Active clinical trials for "Breast Neoplasms"

More than two million American women are breast cancer survivors. Approximately one-third of these women are premenopausal at diagnosis and face issues related to reproduction as they undergo cancer treatment. Ovarian function after breast cancer diagnosis has implications on breast cancer prognosis, choice of adjuvant therapy and reproductive issues such as desire for fertility or concerns about menopause. Therefore, tools to accurately predict ovarian function in breast cancer survivors could significantly impact physicians and patients in counseling, medical and surgical treatment choices, and consideration of fertility preservation options. The goal of this proposal is to identify pre-chemotherapy hormonal, genetic and ovarian imaging markers that can predict ovarian failure and characterize the course of ovarian function after chemotherapy. The investigators plan to follow a group of young women from breast cancer diagnosis to five years after chemotherapy. The investigators will study the following risk factors: blood hormone levels that reflect ovarian function, genetic mutations that affect how individuals metabolize chemotherapy, and ovarian size and egg count by MRI and ultrasound. The investigators hypothesize that these biomarkers are related to risk of ovarian insufficiency singly. After examining these individual risk factors for ovarian failure, the investigators will put them together into an Ovarian Failure Clinical Predictive Index. This index will be a tool similar to the Gail Model that can be used to determine individual risk for ovarian failure. This tool would assist young breast cancer patients and their physicians in making treatment decisions that would impact cancer survival and reproduction.

The Logribmet study is a prospective study that evaluate grip strength changes in both hands of postmenopausal women with breast cancer receiving treatment with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor. Patients included in the study will undergo a grip strength measurement and receive a rheumatological questionnaire prior to the start of treatment, then at 3 and 6 months and at year 1 into therapy. Furthermore, BMI will be measured to assess if BMI is a predictor for the decrease in grip strength. IGF-I, GH and IGFBP-3 serum levels will also be measured at all time points.

The study will investigate the impact of cancer-related stress and its consequences (acute and posttraumatic stress symptoms, altered cortisol secretion) on cognitive function in breast cancer patients. The hypothesis that stress associated with the cancer diagnosis and the cancer treatment is a major cause of cognitive dysfunction in breast cancer patients shall be evaluated.

This study will assess safety and ergonomics/engineering design of a novel cancer treatment, Continuous Low Irradiance Photodynamic therapy (CLIPT). We will assess the effects on primary and metastatic tumors involving the skin, in particular to improve the functionality, efficiency and wearability of the light delivery device (LDD) as well as the overall treatment in subjects with chest wall recurrences of breast cancer. An ongoing study (IRB# 8227), sponsored by a Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation grant, using a 1st generation LDD device has evaluated and determined a dose-limiting toxicity of CLIPT for subjects with chest wall recurrences of breast cancer. A Diomed laser will be the device used in this study. The Diomed laser will deliver 630 nm (red spectrum) light through a Fiber Optic Patch. The Fiber Optic patch will be compatible with the laser, delivering light to a designated region on the patient's skin.

Title of study: An observational, multicenter study on the safety and efficacy of Femara® (Letrozole) as an extended adjuvant treatment in breast cancer patients who completed adjuvant Tamoxifen or Toremifen treatment Objectives: The major objective of the study is to assess safety and efficacy of Femara® in women who had undergone resection of a primary breast cancer and subsequently received prior adjuvant tamoxifen or toremifen therapy for 5 years in real-life condition. The study aims at the following objectives: To identify unknown adverse reactions, especially serious adverse reactions To evaluate incidence and descriptions of adverse reactions under the routine drug use To identify factors that may affect the safety of Femara® To identify factors that may affect the efficacy of Femara® Methodology: This will be an open-label, multi-center, single-arm, observational phase IV study. Number of centers & patients: Approximately 610 (planned No. of patients for total study period) patients from 4 centers will be enrolled in this study. Population: Postmenopausal early breast cancer patients who have finished adjuvant treatment with Tamoxifen or Toremifen for 5 years after curative surgery as "indications" described in local product labeling. Investigational drug: Femara® will be administered orally as described in "dose & administration" of local product labeling up to 3 years. Study duration: FPFV May. 2006, LPFV Dec. 2011. Study drug will be administered for up to 3 years with renewal of contract on yearly basis.

The IBSR (Inquiry-based stress reduction) intervention, developed by Byron Katie (www.thework.com), trains subjects to reduce their perceived level of stress by self-inquiry of their thoughts and beliefs connected to stressful circumstances or symptoms. This meditative process, named "The Work", enables the participants to identify and question the stressful thoughts that cause their suffering. The core of IBSR is simply four questions and a turnaround, which is a way of experiencing the opposite of what the participant believes. This process is simple, powerful and can be easily implemented in daily life. Therefore, on the basis of previous data and beneficial observations the investigators postulate that the clinical utility of IBSR mediation program may improve psychological and physical symptoms and quality of life among BC patients during the survivorship period. Thus, we will conduct a pilot/feasibility randomized controlled clinical trial designed to Assess feasibility of a IBSR intervention by examining attendance, drop-out rates, and program satisfaction. Determine whether IBSR intervention compared with usual care is efficacious in improving quality of life, psychological and physical status in BC survivors.

Breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women. Although big advance in diagnostics and treatment of early and breast cancer has been made in recent years breast cancer still has a significant mortality rate. A number of treatment modalities exist for postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. The treatment modality is chosen based on patient and tumour characteristics. Hormonal treatment is preferred and recommended in women with hormone sensitive breast cancer (ESMO, CECOG and NCCN guidelines). Tumor markers are an established method of monitoring systemic therapies in various cancers. Tumor markers CA 15-3 and CEA are used in clinical practice to monitor treatment efficacy of metastatic breast cancer. Blood levels of tumor markers are widely used to assess response/progression to treatment and guide therapy change. Treatment efficacy is assessed by imaging methods in clinical studies. Change of therapy in clinical study is usually done when progression based on RECIST criteria is found. Hormonal treatment has slower onset of effect compared with chemotherapy that can last several weeks. Also when a new therapy is started spurious early rises may occur. Therefore rising levels of tumor markers during the first weeks of new hormonal therapy are not necessarily sign of progression and should not be the only guidance for treatment change. Evidence of treatment efficacy form clinical studies and treatment change is based on imaging techniques.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Some patients may develop a resistance to chemotherapy drugs. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to determine the reliability of a test for measuring drug resistance to paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

This study will explore new screening methods for early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in women at high risk for these diseases, because they have an altered breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) or breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) gene. It will also try to determine if breast tissue characteristics in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation differ from those in women with a normal gene. Premenopausal women between 25 and 45 years of age who have participated in National Cancer Institute studies for families or individuals at high genetic risk of cancer (78-C-0039 or 99-C-0081) and who have at least a 50 percent probability of carrying an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene may be eligible for this study. At the first visit, participants will have from 4 to 24 tablespoons of blood drawn and will be interviewed about breast and ovarian cancer risk factors, family and personal history of cancer, history of pregnancies, use of oral contraceptives and other hormones and drugs, and previous surgery on the breasts and ovaries. In addition, they will undergo the following procedures: Routine breast and ovarian cancer screening for high-risk women, including a mammogram, breast and pelvic exam, instruction in breast self-examination, CA 125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound of the ovaries. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the breast MRI uses a strong magnetic field to show structural and chemical changes in tissues. Breast Duct Lavage In this procedure samples of fluid and cells from the lining of the breast milk ducts are collected to look for cancerous or pre-cancerous cell changes. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan PET scanning will be done only in participants whose mammogram or MRI findings require additional evaluation. This diagnostic test is based on differences in how cells take up and use glucose (sugar), one of the body s main fuels. Annual follow-up visits will be scheduled for 3 years and will include routine high-risk screening as described above, blood draw, update of family history and risk factors, breast MRI, breast duct lavage and, if there are changes on the MRI or mammogram that need further evaluation, the PET will be repeated. ...

RATIONALE: Tamoxifen may be able to increase bone density and decrease cholesterol in women who are undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. PURPOSE: Clinical trial to study the effectiveness of tamoxifen in preventing bone loss and heart disease caused by chemotherapy treatment in premenopausal women who have stage I or stage II breast cancer.