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Not yet recruitingNCT07915739IMN-NeoUpdated Nov 4, 2026

Internal Mammary Node Irradiation After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy for Breast Cancer

A Phase 3 interventional study of Locoregional Radiotherapy With Internal Mammary Node Irradiation and Locoregional Radiotherapy Without Internal Mammary Node Irradiation in Breast Neoplasms, sponsored by Mahidol University. Not yet recruiting at 9 sites in Thailand. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-04.

Sponsored by Mahidol University · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Updated Nov 4, 2026Newly registeredGo to Updates ↓
Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
1,760
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
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Study summary

This multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluates whether internal mammary node irradiation (IMNI) improves oncologic outcomes in patients with breast cancer who have residual pathologically positive lymph nodes after neoadjuvant systemic therapy.

Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive locoregional radiotherapy either with or without irradiation of the internal mammary lymph nodes. The primary outcome is disease-free survival. Secondary outcomes include overall survival, breast cancer mortality, locoregional recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and treatment-related toxicity, particularly cardiac and pulmonary toxicity.

A total of 1,760 participants are planned to be enrolled across multiple centers in Thailand.

Read the detailed description

Regional nodal irradiation is an established component of adjuvant radiotherapy for selected patients with node-positive breast cancer. However, the additional benefit of internal mammary node irradiation (IMNI) remains uncertain, particularly in patients receiving contemporary neoadjuvant systemic therapy. Although previous randomized trials have demonstrated potential oncologic benefits of regional nodal irradiation incorporating IMNI, most were conducted in patients undergoing upfront surgery, before the widespread use of modern systemic treatments. Consequently, the benefit-risk balance of IMNI in patients with residual nodal disease after neoadjuvant systemic therapy remains unclear.

IMN-Neo is a phase III, multicenter, randomized, open-label superiority trial designed to evaluate whether the addition of IMNI to standard locoregional radiotherapy improves oncologic outcomes in patients with residual pathologically positive axillary lymph nodes following neoadjuvant systemic therapy.

Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio using computer-generated mixed block randomization, stratified by pathological nodal stage, method of axillary evaluation, primary tumor location, and breast cancer molecular subtype. Randomization will be performed at the time of radiotherapy simulation.

Both treatment groups will receive radiotherapy to the breast or chest wall and regional lymph nodes according to protocol-defined target delineation and dose constraints. The experimental group will additionally receive irradiation of the internal mammary lymph nodes, encompassing the first through third intercostal spaces, whereas the control group will undergo intentional omission of IMNI. Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy or more advanced techniques will be used, with deep inspiration breath-hold permitted to minimize radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues.

Participants will undergo scheduled clinical follow-up to assess disease recurrence, survival, and treatment-related adverse effects. Particular attention will be given to cardiac and pulmonary toxicity because of the potential increase in radiation exposure associated with IMNI.

An independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board will oversee participant safety and trial conduct. A prespecified interim efficacy analysis will be performed after approximately 50% of the required primary endpoint events have occurred, with additional monitoring for unexpected oncologic harm and serious treatment-related toxicity.

The trial aims to provide prospective evidence to guide individualized decision-making regarding IMNI in patients with residual nodal disease following contemporary neoadjuvant systemic therapy.

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Conditions studied

  • Breast Neoplasms

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Keywords

  • Internal mammary node irradiation
  • IMNI
  • Regional nodal irradiation
  • Neoadjuvant systemic therapy
  • Node-positive breast cancer
  • Breast radiotherapy
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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 1,760 is above the median of 72 across 10,896 interventional studies indexed under Breast Neoplasms.

Browse Breast Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Mahidol University is the lead sponsor of 747 studies on the registry; 119 are open to participants now.

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

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
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

  • confirmed breast cancer with pathologically proven lymph node positivity after systemic therapy.
  • Received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy and/or immunotherapy before surgery.
  • Underwent either breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy with lymph node evaluation and is planned to receive adjuvant locoregional radiotherapy.
  • Planned treatment with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) or a more advanced radiotherapy technique.
  • Female ≥ 18 years

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical or radiologic evidence of internal mammary lymph node involvement of any size.
  • Inflammatory breast cancer.
  • Bilateral breast cancer.
  • Multiple primary , except basal cell carcinoma and premalignant gynecologic lesions including CIN, HSIL, LSIL, VIN, and VAIN.
  • Prior chest irradiation.
  • Disease progression before radiotherapy.
  • disease (M1) according to the AJCC 8th edition.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(4)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Metastases

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

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Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
1,760 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    IMNI Group

    Participants will receive adjuvant locoregional radiotherapy including irradiation of the internal mammary lymph nodes.

    Radiation: Locoregional Radiotherapy With Internal Mammary Node Irradiation

  • Active comparator
    Non-IMNI Group

    Participants will receive adjuvant radiotherapy to the breast or chest wall and regional lymph nodes without irradiation of the internal mammary lymph nodes.

    Radiation: Locoregional Radiotherapy Without Internal Mammary Node Irradiation

Interventions

  • RadiationLocoregional Radiotherapy With Internal Mammary Node Irradiation

    Adjuvant locoregional radiotherapy to the breast or chest wall and regional lymph nodes, including the internal mammary lymph nodes. Allowed dose-fractionation schedules include 50 Gy in 25 fractions, 42.5 Gy in 16 fractions, or 40 Gy in 15 fractions, according to the study protocol.

    Also known as: IMNI Group

  • RadiationLocoregional Radiotherapy Without Internal Mammary Node Irradiation

    Adjuvant locoregional radiotherapy to the breast or chest wall and regional lymph nodes, with intentional omission of the internal mammary lymph nodes. Allowed dose-fractionation schedules include 50 Gy in 25 fractions, 42.5 Gy in 16 fractions, or 40 Gy in 15 fractions, according to the study protocol.

    Also known as: Non-IMNI Group

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Disease-Free Survival (DFS)

    Disease-free survival is defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of locoregional recurrence, distant metastasis, or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.

    Time frame: From randomization through 5 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Overall Survival (OS)

    Overall survival is defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause.

    Time frame: Up to 5 years after randomization

  2. Breast Cancer Mortality

    Breast cancer mortality is defined as the time from randomization to death attributable to breast cancer.

    Time frame: Up to 5 years after randomization

  3. Locoregional Recurrence-Free Survival (LRFS)

    Locoregional recurrence-free survival is defined as the time from randomization to the occurrence of locoregional recurrence.

    Time frame: Up to 5 years after randomization

  4. Distant Metastasis-Free Survival (DMFS)

    Distant metastasis-free survival is defined as the time from randomization to the occurrence of distant metastasis.

    Time frame: Up to 5 years after randomization

  5. Incidence and Severity of Cardiac Toxicity Assessed Using RTOG/EORTC Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria

    Acute cardiac toxicity will be assessed using the RTOG Acute Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria, while late cardiac toxicity will be assessed using the RTOG/EORTC Late Radiation Morbidity Scoring Schema. Toxicity will be graded from 0 (no toxicity) to 5 (death related to toxicity). The incidence and severity of cardiac toxicity will be compared between treatment groups.

    Time frame: Last week of radiotherapy, then at 1, 3, and 6 months, and every 6 months through 2 years

  6. Incidence and Severity of Pulmonary Toxicity Assessed Using RTOG/EORTC Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria

    Acute pulmonary toxicity will be assessed using the RTOG Acute Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria, while late pulmonary toxicity will be assessed using the RTOG/EORTC Late Radiation Morbidity Scoring Schema. Toxicity will be graded from 0 (no toxicity) to 5 (death related to toxicity). The incidence and severity of pulmonary toxicity will be compared between the two treatment groups.

    Time frame: Last week of radiotherapy, then at 1, 3, and 6 months, and every 6 months through 2 years

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Study locations

9 sites
  • Siriraj Hospital
    Bangkok, Bangkok Noi 10700, Thailand
    • Tanun Jitwatcharakomol, MD · Contacttanun.jit@mahidol.ac.th · +66909623000
    • Tanun Jitwatcharakomol, MD · Principal investigator
    • Pittaya Dankulchai, MD · Sub investigator
    • Janjira Petsuksiri, MD · Sub investigator
    • Chinnavuth Vatanashevanopakorn, MD · Sub investigator
    • Pongpop Tuntapakul, MD · Sub investigator
    • Wiwatchai Sittiwong, MD · Sub investigator
    • Ratchapas Romrattaphan, MD · Sub investigator
    • Krittee Chesdachai, MD · Sub investigator
  • Chulabhorn Hospital
    Bangkok, Thailand
    • Ruja Vijitvejpaisarn, MD · Contactruja.sri@cra.ac.th · +662-576-6021
    • Areeya Tinsurawattana, MD · Sub investigator
  • Chonburi Cancer Hospital
    Chon Buri, Thailand
  • Vibharam Amata Nakorn Cancer Hospital
    Chon Buri, Thailand
  • Lop Buri Cancer Hospital
    Lopburi, Thailand
  • Synphaet Hospital Nakhon Pathom
    Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
  • Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital
    Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
  • Ratchaburi Hospital
    Ratchaburi, Thailand
  • Metropolitan Hospital Tha Chalom, Samut Sakhon Hospital
    Samut Sakhon, Thailand
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References and documents

Publications

  • CHEN Yuguang, S. X., BI Zhao, QIU Pengfei, DUAN Baowei, FAN Qingda, WANG Yongsheng. Internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer: a long-term follow-up research for assessment of prognosis and guiding individualized internal mammary lymph node irradiation. China Oncology 33, 142-151, doi:10.19401/j.cnki.1007-3639.2023.02.007 (2023).
  • Luo J, Jin K, Chen X, Wang X, Yang Z, Zhang L, Mei X, Ma J, Zhang X, Zhou Z, Wang X, Jiang Y, Shao Z, Zhang Z, Guo X, Yu X. Internal Mammary Node Irradiation (IMNI) Improves Survival Outcome for Patients With Clinical Stage II-III Breast Cancer After Preoperative Systemic Therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2019 Mar 15;103(4):895-904. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.11.003. Epub 2018 Nov 12. PubMed 30439485 ↗
  • Kim KH, Noh JM, Kim YB, Chang JS, Keum KC, Huh SJ, Choi DH, Park W, Suh CO. Does internal mammary node irradiation affect treatment outcome in clinical stage II-III breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuv ant chemotherapy? Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2015 Aug;152(3):589-99. doi: 10.1007/s10549-015-3505-1. Epub 2015 Jul 23. PubMed 26202053 ↗
  • Nielsen AWM, Thorsen LBJ, Ozcan D, Matthiessen LW, Maae E, Milo MLH, Nielsen MH, Tramm T, Overgaard J, Offersen BV; DBCG RT Committee. Internal mammary node irradiation in 4541 node-positive breast cancer patients treated with newer systemic therapies and 3D-based radiotherapy (DBCG IMN2): a prospective, nationwide, population-based cohort study. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2024 Dec 12;49:101160. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101160. eCollection 2025 Feb. PubMed 39810969 ↗
  • Thorsen LB, Offersen BV, Dano H, Berg M, Jensen I, Pedersen AN, Zimmermann SJ, Brodersen HJ, Overgaard M, Overgaard J. DBCG-IMN: A Population-Based Cohort Study on the Effect of Internal Mammary Node Irradiation in Early Node-Positive Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2016 Feb 1;34(4):314-20. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2015.63.6456. Epub 2015 Nov 23. PubMed 26598752 ↗
  • Mamounas EP, Bandos H, White JR, Julian TB, Khan AJ, Shaitelman SF, Torres MA, Vicini FA, Ganz PA, McCloskey SA, Lucas PC, Gupta N, Li XA, McCormick B, Smith B, Tendulkar RD, Kavadi VS, Matsumoto K, Seaward SA, Irvin WJ Jr, Lin JY, Mutter RW, Muanza TM, Stromberg J, Jagsi R, Weiss AC, Curran WJ Jr, Wolmark N. Omitting Regional Nodal Irradiation after Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. N Engl J Med. 2025 Jun 5;392(21):2113-2124. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2414859. PubMed 40466065 ↗
  • Kaidar-Person O, Fortpied C, Hol S, Weltens C, Kirkove C, Budach V, Peignaux-Casasnovas K, van der Leij F, Vonk E, Valli M, Weidner N, Guckenberger M, Koiter E, Fourquet A, Bartelink H, Struikmans H, Poortmans P; EORTC Radiation Oncology and Breast Cancer Groups. The association of internal mammary and medial supraclavicular lymph node radiation technique with clinical outcomes: Results from the EORTC 22922/10925 randomised trial. Radiother Oncol. 2022 Jul;172:99-110. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2022.05.006. Epub 2022 May 12. PubMed 35568284 ↗
  • Whelan TJ, Olivotto IA, Parulekar WR, Ackerman I, Chua BH, Nabid A, Vallis KA, White JR, Rousseau P, Fortin A, Pierce LJ, Manchul L, Chafe S, Nolan MC, Craighead P, Bowen J, McCready DR, Pritchard KI, Gelmon K, Murray Y, Chapman JA, Chen BE, Levine MN; MA.20 Study Investigators. Regional Nodal Irradiation in Early-Stage Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2015 Jul 23;373(4):307-16. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1415340. PubMed 26200977 ↗
  • Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group. Electronic address: bc.overview@ctsu.ox.ac.uk. Reductions in recurrence in women with early breast cancer entering clinical trials between 1990 and 2009: a pooled analysis of 155 746 women in 151 trials. Lancet. 2024 Oct 12;404(10461):1407-1418. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01745-8. PubMed 39396348 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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Updates

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026
Registered
First appeared on the registry. No changes since
Nov 4, 2026
Show all 1 update
  1. Nov 4, 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 ↗

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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07915739
Lead sponsor
Mahidol University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 4, 2026
Start date
Jul 1, 2027 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jul 1, 2032 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 1, 2036 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 4, 2026

Study contacts

Tanun Jitwatcharakomol, MD
Contact
tanun.jit@mahidol.ac.th
+66909623000

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

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