This study will test the use of focused ultrasound ablation, low-dose gemcitabine (a chemotherapy) and the combination of focused ultrasound ablation plus low-dose gemcitabine in patients with early-stage breast cancers. We will be testing the effects of each of these regimens on cells in the immune system. We hypothesize that the combination of focused ultrasound ablation and gemcitabine will decrease myeloid-derived suppressor cells and will increase T cell activity. We also hypothesize that focused ultrasound ablation and low-dose gemcitabine will be safe and will result in non-inferior surgical completion rates and tumor margin assessments.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
32
Focused ultrasound will be applied to up to 2 breast lesions on day 8.
Gemcitabine (900 mg/m2) will be administered intravenously on day 1.Focused ultrasound will be applied to up to 2 breast lesions on day 8.
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Number of participants with any ≥ grade 3 adverse event
Adverse events as measured by CTCAE v5.0
Time frame: Adverse events collected through 30 days after the last study treatment
Rate of participants experiencing a delay in surgery
Rate of participants experiencing a delay in surgery, beyond day 26
Time frame: Through month 7 (Follow-up visit 2)
Rate of positive margins following surgery
Number of participants who have positive tumor margins at the time of surgery
Time frame: Day 22
The effect of the treatments on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment
MDSC/CD8 ratio in the tumor
Time frame: Day 22
The effect of the treatments on circulating activated T cells
Proportion of activated T cells in the blood
Time frame: Measured through 30 days after the last active treatment visit
The effects of the treatments on dendritic cells in the tumor microenvironment
Dendritic cell maturation in the tumor; we will stain cells using panels of markers for maturation and use multi-spectral immunohistochemistry and/or flow cytometry to characterize the dendritic cell populations.
Time frame: Day 22
Patient satisfaction with treatment regimen and surgery
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer (FACT-B) will be used to assess patient satisfaction with the treatment regimen and surgery; graded on a scale from 0 to 4 and scoring outcomes vary depending on the question that is being asked.
Time frame: through month 7
Patient and physician reported results on cosmesis
Harvard /NSABP/RTOG Breast Cosmesis Grading Scale will be used to assess cosmesis; graded is on a scale of 1 to 4 with a higher score indicating a poorer outcome.
Time frame: through month 7
Residual cancer burden
MD Anderson Residual Cancer Burden Calculator
Time frame: Day 22
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