“I was keen to go on a clinical trial. I wanted to try new cancer treatments and hopefully help future generations.”
A study of tamoxifen, anastrozole and goserelin for women who have the BRCA 1 gene mutation (CIBRAC)
Cancer type:
Breast cancer
Status:
Open
Phase:
Other
This study is for women who are at risk of developing breast cancer because they have the BRCA 1 gene change (mutation).
This study is open to women going to Family History clinics, BRCA clinics and the Higher Risk Breast Screening Programme in Northern Ireland.
More about this trial
For women with the 
gene change (mutation) removal of their breasts (mastectomy) is the current treatment used to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
We know that removing the ovaries can also reduce the risk of breast cancer for these women.
The ovaries produce the female hormone oestrogen. By removing the ovaries the level of oestrogen in the body is reduced. Researchers think this might be the reason why removing the ovaries reduces the risk of breast cancer. But they aren’t certain.
Levels of oestrogen can also be reduced by the drugs:
suggest that oestrogen can cause damage to the in breast cells. This is a key early event in the development of breast cancer. So reducing the amount of damage to the breast cells could reduce the risk of breast cancer.
In this study women with the BRCA 1 gene change will have tamoxifen, anastrozole and goserelin.
The aims are to see:
- if women with the BRCA 1 gene change are willing to have these drugs
- what affect these drugs have on breast cells
- how the drugs affect
quality of life for these women
Who can enter
The following bullet points list the entry conditions for this study. Talk to your doctor or the study team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
You may be able to join this study if you are a woman going to Family History clinics, BRCA clinics and the Higher Risk Breast Screening Programme in Northern Ireland and all of the following apply.
- You have the BRCA 1 gene change (mutation)
- You have your ovaries
- You are able to have the drugs used in this study
- The researchers are able to take samples of tissue (biopsies) from your breasts
- You are willing to use reliable contraception a month before starting treatment, during treatment and after treatment until your periods return
- You are at least 18 years old
You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You
- Have a BRCA 1 gene change of uncertain significance – your doctor can tell you if you have this
- Have, or had, breast cancer or ovarian cancer
- Have any other type of cancer
- Are going through, or have gone through the
menopause - Have had surgery to remove your breast or ovaries to reduce your risk of getting cancer
- Have a date scheduled and confirmed for surgery to reduce your risk of getting cancer
- Have had medication to reduce your risk of getting breast or ovarian cancer
- Are having hormone therapy unless it was stopped more than a month before joining the study
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Trial design
This is a pilot study. The study team need 12 women to join. Everyone taking part is put into 1 of 2 groups by a computer to decide which treatment they have first. The 2 groups are:
- tamoxifen
- anastrozole and goserelin
You have 12 weeks of treatment. You then have a month of no treatment. After this you switch over to the other treatment group for another 12 weeks.
Tamoxifen is a tablet you take once a day.
Anastrozole is a tablet you take once a day.
Goserelin is an injection you have under the skin every 4 weeks. It is a small implant placed under the skin on your tummy (abdomen). It dissolves slowly over 4 weeks. You have a total of 3 injections over the 12 weeks.
Quality of life
You fill in questionnaires:
- at the start of treatment
- at the end of your first 12 weeks of treatment
- at the end of your second 12 weeks of treatment
The questions ask about:
- your general health and wellbeing
- any side effects
- how treatment has affected you sexually
These are called a quality of life questionnaires.
Samples
The study team take samples of breast tissue (biopsies) and will ask for blood and urine samples:
- before you start treatment
- at the end of your first 12 weeks of treatment
- at the end of your second 12 weeks of treatment
Sub study
This sub study is open to women who decided to join the study and women who declined to join. The team will invite between 10 and 15 women from each group to an attend an interview.
For women who joined the study they will ask about:
- thier experience in taking part in CIBRAC
- why they decided to take part
- how the team could improve the study
For women who declined to join the questions asked are about:
- why they decided not to join the study
- their understanding of chemoprevention and the BRCA1 gene change
- their thoughts and opinions about clinical trials and studies
- their thoughts and experience of when asked to join the CIBRAC study
- their reasons for not joining the study
- how the study team could improve the process of asking women to join
Hospital visits
You see the doctor at the Belfast City Hospital 8 times during the study.
For the sub study the team will arrange the interview at a time and place convinent to you.
Side effects
The side effects of tamoxifen, anastrozole and goserelin are similar to going through the change of life (menopause). These include:
- hot flushes
- changes to your periods or your periods stopping
- itchy, dry vagina
- discharge from the vagina
- feeling sick
- joint pain
- headaches
You might have slight bleeding and bruising after the biopsies.
You doctor will talk to you about the side effects of treatment before you agree to take part.
We have information about:
Location
Belfast
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
Mr Stuart McIntosh
Supported by
Cancer Research UK
Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
Queen's University Belfast
Northern Ireland Cancer Trials Network (NICTN)
Questions about cancer? Contact our information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
Last review date
CRUK internal database number:
13880
Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.
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Last reviewed:
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