NeoAdjuvant Therapy With Trastuzumab-deruxtecan Versus Chemotherapy+Trastuzumab+Pertuzumab in HER2+ Early Breast Cancer

Last updated: November 18, 2025
Sponsor: West German Study Group
Overall Status: Active - Not Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

N/A

Treatment

Trastuzumab deruxtecan

Standard-of-Care

Clinical Study ID

NCT05704829
WSG-AM12 (ADAPT-HER2-IV)
  • Ages > 18
  • Female

Study Summary

ADAPT-HER2-IV will address question of optimal neoadjuvant therapy in patients with less advanced -HER2+ EBC.

ADAPT-HER2-IV is planned as a superiority trial to demonstrate higher pCR rates in both clinically relevant subgroups of low-intermediate risk HER2+ EBC. Moreover, it aims to demonstrate excellent survival in patients treated by T-DXd (with the use of standard chemotherapy at investigator´s decision restricted only to patients with substantial residual tumour burden after T-DXd-treatment).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients eligible for inclusion in this study must meet all the following criteria:

  1. Female patients with invasive, untreated HER2+ breast cancer (as assessed by localpathology) maximum 6 weeks before registration (standard-of-care diagnostic biopsyaccording to current AGO guidelines)

  2. Age ≥18 years 3a. Cohort 1: low- to intermediate-risk for recurrence as perinvestigator´s decision (recommendation: cT1c - cT2 (1 - ≤3cm), cN0; cT1a/bexcluded), OR 3b. Cohort 2: intermediate- to high-risk for recurrence as perinvestigator´s decision (recommendation: cT2 (>3 - ≤5cm), cN0) 3c. Elderly patients (≥ 65 years) may be assigned to any cohort as per investigator's decision

  3. Written informed consent 5. LVEF ≥ 50% within 28 days before randomisation 6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) 0-1 7. Adequate organ and bone marrow function within 14 days before randomisation 8. Adequate treatment washout period before randomisation (refer to protocol for detailed information) 9. Evidence of post-menopausal status or negative serum pregnancy test for females of childbearing potential (refer to protocol for detailed information) 10. Female subjects must not donate, or retrieve for their own use, ova from the time of randomisation and throughout the study treatment period, and for at least 7 months after the final study drug administration. (refer to protocol for detailed information)

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients eligible for inclusion in this study must not meet any of the following criteria:

  1. Non-operable breast cancer including inflammatory breast cancer

  2. cT1a/b breast cancer

  3. Any previous history of invasive breast cancer

  4. Primary malignancies within 5 years, with the exception of adequately resectednon-melanoma skin cancer, curatively treated in-situ disease

  5. Any evidence for existing metastatic disease (confirmed by CT Thorax/Abdomen, bonescan, or other methods according to clinical practice

  6. Previous or concurrent treatment with cytotoxic agents for any reason (exceptnon-oncological reasons)

  7. Concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs and participation in anotherclinical trial with any investigational drug within 30 days prior to study entry

  8. Severe and relevant co-morbidity that would interact with the application ofcytotoxic agents or the participation in the study/inadequate organ function

  9. Reasons indicating risk of poor compliance

  10. Woman of child-bearing potential defined as a woman physiologically capable ofbecoming pregnant, and not using highly effective methods of contraception duringthe study treatment and for 3 months after stopping the treatment.

  11. Use of oral (oestrogen and progesterone), transdermal, injected, or implantedhormonal methods of contraception as well as hormonal replacement therapy.

  12. Has substance abuse or any other medical conditions such as clinically significantcardiac or psychological conditions, that may, in the opinion of the investigator,interfere with the subject's participation in the clinical study or evaluation ofthe clinical study results.

  13. Patients with a medical history of myocardial infarction (MI) within 6 months beforerandomisation, symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF) (New York HeartAssociation Class II to IV), Subjects with troponin levels above ULN at screening (as defined by the manufacturer), and without any myocardial related symptoms,should have a cardiologic consultation before enrolment to rule out MI.

  14. Corrected QT interval (QTcF) prolongation to > 470 msec (females) based on averageof the screening triplicate12-lead ECG.

  15. History of (non-infectious) ILD / pneumonitis that required steroids, has currentILD/pneumonitis, or where suspected ILD/pneumonitis cannot be ruled out by imagingat screening.

  16. Lung criteria: Lung-specific intercurrent clinically significant illnessesincluding, but not limited to, any underlying pulmonary disorder; Any autoimmune,connective tissue or inflammatory disorders (e.g., Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's,sarcoidosis etc.) where there is documented, or a suspicion of pulmonary involvementat the time of randomisation; Prior pneumonectomy (complete); Uncontrolled infectionrequiring IV antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals

  17. Active primary immunodeficiency, known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection,or active hepatitis B or C infection. Patients positive for hepatitis C (HCV)antibody are eligible only if polymerase chain reaction is negative for HCV RNA.Patients should be tested for HIV prior to randomisation if required by localregulations or ethics committee (EC).

  18. Receipt of live, attenuated vaccine (mRNA and replication deficient adenoviralvaccines are not considered attenuated live vaccines) within 30 days prior to thefirst dose of trastuzumab deruxtecan. Note: Patients, if enrolled, should not receive live vaccine during the study and upto 30 days after the last dose of IMP.

  19. Known allergy or hypersensitivity to study treatment (T-DXd) or any of the studydrug excipients.

  20. History of severe hypersensitivity reactions to other monoclonal antibodies.

  21. Pregnant or breastfeeding female patients, or patients who are planning to becomepregnant.

Study Design

Total Participants: 402
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Trastuzumab deruxtecan
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
February 05, 2024
Estimated Completion Date:
June 30, 2029

Study Description

As the ADAPT-trials have clearly shown, pCR after 12 weeks of therapy, independent of the specific de-escalated neoadjuvant regimen and independent of further use of systemic chemotherapy, is an independent predictor of excellent prognosis4,19, also in patients treated by an antibody-drug conjugate alone (T-DM1), or in those receiving pertuzumab+trastuzumab+/-weekly paclitaxel.

In contrast to the adjuvant setting, none of the neoadjuvant trials so far has focused on HER2+ patients with a low-intermediate risk profile (e.g., node-negative patients with cT1-2 tumours). The ADAPT-HER2-IV trial aims to close this evidence gap.

Since there is some uncertainty about the optimal treatment duration in intermediate- to high-risk HER2+ EBC (e.g., tumour size >3 cm), we recommend using a longer 18-week taxane-based treatment (+/- carboplatin, at investigator´s decision) due to a large body of evidence for taxane + carboplatin combinations in patients in locally advanced stages.

Antibody-drug conjugates appear to be ideal candidate drugs for a "de-escalated" treatment due to their favourable safety (reduced alopecia, polyneuropathy rates, etc.) and a high efficacy profile (e.g., comparable pCR rates after 18 weeks of T-DM1 and taxane+pertuzumab+trastuzumab in the PREDIX HER2 trial20). Similarly to the classical chemotherapy landscape, optimal duration of antibody-drug conjugate-based neoadjuvant therapy remains unclear. pCR rates of around 40% to 60% were observed after 12 and 18 weeks of T-DM1 treatment (+/-pertuzumab) in the ADAPT TP, KRISTINE and PREDIX HER2 trials in HR+/HER2+ disease21,22. Moreover, long-term survival seem to be comparable between T-DM1+pertuzumab and older chemotherapy-containing regimens (docetaxel+carboplatin+trastuzumab+pertuzumab) despite of higher local progression rates and lower pCR in one study22.

Trastuzumab-deruxtecan (T-DXd) has shown promising activity in a small cohort of metastatic patients, including both HER2+ and HER2-low BC, pre-treated with several lines of therapy. Doi et al. reported overall response rates (ORR) of 58% and a disease control rate of 100% with overall survival at 12 months at in HER2+ disease pre-treated by T-DM1+/-pertuzumab in a late line setting23. T-DXd-therapy was associated with a manageable safety profile. Recently, clearly higher efficacy of T-DXd vs. T-DM1 was shown in second line metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in the DESTINY-03 trial24. Median progression free survival was not reached in T-DM1-arm vs. 6.8 months in the T-DXd-arm. This effect was independent of hormone receptor status, prior pertuzumab treatment, visceral metastases, number of prior therapy lines and presence of brain metastases. ORR was doubled (34.2 vs. 79.7%), favouring the T-DXd arm.

Connect with a study center

  • Klinikum Mittelbaden, Brustzentrum

    Baden-Baden 2953504, Baden-Wurttemberg 2953481 76532
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Praxis für Interdisziplinäre Onkologie und Hämatologie (PIO)

    Freiburg im Breisgau 2925177, Baden-Wurttemberg 2953481 79110
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Tübingen

    Tübingen 2820860, Baden-Wurttemberg 2953481 72076
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Ulm

    Ulm 2820256, Baden-Wurttemberg 2953481 89075
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Klinikum Mittelbaden, Brustzentrum

    Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg 76532
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Praxis für Interdisziplinäre Onkologie und Hämatologie (PIO)

    Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg 79110
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Tübingen

    Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg 72076
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Ulm

    Ulm, Baden-Württemberg 89075
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Breast Center of the University of Munich (LMU) Universitätsfrauenklinik

    Munich, Bavaria 80336
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Hämotologisch onkologische Praxis Heinrich Bangerter Augsburg GbR

    Augsburg 2954172, Bavaria 2951839 86150
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Augsburg / Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe

    Augsburg 2954172, Bavaria 2951839 86156
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Breast Center of the University of Munich (LMU) Universitätsfrauenklinik

    Munich 2867714, Bavaria 2951839 80336
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Rotkreuz Klinikum München

    Munich 2867714, Bavaria 2951839 80634
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Hämotologisch onkologische Praxis Heinrich Bangerter Augsburg GbR

    Augsburg, Bayern 86150
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Augsburg / Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe

    Augsburg, Bayern 86156
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • Rotkreuz Klinikum München

    Muenchen, Bayern 80634
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Klinikum Bremerhaven Reinkenheide

    Bremerhaven, Bremen 27574
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Klinikum Bremerhaven Reinkenheide

    Bremerhaven 2944368, City state Bremen 2944387 27574
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • AGAPLESION Markus Krankenhaus Gynäkologie

    Frankfurt am Main 2925533, Hesse 2905330 60431
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Klinikum Frankfurt Höchst GmbH

    Frankfurt am Main 2925533, Hesse 2905330 65929
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Klinikum Kassel

    Kassel 2892518, Hesse 2905330 34125
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • AGAPLESION Markus Krankenhaus Gynäkologie

    Frankfurt am Main, Hessen 60431
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Klinikum Frankfurt Höchst GmbH

    Frankfurt am Main, Hessen 65929
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Klinikum Kassel

    Kassel, Hessen 34125
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Studien GbR Braunschweig

    Braunschweig 2945024, Lower Saxony 2862926 38100
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Niels-Stensen-Kliniken Franziskus-Hospital

    Georgsmarienhütte 2921242, Lower Saxony 2862926 49124
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Ärztehaus am Bahnhofsplatz

    Hildesheim 2904789, Lower Saxony 2862926 31134
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • MVZ Klinik Dr. Hancken GmbH

    Stade 2829901, Lower Saxony 2862926 21680
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Uniklinik RWTH Aachen

    Aachen, NRW 52074
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Onkologische Schwerpunktpraxis Bielefeld

    Bielefeld, NRW 33604
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Kliniken für Frauenheilkunde / Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf, NRW 40225
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • Luisenkrankenhaus GmbH

    Düsseldorf, NRW 40235
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Sankt-Antonius-Hospital

    Eschweiler, NRW 52249
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Klinik für Senologie/Interdisziplinäres Brustzentrum

    Essen, NRW 45136
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • Universitätsklinikum Essen, Brustzentrum

    Essen, NRW 45147
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Onkodok Gütersloh

    Gütersloh, NRW 33332
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • St. Barbara Klinik

    Hamm, NRW 59073
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Kliniken der Stadt Köln GmbH / Brustzentrum Holweide

    Köln, NRW 51067
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • St. Elisabeth Krankenhaus GmbH

    Köln, NRW 50935
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • Brustzentrum Niederrhein, Johanniter Bethesda Krankenhaus

    Moenchengladbach, NRW 41061
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • MVZ Media Vita am St. Franziskus Hospital

    Münster, NRW 48145
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Frauenklinik St. Louise-St. Vincenz-KH GmbH

    Paderborn, NRW 33098
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • MKS St. Paulus GmbH

    Schwerte, NRW 58239
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Praxisnetzwerk Hämatologie und intern. Onkologie

    Troisdorf, NRW 53840
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Helios-Klinik Wuppertal

    Wuppertal, NRW 42283
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Studien GbR Braunschweig

    Braunschweig, Niedersachsen 38100
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Niels-Stensen-Kliniken Franziskus-Hospital

    Georgsmarienhütte, Niedersachsen 49124
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Ärztehaus am Bahnhofsplatz

    Hildesheim, Niedersachsen 31134
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • MVZ Klinik Dr. Hancken GmbH

    Stade, Niedersachsen 21680
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Uniklinik RWTH Aachen

    Aachen 3247449, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 52074
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Onkologische Schwerpunktpraxis Bielefeld

    Bielefeld 2949186, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 33604
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Kliniken der Stadt Köln GmbH / Brustzentrum Holweide

    Cologne 2886242, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 51067
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • St. Elisabeth Krankenhaus GmbH

    Cologne 2886242, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 50935
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Kliniken für Frauenheilkunde / Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf 2934246, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 40225
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Luisenkrankenhaus GmbH

    Düsseldorf 2934246, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 40235
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Sankt-Antonius-Hospital

    Eschweiler 2928963, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 52249
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Klinik für Senologie/Interdisziplinäres Brustzentrum

    Essen 2928810, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 45136
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Essen, Brustzentrum

    Essen 2928810, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 45147
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Onkodok Gütersloh

    Gütersloh 2913366, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 33332
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • St. Barbara Klinik

    Hamm 2911240, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 59073
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Brustzentrum Niederrhein, Johanniter Bethesda Krankenhaus

    Mönchengladbach 2869894, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 41061
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • MVZ Media Vita am St. Franziskus Hospital

    Münster 2867543, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 48145
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Frauenklinik St. Louise-St. Vincenz-KH GmbH

    Paderborn 2855745, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 33098
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • MKS St. Paulus GmbH

    Schwerte 2834265, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 58239
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Praxisnetzwerk Hämatologie und intern. Onkologie

    Troisdorf 2821029, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 53840
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Helios-Klinik Wuppertal

    Wuppertal 2805753, North Rhine-Westphalia 2861876 42283
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Klinikum Mutterhaus

    Trier, Rheinland-Pfalz 54290
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Klinikum Mutterhaus

    Trier 2821164, Rhineland-Palatinate 2847618 54290
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • CaritasKlinikum Saarbrücken St. Theresia

    Saarbrücken, Saarland 66113
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • CaritasKlinikum Saarbrücken St. Theresia

    Saarbrücken 2842647, Saarland 2842635 66113
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Leipzig

    Leipzig, Sachsen 04103
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Frauenklinik / Brustzentrum am Klinikum Obergölzsch Rodewisch

    Rodewisch, Sachsen 08228
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Leipzig

    Leipzig 2879139, Saxony 2842566 04103
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Frauenklinik / Brustzentrum am Klinikum Obergölzsch Rodewisch

    Rodewisch 2845953, Saxony 2842566 08228
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • UK Schleswig Holstein

    Lübeck, Schleswig-Holsteins 23538
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • UK Schleswig Holstein

    Lübeck 2875601, Schleswig-Holsteins 23538
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universittsklinikum am Klinikum Südstadt

    Rostock, ecklenburg-Vorpommerns 18059
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universittsklinikum am Klinikum Südstadt

    Rostock 2844588, ecklenburg-Vorpommerns 18059
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Charite Campus Mitte

    Berlin, 10117
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Ev. Waldkrankenhaus Spandau

    Berlin, 14589
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • Charite Campus Mitte

    Berlin 2950159, 10117
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Ev. Waldkrankenhaus Spandau

    Berlin 2950159, 14589
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Essen, Burstzentrum

    Essen,
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Brustzentrum am Krankenhaus Jerusalem

    Hamburg, 20357
    Germany

    Active - Recruiting

  • Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf / Klinik und Poliklinik für Gynäkologie

    Hamburg, 20246
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Brustzentrum am Krankenhaus Jerusalem

    Hamburg 2911298, 20357
    Germany

    Site Not Available

  • Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf / Klinik und Poliklinik für Gynäkologie

    Hamburg 2911298, 20246
    Germany

    Site Not Available

Map preview placeholder

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.