Focused radiation treatment for early stage breast cancer

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the use of the GammaPod machine, specifically designed for delivering focused radiation therapy to the tumor bed in early stage breast cancer patients. The GammaPod aims to minimize radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues while providing effective treatment. Participants will receive preoperative radiation therapy, which has been associated with improved disease-free survival in certain cancers. The study will assess the comfort and efficacy of the GammaPod's breast cup system during treatment.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must sign consent for study participation.
* Patients must be female with a diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma. Lobular histologies will not be included, because of difficulty in defining the extent of disease with imaging.
* Patients must be deemed appropriate candidates for breast-conserving therapy (i.e., not pregnant, never had RT to the treated breast, breast size would allow adequate cosmesis after volume loss from partial mastectomy).
* Tumor must not involve the overlying skin or underlying chest wall, based on imaging evaluation and/or clinical exam.
* Greatest tumor dimension is \<3 cm based on US. MR imaging measurements can be included only if performed BEFORE the biopsy (postbiopsy measurements can be larger as a result of hematoma formation or increased edema).
* Tumor must be unifocal.
* Patients must be \> 45 years old.
* The tumor must be visible on a CT scan.
* Patients must undergo MR imaging for work-up to aid in tumor delineation and to rule out additional foci of disease. If additional foci of disease are found to be present, then these must be biopsied with negative results to proceed with treatment.
* The tumor must be clinically and radiographically N0 (node negative). If a suspicious node is visualized, it must be biopsied with negative results.
* Patients must be estrogen-receptor positive.
* Patients must be HER2neu negative.
* Patients must weigh \<150 kg (330 lb), which is the limit of the imaging loader.
* Patients must be \<6'6" in height, again because of instrumentation limitations.
* Patients must be able to lie prone for treatment.
* Patients must have no lymphovascular invasion on biopsy.
* Patients may be taking hormonal therapy prior to initiation of treatment. This will be documented.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Multicentric disease.
* Prior RT to the involved breast.
* Inability to fit into the immobilization breast cup because of breast size or other anatomic reasons.
* Inability to obtain an adequate seal when using the immobilization breast cup.
* Male sex.
* Breast implants.
* Patient cannot comfortably lie in the prone position (i.e., physical disability).
* Patients who are planned to be treated surgically with a mastectomy.
* Tumor \<5 mm from the skin surface or chest wall on clinical exam and/or radiographic imaging.
* Tumor size \>3 cm.
* Patients with psychiatric or addictive disorders that would preclude obtaining informed consent or study completion.
* Patients who are pregnant or lactating (because of potential RT exposure to the fetus and unknown effects of RT in lactating women).
* Patient unable to undergo MR imaging (e.g., because of known contrast reaction or concerns about contrast and existing health status).
* Lymphovascular invasion on original biopsy.
* Tumor histologies other than invasive ductal carcinoma (including invasive lobular carcinoma).
* ER-negative tumors.
* HER2neu-positive tumors.
* Pure ductal carcinoma in situ (no invasive component).
* Weight \>330 lb
* Prior ipsilateral breast cancer.
* Diffuse calcifications on mammogram (BIRADS 3, 4, 5).

Where it's running

• Ummc
  Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting
• Upper Chesapeake Health
  Bel Air, Maryland, United States Recruiting
• Central Maryland Oncology Center
  Columbia, Maryland, United States Recruiting
• Baltimore Washington Medical Center
  Glen Burnie, Maryland, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Elizabeth Nichols, MD — University of Maryland, Baltimore
• Study coordinator: Elizabeth Nichols, MD
• Email: enichols1@umm.edu
• Phone: 410-328-6080

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.