A Phase 2 interventional study of Niraparib and Dostarlimab in Stage I Breast Cancer, Stage II Breast Cancer and Stage III Breast Cancer, sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Active, not recruiting at 8 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-24.
Sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This research study involves pre-operative therapy that is specifically targeted for breast cancer in individuals with BRCA and PALB2 mutations.
The names of the study drugs involved in this study are:
The research study procedures include screening for eligibility and study treatment including laboratory evaluations, two mandatory research biopsies, imaging assessments, and follow up visits.
Participants will receive treatment for 18 weeks. After 18 weeks, participants will be evaluated to determine if a candidate for surgery or if additional treatment outside of the study.
Participants with triple negative breast cancer will be randomized to one of two treatment arms.
Participants with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer will be placed directly into Arm C. There is no randomization for these participants.
- Arm C: Niraparib with dostarlimab for 18 weeks
It is expected that about 62 people will take part in this research study.
This research study is a Phase II clinical trial. Phase II clinical trials test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational drug or drug combination to learn whether the drug combination works in treating a specific disease. "Investigational" means that the study drugs, Niraparib and Dostarlimab, are being studied for use in this setting and the research doctors are trying to learn more about the drug combination-the side effects the combination may cause and if it is effective in treating this type of cancer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved either of the drugs in this study for your type of cancer. Niraparib has been approved by the FDA for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer in BRCA mutation carriers.
The use of Dostarlimab in this research study is experimental, which means that it is not approved by any regulatory auit is not approved by any regulatory authority, including the FDA, for treatment of breast cancer, or any other disease.
12,543 studies on the registry are indexed under Breast Neoplasms; 2,892 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 66 is close to the median of 72 across 9,302 interventional studies indexed under Breast Neoplasms.
Browse Breast Neoplasms studies →Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is the lead sponsor of 813 studies on the registry; 124 are open to participants now.
Of its 113 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 77 (68%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Participants must have documentation of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) testing by IHC according to local institutional guidelines in a CLIA-approved setting. Central confirmation of ER/PR status is not required. All tumors must be HER2 negative.
Participants must have documented HER2-negative invasive tumor according to local institutional guidelines in a CLIA-approved setting. Central confirmation of HER2 status is not required. HER2 negative is defined as:
Adequate organ and bone marrow function as defined below:
Premenopausal women must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 7 days of treatment start. Women are considered non-childbearing (by other than medical reasons) if they:
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants with a history of malignancy are ineligible except in the following circumstances:
Patients with concurrent HIV infection are eligible provided they meet the following criteria:
Participants will be randomized 1:1 to treatment with the combination (Arm A) * Niraparib-Daily beginning with week 1, day 1 * Dostarlimab-Once every three weeks beginning with week 1, day 1
Drug: Niraparib · Drug: Dostarlimab
Participants will be randomized 1:1 to treatment with the combination (Arm B) * 3-week lead-in of niraparib monotherapy followed by treatment with the combination * Niraparib Daily beginning with week 1, day 1 * Dostarlimab Once every three weeks beginning with week 4, day 1
Drug: Niraparib · Drug: Dostarlimab
exploratory cohort of estrogen receptor (ER) positive HER2-negative participants will be enrolled to Arm C. * Niraparib Daily beginning with week 1, day 1 * Dostarlimab Once every three weeks beginning with week 1, day 1
Drug: Niraparib · Drug: Dostarlimab
Predetermined dosage PO Daily
Also known as: Zejula
Predetermined Dosage, IV,q3 weeks
Also known as: TSR042
Change in Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs)
Change in TILs score from baseline to cycle 2 day 1; the score is estimated by a pathologist according to the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group on Breast Cancer guidelines, as the percentage (0-100) of the tumor's stromal area occupied by mononuclear immune cells on a stained tissue slide; higher scores generally correlate with improved survival outcomes and better responses to chemotherapy
Time frame: baseline to 21 days (cycle 2 day 1)
Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) Rate in TNBC
The number and percentage of participants achieving pCR without additional neoadjuvant therapy; the residual cancer burden (RCB) method as described by Symmans et al. was used to assess response, with increasing RCB score associated with greater burden of residual disease after surgery; RCB-0 reflects pCR (no residual disease), whereas RCB-I, RCB-II, and RCB-III reflect minimal, moderate, and extensive residual disease, respectively
Time frame: 18 weeks
pCR Rate in ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer
The number and percentage of participants achieving pCR without additional neoadjuvant therapy; the residual cancer burden (RCB) method as described by Symmans et al. was used to assess response, with increasing RCB score associated with greater burden of residual disease after surgery; RCB-0 reflects pCR (no residual disease), whereas RCB-I, RCB-II, and RCB-III reflect minimal, moderate, and extensive residual disease, respectively
Time frame: 18 weeks
Association Between Change in TILs Score and pCR
The association between change in TILs score (%) from baseline to cycle 2 day 1 (18 weeks) and pCR status (pCR vs. no pCR), evaluated using a two-sample Wilcoxon rank sum test; the odds ratio for a fixed change in TILs estimated using simple logistic regression; TILs score was measured as described in Outcome Measure 1, and because the TILs score reflects a percentage, the change was calculated as the raw difference in TILs score between time points; pCR was measured as described in Outcome Measure 2
Time frame: baseline to 18 weeks
Rate of Residual Cancer Burden (RCB)-0/1 Response
The residual cancer burden (RCB) method as described by Symmans et al. was used to assess response, with increasing RCB score associated with greater burden of residual disease after surgery; RCB-0 reflects pCR (no residual disease), whereas RCB-I, RCB-II, and RCB-III reflect minimal, moderate, and extensive residual disease, respectively; an RCB score of 0 or I is considered good response; this Outcome Measure reports the percentage of patients achieving an RCB score of 0 or I vs. not
Time frame: 18 Weeks
Treatment-related Adverse Events
Number and percentage of patients with treatment-related, grade 2 or higher adverse events per NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0
Time frame: baseline up to 31 weeks
Patients were recruited from 8 institutions between January 2021 and February 2025
| Milestone | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started | 23 | 24 | 19 |
| Completed | 22 | 24 | 19 |
| Not completed | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Withdrew: Ineligible to start treatment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Change in TILs score from baseline to cycle 2 day 1; the score is estimated by a pathologist according to the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group on Breast Cancer guidelines, as the percentage (0-100) of the tumor's stromal area occupied by mononuclear immune cells on a stained tissue slide; higher scores generally correlate with improved survival outcomes and better responses to chemotherapy
| TILs score (%) | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TILs score (%) at baseline | 5 ± 19.2 | 15 ± 17.9 | 5 (2 to 17.5) |
| TILs score (%) at Cycle 2 Day 1 | 30 ± 19.6 | 45 ± 29.0 | 12.5 (6.25 to 27.5) |
The number and percentage of participants achieving pCR without additional neoadjuvant therapy; the residual cancer burden (RCB) method as described by Symmans et al. was used to assess response, with increasing RCB score associated with greater burden of residual disease after surgery; RCB-0 reflects pCR (no residual disease), whereas RCB-I, RCB-II, and RCB-III reflect minimal, moderate, and extensive residual disease, respectively
| Participants | Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) |
|---|---|
| Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) Rate in TNBC | 23 |
The number and percentage of participants achieving pCR without additional neoadjuvant therapy; the residual cancer burden (RCB) method as described by Symmans et al. was used to assess response, with increasing RCB score associated with greater burden of residual disease after surgery; RCB-0 reflects pCR (no residual disease), whereas RCB-I, RCB-II, and RCB-III reflect minimal, moderate, and extensive residual disease, respectively
| Participants | ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer |
|---|---|
| pCR Rate in ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer | 3 |
The association between change in TILs score (%) from baseline to cycle 2 day 1 (18 weeks) and pCR status (pCR vs. no pCR), evaluated using a two-sample Wilcoxon rank sum test; the odds ratio for a fixed change in TILs estimated using simple logistic regression; TILs score was measured as described in Outcome Measure 1, and because the TILs score reflects a percentage, the change was calculated as the raw difference in TILs score between time points; pCR was measured as described in Outcome Measure 2
| Change in TILs percentage | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| pCR | 10 (0 to 10) | 17.5 (8.75 to 37.5) | 60 (60 to 60) |
| No pCR | 7 (0 to 29) | 15 (4 to 28.75) | 4.5 (-1.25 to 11.5) |
The residual cancer burden (RCB) method as described by Symmans et al. was used to assess response, with increasing RCB score associated with greater burden of residual disease after surgery; RCB-0 reflects pCR (no residual disease), whereas RCB-I, RCB-II, and RCB-III reflect minimal, moderate, and extensive residual disease, respectively; an RCB score of 0 or I is considered good response; this Outcome Measure reports the percentage of patients achieving an RCB score of 0 or I vs. not
| percentage of patients | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate of Residual Cancer Burden (RCB)-0/1 Response | 52.4 (32.8 to 71.4) | 66.7 (47.9 to 82.2) | 42.1 (23.0 to 63.1) |
Number and percentage of patients with treatment-related, grade 2 or higher adverse events per NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0
| Participants | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment-related Adverse Events | 19 | 19 | 14 |
Collected over up to 31 weeks. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | 0/22 (0%) | 1/22 (4.5%) | 21/22 (95.5%) |
| Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | 0/24 (0%) | 0/24 (0%) | 23/24 (95.8%) |
| Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) | 0/19 (0%) | 1/19 (5.3%) | 15/19 (78.9%) |
| Event | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platelet count decreasedInvestigations | 1/22 | 0/24 | 1/19 |
| Neutrophil count decreasedInvestigations | 1/22 | 0/24 | 0/19 |
| Event | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rash maculo-papularSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | 3/22 | 4/24 | 7/19 |
| AnemiaBlood and lymphatic system disorders | 5/22 | 7/24 | 1/19 |
| FatigueGeneral disorders and administration site conditions | 6/22 | 6/24 | 2/19 |
| HypothyroidismEndocrine disorders | 5/22 | 4/24 | 0/19 |
| Gastroesophageal reflux diseaseGastrointestinal disorders | 5/22 | 0/24 | 1/19 |
| AnxietyPsychiatric disorders | 5/22 | 4/24 | 3/19 |
| HypertensionVascular disorders | 5/22 | 3/24 | 3/19 |
| ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders | 3/22 | 2/24 | 4/19 |
| NauseaGastrointestinal disorders | 3/22 | 3/24 | 4/19 |
| HeadacheNervous system disorders | 3/22 | 4/24 | 4/19 |
| Age, Continuous(years) | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median | 38.3 (24.8 to 72.8) | 39.7 (28.0 to 63.5) | 41.1 (28.8 to 61.9) | 39.5 (24.8 to 72.8) |
| Age, Customized(Participants) | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age category — <50 years | 16 | 16 | 12 | 44 |
| Age category — >=50 years | 6 | 8 | 7 | 21 |
| Sex: Female, Male(Participants) | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 22 | 24 | 19 | 65 |
| Male | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Asian | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Black or African American | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| White | 19 | 20 | 15 | 54 |
| More than one race | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 18 | 22 | 19 | 59 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Cancer stage at primary diagnosis(Participants) | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage I: tumor that is <=2 cm and has not spread outside the breast | 9 | 8 | 7 | 24 |
| Stage IIA: tumor <=2 cm and has spread to 1-3 axillary lymph nodes, or >2-5 cm w/ no spread to nodes | 3 | 6 | 5 | 14 |
| Stage IIB: tumor >2-5 cm and had spread to 1-3 axillary lymph nodes, or >5 cm w/ no spread to nodes | 6 | 6 | 4 | 16 |
| Stage IIIA: tumor any size w/ spread to 4-9 axillary/mammary nodes, or >5 cm and spread to 1-3 nodes | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Stage IIIB: tumor has grown into the chest wall or the skin of the breast, and spread to <=9 nodes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Stage IIIC: tumor any size, and has spread to >=10 nodes (axillary, mammary, or near collarbone) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Tumor grade at primary diagnosis(Participants) | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade I - Well-differentiated; cells look similar to normal breast tissue, grow slowly | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Grade II - Moderately differentiated; cells look somewhat abnormal, and grow faster than Grade I | 4 | 2 | 11 | 17 |
| Grade III - Poorly differentiated; cells look very different from normal, grow quickly, and spread | 18 | 22 | 7 | 47 |
| Mutation status(Participants) | Arm A (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm B (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) | Arm C (ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRCA1 | 19 | 19 | 5 | 43 |
| BRCA2 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 22 |
Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.
Plan to share: Yes — The Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center encourages and supports the responsible and ethical sharing of data from clinical trials. De-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript may only be shared under the terms of a Data Use Agreement. Requests may be directed to Sponsor Investigator or designee. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute