RecruitingPhase not listed

Serum Biomarkers to Characterize the Effects of Therapy on Ovarian Reserve in Premenopausal Women With Early-stage Breast Cancer or BRCA Mutations

Multi-Center Study of Serum Biomarkers to Characterize the Effects of Therapy on Ovarian Reserve in Premenopausal Women With Early-stage Breast Cancer BRCA Mutations

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years to 44 Years
Sex
Female only
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Procedures mentioned: Questionnaires

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "The researchers will also ask you to fill out questionnaires about your menstrual cycle (your periods) and information about your health and pregnancies."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study looks at how BRCA gene changes and cancer treatment affect the ovaries and their supply of eggs. It is for women who have not gone through menopause and have stage 0–3 breast cancer or a BRCA gene change. Researchers will use blood hormone tests and surveys about periods, health, and pregnancies to learn who may have early menopause.

The purpose of this study is to learn more about the effects of your BRCA mutation on the ovaries. The BRCA gene can make it hard to conceive a child in the future. It may also bring on early menopause. The researchers will check blood levels of hormones that the ovaries produce. The hormones that researchers will check are anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), estradiol and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The researchers will do this before, during, and after cancer treatment. The researchers will also ask you to fill out questionnaires about your menstrual cycle (your periods) and information about your health and pregnancies. This may help us learn which women will be more likely to have early menopause.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • There are three study groups, each with its own rules. All are for women who have not gone through menopause.
  • First breast cancer group: ages 18–44 with stage 0–3 breast cancer, before starting planned chemotherapy or hormone treatment.
  • First breast cancer group: planned chemotherapy must be CMF or include an anthracycline or taxane. If hormone treatment is planned, it must be tamoxifen. Added biologic treatments are allowed.
  • BRCA group without cancer: ages 25–45 with a known BRCA gene change.
  • First two groups: regular periods, with no more than one early or late period in the past year and/or at least 10 natural periods. Exceptions apply after pregnancy in the past year or with an IUD or other long-acting birth control.
  • Gene-comparison breast cancer group: stage 0–3 breast cancer, with BRCA changes, other gene changes, or no gene changes. Listed ages are 21–45, but a separate rule excludes women over 42.
  • Gene-comparison group: no past ovary surgery, ovary disease, or chemotherapy; periods every 21–35 days; no PCOS, a hormone condition; and no hormonal birth control in the past 4 weeks.
  • Gene-comparison group: must have gene testing and receive AC-based chemotherapy, which includes an anthracycline and cyclophosphamide.

Who can't join

  • First two groups: past cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, hormone treatment, or treatment that uses the immune system.
  • First two groups: surgery to remove part or all of either ovary, or radiation to the pelvis. The first breast cancer group also excludes women whose womb was removed.
  • First two groups: plans to remove both ovaries to lower cancer risk within one year after chemotherapy ends.
  • First two groups: known trouble getting pregnant—unable to conceive after one year of sex without birth control, or needing medicine or fertility procedures to try to get pregnant.
  • First two groups: currently pregnant, or a parent, sibling, or child who had menopause before age 40 without surgery.
  • Gene-comparison group: no gene testing, or gene changes in more than one of these categories: BRCA1, BRCA2, or other listed genes.
  • Gene-comparison group: over age 42 or receiving chemotherapy that is not AC-based.
  • Gene-comparison group: currently smoking after having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your life, or a body mass index (BMI, a weight-to-height measure) below 18.5 or above 40.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: For Premenopausal Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer 1. Participant is between 18-44 years old. 2. Participant is premenopausal. 3. Participant is female. 4. Participant has a known breast cancer diagnosis of AJCC Stage 0-III breast cancer, regardless of hormone-receptor status or HER2-overexpression, before the start of planned adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. 5. The chemotherapy regimen must be either CMF, anthracycline-containing, or taxane-containing. If hormonal therapy is planned, the regimen must be limited to tamoxifen All biologics are allowed in addition to the above therapies. 6. The participant has regular menstrual cycles; note: patients can have no more than 1 irregular cycle (too early or too late) within the past year and/or at least 10 spontaneous cycles within the past year. Exceptions are made for patients who have been pregnant in the last 12 months and patients with IUDs or a LARC. Subject Inclusion: For Unaffected High Risk Premenopausal Women with BRCA mutations 1. The participant is between 25 and 45 years of age. 2. The participant is female. 3. The patient has a known BRCA mutation. 4. Have regular menstrual (21-35 days); patients can have no more than 1 irregular cycle (too early or too late) within the past year or were pregnant in the past 12 months, and/or at least 10 spontaneous cycles within the past year. Exceptions are made for patients who have been pregnant in the last 12 months and patients with IUDs or a LARC. Subject Inclusion: For affected BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, affected women with non-BRCA mutations, and BC patients with no mutations (control) 1 . Premenopausal women age 21-45 with stage 0-3 breast cancer. 2. No prior ovarian surgery or ovarian disease. 3. No prior chemotherapy. 4. Regular menstrual periods (21-35 days), no PCOS. 5. No hormonal contraception within the prior 4 weeks. 6. Mutation testing decision based on NCCN Guidelines V1.2021: according to these Guidelines, both centers test all pre-menopausal women with breast cancer for BRCA and non-BRCA mutations which are the subject of this proposal. 7\. Receiving an anthracycline (typically doxorubicin/Adriamycin) and Cy (AC)-based chemotherapy protocol. Exclusion Criteria: For Cohort of Premenopausal Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer * Prior therapy for breast cancer or any other cancer, such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or immunotherapy. * Ovarian resection, unilateral or bilateral oophorectomy, hysterectomy or radiation to pelvic region. * Plans for risk-reducing bilateral oophorectomy within one year of completion of chemotherapy. * Prior known infertility; infertility is defined as one year of inability to conceive despite unprotected intercourse and/or the need to use medication (e.g clomiphene) or assisted reproductive technology (e.g. intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization) to attempt pregnancy. * Family history of a first-degree relative with non-surgical menopause \< age 40 * Current pregnancy. Subject Exclusion Criteria: For Unaffected High Risk Premenopausal Women with BRCA mutation 1. Participant has therapy for breast cancer or any other cancer, such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or immunotherapy. 2. Participant has ovarian resection, unilateral or bilateral oophorectomy, radiation to pelvic region. 3. Participant has Plans for risk-reducing bilateral oophorectomy within one year of completion of chemotherapy. 4. Participant has prior known infertility; infertility is defined as one year of inability to conceive despite unprotected intercourse and/or the need to use medication (e.g., clomiphene) or assisted reproductive technology (e.g., intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization) to attempt pregnancy. 5. Participant has a family history of a first-degree relative with non-surgical menopause \< age 40. 6. Participant is currently pregnant. For affected BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, affected women with non-BRCA mutations, and BC patients with no mutations (control) 1\. Subjects who did not undergo mutation testing, as well as those who tested positive for more than one family (BRCA1, BRCA2, non-BRCA) of ATM-Pathway gene mutations, will be excluded. 2\. Women aged \>42 years will be excluded as they carry a very high probability of chemotherapy-induced OI49. It is important to select an age range where immediate OI is less likely to occur because if most women become menopausal post-chemotherapy, the comparison of ovarian reserve decline will not be feasible. 3. In our prior grant period, we showed that the AC-based and CMF regimens similarly compromise ovarian reserve (Fig. 1)9 Currently, the AC-based chemotherapy is utilized in \>90% breast ca cases, and CMF protocol is rarely administered9. For this reason and to enhance uniformity, rare non-AC-based protocols will be excluded. 4. A previous study showed that smoking and BRCA mutations may have additive negative effects on the age of menopause27, consequently, we will exclude current smokers (smoked 100 cigarettes lifetime and currently smokes, per CDC). Based on our past studies6,9, the smoking incidence is low in our study population (\<20%) and should not significantly limit accrual. 5\. BMI: In our recent publication9 (Fig. 1), the mean BMI was 24.22 ±0.4 (median 23.2; range 17-42); hence the extreme BMI values are rare in our population. Nevertheless, those with BMI of \<18.5 and \>40 will be excluded.

Study sites (8)

NJ

NY