Ongoing Clinical Trials on Metastatic Breast Cancer

Lapatinib in metastatic breast cancer resistant to hormone therapy

Study Type: Interventional

Age/Sex Requirement: 18 years+ (Female)

Sponsors: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, North Shore University Hospital

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00225758

Purpose: Roughly 33% of patients with metastatic breast cancer with receptors for estrogen or progesterone have no benefit from hormonal therapy, and almost all patients with metastatic breast cancer will eventually become resistant to hormonal therapy. Some cells create a different class of growth-factor receptor called EGFRs. New experimental evidence shows that breast cancer cells that make EGFRs are more resistant to hormonal therapy and are associated with a poorer prognosis. Several investigators have found that the EGFR can activate the estrogen receptor, even in the presence of estrogen-blocking drugs. Cancer cell growth can be slowed by blocking both EGFR signaling and estrogen-receptor signaling. This study will test the efficacy of the EGFR inhibitor lapatinib in combination with hormonal therapy in treating patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Lonafarnib in metastatic breast cancer

Study Type: Interventional

Age/Sex Requirement: 18 Years+ (None)

Sponsors: Hoosier Oncology Group, Schering-Plough

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00773474

Purpose: To determine the rate of progression-free survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer who receive lonafarnib. A previous phase II study reported objective response rates of roughly 10% when lonafarnib was administered as a single agent via continuous or intermittent oral dosing to 76 women with advanced breast cancer who were previously treated with chemotherapy and/or enocrine therapy.

Treatment decision making based on blood levels of tumor cells in women with metastatic breast cancer receiving chemotherapy

Study Type: Interventional

Age/Sex Requirements: None listed (Female)

Sponsors: Southwest Oncology Group, National Cancer Institute, Cancer and Leukemia Group B

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00382018

Purpose: To assess treatment decision making based on blood levels of tumor cells in women with metastatic breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. The primary outcomes measure will be overall survival, progression free survival, toxicity, and the prognostic value of sequentially collected circulating tumor cell values. The secondary outcomes measure will be the correlation of circulating tumor cell levels with breast cancer tumor markers.