Predicting Adverse Cardiac Events in Breast Cancer Therapy (PACE in Breast Cancer)

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• To determine if polymorphisms in genes (e.g., CYBA, RAC2, NCF4, MRP1, MRP2, GTSP and CBR3) in women with breast cancer treated with doxorubicin hydrochloride increase the relative risk of developing ≥ NCI grade 1 cardiotoxicity. (Primary study)
• To determine whether pre-treatment levels of biomarkers (e.g., neuregulin, IGF-1, cardiotrophin-1, IL-6, VEGF, hepatocyte growth factor, and heparin binding EGF) in these patients, correlate with relative risk of developing ≥ NCI grade 1 cardiotoxicity to this regimen. (Primary study)
• To determine whether decreased heart rate variability and increased plasma levels of norepinephrine at 3 weeks after completion of this regimen correlate with relative risk of developing ≥ NCI grade 1 cardiotoxicity in these patients. (Primary study)
• To determine whether decrease in endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) number at 3 weeks after completion of this regimen can be detected, and if so whether decreased EPC number correlates with ≥ NCI grade 1 cardiotoxicity. (Primary study)
• To determine whether baseline physical fitness level of these patients, assessed by a questionnaire and 6 minute walk distance, correlates with relative risk of developing ≥ NCI grade 1 cardiotoxicity to this regimen. (Primary study)
• To determine whether activity level of these patients during treatment, assessed by questionnaire, correlates with relative risk of developing ≥ NCI grade 1 cardiotoxicity to this regimen. (Primary study)
• To determine whether drop in functional capacity of these patients, measured by 6 minute walk distance at the end of treatment with this regimen, correlates with ≥ NCI grade 1 cardiotoxicity. (Primary study)
• To determine whether MRI can detect changes in diastolic heart function in these patients 48 hours after administration of this regimen. (Sub-study A)
• To determine if a greater decrease in diastolic dysfunction in these patients at 48 hours is predictive of greater decrease in systolic function at 3 weeks after treatment with this regimen. (Sub-study A)
• To determine whether levels of certain biomarkers of cardiac myocyte damage, B-type natriuretic peptide and the sarcomere protein troponin T at 48 hours after the initial exposure to these drugs correlate with relative risk of developing ≥ NCI grade1 cardiotoxicity. (Sub-study A)
• To determine whether trastuzumab given concurrently with doxorubicin hydrochloride decreases heart rate variability and increases plasma levels of norepinephrine in these patients, and if so, whether these changes correlate with relative risk of developing NCI grade ≥ 1 cardiotoxicity. (Sub-study B)
• To determine whether EPC number obtained from patients treated with trastuzumab have decreased migration into microvascular structures in an ex vivo assay and whether these changes correlate with ≥ NCI grade 1 cardiotoxicity. (Sub-study B)
• To determine whether levels of certain biomarkers in these patients , including neuregulin, IGF-1, cardiotrophin-1, IL-6, VEGF, hepatocyte growth factor and heparin binding EGF, change after exposure to trastuzumab. (Sub-study B)

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

• Primary study: Patients make an initial visit (before beginning doxorubicin hydrochloride treatment) and a visit 3 weeks after the 4th course of doxorubicin hydrochloride (approximately 12 weeks after the initial visit). During these visits, blood samples are also collected for measuring serum levels of neuregulin-1, IGF-1, cardiotropin-1, IL-6, VEGF, hepatocyte growth factor, and plasma norepinephrine and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). Heart-rate variability (HRV) is measured and, if necessary, a transthoracic echocardiogram is performed. Patients complete baseline health and activity level questionnaire and suitable patients complete a 6-minute walk test. Patients undergo blood collection for genotype analysis for single nucleotide polymorphism sites during the initial visit.