Active clinical trials for "Breast Neoplasms"

This randomized clinical trial studies computerized cognitive retraining in improving cognitive function in breast cancer survivors. Cancer-related cognitive deficits, such as thinking and memory issues, are common among breast cancer survivors. The severity of these cognitive deficits is associated with a significant negative impact on daily function and quality of life. A computerized cognitive retraining method may help researchers find ways to improve cognitive function and quality of life in breast cancer survivors.

Objective: Evaluate body mass index (BMI), leptin, Leptin/adiponectin (L/A) ratio and cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 together as reliable biomarkers for breast cancer. Patients: Consecutive patients aged between 40 - 60 years, with breast disease and informed consent. Interventions: Patients' Anthropometric and laboratorial characteristics classified by BMI in the group of cancer and patients with benign breast disease as well as biochemical tests of leptin, adiponectin,CA 15-3, hemoglobin, glucose low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) levels were obtained as well as a blood sample to analyze CA 15-3 levels with a electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Hypothesis: Using together leptin, L/A ratio, CA 15-3 and BMI could offer a reliable approach to detect high risk women to develop breast cancer.

Communication is an important component of comprehensive cancer care impacting patient satisfaction, adherence, and quality of life. The wide array of issues addressed in cancer clinical interactions makes communicating about a broad range of topics (including quality of life, communication, symptom control, complementary/alternative therapies, costs, treatment burden, prognosis, anxiety, side-effects, sexual function, palliative care options, etc.) especially interesting and potentially challenging. Some of these topics may not be routinely addressed in the clinical interaction or may require consultative support from other members of the comprehensive cancer care team. One frequently overlooked critical element in research on communication between cancer clinicians, their patients, and their primary care clinicians is describing real-time consultations between patients and their clinicians. These interactions provide rich material for assessing key psycho-social dynamics and identifying issues that patients find important in their care. In order to devise systems of care that optimize the patient experience, it is critical that clinicians and researchers understand, appreciate, and systematically characterize the richness and complexity of the decision-making process in routine cancer consultations between cancer patients and their treating clinicians. This study seeks to assess the patient experience in cancer care by observing patients and their physicians in their clinical interactions and following them for several months to see how their care went. By describing in-depth the conversations and experiences of patients in these clinical interactions, this study will lay the foundation for practice-based interventions to optimize patients' interactions with their cancer care teams.

The purpose of the study is to determine whether the type of anesthesia during breast cancer surgery has any impact on the way a patient's immune system functions for a brief period after surgery. If the investigators find that one type of anesthesia versus the other is more beneficial to a patient's immune system, then the investigators may use this information to design a larger study to exam the effect of anesthesia better.

The purpose of this research study is to demonstrate that Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH), the technique used at the University of North Carolina (UNC) for left-side breast cancer radiation therapy, can reduce side effects to the heart.

Primary Objective: (i) To identify panels of RNAs and proteins predictive of response to HER2 targeted agents, considering clinical responses. (ii) To investigate associations between presence vs. absence (or relative levels) of identified extracellular (EC) RNAs/proteins and patients' clinicopathological characteristics, including age at diagnosis, time to progression and overall survival, as well as correlations with serum protein biomarkers routinely analysed for these patients. (iii) To compare HER2 positive samples versus HER2 negative samples for the existence of RNAs/proteins identified in (i) and (ii). Secondary Objective: To develop a predictive model for use in the HER2 positive population based on the most accurate and sensitive combination of the identified biomarkers.

Although many attempts have been done to identify vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) correlated with bevacizumab response, in advanced cancer patients, the results are still inconclusive. We will conduct a pharmacogenetic study to assess, in a population of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients, the possible predictive role of VEGF-A, VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), interleukin-8 (IL-8), hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), hypoxia inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) SNPs for bevacizumab response when combined with first-line paclitaxel and for progression free survival (PFS). Analyses will be performed on germline DNA obtained from blood samples and SNPs will be investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) methodology will be applied to investigate the interaction between SNPs.

The main goal of this project is to identify and remediate the cognitive difficulties, including processing speed and attention deficits in individuals who have undergone chemotherapy treatment. Recent research has demonstrated objective cognitive deficits following chemotherapy and that it is not an emotional reaction to the cancer diagnosis as it was once considered. There are a large number of woman diagnosed and treated for breast cancer that experience chemotherapy induced cognitive deficits. Subjects who participate in the study will be evaluated for cognitive abilities prior to chemotherapy treatment and after completion of chemotherapy. Participants will then have the option to participate in the second phase of the study, which involves the use of a computer-based Brain Fitness Program for 12 weeks. This is followed by another cognitive evaluation.

PRIMe is a prospective, case-only trial designed to measure the impact of MammaPrint on physician chemotherapy intention in the two discordant groups (ET/POOR, CT/GOOD) in stage 1 and 2 HR-positive HER2-negative breast cancer patients. The design also provides for assessment of several important secondary indicators. Eligible patients will have their tumor sample analyzed for MammaPrint, BluePrint and TargetPrint. Patients cannot start treatment before the MammaPrint result is received and taken into consideration for the adjuvant treatment plan.

Subjects will be recruited from the participants in the Union and Mecklenburg County Living Room Visits. Participants in the Living Room Visit will have been recruited using community event flyers. During the Living Room Visits, the Health Educator will provide a general overview of the study. Individuals who are interested in participating in the study will then be generally screened for eligibility by the Protocol Coordinator who will then proceed to provide informed consent to potential subjects.