A Study for CTC Expression and cfDNA/RNA Assessment in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients (CTC-EXPRESS)

March 16, 2026 updated by: Menarini Silicon Biosystems, INC

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

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.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

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.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
187

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Marija Balic, MD, PhD, MBA
  • Phone Number: 800-533-8762
  • Email: balicm@upmc.edu

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
        • Recruiting
        • UPMC Magee Womens Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Marija Balic, MD, PhD, MBA

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Advanced/metastatic breast cancer of following subtypes/lines of systemic therapy in metastatic setting:

  • Estrogen Receptor (ER)+/Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2) - or Triple Negative (TN) patients prior to starting any line of systemic therapy
  • HER2+ patients prior to starting 2nd line or later therapy

Description

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.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
HR+/HER2- subjects before starting 1st line therapy
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. Subjects will have additional cfDNA/RNA tests at week 4, and 8.
Triple negative starting any line of therapy, HR+/HER2-, and HER2+ starting ≥2nd line therapy
Subjects will receive CTC enumeration, and CTC HER2, ER, PD-L1 expression minimally before each restaging visit, and cfDNA/RNA assessments at baseline and first restaging as part of standard of care.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
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.
3-4 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
The correlation of CTC expression and tissue immunohistochemistry (IHC)/In Situ Hybridization (ISH) results for HER2, ER, and PD-L1.
Time Frame: 1 month
1 month
The correlation of CTC expression and cfDNA/RNA results for HER2, ER, and PD-L1.
Time Frame: 3-4 months
3-4 months
The correlation of CTC HER2, ER and PD-L1 expression with response to therapy and progression free survival (PFS).
Time Frame: 24 months
24 months
The correlation of cfDNA/RNA genomic alterations with response to therapy and PFS.
Time Frame: 24 months
24 months
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
24 months
The correlation of CTC enumeration results with PFS.
Time Frame: 24 months
24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Menarini Silicon Biosystems, INC

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Marija Balic, MD, PhD, MBA, University of Pittsburgh

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 13, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 10, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 13, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 19, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 16, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CTC-EXPRESS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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