The purpose of this study is to find out if the pathological complete response (pCR) to chemotherapy given before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) could be predicted by the evaluation of the RNA (ribonucleic acids) disruption pattern (RNA Disruption Assay or RDA score) obtained from a biopsy of the tumor 7 - 14 days after the first, second and third cycles of chemotherapy treatment. If we can determine the optimal time during neoadjuvant chemotherapy to measure the RDA score for the prediction of pCR, we can optimize breast cancer management.
When administering neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the current practice of monitoring response to treatment is by measuring the size of the breast tumor after each cycle of chemotherapy. The drawback to this method is, it will take several weeks before we can actually measure a significant change in size; and the initial response to chemotherapy is often evident as a softening of the tumor without an apparent decrease of the tumor size. Finding a reliable way to identify early response to chemotherapy would be helpful to enable matching of chemotherapy to an individual's need. In a previous trial of breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, researchers have identified that the pCR to a full treatment of chemotherapy could be predicted by the change in RNA pattern obtained from a biopsy of the tumor half way through the chemotherapy course. \[Parissenti et al. 2010\] The purpose of this study is to determine if we can predict the pCR to neoadjuvant chemotherapy by examining the pattern of RNA disruption (RNA Disruption Assay or RDA score) from breast biopsy tissue obtained 7 to 14 days after the first, second and third cycle of chemotherapy. If we can determine the optimal time during neoadjuvant chemotherapy to measure the RDA score for the prediction of pCR, we can optimize breast cancer management. For example, if RDA score can identify non-responders earlier, we can switch to other chemotherapy agents and reduce the exposure to the unnecessary side-effects of ineffective treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1
Tumor RNA Disruption Assay™ (RDA) to generate RDA score from fine needle aspiration biopsy samples of breast cancer obtained 7-14 days after the first, second and third cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy; and, if there is a change of chemotherapy regimen, after the first cycle of the new chemotherapy.
Hamilton Health Sciences Juravinski Cancer Centre
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Southlake Regional Health Centre
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Odette Cancer Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
St Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The association between RDA score and pathological complete response (pCR)
The association between tumor RDA score measured 7-14 days after the first, second and third cycles of chemotherapy and the pCR to neoadjuvant chemotherapy will be evaluated. pCR is defined as no evidence of invasive carcinoma in the breast and lymph nodes (ypT0/Tis ypN0/N0itc) on histology at the time of surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy).
Time frame: An expected average of 6 months
The prognostic ability of RDA score
The capacity of RDA score to predict pCR to neoadjuvant chemotherapy will be assessed by exploring for a cut point on the RDA score to differentiate subjects with a high likelihood of achieving pCR versus those who are less likely to achieve pCR.
Time frame: An expected average of 6 months
The association between RDA score and clinical response (cR)
The association between tumor RDA score measured 7-14 days after the first, second and third cycles of chemotherapy and clinical response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment will be evaluated.
Time frame: An expected average of 6 months
Patients' perception of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and of breast cancer care
We shall seek to understand the experiences of patients with the FNAB procedure and with the cancer care they received while participating in the study by conducting qualitative interviews of study subjects.
Time frame: An expected average of 12 months
The cost-effectiveness of using RDA score
The cost-effectiveness of using RDA score to guide neoadjuvant chemotherapy will be evaluated by measuring the cost-effectiveness of monitoring pCR to neoadjuvant chemotherapy through the RDA score and in modifying the neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen for non-pCR patients accordingly.
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Time frame: An expected average of 6 months
The association between RDA score and Disease-Free Survival (DFS)
The association between tumor RDA score measured 7-14 days after the first, second and third cycles of chemotherapy and DFS will be evaluated. DFS will be measured as the time from patient's enrollment to the event of cancer metastasis or recurrence, or death, whatever comes first.
Time frame: An expected average of 5 years