Sponsor: Sarah Sammons, MD (other)
Phase: 2
Start date: Dec. 26, 2023
Planned enrollment: 58
Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd; DS-1062; marketed as Datroway) is a TROP2-directed antibody–drug conjugate developed for solid tumors. It is no longer solely investigational: in the United States it is approved for selected patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative or triple-negative breast cancer and, under accelerated approval, previously treated EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Studies in other disease settings and treatment combinations remain ongoing. (fda.gov)
Dato-DXd comprises a humanized anti-TROP2 IgG1 antibody connected through a cleavable linker to DXd, a potent exatecan-derived topoisomerase-I inhibitor. After binding TROP2 and internalization, lysosomal processing releases DXd, causing DNA damage and apoptosis. Preclinical evidence also supports a bystander effect against neighboring cells and induction of features associated with immunogenic cell death. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
The characteristic toxicities include stomatitis/oral mucositis, nausea, ocular-surface reactions, alopecia and fatigue. Interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis is an important, potentially fatal risk requiring monitoring and treatment interruption when suspected. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
In TROPION-Breast01, grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events occurred in 20.8% with Dato-DXd versus 44.7% with chemotherapy; treatment-related oral mucositis/stomatitis occurred in 57.2%, ocular-surface events in 43.9%, and adjudicated drug-related pneumonitis in 3.9%, including one fatal event. In TROPION-Lung01, grade 3 or higher treatment-related events occurred in 25.6% versus 42.1% with docetaxel, while drug-related pneumonitis was more frequent with Dato-DXd (8.8% versus 4.1%). (ascopubs.org)
Last updated: Sep 2026
Goal: Evaluate the intracranial activity and safety of datopotamab deruxtecan in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer with brain or leptomeningeal metastases.
Patients: Adults with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer and ECOG performance status 0–2. Cohort A includes ER-positive disease with newly diagnosed or progressive measurable brain metastases and prior endocrine therapy; cohort B includes triple-negative disease with measurable brain metastases; cohort C includes radiologically evaluable leptomeningeal disease of any ER status. Prior systemic therapy is not required for cohorts B or C.
Design: Open-label, nonrandomized, single-arm, multicohort study. The three cohorts receive the same study drug; there is no comparator arm.
Treatments: Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) is given on day 1 of each 21-day cycle. It is a TROP2-directed antibody–drug conjugate that delivers a topoisomerase I inhibitor to tumor cells after binding and internalization. In a prior phase III trial in previously treated HR-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, it improved progression-free survival versus chemotherapy (hazard ratio 0.63); these results do not establish efficacy against CNS or leptomeningeal disease.
Outcomes: The primary endpoint is objective response by RANO-BM criteria over up to 3 years. Secondary endpoints include RECIST 1.1 response, clinical benefit at 18 and 24 weeks in cohorts A and B, progression-free and overall survival, site of first progression, and grade 3–5 treatment-related toxicity.
Burden on patient: Moderate to high. Treatment visits occur every 3 weeks, with CT or MRI every 6 weeks for the first 24 weeks and every 9 weeks thereafter. Screening and monitoring include blood tests, questionnaires, ECGs, and cardiac imaging. Lumbar punctures are optional in cohorts A and B but required at baseline and on cycle 2 day 2 in cohort C, adding an invasive procedure and an extra visit.
Last updated: Sep 2026
Inclusion Criteria :
* Metastatic breast cancer that is pathologically confirmed to be HER2-negative according to 2018 ASCO/CAP guidelines 55.
* Radiological confirmation of metastatic disease.
* Cohorts A and B: Presence of newly diagnosed brain metastases or brain metastases progressing after prior local and/or systemic therapy.
* Cohorts A and B: Participants must have a baseline MRI of the brain performed with and without gadolinium contrast, and must have central nervous system metastases with at least one measurable brain metastasis ≥ 1.0 cm in size (per RANO-BM) that has not been irradiated, or has progressed despite prior radiation therapy and/or systemic therapy (in the opinion of the treating physician). For cohorts A and B, head CT with contrast may be used in place of MRI at baseline and throughout the trial if MRI is contraindicated and the participant's CNS metastases are clearly measurable by head CT.
* Cohorts C: Radiological evidence of evaluable leptomeningeal disease and clinical diagnosis of LMD per treating investigator. A positive CSF cytology is not required.
* Cohort A: prior progression to treatment with at least one line of endocrine treatment (with or without CDK4/6 inhibition) in the metastatic setting is mandatory. Patients experiencing recurrence during adjuvant endocrine treatment will be also considered eligible for the trial. There is no limit on the number of prior lines acceptable for the purpose of enrollment in this study.
* Cohort B and C: no prior treatment is required (i.e., previously untreated patients are eligible). There is no limit on the number of prior lines of therapy acceptable for the purpose of enrollment in this study.
* Participants may have measurable or non-measurable extracranial disease. Participants are NOT required to have extracranial disease, but must have imaging done to document disease status at baseline.
* Age ≥ 18 years.
* ECOG Performance Status 0-2
* Participants must have adequate treatment washout period before registration, defined as \> 4 weeks from major surgery, \> 2 weeks from radiation treatment. For weekly chemotherapy regimens, \> 2 weeks from chemotherapy; for every 3 weekly regimens, \> 3 weeks from chemotherapy. At least 2 weeks from other systemic or targeted or investigational therapies (other than endocrine therapy) for breast cancer. No washout is required for endocrine therapy (e.g. aromatase inhibitors, tamoxifen, fulvestrant) but patients should discontinue prior to start of protocol therapy. Patients on ovarian suppression are allowed (but not required) to continue ovarian suppression at the discretion of their treating provider.
* Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% by echocardiogram (ECHO) or multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan.
* Adequate organ function as defined by the following values:
* Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL. Red blood cell/plasma transfusion is not permitted within 1 week prior to screening assessment.
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥1,500/mm3. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration is not permitted within 1 week prior to screening assessment.
* Platelets ≥100,000/mm3. Platelet transfusion is not permitted within 1 week prior to screening assessment.
* Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 institutional ULN if no liver metastases; or ≤ 3 x ULN in the presence of documented Gilbert's syndrome (unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia) or liver metastases at baseline.
* AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 2.5 × institutional ULN OR ≤ 5.0 x institutional ULN for patients with documented liver metastases
* Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL (or glomerular filtration rate ≥ 30 ml/min as determined by the Cockcroft-Gault equation)
* Participants with a history of chronic viral conditions such as HIV, Hepatitis B/C, should not be systemically excluded but have thoughtful consideration of inclusion, unless safety is a concern. Testing for these conditions is not required at baseline.
* Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 14 days of initiating protocol therapy.
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Visceral crisis or impending visceral crisis
* CNS complications for whom urgent neurosurgical intervention is indicated (i.e., resection, shunt placement)
* Indication for immediate local therapy to CNS lesion(s) as defined by local standard
* Evidence of significant (i.e., symptomatic) intracranial hemorrhage
-\> 2 seizures within 4 weeks prior to study entry (registration)
* Ongoing/persistent toxicities caused by previous anti-cancer therapy (except alopecia) not yet improved to Grade ≤ 1 OR baseline prior to study entry (registration)
* Known contraindication to MRI (e.g., due to pacemaker, ferromagnetic implants, claustrophobia, extreme obesity, hypersensitivity). However, for cohorts A and B, head CT with contrast may be used in place of MRI at baseline and throughout the trial if MRI is contraindicated and the participant's CNS metastases are clearly measurable by head CT.
* Concurrent administration of other anti-cancer therapy during the course of this study is not allowed. Concurrent use of supportive care medications is allowed, and certain medications are required (see Section 5.1).
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including (but not limited to) active infection, severely compromised pulmonary function, unstable angina pectoris, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, active ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction within the previous six months, gastric or duodenal ulceration diagnosed within the previous six months, chronic liver or renal disease, or severe malnutrition. Note that if a patient has controlled diabetes mellitus, but is unable to monitor blood glucose at home, they will be excluded from the trial.
* Participants must not have a condition requiring ongoing systemic treatment with corticosteroids (\>4 mg daily dexamethasone (or bioequivalent)) or other immunosuppressive medications within 7 days prior to the baseline MRI. Corticosteroids administration must be stable and planned to remain ≤ 4 mg daily for the duration of protocol treatment. However, use of corticosteroids for clinical symptoms is allowed based upon treating physician discretion.
* History of non-infectious interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis that required steroids, current ILD/pneumonitis, or suspected ILD/pneumonitis that cannot be ruled out by imaging at screening.
* A history of uncontrolled seizures, CNS disorders, or psychiatric disability judged by the investigator to be clinically significant and adversely affecting compliance to study drugs.
* A history of malignancy other than breast cancer, except (a) adequately resected non-melanoma skin cancer, (b) curatively treated in situ disease, or (c) other solid tumors curatively treated, with no evidence of disease for ≥ 3 years.
* Major surgery, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to the initiation of protocol therapy, or anticipation of need for a major surgical procedure during the study.
* Clinically significant corneal disease.
* Has a history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to either the drug or inactive ingredients (including but not limited to polysorbate 80) of datopotamab deruxtecan.
* History of severe hypersensitivity reactions to other monoclonal antibodies
* Negative pregnancy test (urine and/or serum) is required for women of childbearing potential. Pregnant or lactating women are excluded from participation due to potential teratogenic effects of study drug.
* Female participants must be either:
* post-menopausal for at least 1 year
* surgically sterile, or
* if of childbearing potential and sexually active with a non-sterilized male partner, must agree to use one highly effective form of birth control for the entire treatment period and for at least 7 months after the last dose of datopotamab deruxtecan (see Section 5.4 for complete list of highly effective birth control methods).
* Female participants must not donate, or retrieve for their own use, ova at any time during this study and for at least 7 months after the last dose of datopotamab deruxtecan.
* Female participants must refrain from breastfeeding while on study and for at least 7 months after the last dose of datopotamab deruxtecan.
* Male participants who intend to be sexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential must be surgically sterile or using an acceptable method of contraception (see Section 5.4 for complete list of highly effective birth control methods) from the time of screening throughout the total duration of the study and the drug washout period (at least 4 months after the last dose of study intervention) to prevent pregnancy in a partner. Male participants must not donate or bank sperm during this same time period.
Miami, Florida, 33176, United States
[email protected] / 786-527-8010
Status: Recruiting
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
[email protected] / 617-362-3800
Status: Recruiting
Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
[email protected] / 919-681-4769
Status: Recruiting