A Multicenter Randomized Double-Blind Trial Of Targretin Capsules Modifying Immunophenotypic Markers Related To Breast Cancer Progression In Breast Tissue From Genetically Identified High Risk Patients

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine whether bexarotene can modify immunophenotypic markers related to breast cancer progression in women at high genetic risk for breast cancer.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to menopausal status (women with a uterus who have not had a menstrual period for more than 1 year vs any woman over 55 years old vs women 55 years and under without a uterus whose follicle-stimulating hormone is in the postmenopausal range). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

• Arm I: Patients receive oral bexarotene once daily on days 1-28.
• Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo as in arm I. In both arms, treatment continues in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or elevation of triglycerides to greater than 800 mg/dL. Patients undergo 2 breast biopsies in the same location on days 1 and 29.

Patients are followed at 30 days.