Active clinical trials for "Breast Neoplasms"

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is obtained in the human diet by consumption of foods containing ruminant fat. Milk and dairy products have shown the highest amounts of CLA. Clarinol (CLA), is considered a natural supplement and is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). CLA is known to inhibit proliferation of human breast cancer cells and tumors in rodent breast cancer models and reduced Spot 14 (THRSP, S14) and Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) gene expression in breast cancer cells and tht the two major CLA isomers used in nutritional supplements (C9, t11 and t10, c12) were equipotent in reducing breast cancer cell growth. This study looks at the hypothesis that S14 expression is decreased by CLA and will characterize the major pharmacodynamic (PD) effects of CLA in newly diagnosed Breast cancer patients on Tumor tissue lipogenic pathway. FASN, S14 and Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL), Ki67 and apoptotic index expression will be assessed by quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) in initial breast cancer biopsies and compared to that in resected breast tumor tissue after the study subject has been taking CLA for ten to twenty-eight days. Tissue from adjacent breast adipocytes will also be analyzed to determine whether adipose tissue effects can serve as a surrogate marker for those in tumor tissue. A sample of the original biopsy will be compared to the tumor resection sample to determine the levels of CLA in the breast cancer cells.

The primary objective of this 2-year pilot project is to test the hypothesis that skeletal response to aromatase inhibitors is determined by polymorphisms of the CYP19 gene.

Investigators are hoping to learn if glucosamine with chondroitin can help relieve joint pain/stiffness associated with aromatase inhibitors.

RATIONALE: G-CSF may prevent or reduce febrile neutropenia in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. It is not yet known which G-CSF regimen is more effective in preventing neutropenia. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well G-CSF works in preventing neutropenia in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.

The purpose of this research study is to see if Near-Infrared Tomographic Optical Breast Imaging (TOBI) scans can help monitor breast tumor response during treatment for breast cancer. The images created by the TOBI scan show changes in blood blow and oxygen levels in breast tissue.

This is a randomized, controlled, pilot study to determine the safety and efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment compared to pharmacological intervention alone for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain related to aromatase inhibitors (AI) in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Twenty participants (20 in each arm) will be enrolled at the Breast Oncology clinic at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). Patients in the treatment arm will receive acupuncture administered twice weekly for six weeks and will be allowed to take pain medication as necessary. The control patients will initially receive pain medication alone, then will cross-over to the acupuncture arm after six weeks. The investigators hypothesize that acupuncture will reduce AI induced joint symptoms. The study will enroll a total of 40 patients, half of whom will be randomized to one of the two arms to receive acupuncture plus pharmacological treatment (arm A) or pharmacological treatment alone (arm B). Joint pain will be assessed by the BPI-SF score at baseline and six weeks. All patients will have a baseline BPI worst pain item (#2) ≥3 points on a scale of 0-10.

RATIONALE: Alemtuzumab and glucocorticoids, such as prednisone or methylprednisolone, may be an effective treatment for acute graft-versus-host disease caused by a donor stem cell transplant. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving alemtuzumab together with glucocorticoids works in treating newly diagnosed acute graft-versus-host disease in patients who have undergone donor stem cell transplant.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a cause of treatment failure in many cancer patients. MDR refers to a phenotype whereby a tumor is resistant to a large number of natural chemotherapeutic drugs. Having prior knowledge of the presence of such resistance would decrease morbidity from unsuccessful therapy and allow for the selection of individuals who may benefit from co-administration of MDR inhibiting drugs. The Tc-99m labeled single photon emitting radiotracers sestamibi and tetrofosmin have shown some predictive value. However, positron-emitting (PET) radiotracers, which allow for dynamic, quantitative imaging, hold the promise of more accurate and specific identification of MDR tumors. Objective: To obtain human safety data, to demonstrate imaging feasibility with FPAC, to obtain human biodistribution and to obtain preliminary evidence of breast tumor uptake concordance with response to therapy.

RATIONALE: Goserelin may help prevent early menopause in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. It is not yet known whether goserelin is effective in preventing early menopause in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying goserelin to see how well it works compared with no goserelin in preventing early menopause in premenopausal women undergoing chemotherapy for stage I, stage II, or stage III breast cancer.

The objectives of this study are to develop a Culturally Tailored Genetic (CTGC) protocol for African American women and evaluate its impact on decision making and satisfaction about BRCA1/2 testing, quality of life, and cancer control practices compared to Standard Genetic Counseling (SGC). A secondary objective of this study is to identify African American women who are most and least likely to benefit from CTGC vs. SGC.