The rationale for present trial conception and design moves forward from the assumption that a subcutaneous, pre-pectoral reconstruction by means of soft tissue replacement devices is feasible, safe and giving rewarding results when compared to the standard retro-pectoral technique. Ahead of that, the trial aims to test if there is a difference in the outcomes between a biological and a synthetic material when placed as a support under the mastectomy skin flaps, both in terms of immediate complications and of long-term results.
This phase III randomized clinical trial will compare direct-to-implant pre-pectoral breast reconstruction with different supportive materials: the trial will comprise two arms: A-PRE-PECTORAL technique with a biological Acellular Dermal Matrix (ADM) prosthesis coverage and support + FAT GRAFTING VS B-PRE-PECTORAL technique with a synthetic Titanium Coated Polypropylene Mesh (TCPM) prosthesis coverage and support + FAT GRAFTING
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
131
After conservative mastectomy, a pre-pectoral subcutaneous reconstruction with definitive implant will be performed using an ADM (CELLIS® Breast), either completely covering the implant or simply covering the anterior surface of it. The implant could be of any shape, material and texture available with no restriction. After at least 6 months, a fat grafting procedure, using a wash and filter principle for fat handling, will be performed over the implant.
After conservative mastectomy, a pre-pectoral subcutaneous reconstruction with definitive implant will be performed using a TCPM (TiLOOOP® Bra), either completely covering the implant or simply covering the anterior surface of it.The implant could be of any shape, material and texture available with no restriction. After at least 6 months, a fat grafting procedure, using a wash and filter principle for fat handling, will be performed over the implant.
Breast Unit Surgery, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust
London, United Kingdom
Rate in percentage of surgical complications
Surgical outcomes within the first six months from mastectomy and IBBR will be evaluated with the statistical difference in percentage rate of complicated and non complicated patients between the two groups. Complications will be the following: surgical site infection (any infection requiring an antibiotic therapy, either oral or intravenous), wound dehiscence, seroma (any fluid collection requiring aspiration for more than a month from mastectomy), nipple/skin necrosis (either partial or complete), hematoma, red breast syndrome, with their reintervention rate, all in percentages.
Time frame: up to 6 months
Rate in percentage of technique failure
The failure rate will be assessed considering the statistical difference in percentage rate of removed implants among total number and comparing them between the two arms: in other words the prostheses (implants) loss rate (reinterventions with prosthesis removal).
Time frame: up to 6 months
Objective quality of life assessment with Baker scale for capsular contracture
Quality of life outcomes at 2 years from mastectomy and at least 3 months after completion of the reconstructive step included in the protocol (one fat grafting procedure) will entail first of all an objective evaluation: such evaluation will be performed with the the scoring of capsular contracture rate, including assessment of the reintervention rate for amelioration or for a reconstructive strategy change, comparing the two arms.
Time frame: at 2 years from mastectomy
Objective quality of life assessment with cosmetic evaluation on pictures with a Likert scale scoring
In addition another objective analysis will include a third party objective evaluation, carried out by a group of a surgeon, a nurse and a lay person from a different center from that one where every single case was performed. This third party evaluation will assess the cosmetic outcome based on medical photographic files. Scores from this ranking will be compared between the two groups.
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Time frame: at 2 years from mastectomy
Subjective quality of life assessment using the BREAST-Q questionnaire (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and The University of British Columbia © 2006, all rights reserved).
Quality of life outcomes at 2 years from mastectomy and at least 3 months after completion of the reconstructive step included in the protocol (one fat grafting procedure) will entail also a subjective evaluation: such evaluation will be carried out using the BREAST-Q questionnaire. Scores will be transformed in a 100 scale and compared as median between the two groups.
Time frame: at 2 years from mastectomy