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STARS Breast Trial (Study of Anastrozole and Radiotherapy Sequencing)

Phase 3
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Breast Cancer
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00887380
Lead Sponsor
Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether starting anastrozole prior to radiotherapy, so that it is taken during radiotherapy, decreases local recurrence of breast cancer in post-menopausal women in comparison to waiting until after radiotherapy to commence anastrozole.

Detailed Description

Adjuvant radiotherapy is well established as the primary modality to enhance local control in breast cancer. The use of adjuvant hormone therapy such as tamoxifen has shown to improve local control to a relatively minor amount on its own and does enhance local control of adjuvant radiotherapy. There is, however, conflicting invitro and clinical data regarding the effects or different sequences on tamoxifen and radiotherapy in terms of both local control and enhancement of radiotherapy toxicities.

Aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole are establishing themselves as a class of drug superior to tamoxifen for the control of estrogen dependent breast cancers and overall are better tolerated with the exception of greater bone loss.

As the key question is whether the sequencing of the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole alters local control by acting as an enhancer of the radiation breast cancer cell kill, it is therefore the aim of this study to compare 3 months of anastrozole prior to radiotherapy versus 3 months of anastrozole after radiotherapy with a specific objective of reducing the baseline ratio of in-field radiotherapy failure from 6% to 3%.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
2023
Inclusion Criteria
  • Women aged 18 years or older

  • Post total mastectomy or lumpectomy. All planned cancer resection surgery complete.

  • Histologic or pathologic reports must verify either:

    • No tumour contacting the inked margin of surgically removed tissue, or
    • Focal involvement (<2mm front) if the margin is at the deep (posterior part) of the breast and the surgeon confirms that surgery extended to the deep fascia, or
    • Focal involvement (<2mm front) if the margin is superficial (anterior part of the breast or subcutaneous) and the surgeon confirms that surgery extended to the subcutis NB: In the case of focally involved deep or superficial margins, the medical records or multidisciplinary meeting notes or correspondence from the surgeon must indicate that the surgeon confirms the surgery extended to the deep fascia or subcutis as appropriate. Patients should routinely receive a lumpectomy bed boost in the conserved breast setting if there is focal superficial or focal deep involvement as defined above.
  • Tumour oestrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor positive (≥10% cells positive).

  • Radiotherapy not yet commenced

  • Planned radiotherapy dose prescribed to ICRU reference points in the irradiated breast / chest wall volumes at least the biological equivalent of 45 Gy in 25 fractions or more. (BED Gy4 ≥ 65, BED Gyx=D(1+n/x) where D=total dose, n=dose per fraction, x=alpha beta ratio, Gy4 selected as appropriate alpha-beta ratio for human breast cancer lines)

  • An ECOG performance status score of 2 or less.

  • Female and post menopausal shown by satisfying at least one of the following criteria (as per the ATAC study criteria16):

    • bilateral oophorectomy
    • age greater than 60
    • age 45-59 years with intact uterus and amenorrhoeic at least 12 months
    • Amenorrhoeic less than 12 months with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels within the post menopausal range (including patients with amenorrhoea due to chemotherapy, LHRH use or who have had hormone replacement following hysterectomy) Note: it is recommended for women under the age of 45 who have been rendered menopausal by chemotherapy that they be enrolled onto the strata which switches to Tamoxifen after the initial 3 months of anastrozole.
  • Is not receiving chemotherapy, or is receiving chemotherapy but the course will be completed at least 3 weeks prior to commencing radiotherapy

  • Unilateral treatment

  • Has provided written informed consent for participation in this trial

Exclusion Criteria
  • Previous radiotherapy to the area to be treated
  • Previous invasive malignancy within 5 years of current breast cancer diagnosis with the exception of cervix in-situ or skin cancer other than melanoma.
  • Patients with clinical evidence of metastatic disease.
  • Previous hormonal breast cancer therapy.
  • Ongoing hormone replacement therapy

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Arm A: ConcurrentRadiotherapyInvestigational treatment: Anastrozole commenced before (Pre-radiotherapy commencement of anastrozole) and continued during radiotherapy.
Arm B: SequentialRadiotherapyStandard Treatment: Anastrozole and subsequent anti-oestrogen therapy delayed until after radiotherapy (Post radiotherapy commencement of anastrozole)
Arm A: ConcurrentPre-radiotherapy commencement of anastrozoleInvestigational treatment: Anastrozole commenced before (Pre-radiotherapy commencement of anastrozole) and continued during radiotherapy.
Arm B: SequentialPost radiotherapy commencement of anastrozoleStandard Treatment: Anastrozole and subsequent anti-oestrogen therapy delayed until after radiotherapy (Post radiotherapy commencement of anastrozole)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
To determine if commencement of anastrozole prior to radiotherapy results in improved local control compared to anastrozole commenced after radiotherapy.10 years post radiotherapy
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Rates of distant failure10 years post radiotherapy
Overall Survival10 years post radiotherapy
Cosmesis10 years post radiotherapy
Normal tissue complications10 years post radiotherapy

Trial Locations

Locations (32)

Royal Perth Hospital

🇦🇺

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Perth Radiation Oncology

🇦🇺

Wembley, Western Australia, Australia

Genesis Cancer Care

🇦🇺

Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia

Liverpool Hospital

🇦🇺

Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia

Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital

🇦🇺

Herston, Queensland, Australia

Royal Adelaide Hospital

🇦🇺

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Fiona Stanley Hospital

🇦🇺

Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia

Genesis Southport

🇦🇺

Southport, Queensland, Australia

Genesis Care

🇦🇺

Tugun, Queensland, Australia

Auckland Hospital

🇳🇿

Auckland, New Zealand

Geelong Hospital

🇦🇺

Geelong, Victoria, Australia

The Canberra Hospital

🇦🇺

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Genesis Cancer Care Hurstville

🇦🇺

Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia

St George Hospital

🇦🇺

Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia

Calvary Mater Newcastle

🇦🇺

Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Central West Cancer Service

🇦🇺

Orange, New South Wales, Australia

Prince of Wales Hospital

🇦🇺

Randwick, New South Wales, Australia

Royal North Shore Hospital

🇦🇺

St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia

Alan Walker Cancer Centre

🇦🇺

Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

Cairns ROQ

🇦🇺

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

The Townsville Hospital

🇦🇺

Douglas, Queensland, Australia

Radiation Oncology Gold Coast

🇦🇺

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Radiation Oncology - Mater Centre

🇦🇺

South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Princess Alexandra Hospital

🇦🇺

Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia

Royal Hobart Hospital

🇦🇺

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Christchurch Hopsital Oncology Sevice

🇳🇿

Christchurch, New Zealand

Palmerston North

🇳🇿

Palmerston North, New Zealand

St Andrew's Toowoomba Hospital

🇦🇺

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Campbelltown Hospital

🇦🇺

Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia

Riverina Cancer Centre

🇦🇺

Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

🇦🇺

Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia

Illawarra Cancer Care Centre

🇦🇺

Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

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