NCT07895511 · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
A Study of Skipping Radiation Therapy in People With Breast Cancer
(SuperHERO)
What this study is about
The purpose of this study is to find out whether it is safe to skip (omit) radiation therapy to the breast after lumpectomy in people with low-risk HER2-positive breast cancer who are receiving HER2-targeted therapy.
View original scientific description
The purpose of this study is to find out whether it is safe to skip (omit) radiation therapy to the breast after lumpectomy in people with low-risk HER2-positive breast cancer who are receiving HER2-targeted therapy.
Interventions
DRUG
HER2-targeted therapy
Participants will continue to receive standard HER2-targeted therapy as part of their usual care
DRUG
Tamoxifen
If participants' cancer is hormone receptor-positive, participants may also receive endocrine therapy as part of their usual care.
RADIATION
No Radiation Therapy
Participants will not receive radiation therapy to their breast after their lumpectomy.
Primary outcome measures
Ipsilateral breast recurrence/OBR rate
Time frame: 5 years
To assess whether omission of adjuvant breast radiotherapy among patients with early-stage, low risk HER2+ breast cancer who undergo breast conserving surgery and receive HER2-directed therapy, results in an acceptable rate of 5 year ipsilateral breast recurrence (IBR).
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- A patient cannot be considered eligible for this study unless ALL of the following conditions are met. Please contact the study PI for exceptions, or if uncertainties arise.
- The trial is open to female and male patients who have undergone breast conserving surgery and have received neoadjuvant\
- or adjuvant systemic therapy with a HER2-targeted therapeutic regimen.
- The maximum window between surgery (neoadjuvant cohort) or last chemotherapy (adjuvant cohort) and enrollment is 90 days.
- While the standard duration of neoadjuvant or adjuvant systemic therapy is at least 12 weeks, patients will be eligible if they receive a minimum of 8 weeks of systemic therapy. Patients treated with an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC; eg. T-DM1 or T-DXd) must have received at least 6 cycles of this treatment. \*For the neoadjuvant cohort: Patients are eligible if they achieved pCR with HER2-targeted preoperative treatment. Pathologic complete response is defined as ypT0/TisN0 based on surgical pathology. Patients treated with and ADC must have received at least 6 cycles of this treatment.
- The patient must be ≥18 years of age.
- The patient must have an ECOG performance status of 0, 1, or 2/Karnofsky performance status above 60.
- Histologically or cytologically confirmed invasive breast carcinoma.
- The tumor must have been determined to be HER2-positive by current ASCO/CAP guidelines based on local testing results.
- The tumor must have ER and PgR status assessed.
- The following staging criteria must be met according to AJCC 8th edition criteria: Adjuvant cohort
- Following resection, the patient's primary tumor must be ≤ 3 cm.
- Surgical axillary evaluation via sentinel node biopsy or axillary dissection
- Surgical lumpectomy margins must be negative for invasive cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ (no ink on tumor). Neoadjuvant cohort:
- Prior to neoadjuvant therapy, the patient's primary tumor must be \<5 cm by imaging studies with negative axillary nodes (cN0) based on axillary U/S, CT, PET or MRI. Physical examination alone is not sufficient documentation of cN0 status.
- The patient must have undergone surgical axillary nodal evaluation demonstrating ypN0 (eg. axillary node dissection, sentinel node biopsy with at least 3 sentinel lymph nodes removed, or sentinel node biopsy followed by axillary node dissection).
- Must be ypT0/TisN0 at surgery (lumpectomy); patients with residual non invasive disease (DCIS) in the surgical specimen (ypTis), are only eligible if residual DCIS spans ≤1 cm, and surgical margins are negative for DCIS.
- Bilateral mammogram or MRI within 52 weeks prior to enrollment.
Exclusion criteria
- Definitive clinical or radiologic evidence of metastatic disease.
- On the Adjuvant cohort, patients with a primary tumor \>3 cm on pathologic examination of the surgical specimen. On the Neoadjuvant cohort, patients with a primary tumor \>5 cm or with abnormal or suspicious ipsilateral axillary nodes by pretreatment imaging, unless demonstrated to be negative by cytologic or histologic examination.
- Pathologically positive axillary nodes at any time including of pN0(i+) or pN0(mol+) ypN0(i+) or ypN0(mol+) disease.
- Patient planning for or status-post mastectomy.
- Radiographically suspicious ipsilateral or contralateral axillary, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, or internal mammary lymph nodes, unless there is histological confirmation that these nodes are negative for metastatic disease.
- Suspicious microcalcifications, densities, or palpable abnormalities (in the ipsilateral or contralateral breast), or mass or non-mass enhancement on MRI (if performed) aside from the known cancer, unless biopsied and found to be benign.
- Non-epithelial breast malignancies such as sarcoma or lymphoma.
- Multicentric carcinoma (invasive cancer or DCIS) in more than one quadrant or multifocal disease spanning \>4 cm. If multifocal, all foci should be confined to a maximum summed tumor extent of 3 cm determined by pathological assessment.
- Paget's disease of the nipple.
- Synchronous contralateral invasive breast cancer or DCIS or synchronous ipsilateral invasive breast cancer of a different histology. (Patients with synchronous and/or previous contralateral LCIS are eligible).
- On the Adjuvant cohort, surgical margins that cannot be microscopically assessed or are positive at pathologic evaluation. (If surgical margins are rendered free of disease by re-excision, the patient is eligible).
- Treatment plan that includes regional nodal irradiation.
- Patients treated for a prior invasive breast malignancy are excluded. Contralateral DCIS ≥10 years prior to enrollment is permissible.
- Patients on oral, transdermal, or subdermal estrogen replacement (including all estrogen only and estrogen-progesterone formulas) are not eligible unless discontinued prior to enrollment.
- Use of any investigational product within 30 days prior to enrollment.
Where
- Basking Ridge, New Jersey
- Middletown, New Jersey
- Montvale, New Jersey
- Commack, New York
- Harrison, New York
- New York, New York
- Rockville Centre, New York
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Oct 26, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations