Arm Circumference Measurement With or Without Bioimpedance Spectroscopy in Finding Lymphedema Early in Patients With Stage I-III Breast Cancer

Not Applicable

Terminated

Conditions: Lymphedema
Breast Cancer

Interventions: Procedure: arm circumference measurement
Device: Bioimpedance spectroscopy

Registration Number: NCT03648983

Lead Sponsor: Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Brief Summary: This randomized pilot clinical trial studies arm circumference measurement with or without bioimpedance spectroscopy in finding extra lymph node fluid build up in the arm (lymphedema) early in patients with stage I-III breast cancer undergoing lymph node dissection or sentinel node biopsy. Diagnostic procedures, such as bioimpedance spectroscopy, may allow doctors to find and diagnose lymphedema earlier than arm circumference measurement alone.

Detailed Description: PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To test, in a randomized controlled trial, the ability of the enhanced lymphedema (LE) detection program (ELED) versus arm circumference alone to detect early/reversible LE.

II. To compare the severity of LE in terms of changes in arm circumference at the site of greatest difference and L-Dex change, between the two detection modalities.

III. To assess the agreement between patients' self-report of swelling (mild, moderation and severe) and the extent of circumferential measurement/bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) difference.

IV. To compare the percentage of subjects with complete resolution of signs and symptoms of LE following treatment with a compression garment between the enhanced vs. standard detection groups.

V. To determine compliance with LE preventive care and treatment.

Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms: those undergo arm circumference measurement only and those undergoing undergo arm circumference measurement and bioimpedance spectroscopy. Measurements taken at 4, 10, 16, 22, 28, and 34 months.

In both arms, if lymphedema is diagnosed, patients are given a compression garment to wear daily for 6 weeks. If lymphedema does not improve after 6 weeks, patients undergo complete decongestive therapy over approximately 1 hour three times a week. Patients complete remedial exercises comprising active, repetitive range of motion of the involved extremity and light aerobic conditioning until extremity volume stabilizes or improves. Patients are also instructed to perform exercises at home.

After completion of study, patients diagnosed with lymphedema are followed up for 1 year.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: TERMINATED

Sex: Female

Target Recruitment: 95

Inclusion Criteria

Newly diagnosed with stage I-III cancer of the female breast
Patients scheduled to receive any type of radiation therapy to the breast or axilla are eligible; however, they must be registered to this study with pre-surgery measures taken prior to receiving neoadjuvant therapy as well as before surgery
Patients scheduled to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy are also eligible; however, they must be registered to this study with pre-surgery measurements taken prior to receiving neoadjuvant therapy as well as before surgery
Patients with a history of other invasive malignancies are eligible as long as they have no evidence of disease 5 years post-diagnosis
Patients with basal cell and squamous cell cancer of the skin are eligible
Patients willing to return to the study site for the duration of the study (34 months)

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant women
Patients who are homebound or dependent upon a walker or wheelchair for mobility
Patients diagnosed enhanced lymphedema
Hypertensive patients who are using diuretics
Documented cardiac conduction disturbances, unstable angina, dementia, or any other chronic disease which, in the opinion of the treating physician, significantly increases mortality over the next 2 years
Prior history of carcinoma in situ, lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or invasive breast cancer

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Enhanced LE detection	Bioimpedance spectroscopy	Bioimpedance spectroscopy used along with arm measurements. Patients undergo arm circumference measurement and bioimpedance spectroscopy at 4, 10, 16, 22, 28, and 34 months.
Standard LE detection	arm circumference measurement	Arm measurements taken. Patients undergo arm circumference measurement at 4, 10, 16, 22, 28, and 34 months.
Enhanced LE detection	arm circumference measurement	Bioimpedance spectroscopy used along with arm measurements. Patients undergo arm circumference measurement and bioimpedance spectroscopy at 4, 10, 16, 22, 28, and 34 months.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Rates of Enhanced Lymphedema Detection	During treatment (Up to 34 months)	Rates of enhanced lymphedema detection will be compared between the enhanced versus standard detection groups with the Fisher's exact test. Adjustment for potential imbalances in patient characteristics will be accomplished by fitting logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models. \\\* Study was terminated because PI left the institution. Study coordinator also left the institution. No data was analyzed. Participants' baseline records not available.\\\*

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Severity of Enhanced Lymphedema	During treatment (Up to 34 months)	Severity of LE in terms of changes in arm circumference at the site of greatest difference and L-Dex change, will be compared between the enhanced versus standard detection groups with the Fisher's exact test. Adjustment for potential imbalances in patient characteristics will be accomplished by fitting logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models.
Percentage of Subjects With Complete Resolution of Signs of Enhanced Lymphedema	During treatment (up to 34 months) plus 1 year post treatment	The Fisher's exact test will be used to compare between the enhanced vs. standard detection groups the percentage of subjects with complete resolution of signs and symptoms of LE following treatment with a compression garment. Logistic regression models will also be fit to the data to adjust for potential confounders.