Recruiting

ABBYA Phase II Pilot Trial of ABemacicliB or Abemaciclib and HydroxYchloroquine to Target Minimal Residual Disease in Breast Cancer Patients ("ABBY")

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What is being tested

Abemaciclib

+ Hydroxychloroquine

Drug
Who is being recruted

Breast Diseases+3

+ Breast Neoplasms

+ Neoplasms

Over 18 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Phase 2
Interventional
Study Start: November 2021
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorAbramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine
Study ContactLauren Bayne, PhD
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: November 1, 2021

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

This is a Phase II randomized, controlled, open label breast cancer clinical trial. 66 patients will be enrolled. The drugs being studied are hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and abemaciclib (also Verzenio). This research study is testing whether using these drugs to target the disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow can reduce their number or eliminate them. Both hydroxychloroquine and abemaciclib are pills that will be taken twice daily. Both are approved by the FDA

Official TitleA Phase II Pilot Trial of ABemacicliB or Abemaciclib and HydroxYchloroquine to Target Minimal Residual Disease in Breast Cancer Patients ("ABBY")
NCT04523857
Principal SponsorAbramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine
Study ContactLauren Bayne, PhD
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

66 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

Over 18 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Breast DiseasesBreast NeoplasmsNeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteSkin DiseasesSkin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically-confirmed, primary, invasive breast cancer diagnosed within 5 years of entry into the companion DTC screening protocol UPCC 28115 * Qualifying risk status, at diagnosis utilizing receptor testing by ASCO/CAP guidelines, meting at least one of the following: (i) Histologically positive axillary lymph nodes, regardless of receptors (ii) Primary tumor that is ER/PR/Her2 negative: estrogen receptor (ER) \< 10%, progesterone receptor (PR) \< 10% and negative for Her2-overexpression by ASCO-CAP guidelines, regardless of lymph nodes status (iii) Primary tumor that is ER+/Her2 negative/Lymph node negative with Breast Cancer Recurrence Score of \>/= 25 per the Genomic Health Oncotype DX breast cancer test and/or high risk MammaPrint (iv) Evidence of residual disease in the breast on pathologic assessment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy * Patients must have completed all primary therapy (definitive surgery, (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy adjuvant radiation and/or Her2-directed therapy) for the index malignancy at least 4 weeks prior to study entry. Prior treatment-related toxicity must be resolved or improving to Grade 1 with the exception of alopecia, Grade 2 endocrine disorders (e.g. adrenal insufficiency or thyroid disorders from prior immunotherapy) controlled on stable replacement therapy for \> 1 year, and up to Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy, prior to study enrollment. Concurrent receipt of adjuvant endocrine and bone modifying agents is allowed per standard of care guidelines. Tamoxifen is not allowed due to drug-drug interactions with HCQ. * Bone marrow aspirate obtained via research trial UPCC 28115 after completion of therapy (except endocrine therapy) demonstrates detectable DTCs (via IHC) * No evidence of recurrent local or distant breast cancer by physical examination, blood tests (CBC, LFTs, Alk Phos), or imaging. Assessment for overt metastatic disease by radiologic testing per institutional guidelines (CT Chest, Abdomen and Pelvis, bone scan, MRI and/or PET/CT) will only be done in patients with DTCs detected on bone marrow aspirate who are being screened for this trial. * Age \>/= 18 years * ECOG performance status =/\< 2 * Ability to swallow oral medications * No contraindications to the study medications or uncontrolled medical illness. * Adequate bone marrow function as shown by: ANC \>/= 1.5 x 10\^9/L, Platelets \>/= 100 x 10\^9/L, Hb \>9 g/dL * Adequate liver function as shown by: Serum bilirubin \</= 1.5 x ULN, ALT and AST \</= 3.0 x ULN, and INR \</=1.5 * Adequate renal function: serum creatinine \</= 1.5 x ULN * Adequate muscle function: creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) \</= 2.5 x ULN * Anticoagulation is allowed if target INR =/\< 1.5 on a stable dose of warfarin or on a stable dose of anticoagulant for \>2 weeks at time of randomization * Ability to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria * Concurrent enrollment on another investigational therapy * Patient has received an experimental treatment in a clinical trial within the last 30 days or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to randomization (or treatment assignment), or is currently enrolled in any other type of medical research (for example: medical device) judged by the sponsor not to be scientifically or medically compatible with this study. * Prior treatment with a CDK 4/6 inhibitor * Known hypersensitivity to hydroxychloroquine or any of its derivatives * Prior hydroxychloroquine exposure for a duration of \> 1 month since the completion of the patient's primary therapy (definitive surgery, (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant radiation, and/or Her2-directed therapy) for the index malignancy. * Patients with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer may not be receiving tamoxifen due to drug-drug interactions with hydroxychloroquine * Patients who have initiated bone modifying agents within 3 months prior to the start of study treatment * Patients who have had major surgery within 14 days prior to randomization (or treatment assignment) * Patients who have any severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions or other conditions that could affect their participation in the study * Female patients who are pregnant or breast feeding, or adults of reproductive potential who are not using effective birth control methods. * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to the first dose of Abema

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental
Abemaciclib (150 mg BID)

Group II

Experimental
Abemaciclib (100 mg or 150 mg BID\*) + Hydroxychloroquine (600 mg BID) \*Abemaciclib dose will be determined by safety cohort

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Recruiting

Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, United StatesOpen Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania in Google Maps
Recruiting
One Study Center