Breast cancer research

• Local principle investigator: Louise Merker
• Local sub-investigator: Donna Egbeare
• Research nurse: Claire Stringer

This is a research study for post-menopausal women with oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer who require surgery.

Breast cancer that is oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) uses the female hormone oestrogen to grow and survive. Endocrine therapy with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) stops the body making oestrogen. This starves tumours of this hormone.

Endocrine therapy is an extremely successful treatment, especially for strongly ER+ breast cancer.

Treatment for ER+ breast cancer includes both endocrine therapy and surgery. Some women may also need radiotherapy. Some women may be given endocrine therapy before surgery to reduce the size of the cancer. This treatment is recognised in health care guidelines both nationally and internationally.

This research aims to understand if this treatment option leads to a smaller operation and better recovery. This will help us to see if this will benefit more women in the future.

Further information is available on the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences’ EndoNET Study page.

• Local principle investigator: Claire Coysh
• Local sub-investigator: Louise Merker
• Research nurse: Kelly Barrett

Some patients with breast cancer struggle to take their medications regularly and may even stop altogether. The ROSETA Optimisation trial is testing how well four ways (called interventions) support women with breast cancer in taking hormone therapy (e.g., Tamoxifen, Raloxifene, Anastrozole, Letrozole, Exemestane). We are testing what, if any, is the best combination of the interventions.

• SMS text reminders to support taking medication
• A leaflet providing information about the medication
• A website to provide useful resources for managing side effects of the medication
• A skills programme known and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which encourages approaching experiences with openness and awareness, and to support you to engage with your values. This is led by a therapist and involves learning and practising skills at home.

Patients are eligible if they have completed all surgery in the last 12 months and are on endocrine treatment.

Further information is available on the Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU) at University of Leeds’ Research Portal ROSETA trial pages.

This trial seeks to reduce the burden of toxicity and NHS cost of treating HER2-positive (HER2+) early breast cancer (EBC) by testing the hypothesis that for certain patients systemic anti-cancer therapy can be adapted (reduced) without loss of efficacy, based on histopathological response of primary breast cancer to therapy prior to surgery (neoadjuvant).

Eligible patients with HER2+ EBC with locally-determined pCR after standard of care neoadjuvant chemotherapy, trastuzumab and pertuzumab will receive response adapted therapy comprising i) completion of trastuzumab after 6 rather than 12 months and ii) no further pertuzumab or adjuvant chemotherapy. The primary clinical endpoint will be relapse free interval (RFI) at 3 years.

Further information is available on the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) website.

• Local principle investigator: Louise Merker
• Local sub-investigator: Katie Giles
• Research nurse: Claire Stringer

This is a multi-centre trial of surgery versus minimally invasive vacuum assisted excision (VAE) of patients with small, biologically favourable screen-detected breast cancer.

A quality of life sub-study will assess the psychological impact of VAE compared to standard surgery, and a full health economic analysis will determine the cost-effectiveness of the technique.

Further information is available University of Birmingham’s SMALL trial page.

• Local principle investigator: Andy Woodgate
• Local sub-investigator: Louise Merker
• Research nurse: Claire Stringer

Following breast cancer surgery, nearly half of women will continue to have some degree of persistent or chronic pain. This pain can be mild, but up to a quarter of patients may have moderate or severe pain.

Lidocaine is an approved local anaesthetic drug, but it’s not currently approved to prevent pain after breast cancer surgery.

The LOLIPOP team completed a pilot study of 150 patients, showing that lidocaine infusions are safe. We are now undertaking the LOLIPOP trial to see if it is an effective treatment to reduce chronic post-surgical pain.

What to expect as a participant:

Patients undergoing breast cancer surgery who consent to the trial will be randomly assigned to either receive Lidocaine (a common local anaesthetic drug) or placebo (saltwater with no drug) infusion for up to 24 hours post breast cancer surgery.

During the operation, the study drug will be delivered by a cannula (a drip; or small plastic tube in a vein).

Patients will be asked questions about their pain whilst they are in hospital, and at 3, 6 and 12 months post surgery.

Further information is available on LOLIPOP-UK Trial’s patient information page.

• Local principle investigator: Louise Merker
• Local sub-investigator: Donna Egbeare
• Research nurses: Claire Stringer and Pauline Mercer

This is an international research trial looking to comparatively evaluate the different imaging-guided localisation methods used for surgical removal of non-palpable malignant breast lesions with regard to oncological safety and patient-reported outcomes.

When a patient is diagnosed with breast cancer, they are often recommended to undergo breast conserving surgery to remove the tumour. If the tumour cannot be felt easily then a localization technique is required to mark where the breast cancer is to ensure the full tumour is detected and removed at surgery.

If you are diagnosed with a breast cancer that cannot be easily felt and you require localization with a magseed or a guide wire then you will be eligible to take part in this trial.

Further information is available on the Eubreast’s MELODY page.