Randomized Trial With Trastuzumab Versus Observation in Breast Cancer Patients

Breast Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: A Pilot Randomized Phase II Study of Adjuvant Administration of Trastuzumab (HERCEPTIN) Versus Observation After the Completion of Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Patients With Stage I-III Breast Cancer Who Have Detectable Disseminated and/or Circulating Tumor Cells (DTCs and/or CTCs) in the Bone Marrow or/and the Peripheral Blood Before or/and After the Completion of Adjuvant Treatment

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Epithelial tumor cells can be detected in the bone marrow and/or the peripheral blood [disseminated and circulating tumor cells, (DTCs) and (CTCs) respectively] of otherwise metastases-free patients with early breast cancer. Several studies have shown that the presence of these cells is an independent factor associated with an increased incidence of early disease relapse and disease-related death. In almost 50% of the patients, adjuvant chemotherapy cannot eliminate these occult tumor cells and this is also associated with a higher probability of early relapse and death. In 60-70% of the patients, DTCs and/or CTCs express the HER2/c-neu molecule and one or two administrations of their monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (HERCEPTIN) could eliminate these cells for a period ranging from 3-12 months.

Clinical Trial Description

This pilot trial will compare the efficacy of the anti-HER2/erb-B2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (HERCEPTIN) given after the completion of the standard adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy versus observation in patients with stage I-III operable breast cancer who have detectable cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) mRNA-positive tumor cells in the bone marrow or the peripheral blood before and/or after the adjuvant treatment. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Breast Cancer
• Breast Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT00429247
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University Hospital of Crete
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: February 2003
• Completion date: December 2007