ClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT07905313HERBRAINUpdated Oct 29, 2026

Study of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Combination With Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Patients With HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer and First Diagnosis of Brain Metastases (HERBRAIN)

A Phase 2 interventional study of SRS/fSRT+T-Dxd in Breast Cancer (Advanced/Metastatic), sponsored by Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-29.

Sponsored by Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Updated Oct 29, 2026Newly registeredGo to Updates ↓
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This is a Phase II, single-arm, Bayesian adaptive trial. The study employs a two-stage design with an interim analysis after 30 evaluable patients and a maximum enrolment of 60 patients. T-DXd is administered at 5.4 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks until intracranial or systemic progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient withdrawal. SRS (single-fraction) or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (fSRT, 3-5 fractions) is delivered within 21 days of enrolment, before Cycle 1 (with a minimum interval of 10 days from local treatment completion and Cycle 1 of T-DXd and a maximum interval of 28 days), for patients with 1-10 BMs and cumulative planning target volume ≤ 20.0 mL.

02

Conditions studied

  • Breast Cancer (Advanced/Metastatic)
03

In context

Breast Neoplasms

14,825 studies on the registry are indexed under Breast Neoplasms; 3,319 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 60 is below the median of 72 across 10,896 interventional studies indexed under Breast Neoplasms.

Browse Breast Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi is the lead sponsor of 77 studies on the registry; 23 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

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.

Inclusion criteria

  • Women or men aged ≥18 years at the time of .

    • or cytologically confirmed breast cancer with documented -positive status, defined as immunohistochemistry (IHC) 3+ or IHC 2+ with in situ hybridization (ISH) amplification ratio ≥2.0 or average HER2 copy number ≥6.0 signals/cell, per ASCO/CAP guidelines [31]. HER2 status may be determined on primary tumour or .
    • Radiologically confirmed metastatic disease (Stage IV) with first diagnosis of BMs documented on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain performed within 28 days prior to enrolment.
    • amenable to SRS/fSRT, defined as 1 to 10 intracranial lesions with a cumulative planned target volume (PTV) ≤20.0 mL. Individual lesion diameter must not exceed 30 mm in the longest axis.
    • (ECOG) Performance Status of 0, 1 at screening.
    • Stable or decreasing dose equivalent to ≤4 mg/day dexamethasone for a minimum of 5 consecutive days prior to Day 1 of Cycle 1.
    • Adequate organ function documented within 14 days prior to enrolment, defined as:

      • (ANC) ≥1.5 × 10⁹/L
      • count ≥100 × 10⁹/L
      • ≥9.0 g/dL (transfusion permitted if stable for ≥7 days)
      • Total ≤1.5 × (ULN); ≤3 × ULN if documented Gilbert syndrome (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤3 × ULN (≤5 × ULN if liver metastases present)
      • Estimated ≥30 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault formula)
      • (LVEF) ≥50% by echocardiography or multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan within 28 days of enrolment
    • Adequate pulmonary function defined as oxygen saturation ≥92% on room air at rest and no clinical or radiographic evidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) or pneumonitis on baseline chest computed tomography (CT) performed within 28 days of enrolment.
    • For women of : negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to Day 1 of Cycle 1 and agreement to use highly effective (combined hormonal or intrauterine device or bilateral tubal occlusion or vasectomized partner or sexual abstinence) from screening through at least 7 months after the last dose of T-DXd. For men with female partners of childbearing potential: agreement to use barrier contraception from screening through at least 4 months after the last dose of T-DXd.
    • Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document in accordance with ICH E6(R2) Good Clinical Practice guidelines and local regulatory requirements [16].
    • Willingness and ability to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, imaging assessments (see Section 8), and laboratory evaluations for the duration of the study.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior treatment with T-DXd or any other -directed antibody-drug conjugate employing a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload in the setting. Patients with metastatic disease who previously received T-DXd in the (neo) setting are eligible, provided that at least 24 months have elapsed since the last T-DXd administration and that disease progression did not occur during T-DXd treatment.

    • confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid cytology or unequivocal MRI findings (linear or nodular leptomeningeal enhancement with associated clinical symptoms).
    • Any prior radiation therapy to the brain.
    • requiring urgent neurosurgical intervention (e.g., lesions causing midline shift >5 mm, obstructive hydrocephalus, or impending herniation).
    • Significant cardiovascular disease, including:

      • \<50% at screening History of (NYHA) Class III or IV congestive heart failure
      • Myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to enrolment
    • History of non-infectious ILD/pneumonitis requiring systemic , or current ILD/pneumonitis of any grade, or suspected ILD/pneumonitis that cannot be ruled out by imaging at screening.
    • Uncontrolled infection requiring IV antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals at the time of enrolment.
    • Known active (HBsAg positive with detectable HBV DNA), active (detectable HCV RNA), or known infection with \<200 cells/μL or detectable viral load.
    • Active disease requiring systemic therapy (>10 mg/day prednisone equivalent) within 14 days prior to enrolment. Replacement-dose corticosteroids (e.g., for adrenal insufficiency) and topical, inhaled, or ophthalmic corticosteroids are permitted.
    • Major surgical procedure within 28 days prior to enrolment or anticipated need for major surgery during the study treatment period.
    • Concurrent requiring active systemic treatment, with the exception of adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other malignancies in complete remission for ≥3 years.
    • Known to T-DXd, other antibody-drug conjugates, or any of the product formulation (L-histidine, L-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, sucrose, polysorbate 80).
    • Pregnancy, lactation, or intention to become pregnant during the study or within 7 months after the last dose of T-DXd.
    • Any condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would compromise the patient's ability to comply with study procedures, confound interpretation of study results, or pose unacceptable risk to the patient.
    • Concurrent participation in another interventional clinical trial with an investigational medicinal product. Participation in observational studies or registries is permitted.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(31)

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.

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.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

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.

Metastases

Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

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.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.

It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

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.

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.

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.

Creatinine clearance (CrCl)

How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.

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.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

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.

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.

Leptomeningeal disease

Cancer that has spread to the leptomeninges, the thin layers covering the brain and spinal cord, and the fluid between them. It is not the same as brain metastases.

Criteria often treat it separately, and many studies leave it out even where treated brain metastases are allowed.

NYHA class (heart failure)

The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.

I
No limits: ordinary activity causes no undue tiredness or breathlessness.
II
Slight limits: comfortable at rest, ordinary activity causes symptoms.
III
Marked limits: comfortable at rest, less than ordinary activity causes symptoms.
IV
Symptoms even at rest; any activity makes them worse.

Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Hepatitis C tests

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.

After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

CD4 count

The number of CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell, in a given amount of blood. It is used to follow how well the immune system is doing in HIV.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

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.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Excipients

The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.

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.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    A

    Drug: SRS/fSRT+T-Dxd

Interventions

  • DrugSRS/fSRT+T-Dxd

    Drug page: Trastuzumab deruxtecan

    Patients will be trated with SRS/fSRT followed by Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) 5.4 mg/kg administered as an intravenous infusion every 21 days (q3w).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. 12-month CNS-PFS rate

    Time frame: From enrollment to End of Treatment, up to 30 months

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — IPD will be maintained in a local data repository

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Start is estimated for May 2027; primary completion for May 2028, 12 months later.

Of 1,070 non-industry phase 2 interventional studies under Breast Neoplasms, half reached primary completion within 56 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 34 and three quarters within 87. This study's planned 12 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 1,302 studies reached it within 51 months; a quarter within 30 and three quarters within 82.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Oct 22, 2026
First posted
Oct 29, 2026
StartEst.
May 15, 2027
Primary completionEst.
May 15, 2028
CompletionEst.
Dec 31, 2030
Last update
Oct 29, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
Registered
First appeared on the registry. No changes since
Oct 29, 2026
Show all 1 update
  1. Oct 29, 2026
    First appeared on the registry

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 ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07905313
Lead sponsor
Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi
Responsible party
Lorenzo Livi (Dr., Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 29, 2026
Start date
May 15, 2027 (estimated)
Primary completion
May 15, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2030 (estimated)
Last update
Oct 29, 2026

Study contacts

Luca Visani, MD
Contact
luca.visani@unifi.it
+390557947848

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

Questions 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.

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Studies of the drug tested here: Trastuzumab deruxtecan

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