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Comparative Efficacy of Xiaopi Granules and Decoction in Triple-negative Breast Cancer: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Phase 2
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms
Interventions
Drug: Xiaopi granules
Drug: Xiaopi decoction
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT06154109
Lead Sponsor
Zhiyu Wang
Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the efficacy of xiaopi granules and decoction in improving the pathological complete response (pCR) of neoadjuvant chemotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer. The main objective aims to answer whether Xiaopi granules combined with neoadjuvant Chemotherapy could improve the pCR rate of triple-negative breast cancer. The secondary outcome included genomics of plasma extracellular vesicles, plasma metabolites and metabolomics, urine metabolomics, fecal intestinal flora tests, pathological tissue genomics, functional assessment of cancer therapy breast (FACT-B), and adverse events.

Participants enrolled in this study will be randomized to xiaopi granules plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or xiaopi decoction plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or placebo plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone.

Researchers will compare the pathological complete response between xiaopi granules and decoction group, and to determine their effects in chemosensitizing triple-negative breast cancer.

Detailed Description

Background: Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are characterized by poor prognosis, rapid progression to metastatic stage, and onset of resistance to chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is commonly used to improve the surgical pathological complete response rate (pCR) in stage II-III triple-negative breast cancer. However, chemotherapy can lead to immune escape and drug resistance in breast cancer cells, while the toxic side effects significantly affect patients' quality of life. The combination of Chinese herbal medicine and chemotherapy can improve survival rates while alleviating chemotherapy-related adverse events. Xiaopi Granules were developed by Professor Lin Yi, a renowned Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor in the field of breast diseases. The investigators' preliminary research has confirmed that Xiaopi Granules can inhibit tumor progression by targeting TAMs/CXCL1 signaling to suppress chemotherapy-induced autophagy, as well as inhibit the formation of tumor stem cells and pre-metastatic niches. Chinese medicine granules not only have several advantages compared to decoction, such as reliable drug quality and convenient administration but also have the characteristics of individualized prescription. However, whether their efficacy is comparable to that of the decoction granules still requires exploration. The investigators aimed to compare the efficacy of xiaopi granules and decoction in improving the pathological complete response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer.

Hypothesis: Xiaopi granules can improve the pathological complete response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer.

Patients and methods: Ninety patients with TNBC will be enrolled in this study and randomized to xiaopi granules plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy, xiaopi decoction plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or placebo plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The primary aim is the rate of pathological complete response (pCR, defined as the absence of invasive cells in breast and lymph nodes). The secondary outcome included genomics of plasma extracellular vesicles, plasma metabolites and metabolomics, urine metabolomics, fecal intestinal flora tests, pathological tissue genomics, functional assessment of cancer Therapy-Breast(FACT-B), and safety( AE and SAE). The neoadjuvant chemotherapy is carried out based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Different treatments and doses are set according to the standard recommendations outlined in the guidelines. In addition to receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the participants will be subjected to Xiaopi granules or decoction orally at a dosage of 18g per bag, twice daily, for a total of 8 days per treatment course. The duration of the treatment course will align with that of the chemotherapy regimen. A placebo is a look-alike substance that contains no active drug.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
90
Inclusion Criteria
  • Females aged ≥18 and ≤75 years
  • Pathological diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer with stage II-III
  • Not having received any previous treatment for breast cancer
  • Having at least one measurable tumor
  • No distant metastases
  • ECOG score 0-2
  • Neoadjuvant chemotherapy or combination immunotherapy
  • Agree to participate in this clinical study and sign the informed consent form
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnant and breastfeeding, with fertility requirements during the study period
  • Combined other malignant tumors
  • Combination of serious diseases of the heart, brain, liver, kidney, and hematopoietic system, liver function impairment, and diabetes mellitus
  • Active hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
  • Presence of factors affecting the administration and absorption of the drug
  • Allergy to the drug components of this regimen
  • A history of psychotropic substance abuse or drug use
  • The patient has other life-threatening diseases
  • Participating in other drug trials

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Xiaopi granules plus neoadjuvant chemotherapyXiaopi granulesXiaopi granules have a dosage of 18 g per bag, 18 g per administration, twice daily, for a total of 8 days per treatment course. The duration of the treatment course will align with that of the chemotherapy regimen. The neoadjuvant chemotherapy is developed based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Different treatments and doses are according to the standard recommendations outlined in the guidelines. Treatment options may include AC-T, ECT, EC, TC, AC, TAC, TP, etc.
Xiaopi decoction plus neoadjuvant chemotherapyXiaopi decoctionXiaopi decoction has a dosage of 18 g per bag, 18 g per administration, twice daily, for a total of 8 days per treatment course. The duration of the treatment course will align with that of the chemotherapy regimen. The neoadjuvant chemotherapy is developed based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Different treatments and doses are according to the standard recommendations outlined in the guidelines. Treatment options may include AC-T, ECT, EC, TC, AC, TAC, TP, etc.
Placebo plus neoadjuvant chemotherapyPlaceboThe placebo is a look-alike substance that contains no active drug and has a placebo inspection report. The dosage of 18g per bag, 18g per administration, twice daily, for a total of 8 days per treatment course. The duration of the treatment course will align with that of the chemotherapy regimen. The neoadjuvant chemotherapy is developed based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Different treatments and doses are according to the standard recommendations outlined in the guidelines. Treatment options may include AC-T, ECT, EC, TC, AC, TAC, TP, etc.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pathological complete responseThrough study completion,an average of 6 moths

Defined as the absence of invasive cells in breast and lymph nodes.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1Through study completion, an average of 6 moths

The RECIST 1.1 version is used as the standard for evaluating the clinical efficacy of solid tumors.

Urine Metabolomics TestsThrough study completion, an average of 6 moths

Utilize the Vanquish ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system (Thermo Fisher Scientific) to detect variations in metabolites within the urine of different medication intervention treatment groups before and after medication.All data were acquired and analyzed with the Xcalibur 4.0 software (Thermo Fisher Scientific).

Fecal Intestinal Flora TestsThrough study completion, an average of 6 moths

Laboratory testing for differences in faecal intestinal flora testing before and after the patient's medication.

Pathological Tissue Genomics TestsThrough study completion, an average of 6 moths

Using whole exome sequencing (WES) to perform high-throughput sequencing of the exonic regions in pathological tissues, thereby detecting mutations, insertions, or deletions within genes. Furthermore, utilize the Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK) software package to analyze the genomic sequencing data.

Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-BreastThrough study completion, an average of 6 moths

Utilize the FACT-B questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life of breast cancer patients in different medication intervention treatment groups before and after treatment. This questionnaire comprehensively assesses patients' performance in social interactions, emotional experiences, daily functioning, and physical condition, which indirectly reflects their overall quality of life.

Safety assessmentsThrough study completion, an average of 6 moths

Evaluate to adverse events and serious adverse events.

Genomics of plasma extracellular vesiclesThrough study completion, an average of 6 moths

Extracellular vesicles were isolated from the plasma of breast cancer patients using a differential ultracentrifugation method. High-throughput whole transcriptome sequencing was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes in the isolated extracellular vesicles. The primary experimental procedures for transcriptome sequencing analysis include RNA quantification and qualification, library preparation for transcriptome sequencing, clustering and sequencing, and data analysis. . Analysis of whole transcriptome microarray data was performed using BioConductor software based on the statistical R programming language.

Plasma Genomic TestsThrough study completion, an average of 6 moths

Utilize the Ultimate U3000 HPLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific) coupled to Q Exactive Plus mass spec- trometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific) to detect differences in metabolites within the blood of different medication intervention treatment groups before and after medication.All data were acquired and analyzed with the Xcalibur 4.0 software (Thermo Fisher Scientific).

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