Blood Biomarkers for Breast Cancer Treatment Response (TrackER)

September 30, 2026 updated by: Marija Balic, MD PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Prospective Plasma Biomarker Study to Predict 2nd Line Endocrine Therapy Response in ER+ Metastatic Breast Cancer (TrackER)

This study looks at whether a simple blood test can help predict how well a breast cancer treatment will work. It follows patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer whose cancer has progressed after their first treatment.

Researchers collect a blood sample when patients start a second hormone therapy treatment and may collect additional samples over time. By comparing blood test results with patient outcomes, the study aims to identify biomarkers that can predict which patients are most likely to benefit from treatment.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

This prospective observational study will enroll up to 200 patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer whose cancer has progressed after their first treatment. The goal is to evaluate whether a blood-based biomarker, called the PERDI score, can predict how well patients respond to a second line hormone therapy.

Participants will provide a blood sample before starting treatment, with optional additional samples collected during treatment or at disease progression. Researchers will compare the blood test results with clinical outcomes, including how long the cancer remains under control, to determine whether the PERDI score can help identify patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment.

The study will be conducted across multiple sites within a single institution and will run for approximately 18 months, including a 12-month enrollment period and 6 months of follow-up. Findings from this study may help support more personalized treatment decisions and improve outcomes for patients with advanced breast cancer.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

200

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

  • Name: Setareh Sharzehi, MD, PhD, MS
  • Phone Number: (313) 452-3013
  • Email: sharzehis@upmc.edu

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
        • UPMC/Magee Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Setareh Sharzehi Sharzehi, MD, PhD
          • Phone Number: (313) 452-3013
          • Email: sharzehis@upmc.edu
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Marjia Balic, MD,PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Julia Foldi, MD, PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Adam Brufsky, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Charles Geyer, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Vikram Gorantla, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Monica Molhatra, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Priya Rastogi, MD

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All patients with metastatic breast cancer refer to UPMC all sites

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients must be ≥18 years of age

  2. Cytologically or histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer that is:

    1. Clinical stage IV
    2. HR positive
    3. Progressing on first line treatment

  3. ECOG 0-2

  4. Locally assessed ER+.

  5. Locally assessed HER2-negative (IHC 2+/FISH-negative or IHC 0 or 1+ /either FISH-negative or untested).

  6. No prior chemotherapy

  7. Must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

  8. Must be willing to provide serial blood samples for the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Medical condition or social situation that may preclude adherence to the protocol.

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

  • Observational Models: CASE_ONLY
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
breast cancer stage IV patients

ER+ breast cancer stage IV patients after progression on first line treatment and will continue treatment with second line endocrine therapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To Assess the performance of the baseline PERDI score
Time Frame: From the time between date of first day of 2L ET treatment and date of progression or death, whichever occurs first at 6 months or 1 year

Assessment of the performance of the baseline PERDI score, derived from plasma patients collected prior to the start of their second-line endocrine therapy (2L ET) using an epigenomics-based cell-free DNA (cfDNA) profiling assay, in predicting Progression-free survival (PFS).
From the time between date of first day of 2L ET treatment and date of progression or death, whichever occurs first at 6 months or 1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assessment of the baseline modified PERDI score
Time Frame: 6 months or 1 year after start 2L therapy

Preform a prospective cross-study meta-analysis of both PERDI and modifies PERDI. Progression-free survival (PFS) will be compared between modified PERDI-positive and negative derived from plasma collected at the start of second line therapy using epigenomics- based cfDNA profiling assay.
6 months or 1 year after start 2L therapy

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Collaborators

Precede Biosciences

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Marjia Balic, MD, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

November 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 16, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

October 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 30, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STUDY26030107

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Collaborators may have access to study data only in de-identified or aggregated tabular form for data quality review, consultation on study procedures, or manuscript preparation and will not have access to raw data or participant identifiers. De-identified study specimens and data, including genetic data, may be shared with other researchers, institutions, and/or federal repositories for collaborative research under approved data-sharing agreements. Outside investigators may access de-identified specimens only with approval and collaboration of study investigators. Requests for data or specimens must include a detailed proposal describing the research question, analysis plan, data handling procedures, and variables requested. Specimens will be released only under an approved Material Transfer Agreement, and data only under an approved Data Use Agreement. The master code linking participant identifiers to study data will not be shared.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • ICF

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.

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