A study of people who have faulty breast cancer genes (EMBRACE)

Cancer type:

Breast cancer

Status:

Open

Phase:

Other

This study will collect information about people who have inherited faulty breast cancer genes.

More about this trial

A small number of people have inherited faulty genes which means that they are at an increased risk of developing certain cancers. Two of these genes are called BRCA1 and BRCA2. When someone has a fault in these genes they are more likely to develop cancers of the breast, ovaryprostate and pancreas.

Recent research has shown that other gene changes may also be involved in the development of certain types of cancer. So the researchers in this study will be looking for a number of different faulty genes. In addition to BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, they are looking at other genes:

  • PALB2
  • ATM
  • CHEK2
  • BRIP1
  • RAD51C
  • RAD51D
  • BARD1
  • PTEN
  • TP53
  • CDH1

This study is called the EMBRACE study, which stands for Epide miological Study of Familial Breast C an cer. The researchers of this study aim to create a register of families who have a fault in different genes. The people taking part will be asked to fill in a questionnaire and to give samples of blood, which will be looked at in a laboratory. With this information, they hope to find out

  • How many people go on to develop cancer
  • What other factors may play a part in the development of cancer
  • How the cancer risk may be reduced
  • How can we diagnose cancer early

The findings of this study will help doctors in the future to decide the best way to manage someone who has these faulty genes.

People will be asked to take part following counselling from a genetics clinic. 

Who can enter

You can enter this study if there is a faulty gene in your family and

  • The faulty gene is known for increasing the risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer
  • You have had genetic testing or there are plans to test you for these faulty genes in the future

You may or may not have breastovarian or other types of cancer.

You should also be

  • Well enough to take part in the study
  • At least 18 years of age

Trial design

This study is recruiting about 11,000 women and men. All people taking part will be referred from their genetics clinic to the study team.

If you take part in this study you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. This will ask questions about your medical history and your lifestyle. You may be sent a further questionnaire about 2, 5,10 and 20 years after the first questionnaire. This will ask if there have been any changes since the last questionnaire.

You may be asked to give blood samples:

  • when you join this study (baseline)
  • every year
  •  2, 5,10 and 20 years after the start of this study  

Your blood samples will be examined to understand more about your genetic make up and carry out research on markers for early diagnosis. 

The researchers may also ask your permission to look at your medical notes.

Hospital visits

Your questionnaire will either be given to you in clinic or arrive in the post. You will be asked to return the questionnaire to clinic or by post. The team might ask you to complete online questionnaires instead in the future. 

You can visit your GP surgery, local hospital or your local genetics clinic to have the blood samples taken.

The information collected about you is confidential. Only the researchers have access to this information. The results of this study will be presented at medical meetings and published in various medical journals. Your personal details will not be included in these presentations or journals.

Side effects

This study does not involve a treatment and so there are no side effects associated with taking part. Your skin may bruise slightly after you give a blood sample.

Location

Aberdeen
Belfast
Birmingham
Bristol
Cambridge
Cardiff
Dublin
Edinburgh
Exeter
Glasgow
Harrow
Leeds
Leicester
Liverpool
London
Manchester
Newcastle upon Tyne
Nottingham
Oxford
Rhyl
Sheffield
Southampton
Sutton
Swansea

Recruitment start:

Recruitment end:

How to join a clinical trial

Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.

Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Chief Investigator

Professor Antonis Antoniou

Supported by

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Cancer Research UK
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
University of Cambridge

If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses

Freephone 0808 800 4040

Last review date

CRUK internal database number:

329

Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Harriet wanted to try new treatments

A picture of Harriet

“I was keen to go on a clinical trial. I wanted to try new cancer treatments and hopefully help future generations.”

Last reviewed:

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