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NCT Number: NCT03357120

Circulating Tumor DNA After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Trial assessing the prognostic value of ctDNA mutations from samples taken sequentially in patients with invasive breast cancer initially treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and whose tumor is not in complete histological response.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

Patients with an invasive breast cancer on neoadjuvant chemotherapy (with the exception of cT2cN0 tumors) are preselected before the surgical procedure. They are definitely included during the post-surgery visit following the analysis of the surgical specimen (only patients whose tumor did not achieve a complete pathological response are included).

Sequential plasma samples for ctDNA mutations analysis will be taken during the post-surgery visit (within 2-5 weeks after surgery) and every 6 months (+/- 1 month) thereafter for 5 years.

In case of relapse patients will be proposed to participate to an optional research program with a blood test for ctDNA assessment and biopsies from a metastasis (when these biopsies are clinically indicated).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 18 years (no age limit).
  • Women or men.
  • Invasive breast cancer proven histologically at diagnosis (before neoadjuvant chemotherapy):
  • Locally advanced tumor known to be inoperable from the start:
  • cT4a, b, c, d whatever the cN
  • or cN2 or cN3 whatever the cT.
  • Operable tumors:
  • cT2cN1 or cT3cN0 or cT3N1,
  • or cT2cN0 for which ganglionic invasion has been proven by cytology or histology.
  • Lack of clinically or radiologically detectable metastases in the initial diagnosis before the neoadjuvant chemotherapy (M0).
  • Unilateral or bilateral breast cancer. Multifocality is accepted.
  • Patients who received 6 to 8 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
  • Preoperative radiation therapy allowed.
  • Breast surgery performed and pathology report of a non-complete histological response (i.e. all the different results of ypT0 /is ypN0).
  • Signed informed consent.
  • Patients affiliated to a French social security scheme in accordance with Article 1121-11 of the French Code of Public Health.
  • Possible inclusion in another interventional research (surgical, radiotherapy or drug study).

Exclusion criteria

  • cT2cN0 tumor without cytological or histological lymph node involvement.
  • Progression during neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
  • Exclusive neoadjuvant hormone therapy.
  • Complete blood transfusion within 120 days prior to 1st sampling.
  • History of invasive cancer regardless of the time elapsed since the diagnosis of this cancer, including a history of contralateral invasive breast cancer. However, patients who have been treated for in situ breast cancer, basocellular skin cancer or cervical cancer treated in situ are eligible.
  • Patient unable to follow and comply with research procedures for geographical, social or psychological reasons.
  • Patient deprived of liberty or subject to a legal protection measure.

Treatment and study plan

Follow-up after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Other

Sequential plasma samples for ctDNA mutations analysis will be taken during the post-surgery visit (within 2-5 weeks after surgery) and every 6 months (+/- 1 month) thereafter for 5 years. In case of relapse patients will be proposed to participate to an optional research program with a blood test for ctDNA assessment and biopsies from a metastasis (when these biopsies are clinically indicated). Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis will be performed on post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy residual tumor tissue samples. The mutations identified by NGS in residual tumor will be tracked in ctDNA using personalized digital PCR (dPCR) or by an NGS technique whose bioinformatics pipeline is adapted to the analysis of ctDNA.

In case of relapse patients will be proposed to participate to an optional research program with a blood test for ctDNA assessment and biopsies from a metastasis (when these biopsies are clinically indicated).

Primary outcomes

  1. Prognostic value of the presence of ctDNA mutation(s) measured by dPCR on recurrence-free interval (RFI) at 3 years.

    Time frame: 3 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Prognostic value of the presence of ctDNA mutation(s) on overall survival (OS) at 3 years.

    Time frame: 3 years

  2. Prognostic value of the presence of ctDNA mutation(s) on distant-metastasis-free interval (DRFI) at 3 years.

    Time frame: 3 years

  3. Prognostic value of the presence of ctDNA mutation(s) on OS at 5 years.

    Time frame: 5 years

  4. Prognostic value of the presence of ctDNA mutation(s) on DRFI at 5 years.

    Time frame: 5 years

  5. Prognostic value of the presence of ctDNA mutation(s) on a single sample assessment after surgery (measured by dPCR) on RFI at 3 years.

    Time frame: 3 years

  6. Prognostic value of the presence of ctDNA mutation(s) on a single sample assessment after surgery (measured by dPCR) on DRFI at 3 years.

    Time frame: 3 years

  7. Prognostic value of the presence of ctDNA mutation(s) on a single sample assessment after surgery (measured by dPCR) on RFI at 5 years.

    Time frame: 5 years

  8. Prognostic value of the presence of ctDNA mutation(s) on a single sample assessment after surgery (measured by dPCR) on DRFIat 5 years.

    Time frame: 5 years

Study contacts

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

Hervé BONNEFOI, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+33 5 56 33 32 69

Simone MATHOULIN-PELISSIER, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Institut Bergonié

Other

Collaborators

  • Fondation Bergonié

Registry information

Official study title

Detection of Circulating Tumoral DNA Mutations (Sequential Assessment) Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: Clinical Validity (ALIENOR Study)

Acronym: ALIENOR

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2028
First posted
Nov 29, 2017
Registry last updated
Oct 2, 2025

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.

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