Conditions: Breast Cancer
Keywords: Post-Menopause Neoadjuvant Therapy
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 22
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
To test whether the addition of the COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, will decrease the gene expression of CYP19 in breast cancers collected from postmenopausal women that receive neoadjuvant exemestane.

Detailed description:
Rationale: In postmenopausal women, the main source of estrogen is through the conversion of androgens, or sex hormones produced by the adrenal glands. An enzyme called aromatase carries out this process. Exemestane, an aromatase inhibitor, blocks production of estrogens. Research indicates that the gene responsible for aromatase activity is CYPO19. Therefore, exemestane helps to inhibit aromatase activity through CYP019. Along with CYP019, another gene associated with breast cancer is an overexpression of COX-2 enzymes. Research suggests that COX-2 overexpression can cause cancer cell division, increased blood flow to tumors, and metastases. Celecoxib blocks COX-2 activity and produces fewer side effects compared with other non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This study builds on previous research to test the combination of exemestane and celecoxib for breast cancer.

Purpose: This study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of exemestane and celecoxib before surgery for stage II, III, and IV breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Tests will analyze the CYP019 gene after these treatments.

Treatment: Patients in this study will receive exemestane and celecoxib. Both drugs will be given to patients as oral pills. Exemestane will be taken daily for sixteen weeks. Starting in week 9, celecoxib will be taken twice daily for eight weeks. Therefore, during weeks 9-16, patients will be taking both exemestane and celecoxib. Several tests and exams will be given throughout the study to closely monitor patients, including a biopsy performed after the first 8 weeks on exemestane. After sixteen weeks on exemestane and celecoxib, patients will have breast surgery.

Arms:
arm 1: Patients will receive exemestane 25 mg orally per day for 8 weeks. Starting in the 9th week, patients will receive celecoxib 400 mg orally twice per day for 8 weeks in addition to exemestane.

Interventions: intervention 1: Exemestane intervention 2: Celecoxib intervention 3: Correlative studies
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 25 mg orally once per day for 16 weeks. intervention 2: given orally at two 200 mg capsules (400 mg) twice per day. Patients assigned to receive 400 mg twice per day should be instructed to take the drug with food. intervention 3: None

Protocol document: