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Search / Trial NCT05846789

SOC Chemotherapy +/- Tocilizumab for Triple Negative and ER-low Breast Cancers

Launched by KATHY MILLER · Apr 27, 2023

Trial Information

Current as of August 29, 2025

Recruiting

Keywords

Breast Cancer Phase Ii

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at the effectiveness of a chemotherapy drug called carboplatin, both on its own and when combined with another medication called tocilizumab, for patients with metastatic breast cancer that is either triple negative or has low estrogen receptors. The trial is recruiting both Black and non-Black patients who are 18 years or older and have not received chemotherapy for their metastatic disease before. Participants must have measurable cancer and meet certain health criteria to ensure they can safely join the study.

If eligible, participants will receive either carboplatin alone or in combination with tocilizumab, and the study will monitor how well these treatments work. Participants can expect regular check-ups and tests to track their health and the progress of their cancer. It’s important for potential participants to know that they must agree to use effective birth control during the study and for six months after treatment, and those with certain health conditions or previous treatments may not be able to participate.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

  • Inclusion Criteria:
  • 1. ≥ 18 years old at the time of informed consent
  • 2. Ability to provide written informed consent and HIPAA authorization
  • 3. Locally recurrent (not amenable to local therapy with curative intent) or metastatic breast cancer that is triple negative or ER-low (ER and PR ≤ 9% weak staining)
  • 4. Zero or one prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
  • a. Prior (neo)adjuvant therapy will be considered one line of therapy for metastatic disease in patients who recur while on or within 12 months of completion of (neo)adjuvant therapy.
  • 5. Planned standard of care chemotherapy based on NCCN guidelines.
  • 1. Single agent therapy is preferred but use of combination regimens considered SOC by NCCN is allowed.
  • 2. Chemotherapy delivered via a SOC antibody-drug conjugate is allowed but ADCs may not be used in combination with other agents.
  • 6. Patients with tumors that are PD-L1+ (CPS \> 10) must have had prior exposure to an immune checkpoint inhibitor in the metastatic setting.
  • 1. Patients who received (neo)adjuvant IO therapy and progress while on or within 12 months of completion of (neo)adjuvant IO therapy may participate without additional IO treatment.
  • 2. Patients with major contraindications to immune therapy, may participate without IO exposure regardless of PD-L1 status in the first line setting.
  • 3. PD-L1 status is not required for patients in the second line setting.
  • 7. Measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 criteria.
  • 8. Disease amenable to and consent for study-specific biopsy NOTE: If no disease amenable to biopsy is present at the time of second biopsy, subjects may continue participation in the study and further study specific biopsies will not be required.
  • 9. ECOG PS 0 or 1
  • 10. Patients with treated, asymptomatic CNS disease may participate if the patient is \> 4 weeks from completion of CNS therapy (radiation and/or surgery), is clinically stable at the time of study entry, and is receiving stable or decreasing dose of corticosteroids. Brain MRI or head CT is required at screening for patients with known brain metastases.
  • 11. Adequate organ function as indicated by:
  • 1. Total bilirubin \< ULN (except in patients with documented Gilbert's disease, who must have a total bilirubin \< 3.0 mg/dL)
  • 2. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 5.0 x ULN
  • 3. Creatinine clearance of \> 50 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula
  • 4. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> 1.2 K/mm3
  • 5. Platelets \> 75 K/ mm3
  • 6. Hgb \> 9.0 g/dL
  • 12. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 14 days of protocol registration. Women are considered to have childbearing potential (regardless of sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) unless they meet one of the following criteria:
  • 1. Has undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or
  • 2. Has been naturally amenorrheic for at least 24 consecutive months.
  • 13. Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use effective contraception throughout the study and for 6 months after the last study treatment.
  • NOTE: Acceptable methods of birth control include abstinence, partner with previous vasectomy, placement of an intrauterine device (IUD), condom with spermicidal foam/gel/film/cream/suppository, diaphragm or cervical vault cap, or hormonal birth control (pills or injections).
  • Exclusion Criteria:
  • 1. Prior treatment with or known contraindication to treatment with tocilizumab or other IL-6/IL-6R targeted agent
  • 2. Active infection requiring parenteral antibiotics
  • 3. Concurrent use of methotrexate or systemic corticosteroids other than stable or decreasing doses for management of CNS involvement
  • 4. Active or symptomatic CNS disease
  • 5. Patients with HER2+ disease Note: HER2 will be considered positive if scored 3+ by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or 2+ by IHC associated with a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) ratio of \> 2.0 or \> 6 total HER2 gene copies per cell.
  • 6. Patients with active malignancy other than breast cancer. Patients with prior malignancies without recurrence after standard treatment will not be excluded
  • 7. Radiation therapy within 2 weeks of registration
  • 8. Hormone therapy within 2 weeks of registration
  • 9. Planned treatment with Olaparib or other PARP inhibitor.

About Kathy Miller

Kathy Miller is a dedicated clinical trial sponsor with a strong commitment to advancing medical research and improving patient outcomes. With extensive experience in oncology and a focus on innovative treatment modalities, Kathy Miller leads initiatives that prioritize patient safety and ethical research practices. Her collaborative approach fosters partnerships with leading institutions and researchers, ensuring robust study designs and rigorous data analysis. Through her leadership, Kathy Miller aims to contribute significantly to the development of effective therapies while upholding the highest standards of scientific integrity and transparency in clinical trials.

Locations

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Buffalo, New York, United States

Carmel, Indiana, United States

Patients applied

0 patients applied

Trial Officials

Kathy Miller, MD

Principal Investigator

Indiana University

Timeline

First submit

Trial launched

Trial updated

Estimated completion

Not reported