The CLARA trial is a phase II window-of-opportunity trial evaluating how a commonly used weight-loss medication (tirzepatide, a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist) affects breast cancer biology, alone and in combination with standard hormone therapy (letrozole). The main goal is to determine whether tirzepatide, alone or combined with letrozole, reduces tumor cell growth.
CLARA is a randomized, controlled, phase IIb window-of-opportunity trial designed to evaluate the biological effects and safety of tirzepatide, alone or in combination with letrozole, in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative, treatment-naïve breast cancer scheduled for primary surgery, who meet the EMA-approved obesity criteria for tirzepatide prescription (BMI ≥30 kg/m² or BMI ≥27 kg/m² with weight-related comorbidities). 168 participants will be randomized equally into four arms: Arm A (Control): Immediate surgery Arm B: 3 weeks of neoadjuvant letrozole alone Arm C: 3 weeks of neoadjuvant tirzepatide alone Arm D: 3 weeks of neoadjuvant tirzepatide combined with letrozole Primary objective is to compare anti-proliferative tumor response in patients receiving immediate surgery, GLP1/GIP RA, letrozole and combined treatment. Secondary objectives are: * To compare adherence to the GLP1/GIP RA, letrozole and combined treatment. * To compare safety * To compare perioperative complications * To explore the feasibility and utility of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in plasma samples collected throughout the study. Exploratory objectives are: * To compare fatigue * To compare body composition changes * To compare changes in genomic risk score * To compare postoperative nausea and vomiting * To compare gastric emptying delays prior to surgery * To compare anti-proliferative tumor response as complete cell cycle arrest (CCCA) * To compare endocrine response * To compare concentrations of letrozole * To compare impact of stress on tumor biology and on clinical and biological effects of treatment
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Tirzepatide is a GIP and GLP-1R agonist. It is approved by FDA and EMA as a weight-loss drug for patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or ≥27 kg/m2 and previously diagnosed with at least 1 weight-related comorbidity.
Letrozole is an nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI). It is an adjuvant endocrine treatment indicated for HR+ breast cancer.
Ki67 proliferation marker
The primary endpoint is the mean change in log-transformed KI67 expression values between baseline and time of surgery in the different arms
Time frame: From enrollment till time of surgery (4-5 weeks)
Adherence
Adherence to letrozole and/or tirzepatide assessed as relative dose intensity (RDI)
Time frame: From enrollment till time of surgery
Adverse Event profile
The type, incidence, severity (as graded by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[NCI CTCAE\] v6.0), seriousness, time till onset and duration of Adverse Events (AEs)/SAEs and any laboratory abnormalities. This will be assessed by clinical history, blood tests and clinical examination at each cycle. Following surgery, patients will be followed for 14 days for AEs. Except surgical complications will be logged till 30 days after surgery. All surgical complications will be classified using CTCAE v6.0 and Clavien dindo,
Time frame: From enrollment till 3 weeks postoperative
Perioperative complications
Perioperative complications graded using the Clavien Dindo Classification \[1\]
Time frame: From time of surgery up till 3 weeks postoperative
ctDNA presence
To evaluate the presence of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) at baseline, during treatment and at surgery in plasma samples
Time frame: From enrollment till 3 weeks postoperative
ctDNA changes
To evaluate changes between baseline, during treatment and at surgery in plasma samples
Time frame: From enrollment till 3 weeks postoperative
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Enrollment
168