Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
Preoperative Partial Breast Irradiation in Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Impact of Preoperative Stereotactic Partial Breast Irradiation on Treatment Response, Treatment-related Toxicity, and Cosmetic Outcomes in Early-stage Breast Cancer: A Prospective, Phase II Clinical Trial
Preoperative Partial Breast Irradiation in Early-Stage Breast Cancer (NCT06677944) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Breast Cancer and Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, sponsored by Yonsei University. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
In the management of early breast cancer patients, postoperative radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery has been established as the standard treatment. Over the past two decades, significant changes have occurred in radiotherapy for breast cancer, encompassing dose fractionation methods, radiotherapy techniques, and delineation of the radiation field. Hypofractionated radiotherapy has been reported in numerous randomized phase 3 studies to show equivalent tumor control rates, reduced acute side effects, and similar late side effects compared to conventional fractionation. Among hypofractionated radiotherapy approaches, particularly in early-breast cancer, accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) may be chosen over whole breast irradiation (WBI). This approach is based on data indicating that the majority of local recurrences in breast cancer occur around the site of the primary tumor. By targeting radiation to the involved breast region, it becomes possible to increase the dose per fraction while shortening the overall treatment duration due to the smaller radiation treatment volume. While careful patient selection is crucial, multiple clinical studies have demonstrated that APBI, particularly after breast-conserving surgery, yields satisfactory local control rates comparable to WBI. This is accompanied by reduced side effects, improved convenience, enhanced quality of life, and potential cost savings. Traditionally, APBI has been administered after surgery, but there is a recent trend to explore preoperative APBI. The rationale for performing preoperative APBI includes several considerations. Firstly, compared to postoperative APBI, the precise location of visually identifiable tumors allows for more accurate and targeted radiation therapy, minimizing the impact on adjacent normal tissues and achieving superior cosmetic results. Secondly, reducing the size of the preoperative lesion may enable more conservative surgery, decreasing the extent of the surgical procedure. Thirdly, it can serve as a preparatory treatment to assess tumor responsiveness. Fourthly, in some cases, it may be administered for definitive purposes, especially in elderly or frail women who may find it challenging to undergo standard treatment due to concurrent health issues. Several clinical studies have reported the effectiveness and validity of preoperative PBI in a few cases of early breast cancer. These studies have shown low rates of acute and chronic toxicity, with excellent cosmetic outcomes. While accumulating evidence supports preoperative PBI, there is currently a lack of comparative studies with postoperative PBI. Therefore, this study aims to compare and evaluate the overall clinical advantages, including safety and efficacy, of preoperative PBI and postoperative PBI in early breast cancer patients.
What Stage of Research Is This?
Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Breast Cancer and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA 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.
With a target enrollment of 47 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
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
Treatments Being Tested
Preoperative PBI
Preoperative PBI: 21 Gy \* 1 fraction Preoperative PBI is administered within 6 weeks of the patient's initial registration, and surgery is scheduled within 8 to 12 weeks after PBI.
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.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial
Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06677944), the sponsor (Yonsei University), 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 NCT06677944 clinical trial studying?
In the management of early breast cancer patients, postoperative radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery has been established as the standard treatment. Over the past two decades, significant changes have occurred in radiotherapy for breast cancer, encompassing dose fractionation methods, radiotherapy techniques, and delineation of the radiation field. Hypofractionated radiotherapy has been reported in numerous randomized phase 3 studies to show equivalent tumor control rates, reduced acute side effects, and similar late side effects compared to conventional fractionation. Among hypof… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT06677944?
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 NCT06677944?
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 NCT06677944. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06677944. 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 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.