A Phase 3 interventional study of Carvedilol and Laboratory Biomarker Analysis in Cardiotoxicity, HER2/Neu Positive and Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain, sponsored by SWOG Cancer Research Network. Recruiting at 590 sites in 4 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-28.
Sponsored by SWOG Cancer Research Network · Phase 3, Interventional, and Supportive care
This trial has two cohorts of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2-positive breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body. All patients must be receiving trastuzumab-based treatment. Both cohorts are being observed for cardiac toxicity. The largest cohort (currently open to accrual) is observational, and contains patients who are taking a beta blocker, ACE inhibitor, or ARB as well as their trastuzumab-based treatment. The goal is to understand how common cardiac problems are in this group of patients at high risk. The smaller cohort (currently closed to accrual) is randomized. Patients in this second cohort are randomized to either carvedilol or no treatment, with the goal of seeing whether carvedilol (used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure) may prevent the heart from side effects of chemotherapy.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To estimate the 2-year cumulative incidence of cardiac dysfunction and/or predefined cardiac events in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving trastuzumab-based HER-2 targeted therapy and beta blockers, angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.
II. To develop a model including clinical factors and potential biomarkers to predict risk of cardiac dysfunction and/or predefined cardiac events in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving trastuzumab-based HER-2 targeted therapy and beta blockers, angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To assess whether prophylactic beta blocker therapy with carvedilol compared with no prophylaxis reduces the risk of cardiac dysfunction and/or predefined cardiac events in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving trastuzumab-based HER-2 targeted therapy.
II. To evaluate if prophylactic carvedilol compared with no prophylaxis results in a longer time to first interruption of trastuzumab-based HER-2 targeted therapy due to either cardiac dysfunction or events.
III. To compare the local and central reads of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and strain and assess if strain changes can predict drop in ejection fraction.
IV. Assess if strain can be used in the community as a marker of cardiotoxicity.
TERTIARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To evaluate the lle655Val and Alall70Pro single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the HER-2 gene as a predictive biomarker of study-defined cardiac dysfunction and/or predefined cardiac events.
II. To evaluate plasma neuregulin-1 at baseline and over study time as a predictive biomarker of study-defined cardiac dysfunction and/or predefined cardiac events.
III. To evaluate the feasibility of local labs performing serial left ventricular strain in an NCTN group setting, with the goal of 75% of patients contributing both a baseline and at least one follow-up strain measurement.
IV. To bank blood for future translational medicine studies such as brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), additional SNPs, and high sensitivity troponin.
OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. Patients taking beta blocker, ARB, or ACE inhibitor at registration are assigned to Arm III.
ARM I: Patients not taking beta blocker, ARB, or ACE inhibitor at registration receive carvedilol orally (PO) twice daily (BID). Courses repeat every 12 weeks for 108 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
ARM II: Patients not taking beta blocker, ARB, or ACE inhibitor at registration receive no study intervention for up to 108 weeks.
ARM III: Patients undergo observation for up to 108 weeks.
262 studies on the registry are indexed under Cardiotoxicity; 75 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 491 is above the median of 93 across 137 interventional studies indexed under Cardiotoxicity.
Browse Cardiotoxicity studies →SWOG Cancer Research Network is the lead sponsor of 339 studies on the registry; 37 are open to participants now.
Of its 17 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 17 (100%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Inclusion Criteria:
Patients must:
Examples of eligible HER-2 targeted therapy:
Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) NOTE: Patients on lapatinib without trastuzumab are not eligible. Planned treatment with concurrent HER-2 targeted therapy and anthracyclines is not permitted.
Patients must be at increased risk for cardiotoxicity defined by at least one of the following:
1 or more of the following risk factors for heart disease:
Patients enrolling in the observational cohort (Arm 3) must be currently taking a beta blocker, ARB, or ACE inhibitor at the time of Step 1 Registration.
If a 3D echocardiogram is performed at baseline, sites must ensure that standard 2D images, including 40chamber and 2-chamber views, are also obtained and submitted at subsequent timepoints.
All follow-up echocardiograms (every 12 weeks) must be performed using 2D imaging to allow for standardized assessments. Follow-up scans must be completed at a site that can provide 2D images per protocol requirements. The echocardiograms cannot be submitted for central read until after Step 1 registration is complete.
Patients must have adequate hepatic function as evidenced by all of the following within 28 days prior to registration:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
HER2 is a protein, made from the ERBB2 gene, that drives the growth of some cancers. A study may look for a level of the protein, extra copies of the gene, or a particular change in it.
In breast cancer, protein tests are read as HER2-positive, HER2-low or HER2-negative; other cancers use their own rules. Check which test result the study requires.
Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).
Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.
The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Able to have children. For women this usually means from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery; for men, unless permanently sterile. Read who the line is about — participants, women, men, or their partners.
Criteria about it usually ask for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Metastases
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HER2
HER2 is a protein, made from the ERBB2 gene, that drives the growth of some cancers. A study may look for a level of the protein, extra copies of the gene, or a particular change in it.
In breast cancer, protein tests are read as HER2-positive, HER2-low or HER2-negative; other cancers use their own rules. Check which test result the study requires.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Brain metastases
Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).
Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction)
The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Bilirubin
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ULN (upper limit of normal)
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ALT and AST (liver enzymes)
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Reproductive potential
Able to have children. For women this usually means from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery; for men, unless permanently sterile. Read who the line is about — participants, women, men, or their partners.
Criteria about it usually ask for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients not taking beta blocker, ARB, or ACE inhibitor at registration receive carvedilol PO BID. Courses repeat every 12 weeks for 108 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Drug: Carvedilol · Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis
Patients not taking beta blocker, ARB, or ACE inhibitor at registration receive no study intervention for up to 108 weeks.
Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis
Patients undergo observation for up to 108 weeks.
Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis · Other: Patient Observation
Given PO
Also known as: Coreg
Correlative studies
Undergo observation
Also known as: Active Surveillance, deferred therapy, expectant management, observation, Watchful Waiting
Time to the first identification of cardiac dysfunction
Real-time, blinded, central echocardiography (ECHO) read as a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of \>= 10 percentage points from baseline to a value of \< 50% OR decrease of LVEF by \>= 5 percentage points from baseline to LVEF \< 50% in those baselines having a baseline LVEF of 50-54%. The distributions of time to cardiac dysfunction will be described using cumulative incidence estimates, with the statistical significance of treatment arm differences assessed by Cox and Fine-Gray regression models with adjustment for stratification factors. Gray's test will also be applied
Time frame: Up to 108 weeks
Incidence of adverse events associated with beta blocker treatment
Adverse events associated with beta blocker treatment will be assessed.
Time frame: Up to 108 weeks
Rate of first interruption of trastuzumab
The distributions of time to interruption of trastuzumab-based therapy will be described using cumulative incidence estimates, with the statistical significance of treatment arm differences assessed by Cox and Fine-Gray regression models with adjustment for stratification factors. Gray?s test will also be applied to the primary endpoint to assess whether the results are sensitive to different model assumptions.
Time frame: Up to 108 weeks
Rate of death
Will compare rate of death from competing causes between treatment arms via Cox regression to evaluate whether those rates impact the primary analysis comparison.
Time frame: Up to 108 weeks
Time to first occurrence of cardiac event
any of the following treating physician documented events requiring hospitalization or medical treatment, and subsequent temporary or permanent discontinuation of trastuzumab- based HER-2 targeted therapy: arrhythmia, unstable angina, non-ST segment elevated myocardial infarction, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure.
Time frame: Up to 108 weeks
Drug adherence
Patients on the active arm will be asked to record study drug consumption on a monthly intake calendar. Amount of study drug taken among patients randomized to the active arm and study drug adoption among patients randomized to the no intervention arm (i.e., contamination) will be recorded by study site staff on a case report form at each follow-up visit to assess the sensitivity of the primary treatment effect to observed conditions.
Time frame: Up to 108 weeks
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Showing the first 100 of 590 sites across 4 countries. Choose a country and city above to see the rest.
Started Nov 2017 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jun 2031, 163 months after the start.
Since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026, the dates moved once, on Oct 28, 2026: primary completion Sep 2027 → Jun 2031 and completion Sep 2027 → Jun 2031.
Earlier changes are on the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
No contact was published for this record. The registry link below has the sponsor’s details.
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Studies of the drug tested here: Carvedilol
SWOG Cancer Research Network →