Breast Cancer Clinical Trials
Breast Cancer Trials at a Glance
1,975 actively recruiting trials for breast cancer are listed on ClinicalTrialsFinder across 6 cities in 80 countries. The largest study group is Not Applicable with 621 trials, with the heaviest enrollment activity in New York, Houston, and Boston. Lead sponsors running breast cancer studies include Fudan University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University.
Browse breast cancer trials by phase
Top cities for breast cancer trials
Understanding Breast Cancer Clinical Trials
Trastuzumab (Herceptin), developed through clinical trials in the late 1990s, revolutionized treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer and cut recurrence rates nearly in half. More recently, trials have delivered antibody-drug conjugates like trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) and immune checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for triple-negative breast cancer, opening new avenues for patients with historically difficult-to-treat subtypes. Clinical trials continue to be the driving force behind every major advance in breast cancer care, from targeted therapies to de-escalation strategies that reduce unnecessary treatment.
Why Consider a Clinical Trial?
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Breast Cancer clinical trials
Yes. All clinical trials undergo rigorous review by institutional review boards (IRBs) and regulatory agencies before they can enroll patients. Safety is monitored continuously throughout the trial by an independent data safety monitoring board. You will be informed of all known risks before consenting, and you can withdraw at any time.
In breast cancer trials, placebos are almost never given alone. When a placebo is used, it is typically added on top of standard treatment, so all participants receive active cancer therapy. The trial design will be clearly explained to you before you agree to participate.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurers must cover routine care costs during a clinical trial. The trial sponsor typically pays for the investigational drug and related research procedures. Medicare also covers routine costs for qualifying trials. Your research team can help navigate insurance questions.
Eligibility varies by trial but commonly includes your breast cancer subtype (ER/PR/HER2 status), stage at diagnosis, number and types of prior treatments, general health status, and specific biomarker results. Some trials are designed specifically for newly diagnosed patients, while others focus on recurrent or metastatic disease.
Absolutely. Participation is voluntary, and you can leave at any time for any reason without penalty. If you withdraw, your medical team will work with you to transition to an appropriate standard treatment plan. Leaving a trial does not affect your right to receive ongoing medical care.
Active treatment phases typically range from a few months to one or two years, depending on the trial design and your cancer stage. After treatment ends, most trials include a follow-up monitoring period that can last several additional years. Your study team will provide a detailed timeline during the consent process.
Showing 1–20 of 1,975 trials