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Adult WomenPhase 2SAFE-DNCT02186015

Safety, Feasibility and Efficacy of Vitamin D Supplementation in Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer (SAFE-D)

A Phase 2 study testing Cholecalciferol in people with Adult Women and Metastatic Breast Cancer, run by Loyola University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Background: Several clinical trials are underway to investigate if variable forms of vitamin D (D2 vs. D3) prescribed at different doses (10,000-50,000 IUs/week) can improve the side-effects associated with treatment for estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, specifically aromatase inhibitors (AIs.)… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, women only
What is being tested?
Cholecalciferol
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
43 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Feb 2015to 9 Nov 2017
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Metastatic breast cancer (Stage IV)
  • Histologically confirmed estrogen receptor positive disease
  • Female
  • Serum 25(OH) <30 ng/ml
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Pre or post-menopausal
Show all 13Show fewer
  • ECOG Performance status 0-2
  • Adequate organ function as defined as GFR> 30 mls/min and serum calcium ≤ 10.4 mg/dl
  • Any race/ethnicity
  • English speaking
  • No changes to MBC treatments within 30 days of enrollment and/or deemed clinically stable by their treating physician
  • Willingness to sign a written informed consent and complete questionnaires
  • Cease ingestion of vitamin D supplementation not study related

Who cannot join

  • Women with Stage I-III breast cancer
  • Serum 25(OH)D levels ≥ 30 ng/ml
  • Untreated CNS involvement
  • History of kidney stones
  • History of renal failure
  • History of hyperparathyroidism
Show all 13Show fewer
  • History of hypersensitivity to vitamin D
  • Non-English speaking
  • Currently pregnant or lactating, or anticipating pregnancy
  • Unwilling to cease ingestion of calcium supplements (>1000 mg/d)
  • Unwilling or unable to complete informed consent or study questionnaires
  • Psychiatric or other clinical conditions that preclude study compliance
  • Other important medical or safety considerations at the discretion of the investigator and/or study physician, including non-compliance with the study therapy or other activities

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Loyola University Medical Center

    Maywood, Illinois, 60153

Other trials in United States

About this study

Background: Several clinical trials are underway to investigate if variable forms of vitamin D (D2 vs. D3) prescribed at different doses (10,000-50,000 IUs/week) can improve the side-effects associated with treatment for estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, specifically aromatase inhibitors (AIs.) Presumably for generalizability and potential safety purposes, these trials predominantly exclude women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC); a rapidly expanding sector of the cancer survivor population who experience significant treatment-related side-effects. Evaluation of the safety of vitamin D3 supplementation is crucial since supplementation can lead to high calcium and importantly, in lab studies have shown that vitamin D3 affects a gene that increases estrogen production. To assure that vitamin D3 does not affect the clinical effects of anti-estrogen therapies, the effect of vitamin D3 supplements on estrogen production requires an evaluation that further explores and defines its potential role in symptom management for this population.

Objectives: This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of vitamin D3 supplementation in women with MBC, providing much needed data on the preliminary safety and efficacy of this treatment in this patient population. This study will determine: 1) if weekly supplementation of high dose vitamin D3 increases serum vitamin D levels without adverse effects related to such therapy (primary aim); 2) the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on symptom management (secondary aim); and 3) if vitamin D3 supplementation is associated with improved inflammation (exploratory aim.)

Methods: This is an 8 week "proof of concept" study to monitor laboratory parameters and to assess potential effects on short-term outcomes. Adult, female patients (>=18 years) with ER+ MBC (Stage IV) of any race/ethnicity and a history of vitamin D < 30 mg/dl will be recruited from within and around LUMC. Following current clinical practice guidelines, eligible participants will receive 50,000 IUs of vitamin D3 weekly for 8 weeks. Laboratory values, muscle function and inflammation will be examined pre- and post-supplementation, while symptoms will be assessed at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks post-supplementation. We will assess if increases in vitamin D are associated with clinically significant improvements in symptoms and QOL, and decreased inflammation.

Read the detailed description

Study Aims

Several clinical trials are underway to investigate if vitamin D2 or D3 provided at various doses (10,000-50,000 IUs/week) can improve the side-effects associated with anti-estrogen therapies, specifically aromatase inhibitors (AIs). However, these current trials use variable forms of vitamin D and predominantly include women with Stage I-III disease, excluding women with metastatic breast cancer. Evaluation of the safety of vitamin D3 supplementation is crucial since supplementation can lead to hypercalcemia and importantly, in vitro studies have shown that vitamin D3 influences the transcription of a gene that increases estrogen production.27,28 To assure that vitamin D3 does not abrogate the clinical effects of anti-estrogen therapies, the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on estrogen production requires evaluation. Therefore, the overarching goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the safety, feasibility and efficacy of vitamin D3 supplementation in women with MBC. We will address and test the following aims and hypotheses, respectively:

Aim 1: To determine if weekly supplementation of 50,000 IUs of vitamin D3 raises serum levels of 25(OH)D to >30 mg/dl without adverse effects.

Hypothesis 1: Women who are compliant with vitamin D3 supplementation, as evidenced by normalization (>30 mg/dl) or increases in their serum 25(OH)D levels, will not experience significant changes in serum calcium, parathyroid hormone or serum estradiol levels.

Aim 2: To determine the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on symptom management.

Hypothesis 2: Women who achieve serum concentrations of 25 (OH)D ≥30 mg/dl or experience significant increases in 25(OH)D will exhibit improvements in pain, fatigue, sleep, mood, muscle function and overall quality of life.

Exploratory Aim: To explore the mechanistic effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on inflammatory markers and its potential association with symptom management.

Summary: Evidence from studies involving early stage breast cancer participants confirms that musculoskeletal pain, endocrine related symptoms and mood disturbances are commonly associated with breast cancer treatment, particularly hormone deprivation therapies. The high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency among breast cancer survivors is well accepted and further hypothesized to aggravate treatment-related side effects, particularly arthralgias. Women with MBC are excluded from the majority of on-going vitamin D supplementation trials for safety and generalizability purposes. However, novel therapies are continuing to improve and prolong the lives of these women, resulting in a rapidly expansive group of breast cancer survivors. While vitamin D supplementation is prescribed to correct an underlying nutrient deficiency in the clinical context of preserving bone health, emerging evidence suggests it may have more systemic effects. Thus, vitamin D repletion/supplementation has profound potential implications for women with MBC, whose primary goal of treatment is to minimize the side-effects of treatment in support of optimal quality of life. This study reflects a highly innovative, yet simple therapy that could ultimately provide these survivors with a much needed evidence-based supportive care strategies.

Being tested
Cholecalciferol
Keywords
Metastatic Breast Cancer, MBC, Vitamin D Supplementation, Symptom Management
Medical subject headings
Breast Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • CholecalciferolDrug

    Also called Vitamin D3, Vitamin D

    Enrolled women will receive 50,000 IU weekly supplementation of cholecalciferol for 8 weeks.

Study groups in NCT02186015
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
CholecalciferolExperimentalAll participants will receive 50,000 IU weekly supplementation of cholecalciferol for 8 weeks.
Receives: Drug: Cholecalciferol
Vitamin D sufficientNo interventionAll participants were ineligible for the intervention due to sufficient serum 25(OH)D levels at screening/baseline.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Serum 25(OH)D

    Change in laboratory serum value of 25(OH)D at 8 weeks post-supplementation for participants who received weekly supplementation of 50,000 IUs of vitamin D3. Change is expressed as laboratory serum value of 25(OH)D at 8 weeks minus baseline. Change was not assessed for participants in the 'no cholecalciferol' arm since they did not receive weekly supplementation and were not followed over time.

    Measured: 0, 8 weeks

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Change in Worst Pain Rating From the Beck Pain Scale

    Assessment of pain using the Beck Pain Scale at weeks 0 and 8. This is a Likert scale item where a score of 0 corresponds to no pain and a score of 10 corresponds to worst pain. Change is calculated as the worst pain rating at 8 weeks minus the worst pain rating at 0 weeks.Change was not assessed for participants in the 'no cholecalciferol' arm since they did not receive weekly supplementation and were not followed over time.

    Measured: 0, 8 weeks

  2. Change in Fatigue

    Assessment of fatigue using the Piper Fatigue Scale at weeks 0 and 8. The Piper Fatigue Scale is the average of 22 numeric items, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue [range of scores: 0-10]. Change is calculated as the fatigue score at 8 weeks minus fatigue score at 0 weeks. Change was not assessed for participants in the 'no cholecalciferol' arm since they did not receive weekly supplementation and were not followed over time.

    Measured: 0, 8 weeks

  3. Change in Mood

    Assessment of mood using the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (PHQ-8) at weeks 0 and 8. The PHQ-8 ranges from 0-24 with higher scores indicating more distress. Change was assessed as PHQ-8 score at 8 weeks minus 0 weeks. Change was not assessed for participants in the 'no cholecalciferol' arm since they did not receive weekly supplementation and were not followed over time.

    Measured: 0, 8 weeks

  4. Change in Muscle Function

    Assessment of muscle function using a hand dynamometer at weeks 0 and 8. Change in dominant handgrip strength in kilograms was calculated as 8 weeks minus 0 weeks. Change was not assessed for participants in the 'no cholecalciferol' arm since they did not receive weekly supplementation and were not followed over time.

    Measured: 0, 8 weeks

  5. Change in Sleep Quality Assessment

    Assessment of sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at weeks 0 and 8. Scores range from 0-21 with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. Change was calculated as week 8 minus week 0 PSQI. Change was not assessed for participants in the 'no cholecalciferol' arm since they did not receive weekly supplementation and were not followed over time.

    Measured: 0, 8 weeks

  6. Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-breast

    Assessment of quality of life using the functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast symptoms at weeks 0 and 8. Scores range from 0-40 with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

    Change was calculated as week 8 score minus week 0 score. Change was not assessed for participants in the 'no cholecalciferol' arm since they did not receive weekly supplementation and were not followed over time.

    Measured: 0, 8 weeks

  7. Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-endocrine

    Assessment of quality of life using the functional assessment of cancer therapy- endocrine symptoms at weeks 0 and 8. Scores range from 0-76 with higher scores indicating better quality of life. Change was not assessed for participants in the 'no cholecalciferol' arm since they did not receive weekly supplementation and were not followed over time.

    Measured: 0, 8 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted10 Jul 2014 (estimated)
  2. Study startFeb 2015
  3. Primary completion8 Mar 2017
  4. Study completion9 Nov 2017

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
43 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02186015
Sponsor's protocol ID
206519
Acronym
SAFE-D
Status last verified
May 2021
First submitted
7 Jul 2014
Last updated
14 May 2021
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Johnson RH, Chien FL, Bleyer A. Incidence of breast cancer with distant involvement among women in the United States, 1976 to 2009. JAMA. 2013 Feb 27;309(8):800-5. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.776.

    PubMed 23443443
  • Brady MJ, Cella DF, Mo F, Bonomi AE, Tulsky DS, Lloyd SR, Deasy S, Cobleigh M, Shiomoto G. Reliability and validity of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast quality-of-life instrument. J Clin Oncol. 1997 Mar;15(3):974-86. doi: 10.1200/JCO.1997.15.3.974.

    PubMed 9060536
  • Reed E, Simmonds P, Haviland J, Corner J. Quality of life and experience of care in women with metastatic breast cancer: a cross-sectional survey. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012 Apr;43(4):747-58. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.05.005. Epub 2011 Nov 16.

    PubMed 22088804
  • Goodwin PJ, Ennis M, Pritchard KI, Koo J, Hood N. Prognostic effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in early breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Aug 10;27(23):3757-63. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2008.20.0725. Epub 2009 May 18.

    PubMed 19451439
  • Rose AA, Elser C, Ennis M, Goodwin PJ. Blood levels of vitamin D and early stage breast cancer prognosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2013 Oct;141(3):331-9. doi: 10.1007/s10549-013-2713-9. Epub 2013 Oct 9.

    PubMed 24104883
  • Napoli N, Vattikuti S, Ma C, Rastelli A, Rayani A, Donepudi R, Asadfard M, Yarramaneni J, Ellis M, Armamento-Villareal R. High prevalence of low vitamin D and musculoskeletal complaints in women with breast cancer. Breast J. 2010 Nov-Dec;16(6):609-16. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4741.2010.01012.x.

    PubMed 21070438
  • Neuhouser ML, Sorensen B, Hollis BW, Ambs A, Ulrich CM, McTiernan A, Bernstein L, Wayne S, Gilliland F, Baumgartner K, Baumgartner R, Ballard-Barbash R. Vitamin D insufficiency in a multiethnic cohort of breast cancer survivors. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Jul;88(1):133-9. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/88.1.133.

    PubMed 18614733
  • Trukova KP, Grutsch J, Lammersfeld C, Liepa G. Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among breast cancer survivors. Nutr Clin Pract. 2012 Feb;27(1):122-8. doi: 10.1177/0884533611431461. Epub 2012 Jan 6.

    PubMed 22227726
  • Shao T, Klein P, Grossbard ML. Vitamin D and breast cancer. Oncologist. 2012;17(1):36-45. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0278. Epub 2012 Jan 10.

    PubMed 22234628
  • Amir E, Simmons CE, Freedman OC, Dranitsaris G, Cole DE, Vieth R, Ooi WS, Clemons M. A phase 2 trial exploring the effects of high-dose (10,000 IU/day) vitamin D(3) in breast cancer patients with bone metastases. Cancer. 2010 Jan 15;116(2):284-91. doi: 10.1002/cncr.24749.

    PubMed 19918922
  • Simmons C, Amir E, Dranitsaris G, Clemons M, Wong B, Veith R, Cole DE. Altered calcium metabolism in patients on long-term bisphosphonate therapy for metastatic breast cancer. Anticancer Res. 2009 Jul;29(7):2707-11.

    PubMed 19596950
  • Castel LD, Hartmann KE, Mayer IA, Saville BR, Alvarez J, Boomershine CS, Abramson VG, Chakravarthy AB, Friedman DL, Cella DF. Time course of arthralgia among women initiating aromatase inhibitor therapy and a postmenopausal comparison group in a prospective cohort. Cancer. 2013 Jul 1;119(13):2375-82. doi: 10.1002/cncr.28016. Epub 2013 Apr 10.

    PubMed 23575918
  • Niravath P. Aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia: a review. Ann Oncol. 2013 Jun;24(6):1443-9. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdt037. Epub 2013 Mar 6.

    PubMed 23471104
  • Islander U, Jochems C, Lagerquist MK, Forsblad-d'Elia H, Carlsten H. Estrogens in rheumatoid arthritis; the immune system and bone. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2011 Mar 15;335(1):14-29. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2010.05.018. Epub 2010 Jun 8.

    PubMed 20685609
  • Din OS, Dodwell D, Wakefield RJ, Coleman RE. Aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia in early breast cancer: what do we know and how can we find out more? Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Apr;120(3):525-38. doi: 10.1007/s10549-010-0757-7. Epub 2010 Feb 16.

    PubMed 20157776

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Cholecalciferol in people with Adult Women and Metastatic Breast Cancer, run by Loyola University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 13 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 May 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 14 May 2021). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Serum 25(OH)D (time frame: 0, 8 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02186015, which also lists 44 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 May 2021.

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