The purpose of this study is to microscopically examine breast cancer cells of pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women before and after exposure to one of the two commonly used breast cancer drugs, tamoxifen or fulvestrant.
The researchers hypothesize that the cyclinD1-interactome can be used to orient the use of fulvestrant in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. To test this hypothesis, the researchers propose a pre-surgical randomized clinical trial of tamoxifen vs fulvestrant in the window between breast cancer diagnosis on core biopsy and definitive surgery. Women with ER/cyclinD1 positive tumors will be eligible. Response to tamoxifen or fulvestrant will be evaluated using standard proliferation index as well as gene expression signatures obtained in pre-clinical models of tamoxifen resistance and sensitivity to fulvestrant. In addition, the researchers propose to use cutting edge new technology allowing ex-vivo expansion of primary culture from only a few cancer cells obtained by fine needle biopsy. The researchers propose to compare the response of these primary cells to patient response. If successful, the impact of this work can support the expansion of use of fulvestrant to not only postmenopausal women but premenopausal women as well. In addition, it may serve as a proof of principle to maximize the use of biopsy material to predict treatment response
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
2
fulvestrant 750 mg (three 5 ml injections slowly over 1-2 mn per injection in the buttocks) on day 1 only
14 days of treatment with tamoxifen 20mg orally each day
Mount Sinai West
New York, New York, United States
Mount Sinai St. Luke's
New York, New York, United States
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, United States
Change in Ki67 Cell Percentage
The change in proliferation index as measured by the percentage of cells staining for Ki67 at 2 weeks as compared on baseline.
Time frame: baseline and 2 weeks
Change in Estrogen Receptor Level
The change in estrogen receptor level at 2 weeks as compared to baseline.
Time frame: baseline and 2 weeks
Change in Progesterone Receptor Level
The change in progesterone receptor level at 2 weeks as compared to baseline.
Time frame: baseline and 2 weeks
Incidence of Tamoxifen-resistance Gene Expression
Number of tamoxifen-resistance gene expression signature observed in patients with cyclinD1 overexpressing breast cancers.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Incidence of Fulvestrant-sensitivity Gene Expression
Number of fulvestrant-sensitivity gene expression signature observed in patients with cyclinD1 overexpressing breast cancers.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Drug Dose Level
For samples that are available for culture in vivo, proliferation assay to test whether the cells derived from individual patients respond the same as the tumor in vivo in the same patient.
Time frame: 2 weeks
Percentage of Cells Staining Positive Within the Breast Tumor
Differential treatment effect for pre and post menopausal subjects assessed by the mean change in levels (expressed as a percentage of cells staining positive within the breast tumor) of ER (and PR) between pre-treatment and post-treatment stratified by menopausal status.
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Time frame: 2 weeks