IRIS: Risk-Based Imaging After Breast-Conserving Surgery (IRIS)

February 16, 2026 updated by: Umeå University

Individualized Riskbased Imaging Surveillance After Breast-conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer (IRIS)- a Multicenter Randomized Trial

Breast cancer follow-up after curative treatment is currently based on largely uniform imaging surveillance strategies, despite substantial variation in recurrence risk across patient subgroups. Early detection of recurrences improves prognosis, particularly when detected by imaging rather than symptoms, but the optimal surveillance approach remains uncertain. Mammographic sensitivity is lower in breast cancer survivors than in screening populations, and interval cancers occur more frequently, especially among younger patients, those with dense breasts, aggressive tumor subtypes, or without radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery.

This multicenter, open-label, register-based randomized controlled trial evaluates risk-stratified imaging surveillance after breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer. The study investigates whether more sensitive imaging methods, compared with standard mammographic follow-up, lead to earlier detection of ipsilateral recurrences and contralateral second primary breast cancers in patients at increased risk of recurrence.

The primary endpoint is the number of interval ipsilateral recurrences and contralateral second primary breast cancers detected within five years from index diagnosis. Secondary endpoints include stage at detection, breast cancer-specific survival, overall survival, recall rate, biopsy rate, false positive findings, and health-related quality of life.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet 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.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The effectiveness of current breast cancer follow-up guidelines after curative treatment remains uncertain. Although early detection of local recurrences is associated with improved survival, particularly when identified through imaging rather than symptoms, evidence supporting the optimal intensity and modality of post-treatment surveillance is limited. Current follow-up recommendations are largely uniform, despite well-established variation in recurrence risk related to age, tumor subtype, surgical margins, adjuvant therapy, and breast density. Younger patients and those with non-luminal tumor subtypes have a substantially higher risk of recurrence.

Mammographic sensitivity is lower in breast cancer survivors compared with screening populations, and the incidence of interval cancers is significantly higher. Risk factors for interval-detected recurrences include young age, dense breast tissue, omission of radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery, and biologically aggressive tumors. Supplemental imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) have shown higher sensitivity and may improve detection in higher-risk groups, but current evidence is insufficient to support broad implementation of risk-based surveillance strategies.

This study is a multicenter, open-label, register-based randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate a stratified imaging surveillance approach after curative treatment for breast cancer. The objective is to determine whether the use of more sensitive imaging methods, compared with standard mammographic surveillance, results in earlier detection of ipsilateral recurrences and contralateral second primary breast cancers in patients with increased risk of recurrence following breast-conserving surgery.

The primary endpoint is the number of interval-detected ipsilateral recurrences and contralateral second primary breast cancers within five years from index breast cancer diagnosis. Secondary endpoints include stage at diagnosis, breast cancer-specific survival, overall survival, recall rate, biopsy rate, number of false positive findings, and health-related quality of life.

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.
Interventional

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.
2300

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

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.

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Histologically confirmed primary breast cancer
  • Treated with breast-conserving surgery with curative intent
  • Completed primary treatment according to clinical guidelines
  • Classified as having increased risk of recurrence according to predefined study risk criteria (based on factors such as age, tumor subtype)
  • Eligible for imaging surveillance
  • Registered in participating national or regional breast cancer registry
  • Able to comply with study follow-up procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous ipsilateral or contralateral invasive breast cancer within the last 5 years (except index cancer)
  • Bilateral mastectomy
  • Known metastatic breast cancer at time of enrollment
  • Contraindication to contrast agents or MRI (if applicable for assigned arm)
  • Ongoing pregnancy at time of randomization
  • Any condition that, in the investigator's judgment, prevents participation in imaging surveillance

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

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Risk-Stratified Imaging Surveillance
Participants receive risk-stratified post-treatment imaging surveillance using more sensitive imaging modalities (such as MRI or contrast-enhanced mammography) according to predefined risk criteria, instead of standard mammographic follow-up.
Diagnostic test: Risk-Stratified Imaging Surveillance
Surveillance using more sensitive breast imaging modalities such as MRI or contrast-enhanced mammography based on recurrence risk.
Active Comparator: Standard Mammographic Surveillance
Participants receive standard post-treatment imaging surveillance with mammography according to current clinical follow-up guidelines after breast-conserving surgery.
Diagnostic test: Standard Mammographic Surveillance
Routine follow-up with mammography according to current clinical guidelines.

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
Interval Ipsilateral Recurrences and Contralateral Second Primary Breast Cancers
Time Frame: From index breast cancer diagnosis up to 5 years
Number of ipsilateral breast cancer recurrences and contralateral second primary breast cancers detected between scheduled surveillance examinations.
From index breast cancer diagnosis up to 5 years

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
Measure Description
Time Frame
Stage at Diagnosis of Recurrences and Second Primary Breast Cancers
Time Frame: Up to 5 years from index diagnosis
Tumor stage at diagnosis of ipsilateral recurrences and contralateral second primary breast cancers
Up to 5 years from index diagnosis
Breast Cancer-Specific Survival
Time Frame: Up to 5 years from index diagnosis
Survival without death attributed to breast cancer
Up to 5 years from index diagnosis
Overall Survival
Time Frame: Up to 5 years from index diagnosis
Survival from any cause
Up to 5 years from index diagnosis
Recall Rate
Time Frame: During the 5-year surveillance period
Proportion of surveillance examinations leading to recall for additional diagnostic assessment
During the 5-year surveillance period
Biopsy Rate
Time Frame: During the 5-year surveillance period
Number of biopsies performed following surveillance imaging
During the 5-year surveillance period
False Positive Findings
Time Frame: During the 5-year surveillance period
Number of surveillance findings leading to diagnostic workup without cancer diagnosis
During the 5-year surveillance period
Health-Related Quality of Life
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-treatment), 6 months, 12 months, and 3 years after diagnosis.
Measured using validated Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROM) questionnaires collected within the Swedish National Breast Cancer Quality Registry (Nationellt Kvalitetsregister för Bröstcancer).Patient-reported quality of life will be assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 (core cancer quality-of-life questionnaire) and the breast cancer-specific module QLQ-BR23, developed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer.Scores are calculated according to each instrument's scoring manual and transformed to standardized scales (0-100 or instrument-specific ranges). Higher scores indicate better function/global quality of life
Baseline (pre-treatment), 6 months, 12 months, and 3 years after diagnosis.

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.
Umeå University

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 (Estimated)

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.
August 1, 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.
January 1, 2034

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.
January 1, 2034

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 6, 2026

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 16, 2026

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 23, 2026

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.
February 23, 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.
February 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.
February 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.
  • Swe-BC-IRIS2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data may be shared upon reasonable request and after approval by the study steering committee, in accordance with applicable regulations and data protection laws.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings