Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06833853

A Study for CTC Expression and cfDNA/RNA Assessment in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

The purpose of this research is to learn if the CellSearch Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) test can help doctors in making decisions about treatment and monitoring of breast cancer. The test consists of diagnostic CTC counts (enumeration) and expression of biomarkers Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2), Estrogen Receptor (ER), and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cell free DNA/RNA (cfDNA/RNA) analysis.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

UPMC Magee Womens Hospital

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Marija Balic, MD, PhD, MBA

CONTACT

About this study

A prospective, multicenter, observational study of CellSearch CTC enumeration, CTC HER2, ER, and PD-L1 expression, and MSearch cfDNA/RNA results in subjects with histologically proven MBC. Treatment for MBC will be chosen and performed by treating physicians/providers. Eligible subjects will be enrolled after signing the ICF. Subjects will receive CTC enumeration, CTC HER2, ER, PD-L1 expression and, and MSearch cfDNA/RNA assessments at baseline and first restaging as part of Standard of Care (SoC). Subjects will receive any additional cfDNA/RNA assessments as part of research collection. For all subjects 4 to 6 tubes will be collected at baseline and minimally before the first restaging visit. For any subsequent restaging visits a total of 3 to 4 tubes will be collected.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Invasive breast cancer with radiographic and/or clinical evidence of advanced metastatic or unresectable disease.
  • HR+/HER2 negative or triple negative (TN) subjects prior to starting first line therapy or beyond in the metastatic setting.

OR HER2+ subjects prior to starting second line therapy or beyond in the metastatic setting.

  • Subject must have the CTC HER2, ER, PD-L1, and cfDNA/RNA tests ordered during routine patient care.
  • Age > 18 years.

Exclusion criteria

  • Participant is pregnant.
  • Inability to provide blood samples based on the judgment of the treating physician.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. The percentage of subjects for which the providers indicated positive impact of the cfDNA/RNA, CTC enumeration, and CTC expression results.

    Time frame: 3-4 months

    The percentage of subjects for which the providers indicated positive impact on treatment decisions or response assessment of the cfDNA/RNA, CTC enumeration, and CTC expression assessments.CTC enumeration, CTC biomarker expression, and cfDNA/RNA results in subjects with MBC.

Secondary outcomes

  1. The correlation of CTC expression and tissue immunohistochemistry (IHC)/In Situ Hybridization (ISH) results for HER2, ER, and PD-L1.

    Time frame: 1 month

  2. The correlation of CTC expression and cfDNA/RNA results for HER2, ER, and PD-L1.

    Time frame: 3-4 months

  3. The correlation of CTC HER2, ER and PD-L1 expression with response to therapy and progression free survival (PFS).

    Time frame: 24 months

  4. The correlation of cfDNA/RNA genomic alterations with response to therapy and PFS.

    Time frame: 24 months

  5. The correlation of early cfDNA/RNA dynamics with response to therapy and PFS in 1st line Hormone Receptor (HR) +/HER2- MBC.

    Time frame: 24 months

  6. The correlation of CTC enumeration results with PFS.

    Time frame: 24 months

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Lisette Stork-Sloots

CONTACT

[email protected]

Marija Balic, MD, PhD, MBA

CONTACT

[email protected]

800-533-8762

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Menarini Silicon Biosystems, INC

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

CTC-EXPRESS: A Prospective Observational Study for CTC Expression and cfDNA/RNA Assessment in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Acronym: CTC-EXPRESS

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Feb 19, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 18, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.