Heavy Metal Exposure in Predicting Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Stage I-III Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

N/ACompletedNCT01982591

Fox Chase Cancer Center115 enrolled

Overview

This research trial studies heavy metal exposure in predicting peripheral neuropathy in patients with stage I-III breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Studying samples of blood and urine in the laboratory for heavy metal exposure from patients receiving chemotherapy may help doctors find out whether side effects from chemotherapy are related to heavy metal exposure.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To describe the correlation, if any, of specific heavy metals with high grade symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, defined as grade \>= 3 peripheral neuropathy, (utilizing the Common Terminology Criterial for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] version \[v.\] 4.0) in a cohort of breast cancer patients undergoing (neo)adjuvant taxane chemotherapy. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To characterize the range of specific heavy metals in a cohort of breast cancer patients undergoing (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. II. To evaluate the reproducibility of sera and urine testing of heavy metal levels by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) testing in a cohort of breast cancer patients undergoing (neo)adjuvant taxane chemotherapy. OUTLINE: Patients undergo serum and urine sample collection for heavy metal analysis by ICP-MS at baseline and at the completion of treatment. Patients also complete neurotoxicity assessment questionnaire at baseline and at the completion of treatment.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

115

Conditions

Male Breast Cancer Neurotoxicity Peripheral Neuropathy Stage IA Breast Cancer

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must have histologically confirmed invasive mammary carcinoma; any histologic sub-type allowed * Patients must be diagnosed with stage I, II or III breast cancer * Patients must be undergoing treatment with an adjuvant or neoadjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy that includes a taxane, specifically paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane), or docetaxel * Patients may have received prior endocrine and/or radiation therapy * Patients must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who have been previously treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy * Patients with pre-existing peripheral neuropathy

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Level of heavy metal in blood and urine

Heavy metal levels will be characterized in participants being treated at participating sites. Means and variances and ranges of these levels will be tabulated.

Time frame: The levels will be measured on a blood and urine sample obtained on the first day of chemotherapy, which is considered the first day of the study. The actual laboratory processing of the samples will occur in batches throughout the duration of the study.

Incidence of high grade neurotoxicity, defined as grade >= 3 peripheral neuropathy, graded according to CTCAE v. 4.0

Neurotoxicity grade during chemotherapy will be obtained from the medical record and study doctor's notes. The maximum grade during the course of chemotherapy will be recorded. Frequencies of toxicities will be tabulated.

Time frame: Last day of chemotherapy approx.4-6 months from initiation, depending on chemotherapy regimen. Neurotoxicity grade will be assessed intermittently during course of therapy, with note of maximum grade made by clinician.