About this study
Official title: Liquid Biopsy: Intercepting Mutational Trajectories of HER2 Breast Cancer Inpatients Under T-DM1 Treatment
This is an open, interventional, non-pharmacological, prospective study. Patients will receive trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) at 3.6 mg/kg intravenously every 21 days, as per Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). This is a no-profit study.
Read the detailed description
T-DM1 effects will be monitored by a combination of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS, tumor tissue) and Liquid Biopsy (LB, blood), as described below, to capture molecular events (gene aberrations, mainly mutations) associated with (or causative of) relapse as well as primary/adaptive resistance to HER2 blockade.
This study will prospectively monitor these events throughout the clinical history of the patients (archival tissues, blood collection, aimed biopsies). No investigational drugs will be administered.
This protocol is classified as "interventional" for two reasons:
- dedicated, additional blood drawings (liquid biopsies)are collected in addition to the routine bloodtests being requested as per standard clinical practice;
- the study involves occasional fine-needle biopsy on accessible (e.g. cutaneous) metastatic foci in selected patients to confirm their HER2 status, as per good medical practice.
These will represent an additional opportunity of targeted NGS.
Both blood (a) and tissues (b) will be obtained during T-DM1 treatment of enrolled patients at the participating Sites at the study specific timelines.
- Conditions
- Metastatic Breast Cancer
- Being tested
- Both blood and tissues collection for patients with metastatic breast cancer HER2+ pretreated with no more than one line of anti-HER2 therapy for advanced breast cancer.
- Keywords
- LiqERBcept, Trastuzumab emtansine, Liquid Biopsy
- Medical subject headings
- Breast Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Both blood and tissues collection for patients with metastatic breast cancer HER2+ pretreated with no more than one line of anti-HER2 therapy for advanced breast cancer.Other
Both blood and tissues will be obtained duringT-DM1 treatment of enrolled patients at the participating Sites at the study specific timelines.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Trastuzumab emtansine as per SmPC for liquid biopsy and tissue collection | Other | Patients will receive trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) at 3.6 mg/kg intravenously every 21 days, as perSummary of Product Characteristics (SmPC).
Peripheral blood samples will be taken by venipuncture prior to initiation of study therapy (T0), and at designated time-points after the first (T1) the second (T2), the third(T3)and after the sixth(T6), the ninth(T9), until the 12thcycle of T-DM1(see Fig.1) on-treatment and finally at progression. Receives: Other: Both blood and tissues collection for patients with metastatic breast cancer HER2+ pretreated with no more than one line of anti-HER2 therapy for advanced breast cancer. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of index mutations
- Number of index mutations and resistance-associated mutations in the bloodstream. Index mutations are defined as the number of mutation detected in tissue biopsies from either or both the primary lesions and the most recent recurrence, whenever available. Resistance mutations known to arise during non-T-DM1 HER2-blockade include mutations of PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha), PIK3R1 (Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase Regulatory Subunit 1), AKT1 (AKT1 AKT serine/threonine kinase 1), and EGF1R (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 1).These may be a special case of index mutations. Other known genomic aberrations occurring under HER2 blockade and potentially testable in bloodier PTEN (Phosphatase and tensin homolog) loss and overexpression of p95HER2 (p95HER2/611 carboxy terminal fragment), MUC4 (Mucin 4, Cell Surface Associated), and PDK1 (3-Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1)
Measured: About 4 years
Rate of response/anticipation of relapse
- Changes form baseline in thr response rate. First detection of index mutations in blood will be compared with first imaging and medical evidence of relapse (response rate) to determine whether and how the LiqERBcept protocol can lead to earlier detection and improvement in medical care.
Measured: About 4 years
Number of de novo mutations
- Number of de novo mutations arising during T-DM1 treatment. Few mutations and gene aberrations (see above) are known to associate with primary and acquired resistance to Trastuzumab (TTZ) and Pertuzumab (PTZ), and none is specifically associated with T-DM1 escape, to our knowledge. Possibly, this is due to the rather recent introduction of this antibody-drug conjugate in human therapy.
Measured: About 4 years
Secondary outcomes (1)
Number of actionable mutations
Number of actionable mutations occur during treatment with T-DM1 .
Measured: About 4 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Feb 2023
- Study start7 Nov 2018
- Primary completion12 Jan 2022
- Study completion12 Jan 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Metastatic Breast CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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 N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Consorzio Oncotech
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Alessandra Fabi, MD, Principal investigator, Clinical issues - Fondazione Policlinico GemelliPatrizio Giacomini, Principal investigator, Central laboratory assesment and liquid biopsy - Oncogenomics and Epigenetics - Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Regina Elena"Francesco Cognetti, Study chair, Chairman - Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Regina Elena"
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05735392
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- GIM21 - LiqERBcept
- Acronym
- GIM21
- Status last verified
- Jan 2023
- First submitted
- 31 Jan 2023
- Last updated
- 21 Feb 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Fabi A, Giordani E, Ricciardi E, Arpino G, Allegretti M, Ferretti G, Omarini C, Zambelli A, Mandoj C, Botticelli A, Bria E, Gori S, Carbognin L, Paris I, Scambia G, Cognetti F, Giannarelli D, Giacomini P. Circulating tumor DNA and Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors: ctDNA-RECIST proof-of-concept in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2026 Jan 20;45(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s13046-025-03605-2.
PubMed 41559726Giordani E, Allegretti M, Sinibaldi A, Michelotti F, Ferretti G, Ricciardi E, Ziccheddu G, Valenti F, Di Martino S, Ercolani C, Giannarelli D, Arpino G, Gori S, Omarini C, Zambelli A, Bria E, Paris I, Buglioni S, Giacomini P, Fabi A. Monitoring changing patterns in HER2 addiction by liquid biopsy in advanced breast cancer patients. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2024 Jun 29;43(1):182. doi: 10.1186/s13046-024-03105-9.
PubMed 38951853
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Feb 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Liquid Biopsy: Intercepting Mutational Trajectories of HER2 Breast Cancer Inpatients Under T-DM1 Treatment
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05735392
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- GIM21 / GIM21 - LiqERBcept
- Conditions
- Metastatic Breast Cancer
- Keywords
- LiqERBcept, Trastuzumab emtansine, Liquid Biopsy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Consorzio OncotechUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 7 Nov 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Jan 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 12 Jan 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Feb 2023 (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.
This is an open, interventional, non-pharmacological, prospective study. Patients will receive trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) at 3.6 mg/kg intravenously every 21 days, as per Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). This is a no-profit study.
Detailed description
T-DM1 effects will be monitored by a combination of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS, tumor tissue) and Liquid Biopsy (LB, blood), as described below, to capture molecular events (gene aberrations, mainly mutations) associated with (or causative of) relapse as well as primary/adaptive resistance to HER2 blockade.
This study will prospectively monitor these events throughout the clinical history of the patients (archival tissues, blood collection, aimed biopsies). No investigational drugs will be administered.
This protocol is classified as "interventional" for two reasons:
- dedicated, additional blood drawings (liquid biopsies)are collected in addition to the routine bloodtests being requested as per standard clinical practice;
- the study involves occasional fine-needle biopsy on accessible (e.g. cutaneous) metastatic foci in selected patients to confirm their HER2 status, as per good medical practice.
These will represent an additional opportunity of targeted NGS.
Both blood (a) and tissues (b) will be obtained during T-DM1 treatment of enrolled patients at the participating Sites at the study specific timelines.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Trastuzumab emtansine as per SmPC for liquid biopsy and tissue collection | Other | Other: Both blood and tissues collection for patients with metastatic breast cancer HER2+ pretreated with no more than one line of anti-HER2 therapy for advanced breast cancer.Patients will receive trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) at 3.6 mg/kg intravenously every 21 days, as perSummary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). Peripheral blood samples will be taken by venipuncture prior to initiation of study therapy (T0), and at designated time-points after the first (T1) the second (T2), the third(T3)and after the sixth(T6), the ninth(T9), until the 12thcycle of T-DM1(see Fig.1) on-treatment and finally at progression. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (15 listed)
- Male and female patients with a documented diagnosis of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) as defined by an immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 3+, alternatively score 2+ and HER2 amplification ratio ≥ 2.0
- All patients eligible to treatment with T-DM1, according to SmPC previously treated with a taxane and trastuzumab. Patients who previously underwent first-line treatment with an association of TTZ with PTZ are also eligible. No more than one line of anti-HER2 treatment for advanced disease are allowed.
- Available tissue from the primary tumor. If possible, newly obtained core or excisional biopsy on metastatic site at baseline (this biopsy won't impact on timing for patient enrollment and not leading to patient exclusion). High quality genomic DNA from the above for NGS mutational analysis.
- Patients with both measurable and non-measurable disease (according to modified RECIST 1.1 criteria) are eligible.
- 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Prior treatment with T-DM1.
- Symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastases, or treatment for these metastases within the 2 months preceding enrollment.
- Current participation in study therapy, or previous participation in a study involving the administration of an investigational agent within 4 weeks of administration of the first dose of treatment.
- History of symptomatic congestive heart failure or serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring treatment; a history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months before.
- Female patients who are pregnant or lactating, who plan to get pregnant, or who have a positive serum pregnancy test prior to first dose of study treatment.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Both blood and tissues collection for patients with metastatic breast cancer HER2+ pretreated with no more than one line of anti-HER2 therapy for advanced breast cancer.Both blood and tissues will be obtained duringT-DM1 treatment of enrolled patients at the participating Sites at the study specific timelines. | Other | Trastuzumab emtansine as per SmPC for liquid biopsy and tissue collection |
Primary outcome
Number of index mutations
Time frame: About 4 years
1. Number of index mutations and resistance-associated mutations in the bloodstream. Index mutations are defined as the number of mutation detected in tissue biopsies from either or both the primary lesions and the most recent recurrence, whenever available. Resistance mutations known to arise during non-T-DM1 HER2-blockade include mutations of PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha), PIK3R1 (Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase Regulatory Subunit 1), AKT1 (AKT1 AKT serine/threonine kinase 1), and EGF1R (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 1).These may be a special case of index mutations. Other known genomic aberrations occurring under HER2 blockade and potentially testable in bloodier PTEN (Phosphatase and tensin homolog) loss and overexpression of p95HER2 (p95HER2/611 carboxy terminal fragment), MUC4 (Mucin 4, Cell Surface Associated), and PDK1 (3-Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1)
Rate of response/anticipation of relapse
Time frame: About 4 years
2. Changes form baseline in thr response rate. First detection of index mutations in blood will be compared with first imaging and medical evidence of relapse (response rate) to determine whether and how the LiqERBcept protocol can lead to earlier detection and improvement in medical care.
Number of de novo mutations
Time frame: About 4 years
3. Number of de novo mutations arising during T-DM1 treatment. Few mutations and gene aberrations (see above) are known to associate with primary and acquired resistance to Trastuzumab (TTZ) and Pertuzumab (PTZ), and none is specifically associated with T-DM1 escape, to our knowledge. Possibly, this is due to the rather recent introduction of this antibody-drug conjugate in human therapy.
1 secondary outcome
Number of actionable mutations
Time frame: About 4 years
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Feb 2023.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41559726Fabi A, Giordani E, Ricciardi E, Arpino G, Allegretti M, Ferretti G, Omarini C, Zambelli A, Mandoj C, Botticelli A, Bria E, Gori S, Carbognin L, Paris I, Scambia G, Cognetti F, Giannarelli D, Giacomini P. Circulating tumor DNA and Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors: ctDNA-RECIST proof-of-concept in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2026 Jan 20;45(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s13046-025-03605-2.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 38951853Giordani E, Allegretti M, Sinibaldi A, Michelotti F, Ferretti G, Ricciardi E, Ziccheddu G, Valenti F, Di Martino S, Ercolani C, Giannarelli D, Arpino G, Gori S, Omarini C, Zambelli A, Bria E, Paris I, Buglioni S, Giacomini P, Fabi A. Monitoring changing patterns in HER2 addiction by liquid biopsy in advanced breast cancer patients. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2024 Jun 29;43(1):182. doi: 10.1186/s13046-024-03105-9.
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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.
Alessandra Fabi, MD principal investigator
Clinical issues - Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli
Patrizio Giacomini principal investigator
Central laboratory assesment and liquid biopsy - Oncogenomics and Epigenetics - Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Regina Elena"
Francesco Cognetti study chair
Chairman - Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Regina Elena"
9 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Both blood and tissues collection for patients with metastatic breast cancer HER2+ pretreated with no more than one line of anti-HER2 therapy for advanced breast cancer. in people with Metastatic Breast Cancer, run by Consorzio Oncotech at 9 sites in Italy.
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 15 inclusion and 8 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Feb 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 9 sites in Italy. 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.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Number of index mutations (time frame: About 4 years). 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 NCT05735392, which also lists 2 linked publications.
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 21 Feb 2023.