A Clinical Study on Prophylactic RespOnse To hEtrombopag for Secondary Prevention in Anti-Cancer Therapy-induced Thrombocytopeniae (PROTECT)

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18 years;
2. Patients with histopathologically confirmed breast cancer;
3. Receiving or expected to receive chemotherapy-based antitumor therapy with a cycle length of ≥21 days, and anticipated to receive ≥2 cycles of therapy;
4. ECOG performance status 0-2;

5. Platelet count meeting **one** of the following criteria:

   1. Nadir platelet count < 50×10⁹/L in the previous antitumor treatment cycle;
   2. Nadir platelet count ≥ 50×10⁹/L but < 75×10⁹/L in the previous antitumor treatment cycle, accompanied by **high risk factors for bleeding***;
6. Platelet count ≥ 100×10⁹/L at enrollment;
7. Patients with breast cancer plus other malignancies are allowed, provided that the treatment plan is primarily for breast cancer;

8. Adequate organ function:

   • Bone marrow: ANC ≥ 1.5×10⁹/L; hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL;

     • Hepatic and renal function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN; ALT, AST ≤ 2.5 × ULN (or ≤ 5 × ULN in the presence of liver metastasis); serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN or creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault formula);

       • Coagulation: activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and international normalized ratio (INR) ≤ 1.5 × ULN;

9. Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to the first dose, not be breastfeeding, and agree to use effective contraception during the study and for 7 days after the last dose of study drug.

   Male subjects with female partners of childbearing potential must be surgically sterile or agree to use effective contraception during the study and for 7 days after the last dose of study drug; sperm donation is prohibited during the study;

10. Life expectancy ≥ 3 months;

11. Voluntarily participate in the study, sign the informed consent form, have good compliance, and be willing to comply with follow-up procedures.

    • High risk factors for bleeding History of bleeding; prior treatment with platinum agents, gemcitabine, cytarabine, anthracyclines, PARP inhibitors (e.g., niraparib), etc.; combination of targeted agents and chemotherapeutic agents known to increase the risk of thrombocytopenia; history of radiotherapy or ongoing radiotherapy, especially to long bones and flat bones (e.g., pelvis, sternum).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of hematological disorders, including but not limited to leukemia, primary immune thrombocytopenia, myeloproliferative neoplasms, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes;
2. Uncontrolled active infection;
3. History of arterial or venous thrombosis;
4. Patients with bleeding tendency, or evidence of inherited bleeding diathesis or coagulation disorders;
5. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or female patients of childbearing potential not using effective contraception;
6. Participation in another clinical trial of thrombopoietic agents within 4 weeks prior to enrollment;
7. Presence of uncontrolled neurological or psychiatric disorders, poor compliance, or inability to cooperate and report treatment-related reactions;
8. Bone marrow involvement;
9. Administration of rhTPO or rhIL-11 within 7 days prior to enrollment;
10. Hypersensitivity to the study drug(s).