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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 3INTERVENTIONAL

The MASTER Study (MAmmary Cancer STatin ER Positive Study)

A Randomized, Multicenter, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Comparison of Standard (Neo)Adjuvant Therapy Plus Placebo Versus Standard (Neo)Adjuvant Therapy Plus Atorvastatin in Patients With Early Breast Cancer

The MASTER Study (MAmmary Cancer STatin ER Positive Study) (NCT04601116) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Breast Cancer Female and Estrogen Receptor Positive Tumor, sponsored by Aarhus University Hospital. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Given the compelling evidence supporting a protective effect of statins on breast cancer recurrence, calls for prospective clinical trials have been expressed. In this trial - the MASTER trial - we hypothesize that the addition of statin treatment to the current breast cancer treatment will improve the prognosis of women with early breast cancer. This trial is designed as follows: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of standard (neo)adjuvant therapy plus placebo versus standard (neo)adjuvant therapy plus atorvastatin in patients with early breast cancer.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For Breast Cancer Female, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 3,360 participants makes this one of the larger Breast Cancer Female trials currently registered. Trials at this scale are typically global, run across many sites, and designed to generate the definitive evidence package for an FDA approval submission or a label expansion.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Patients must meet ALL of the following criteria to be eligible for randomization: Who May Qualify: 1. Women with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer who are candidates for (neo)adjuvant systemic therapy OR have received ≤3 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy. 2. Age \> 18 years. 3. Performance status of ECOG ≤ 2. 4. Prior to patient registration, written willing to sign a consent form must be given according to ICH/GCP, and national/local regulations. Patients meeting ANY one of the following criteria are not eligible: Who Should NOT Join This Trial: 1. History of any prior (ipsi- and/or contralateral) invasive breast carcinoma. 2. Ongoing (prevalent) cholesterol-lowering therapy (statins, fibrates, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors). If so, the patient can be enrolled in the observational arm. 3. Evidence of hepatic dysfunction (alanine aminotransferase level more than three times the upper limit of the normal range) or renal dysfunction (creatinine level more than three times the upper limit of the normal range). 4. Predisposing factors for rhabdomyolysis, including hypothyroidism, reduced renal function, any muscle - or liver disease, or excessive alcohol consumption AND creatine kinase (CK) measured to less than five times the upper limit (CK only measured in case of predisposing factors). 5. No current medication with potent CYP3A4-inhibitors (e.g. ketokonazole, erythromycin) or gemfibrozile, cyclosporin or danazol. 6. Pregnancy or breast-feeding. 7. Psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; these conditions will be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial. 8. History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to atorvastatin. Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Patients must meet ALL of the following criteria to be eligible for randomization: Inclusion Criteria: 1. Women with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer who are candidates for (neo)adjuvant systemic therapy OR have received ≤3 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy. 2. Age \> 18 years. 3. Performance status of ECOG ≤ 2. 4. Prior to patient registration, written informed consent must be given according to ICH/GCP, and national/local regulations. Patients meeting ANY one of the following criteria are not eligible: Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of any prior (ipsi- and/or contralateral) invasive breast carcinoma. 2. Ongoing (prevalent) cholesterol-lowering therapy (statins, fibrates, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors). If so, the patient can be enrolled in the observational arm. 3. Evidence of hepatic dysfunction (alanine aminotransferase level more than three times the upper limit of the normal range) or renal dysfunction (creatinine level more than three times the upper limit of the normal range). 4. Predisposing factors for rhabdomyolysis, including hypothyroidism, reduced renal function, any muscle - or liver disease, or excessive alcohol consumption AND creatine kinase (CK) measured to less than five times the upper limit (CK only measured in case of predisposing factors). 5. No current medication with potent CYP3A4-inhibitors (e.g. ketokonazole, erythromycin) or gemfibrozile, cyclosporin or danazol. 6. Pregnancy or breast-feeding. 7. Psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; these conditions will be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial. 8. History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to atorvastatin.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Atorvastatin 80 Mg Oral Tablet

Atorvastatin 80 mg per day for 2 years

DRUG

Placebo oral tablet

Placebo 1 tablet per day for 2 years

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Aarhus University Hospitak
Aarhus, Denmark

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT04601116), the sponsor (Aarhus University Hospital), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT04601116 clinical trial studying?

Given the compelling evidence supporting a protective effect of statins on breast cancer recurrence, calls for prospective clinical trials have been expressed. In this trial - the MASTER trial - we hypothesize that the addition of statin treatment to the current breast cancer treatment will improve the prognosis of women with early breast cancer. This trial is designed as follows: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of standard (neo)adjuvant therapy plus placebo versus standard (neo)adjuvant therapy plus atorvastatin in patients with early breast cancer. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT04601116?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT04601116?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT04601116. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT04601116. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.