Purged Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) From Metastatic Breast Cancer
Condition: Breast Cancer; Metastatic Breast Carcinoma; Invasive Breast Carcinoma
MeSH terms: Carcinoma; Breast Neoplasms; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2

Summary: 
      The goal of this clinical research study is to learn the relationship of high-dose
      chemotherapy (HDCT) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in controlling metastatic breast
      cancer. The study also will investigate the role of CTCs in breast cancer.
    

Detailed description: 
      Cyclophosphamide is designed to interfere with the multiplication of cancer cells, which may
      slow or stop their growth and spread throughout the body. This may cause the cancer cells to
      die. Carboplatin and thiotepa are designed to interfere with the growth of cancer cells by
      stopping cell division, which may cause the cells to die. Mesna is designed to prevent
      toxicities from cyclophosphamide. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF or GCSF) is
      designed to help your white blood count recover after transplant.

      If you are found to be eligible to take part in this study, you will be given G-CSF twice a
      day through a needle under the skin (subcutaneous injection), on Days 1-5. On Day 5, stem
      cell collection will begin. You will have a catheter placed into a vein in your chest. A
      central venous catheter is a sterile flexible tube that will be placed into a large vein
      while you are under local anesthesia. Your physician will explain this procedure to you in
      more detail, and you will be required to sign a separate consent form for this procedure.

      If further shrinkage of tumor is needed, the doctor may use chemotherapy combined with G-CSF
      described above. Your doctor will explain this procedure to you in more detail, and you will
      be asked to sign a separate consent form for this procedure.

      Blood will be removed from your body through the catheter and passed through a machine that
      separates the stem cells from the other cells. The stem cells will be frozen for storage, and
      the blood will be returned to your body. This 3-hour process is called apheresis. The process
      will be done once a day for 1-6 days until enough stem cells are collected. Blood ( about 4
      teaspoons) will be collected at the first Apheresis to have as a comparison sample to check
      for any breast cancer leftover in the blood.

      The collected blood cells will go through a filter to select out the blood stem cells and the
      CTCs will be left behind.

      Blood (about 2 tablespoons) will be drawn daily during peripheral blood stem cell collection.

      On Days 6, 5, 4, and 3 before the transplant, you will receive cyclophosphamide, mesna,
      thiotepa, and carboplatin through a needle in your vein. Blood (about 2 teaspoons) will be
      drawn for routine tests.

      On Day 0, your stem cells will be transplanted. Stem cells will go through a device to remove
      the breast cancer cells. If the bone marrow is collected because there was not enough stem
      cells, researchers will not treat the bone marrow to remove breast cancer cells. Collected
      breast cancer cells will be studied to understand the biological role of these cancer cells.

      After the transplant, G-CSF will be given through a needle under your skin until the white
      blood cell count is normal for 3 days in a row.

      Blood (about 2 tablespoons) will be drawn daily after the transplant while you are still in
      the hospital. You are expected to remain in the hospital for 3 weeks. Once you are released
      from the hospital, you will have blood (about 2 tablespoons) drawn for routine tests every
      week until your cell counts recover.

      Five (5) weeks after your transplant, if your doctor thinks it is needed, you will have
      radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, or receive trastuzumab.

      At Months 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 20, and 24 after the transplant, your complete medical history
      will be recorded, and you will have a physical exam. You will have a chest X-ray and bone
      scan. If your doctor thinks it is needed, you will have an x-ray of hot spots which are areas
      that show positive on the bone scan. If your doctor thinks it is needed, you may have a CT
      scan of the head, a mammogram, or a breast ultrasound performed. At Months 1 and 3 after the
      transplant, you will have a PET/CT scan. At Months 6, 9, 12, 16, 20, and 24 after the
      transplant, you will have a CT scan of the chest and abdomen then as needed to check the
      status of the disease. Blood (about 2 teaspoons) will be drawn to measure cancer markers and
      CTCs.

      While on study you must notify the doctor of any new drugs you are taking.

      This is an investigational study. The transplant is not FDA approved. The drugs G-CSF,
      cyclophosphamide, carboplatin, and thiotepa are all approved by the FDA and commercially
      available. The CliniMACS device is not commercially available or FDA approved. The CliniMACS
      device is being used in research only and will be provided free of charge. Up to 70 patients
      will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.
    

Intervention name(s): Carboplatin; Cyclophosphamide; Thiotepa; Stem Cell Transplant
Intervention type(s): Drug; Drug; Drug; Procedure
Intervention description(s): Target Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 20, then divided into 4 doses given by vein (IV) days -6, -5, -4, -3 prior to stem cell infusion.; 1.5 gm/m^2 by vein days -6, -5, -4, -3 prior to stem cell infusion.; 120 mg/m^2 by vein days -6, -5, -4, -3 prior to stem cell infusion.; Stem Cell Transplant on Day 0.
Other intervention name(s): Paraplatin; Cytoxan; Neosar; SCT; Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; AHST
Intervention MeSH terms: Cyclophosphamide; Thiotepa; Carboplatin
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Breast Cancer; breast carcinoma; Carboplatin; Paraplatin; Cyclophosphamide; Neosar; Cytoxan; Thiotepa; Purged Autologous Stem Cells; Circulating Tumor Cells; CTCs