Active clinical trials for "Breast Neoplasms"

Protocol 777-CLP-32 is the treatment and survival continuation protocol of Biomed 777-CLP-29, and will continue to compare combined hormonal therapy using the experimental aromatase inhibitor (AI) atamestane combined with the FDA-approved anti-estrogen toremifene (Fareston®), to the single agent FDA-approved aromatase inhibitor letrozole (Femara®) for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine whether maximal estrogen suppression achieved via the combination of atamestane, plus toremifene (Fareston®), is more effective than letrozole (Femara®) in delaying the growth of breast cancer.

RATIONALE: High doses of esterified estrogens may stop the growth of breast cancer cells that no longer respond to hormone therapy. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well high-dose esterified estrogens work in treating postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer that has failed previous hormone therapy.

Eligible patients must receive vinorelbine plus capecitabine, with or without trastuzumab, until disease progression or unbearable toxicity. Cycles will be administered every 3 weeks.Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status must be locally assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). All 3+ patients are eligible. In 2+ patients, HER2 status must be confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

The purpose of this early Phase II multicenter trial is to determine the objective clinical response to GPX-100, an anthracycline similar to doxorubicin, in up to 40 patients with newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer. GPX-100 is unique among anthracyclines because it is not converted to doxorubicinol during metabolism in the body. This metabolite has been shown to be a major cause of damage to the heart (cardiotoxicity) in laboratory studies. Eligible patients who are enrolled in this study will receive GPX-100 as a single agent at the beginning of as many as 8 three week long cycles of chemotherapy. Objective measurements of tumor response will be made by computed tomography (CT) scans.

RATIONALE: Estrogen can cause the growth of breast cancer cells. Hormone therapy using letrozole may fight breast cancer by lowering the amount of estrogen the body makes. Celecoxib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Giving letrozole with celecoxib may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well letrozole and celecoxib work in treating postmenopausal women with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

This 2-phase study will determine the safety of treating patients with breast cancer with the genetically engineered HyperAcute-Breast cancer vaccine. It will establish the proper vaccine dose and will examine side effects and potential benefits of the treatment. The vaccine contains killed breast cancer cells containing a mouse gene that causes the production of a foreign pattern of protein-sugars on the cell surface. It is hoped that the immune response to the foreign substance will stimulate the immune system to attack the patient's own cancer cells that have similar proteins without this sugar pattern, causing the tumor to remain stable or shrink. Patients 18 years of age or older with breast cancer that has recurred or no longer responds to standard treatment may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with medical history and physical examination, blood tests, urinalysis, chest x-rays and CT scans. MRI, PET, and ultrasound scans may be obtained if needed. Participants will receive four vaccinations a month apart from each other. The vaccines will be injected under the skin, similar to the way a tuberculosis skin test is given. Phase I of the study will treat successive groups of patients with increasing numbers of the vaccine cells to evaluate side effects of the treatment and determine the optimum dose. Phase II will look for any beneficial effects of the vaccine given at the highest dose found to be safe in Phase I. Weekly blood samples will be drawn during the 4 months of vaccine treatment. In addition, patient follow-up visits will be scheduled every 2 months for the first year after vaccination and then every 3 months for the next 2 years for the following tests and procedures to evaluate treatment response and side effects: Medical history and physical examination Blood tests X-rays and various scans (nuclear medicine/CT/MRI) FACT-B Assessment questionnaire to measure the impact of treatment on the patient's general well-being. The questionnaire is administered before beginning treatment, before each vaccination, and during follow-up visits after completing the treatment. It includes questions on the severity of breast cancer symptoms and the ability to perform normal activities of daily life.

Vaccines may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of vaccine therapy in treating patients with metastatic breast cancer.

RATIONALE: Celecoxib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as vinorelbine, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining vinorelbine with celecoxib may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to determine the effectiveness of combining vinorelbine with celecoxib in treating women who have relapsed or metastatic breast cancer.

The main purpose of this study is to compare treatment with either pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or capecitabine as first line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer in women 60 years and older.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known which regimen of chemotherapy followed by peripheral stem cell transplantation is more effective for breast cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy plus peripheral stem cell transplantation in treating women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer.