Secondary Adjuvant Treatment for Patients With Isolated Tumor Cells in Bone Marrow

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to identify patients with persisting tumor cells after standard epirubicin-containing treatment to test a non-cross resistant chemotherapy regimen (docetaxel) for these patients, and to explore the analysis of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow as a surrogate marker for clinical outcome.

Detailed Description
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The presence of disseminating (or isolated) tumor cells (DTC/ITC) in bone marrow (BM) after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer is associated with poor prognosis. Methods for detection of DTC have potential as a tool for monitoring occult residual disease during follow up. Also, there exists potent chemotherapy proven to be effective when anthracycline-based chemotherapy fails (f.ex. docetaxel). Consequently, a study has been started to test DTC detection as a surrogate marker for clinical outcome in localized breast cancer patients, selected by the presence of DTC in BM after standard adjuvant chemotherapy, receiving secondary treatment with docetaxel. In brief, patients having received anthracycline-containing chemotherapy for localized breast cancer are candidates. After informed consent and no radiologic signs of distant metastasis, the first BM aspiration is performed at the end of radiotherapy or 8-12 weeks after the last chemotherapy cycle. The next BM aspiration is performed 6 months later. At that time point the BMs are analyzed for the presence of DTC. If DTC are present in the 6 months BM test (the first BM sample is for exploratory research purposes), 6 cycles of docetaxel are administered (3qw), followed by a third and forth BM analysis 1 month and 13 months after the end of chemotherapy. The patients receiving docetaxel with eradication of the DTC will be clinically compared to those with persistence of DTC after docetaxel treatment.

Official Title
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Secondary Adjuvant (Rescue) Treatment With Docetaxel (Taxotere) and Detection of Isolated Tumor Cells in Bone Marrow as a Surrogate Marker for Effect in Node Positive and High Risk Node Negative Breast Cancer After Standard Adjuvant Epirubicin-containing Treatment

Conditions
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Breast Cancer

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Docetaxel


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Breast cancer with node positive disease or high risk node negative disease (pT1c/T2GII-IIIN0, pT3N0, cT3N0). Patients < 35 years with pT1a-bN0G2-3. Primary surgery for breast cancer completed Completed 6 cycles of adjuvant (or neoadjuvant) chemotherapy containing anthracycline Age ≥ 18 and < 70 years Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group or WHO performance status < 2 Written informed consent prior to beginning protocol specific procedures Laboratory requirements (within 5 weeks prior to end of radiation treatment or within 5 weeks prior to completion of baseline examinations): Neutrophils ≥ 1.1 10^9/l, Platelets ≥ 100 10^9/l, Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dl, ASAT and ALAT ≤ x 2.5 UNL (If ALP > 2.5 ≤ x 5 UNL, then ASAT and ALAT ≤ x 1.5 UNL), ALP ≤ x 5 UNL (If ASAT and ALAT > 1.5 ≤ x 2.5 UNL, then ALP ≤ 2.5 x UNL), Creatinine ≤ 175 umol/l Completed staging analysis including chest X-ray, bone scintigraphy or MRI, liver ultrasound or liver CT scan Exclusion Criteria: Other (than breast carcinoma) earlier or concomitant carcinoma, except for skin and in situ cervix cancer M1 breast cancer or locoregional recurrence of previously diagnosed breast cancer. Earlier treatment with paclitaxel or docetaxel. Pre-existing motor or sensory neurotoxicity of a severity ≥ grade 2 by NCI criteria (see appendix II) Cardiac disease with symptoms classified as NYHA ≥ 2 Definite contraindications for the use of corticosteroids Concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs Concurrent treatment with any other anti-cancer therapy (except for endocrine therapy and trastuzumab) Pregnancy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Docetaxel<br>Patients with presence of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow after (no-taxane) epirubicin-containing adjuvant treatment receive 6 cycles of docetaxel (100 mg/m2) 3 qw. | Drug: Docetaxel<br>* Docetaxel 100 mg/m2 3 qw x 6<br>* Other names: Taxotere;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disease free survival related to presence or absence of disseminated tumor cells |  | At approximately 8 years maximum FU | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Predictive value of primary tumor markers on effects of docetaxel |  | At approximately 8 years maximum FU | 
| Explore markers on tumor cells in bone marrow that can predict the effect of docetaxel |  | At approximately of 8 years maximum FU | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Disseminating tumor cells,breast cancer,docetaxel,adjuvant