CompassHER2 pCR: Preoperative THP and postoperative HP in patients who achieve a pathologic complete response.
Part 1 Component of: The CompassHER2 Trials (COMprehensive use of Pathologic response ASSessment to optimize therapy in HER2-positive breast cancer).
For additional information, please contact the Research Nurses:
- Caroline DePiano, RN, MSN; 610-738-2522
- Susan Metzger, RN, MSN; 610-738-2515
RTOG 3510 Pragmatic Randomized Trial of Proton vs. Photon Therapy for Patients With Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Radiotherapy Comparative Effectiveness (RADCOMP) Consortium Trial
Purpose:
This randomized clinical trial studies patients with locally advanced breast cancer who receive radiation therapy. The patient will be randomized to either proton or photon radiation therapy and followed over time for cardiovascular side effects, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and outcome of cancer treatment.
Both PHOTON THERAPY and PROTON THERAPY are FDA-approved radiation treatments and are on the cutting-edge of cancer therapy. Both of these treatments are routinely used at our center for your type of breast cancer. PHOTON THERAPY and PROTON THERAPY deliver similar radiation doses to your chest wall or breast tissue and the immediate surrounding lymph node areas. Because there may be small amounts of radiation to parts of the heart during radiation treatment, both PHOTON THERAPY and PROTON THERAPY may increase your chances of having heart problems in the future.
PROTON THERAPY reduces the amount of heart exposed to radiation. So, it has the potential to reduce heart problems compared to PHOTON THERAPY. PROTON THERAPY has not been used as commonly to treat breast cancer, so the risks and benefits of PROTON THERAPY are not as well documented as for PHOTON THERAPY. Proton therapy may also cause more skin reaction than photon therapy. Doctors do not know if one type of radiation is better, about the same, or worse in terms of side effects, cure rates, length of life or quality of life after radiation. That is what we are trying to learn.
No studies in patients with breast cancer have compared overall or breast cancer-specific survival or relapse rates between PHOTON THERAPY and PROTON THERAPY. Studies in other cancers have shown that PROTON THERAPY results in a cancer control similar to PHOTON THERAPY. Doctors also know that radiation therapy after surgery (either lumpectomy or mastectomy) improves breast cancer-specific and overall survival for women with non-metastatic breast cancer.
Because no one knows which radiation treatment is best, if you decide to take part in this study, you will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups, and then you will begin radiation treatment according to usual medical practice. Randomly assigning you to a group helps makes sure that each group has a similar mix of patients and makes the study better - and is only done when doctors are not sure whether one treatment is better than the other. You have an equal chance of getting into either treatment group, like a coin flip. Both you and your doctor will be told which treatment you will get.
No matter which group patients are in, doctors will work very carefully to reduce the radiation to healthy tissues.
Group 1:
Photon therapy: once a day, 5 days a week, for 5 to 7 weeks
Group 2:
Proton therapy: once a day, 5 days a week, for 5 to 7 weeks
Follow Up:
Both groups will followed for at least 10 years after completing radiation therapy.
Partial Eligibility Criteria:
- Patients with non-metastatic breast cancer that are diagnosed with pathologically proven invasive mammary carcinoma (ductal, lobular or other) of the breast who have undergone either mastectomy or lumpectomy with any type of axillary surgery or axillary sampling.
- Patients with non-metastatic breast cancer are eligible.
- Must be proceeding with breast/chest wall and nodal radiation therapy including internal mammary node treatment.
- Women must not be pregnant
- Confirmation that the patient's health insurance will pay for the treatment in this study (patients may still be responsible for some costs, such as co-pays and deductibles). If the patient's insurance will not cover a specific treatment in this study and the patient still wants to participate, confirmation that the patient would be responsible for paying for any treatment received.
- Must not have received prior radiotherapy to the intended treatment area
- Must not have any other systemic disease that would prevent the patient from receiving study treatment or would prevent required follow-up.
For additional information, please contact the Research Nurses:
- Nona Blauvelt, RN, MSN, AOCN; 610-738-2522
- Susan Metzger, RN, MSN; 610-738-2515
NTproBNP--A Randomized, Open Label Pilot Trial of a Biomarker Guided Strategy of Cardioproctection in Patients with Lymphoma or Breast Cancer Treated with Anthracyclines.
For additional information, please contact the Research Nurses:
- Caroline DePiano, RN, MSN; 610-738-2522
- Susan Metzger, RN, MSN; 610-738-2515
The Association Between CBT-I Dose, Sleep Duration, and Fatigue in Breast Cancer.
For additional information, please contact the Research Nurses:
- Caroline DePiano, RN, MSN; 610-738-2522
- Susan Metzger, RN, MSN; 610-738-2515