Clinical trial · Interventional
ExclUsive endocRine Therapy Or Radiation theraPy for Women Aged ≥70 Years Early Stage Breast Cancer
ExclUsive endocRine Therapy Or Radiation theraPy for Women Aged ≥70 Years With Luminal A-like Early Stage Breast Cancer (EUROPA): a Randomized Phase 3 Trial
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
Rationale and relevance for patients and the scientific community. In low risk early stage patients ≥70 years, exclusive radiation therapy (RT) approach might be superior in terms of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), when compared to exclusive endocrine therapy (ET) following breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Assuming an equal rate of disease control, unnecessary long-term toxicity of ET may be avoided.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer | Malignant Breast Neoplasm | CURATED_EXACT | 0.92 |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breast irradiation (RT) | Radiation | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Endocrine Therapy (ET): letrozole, anastrozole, exemestane, tamoxifen | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Breast Irradiation (RT)
- description
- Breast Irradiation (RT)
- interventionNames
- Radiation: Breast irradiation (RT)
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Endocrine Therapy (ET)
- description
- Endocrine Therapy (ET)
- interventionNames
- Drug: Endocrine Therapy (ET): letrozole, anastrozole, exemestane, tamoxifen
Primary outcomes (2)
- measure
- Patient reported outcome measures (PROM) HRQoL as assessed by European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) C30
- timeFrame
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- Female
- Minimum age
- 70 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Women aged ≥70 years; * histologically proven invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast; * pathological T1 (pT1) stage (clinical T1-2 \[cT1-2\] stage is allowed); * clinical and pathological N0 (cN0 and pN0) stage (isolated tumor cells \[i+\] allowed); * any tumor grade (if pT ≤10 mm), G1-2 tumor grade (if pT between 11 and 19 mm); * Luminal-A by immunohistochemistry (IHC)-based on local assessment (consistent with 14th St. Gallen consensus definition): * ER/PgR+ (defined as ≥10% by IHC staining), * Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)- (0 or 1+ following IHC staining and proven negative by in-situ hybridization \[ISH\] in case of 2+), and * Ki67 ≤20% by IHC staining; * surgically treated with BCS with or without sentinel node biopsy (SNB); * no clinical evidence of distant metastases. Imaging work up is not mandatory to enter the trial. If there are signs/symptoms suggesting the presence of local relapse or distant metastasis, an appropriate work up should be performed according to the treating physician standard practice. A patient with confirmed local relapse or distant metastasis will no longer be eligible for the trial; * postoperative final surgical margins negative (no ink on tumor); * baseline HRQoL questionnaires completion; * adjuvant bisphosphonates and denosumab are allowed; * before patient registration/randomization, written informed consent must be given. Exclusion Criteria: * Preoperative systemic treatments (i. e., chemotherapy, endocrine therapy); * current treatment with any hormonal agents such as tamoxifen, raloxifene or other selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), either for osteoporosis or BC prevention (patients are eligible if these medications are discontinued prior to randomization); * prior breast or thoracic RT; * known disorders associated with a higher risk for complications following RT such as collagen vascular disease, dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosis or scleroderma; * prior diagnosis, detection, or treatment of any other invasive cancer (except basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has been definitely treated); * any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; these conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration; * patients must not be considered a poor medical risk due to serious, uncontrolled medical disorder, non-malignant systemic disease, or active uncontrolled infection. Examples include but are not limited to uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmia, recent (within 3 months) myocardial infarction or uncontrolled major seizure disorder.
References
Publications (3)
- RESULTMeattini I, Poortmans PMP, Marrazzo L, Desideri I, Brain E, Hamaker M, Lambertini M, Miccinesi G, Russell N, Saieva C, Strnad V, Visani L, Kaidar-Person O, Livi L. Exclusive endocrine therapy or partial breast irradiation for women aged >/=70 years with luminal A-like early stage breast cancer (NCT04134598 - EUROPA): Proof of concept of a randomized controlled trial comparing health related quality of life by patient reported outcome measures. J Geriatr Oncol. 2021 Mar;12(2):182-189. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.07.013. Epub 2020 Jul 29. PMID 32739355
- RESULTMeattini I, De Santis MC, Visani L, Scorsetti M, Fozza A, Meduri B, De Rose F, Bonzano E, Prisco A, Masiello V, La Rocca E, Spoto R, Becherini C, Blandino G, Moscetti L, Colciago RR, Audisio RA, Brain E, Caini S, Hamaker M, Kaidar-Person O, Lambertini M, Marrazzo L, Saieva C, Spanic T, Strnad V, Wheelwright S, Poortmans PMP, Livi L; EUROPA Trial Investigators. Single-modality endocrine therapy versus radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in women aged 70 years and older with luminal A-like early breast cancer (EUROPA): a preplanned interim analysis of a phase 3, non-inferiority, randomised trial. Lancet Oncol. 2025 Jan;26(1):37-50. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00661-2. Epub 2024 Dec 12. PMID 39675376
- DERIVEDHo AY, Bellon JR. Overcoming Resistance - Omission of Radiotherapy for Low-Risk Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2023 Feb 16;388(7):652-653. doi: 10.1056/NEJMe2216133. No abstract available. PMID 36791166