Phase II Clinical Trial of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) Retinamide (4-HPR) and Tamoxifen in Breast Neoplasia, Administration During the Period Between the Diagnostic Core Biopsy and Definitive Surgery

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the feasibility of identifying surrogate endpoint biomarkers in women with breast ductal carcinoma in situ and associated neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions. II. Determine whether treatment with fenretinide and tamoxifen administered daily will cause significant modulation of proposed surrogate endpoint biomarkers in this patient population.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, placebo controlled study. Patients are stratified according to histological diagnosis (hyperplasia vs carcinoma). All patients undergo a core biopsy and fine needle aspiration of the index lesion and are then assigned randomly to a treatment arm. Arm I receives tamoxifen and fenretinide daily. Arm II receives a placebo daily. Both arms continue for 14-28 days, until definitive surgery or a second biopsy is performed.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 100 patients will be accrued for this study, 50 patients per arm.