Encouraging Update from the LORD Clinical Trial on Active Surveillance for Low-Risk DCIS

At the recent 15th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC15), researchers shared encouraging early findings from the LORD (LOw Risk DCIS) clinical trial , a major international study exploring whether some people diagnosed with low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) can safely avoid immediate surgery.

What is the LORD clinical trial studying?

The LORD trial is investigating whether active surveillance —careful monitoring with regular imaging and check-ups—can be a safe alternative to standard treatment for people with low-risk DCIS.

Traditionally, DCIS has been treated with surgery (and sometimes radiation or hormone therapy). However, research suggests that many cases of DCIS will never become invasive or life-threatening, raising important questions about overtreatment.

Early results: “Reassuring” findings

The interim results, presented by Professor Jelle Wesseling, included data from 1,423 participants who were being treated with Grade 1 or 2 DCIS from across approximately 60 hospitals in the Netherlands.

After about two years of follow-up:

• • • 6% of people in the active surveillance group (63 out of 1060) were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer
    • 9% of those who had immediate surgery (33 out of 363) were found to have invasive cancer

Importantly:

• • • • Cancers detected in the active surveillance group were not more aggressive
      • While tumors in the surveillance group were slightly larger, outcomes were comparable between groups

Researchers described these early findings as “reassuring,” with no indication that active surveillance leads to worse short-term outcomes.

What this means for low-risk DCIS patients

This research is part of a bigger shift toward more personalized care for DCIS.

For some people, it may mean:

• • • • Avoiding or delaying surgery
      • Reducing the physical and emotional impact of treatment
      • Having more time and space to make informed decisions

At the same time, active surveillance isn’t the right choice for everyone. It requires:

• • • • Careful diagnosis of low-risk DCIS
      • Ongoing monitoring
      • Comfort with a watch-and-wait approach

What we still need to learn

These are early results, and longer follow-up is important. Researchers are continuing to study:

• • • • Long-term safety
      • Which patients benefit most
      • How best to support people choosing surveillance

Why this matters

For many in the DCIS community, one of the hardest parts of diagnosis is the uncertainty—and the feeling of needing to act quickly.

Studies like the LORD trial are helping create more options and more room for choice.

DCIS Understood will continue to follow this research closely and share updates as we learn more.

👉 You can read more about the study here: Early results from the LORD trial (EBCC15)