An interventional study of ctDNA monitoring and 68Ga-FAPI-46-PET-CT in Triple Negative Breast Cancer, sponsored by Institut Curie. Recruiting at 13 sites in France. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-23.
Sponsored by Institut Curie · Not applicable, Interventional, and Diagnostic
CUPCAKE is a randomized, non-comparative, multicenter, proof-of-concept phase II trial, using the Trials within Cohorts concept(1) to assess the clinical utility of ctDNA monitoring combined with 68Ga-FAPI-46-PET-CT imaging upon ctDNA detection for the surveillance of patients with a non-metastatic TNBC at high risk of relapse.
The study has two steps. In Step 1, patients who have completed the treatments for a localized TNBC will undergo ctDNA monitoring every \~4 months (± 2 weeks). In Step 2, patients for whom ctDNA will be detected will then be randomized between an observation arm, in which monitoring will continue until the detection of a clinical relapse, and an experimental arm, in which the ctDNA detection will be revealed to both the patient and the clinician: patients will then undergo a 18F-FDG PET-CT and a 68Ga-FAPI-46-PET-CT, in addition to whatever workup the investigator will deem necessary.
The CUPCAKE trial will follow the Trials within Cohorts (TwiCs) approach. Non-metastatic TNBC patients at high risk of relapse will be included, after having signed a written informed consent, in a cohort allowing them to be followed by ctDNA monitoring every 4 months.
For each patient included, a ctDNA detection assay will be performed in blood samples every 4 months for a maximum of 24 months, while extra-plasma will be banked. ctDNA results will be available with a turnaround time of less than 3 weeks. When negative, ctDNA detection results will not be disclosed to patients nor clinicians.
First line therapy will not be started until a metastatic relapse has been found by imagining: no treatment will be started in the sole basis of a positive ctDNA test.
If, at any timepoint, ctDNA is detected (molecular relapse), patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio.
1,219 studies on the registry are indexed under Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms; 446 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 450 is above the median of 60 across 1,053 interventional studies indexed under Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms.
Browse Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms studies →Institut Curie is the lead sponsor of 135 studies on the registry; 29 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
High-risk primary tumor, defined as:
Exclusion Criteria:
History of another primary except for the following :
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.
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.
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.
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
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.
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.
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.
Adjuvant and neoadjuvant
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
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.
In the experimental arm, patients and their treating physician will be made aware of the molecular relapse (positive ctDNA detection results) in study steps 1 (ctDNA monitoring). To locate metastatic deposits, patients will be offered to undergo a whole-body imaging with 18F-FDG PET-CT and 68Ga-FAPI-46-PET-CT, in addition to any other workup considered as relevant by their treating physician.
Diagnostic Test: ctDNA monitoring · Diagnostic Test: 68Ga-FAPI-46-PET-CT
In the control arm, patients and their treating physician will not be made aware of the molecular relapse and will continue the standard surveillance with repeated ctDNA test every 4 months (blinded). ). At the time of the clinical/radiological diagnosis of relapse, similar procedures will be performed (18F-FDG PET-CT, 68Ga-FAPI-46-PET-CT, and tumor genetic landscape assessment by ctDNA analysis).
Diagnostic Test: ctDNA monitoring · Diagnostic Test: 68Ga-FAPI-46-PET-CT
For each patient included, a ctDNA detection assay will be performed in blood samples every 4 months, while extra-plasma will be banked. ctDNA results will be available with a turnaround time of less than 3 weeks. When negative, ctDNA detection results will not be disclosed to patients nor clinicians.
). To locate metastatic deposits, patients will be offered to undergo a whole-body imaging with 18F-FDG PET-CT and 68Ga-FAPI-46-PET-CT, in addition to any other workup considered as relevant by their treating physician.
Overall survival
OS rate for the main analysis (primary endpoint) is defined as the percentage of patients still alive 36 months after the randomization. If the patient is not present at the 36th month visit, survival data may be obtained by other means, such as telephone contact with the patient, his family, his current physician, or consulting local death registries. A non-comparative analysis will be conducted in the experimental arm, and the control arm will serve as reference.
Time frame: 36 months
Number of metastatic sites at the time of the clinical/radiological relapse.
The number of metastatic sites upon clinical/radiological relapse will be defined post-hoc by the Adjudication Committee as the number of organs or systems in which metastases are detected at the time of the clinical/radiological relapse, among the following propositions: lymph nodes, bones, liver, lungs, central nervous system/meninges, peritoneum, others.
Time frame: Clinical/radiological relapse up to 36 months
Recurrence-free survival
RFS \[recurrence-free survival\], defined as the time from randomization to clinical/radiological relapse or death; PFS \[progression-free survival\], defined as the time from randomization to the first progression or death occurring after clinical/radiological relapse; 1L-PFS \[first line PFS\], defined as the time from clinical/radiological relapse to first progression or death ; 2L-PFS \[second line PFS\], defined as the time from first to second progression or death; progression being defined per RECIST criteria.
Time frame: Clinical/radiological relapse up to 36 months
Overall response rate
Best ORR is defined as the proportion of patients with a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) based on local investigator assessment according to RECIST 1.1, until first progression or last tumor assessment in the absence of progression. ORR will be reported with its 95% confidence interval by arm.
Time frame: 12 months
Overal Survival
Overall Survival is defined as the time between randomization and death.
Time frame: Up to 36 months
Performance Status Scale
Proportion of patients presenting with an altered general condition (PS ≥2) at first evidence of clinical or radiological relapse. The population of interest consists in randomized patients.
Time frame: Clinical/radiological relapse up to 36 months
EORTC Core Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30) with the QLQ-BR42 module
The EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire with the QLQ-BR42 is used to report health-related QoL in all included patients. Summary statistics of the scores for all functional/symptom scales will be calculated at each assessment time point, according to the scoring procedure recommended by the EORTC. All of the scales and single item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high score for the functional scales and functional single items represents a high/healthy level of functioning, whereas a high score for the symptom scales and symptom item represents a high level of symptomatology or problems.
Time frame: Clinical/radiological relapse up to 36 months
5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L)
y. Each state is referred to in terms of a 5 digit code. For example, state 11111 indicates no problems on any of the 5 dimensions, while state 12345 indicates no problems with mobility, slight problems with washing or dressing, moderate problems with doing usual activities, severe pain or discomfort and extreme anxiety or depression. A completely healthy patient would have a score of 11111. This 5-digit number can be converted into a score using a special algorithm that is not publicly available. This point value is called the EQ-5D-5L Index and represents the patient's health status.
Time frame: Clinical/radiological relapse up to 24 months
Proportion of patients receiving local treatment for oligometastatic disease
Proportion of patients receiving local treatment for oligometastatic disease
Time frame: 36 months
Plan to share: Yes — Investigators will share de-identified data sets with interested researchers, educators or clinicians. Materials generated under the project will be disseminated in accrodance with Institut Curie policies.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan
Time frame: Data requests can be submitted starting 9 months after article publication and will be made accessible for up to 12 months.
Access criteria: Access to trial individual participant data can be requested by qualified researchers engaging in independent scientific reserach, and will be provided following review and approval of a research proposal and Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) and execution of a data sharing agreement (DSA).
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