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Breast Cancer FemalesSTRIVE-ChronicNCT06776458

Chronic Impacts of Endocrine Therapy on Cardiovascular and Brain Health Outcomes in Breast Cancer

An observational study of Breast Cancer Females, run by University of Toronto at 1 site in Canada.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Aromatase inhibitors are the most used endocrine therapy for hormone-positive breast cancer. Despite the evidence that aromatase inhibitor therapy is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, potentially related to the duration of use, no studies have been conducted to characterize the long-term effects… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any age, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Breast Cancer Females
How many people
112 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
1 Feb 2025to 30 Sep 2026
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 Any age
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Study population: Participants will be recruited from the community in the Greater Toronto Area via posters, newsletters, social media advertisements, and word of mouth.

Who may be able to join

  • Case group:
  • Biologically female
  • Post-menopausal with natural (no bilateral oophorectomy) amenorrhea for at least 1 year
  • If using hormone replacement therapy, limit of a maximum of 3 years of treatment but not within the last 6 months.
  • Diagnosis of stage I, II, or III breast cancer
  • Hormone receptor positive breast cancer
Show all 14Show fewer
  • HER negative (ER+/PR+/HER-) breast cancer
  • Breast cancer patients ~1 post-diagnosis who have received aromatase inhibitor therapy
  • Breast cancer patients ~5 and ~10 years post-diagnosis who have received aromatase inhibitor therapy for at least 2 years
  • Received surgery/radiation therapies
  • Control group:
  • Biologically female
  • Post-menopausal with natural (no bilateral oophorectomy) amenorrhea for at least 1 year
  • If using hormone replacement therapy, limit of a maximum of 3 years of treatment but not within the last 6 months.

Who cannot join

  • Previous treatment using tamoxifen endocrine therapy in a pre-or peri-menopausal setting
  • Major signs or symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or renal disease (taken from the American College of Sports Medicine's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription 11th edition Table 2.1: pain or discomfort in the chest, neck, jaw, arms with rest or exercise, shortness of breath at rest or with mild exertion, dizziness or syncope, loss of balance or passing out, ankle edema, palpitations or tachycardia, intermittent claudication, known heart murmur, unusual fatigue with usual activities.)
  • American Heart Association's absolute or relative contraindications for symptom-limited maximal exercise testing (myocardial infarction, aortic or coronary artery stenosis, heart failure, pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis, inflammation of the heart (myocarditis, pericarditis, and/or endocarditis), uncontrolled cardiac arrythmia, advanced or complete electrical heart block, stroke or transient ischemia attack, blood pressure >200mmHg/100mmHg, a cancer diagnosis other than skin cancer)
  • Unable to provide informed consent or communicate in English
  • Mobility limitations to exercise testing (i.e., wheelchair, walker use, limp impeding walking)
  • Extreme claustrophobia

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Amy A. Kirkham, PhD contact

416-946-4069

amy.kirkham@utoronto.ca

Canada1 site, 1 recruiting
  • University of Toronto

    Toronto, Ontario, M5S2C9

    Amy A. Kirkham, PhD, 416-946-4069, amy.kirkham@utoronto.ca

    Amy A. Kirkham, PhD

    Recruiting

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Beyond Cardiotoxicity: Characterizing the Long-term Cardiovascular Side Effects of Breast Cancer Endocrine Treatment

Aromatase inhibitors are the most used endocrine therapy for hormone-positive breast cancer. Despite the evidence that aromatase inhibitor therapy is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, potentially related to the duration of use, no studies have been conducted to characterize the long-term effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on the heart or vessel structure and function as underlying determinants of cardiovascular mortality. This study will characterize the long-term effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on established and novel health indices for CVD in breast cancer patients, by examining cross-sectionally compare health indices 1-, 5- and 10-years post-diagnosis in breast cancer survivors to controls. Specifically, our objectives are as follows:

  1. To examine the effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on early risk indicators for cardiovascular disease in the peripheral vasculature and heart, including aortic stiffness (primary outcome) and secondary outcomes of peripheral and carotid artery stiffness, blood biomarkers (lipids), blood pressure, carotid intima media thickness, endothelial function, and left ventricular ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain, and left ventricular diastolic function, in breast cancer survivors compared to controls.
  2. To examine the effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on factors related to cerebrovascular health, autonomic regulation, and cognitive function, including BDNF, heart rate variability, cerebrovascular function in response to a supine-sit-stand maneuver and squatting challenge, and a core battery of cognitive function tests, in breast cancer survivors compared to controls.
  3. To examine the effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on body composition, bone mineral density, and protein metabolism, in breast cancer survivors compared to controls.
  4. To examine the effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on lifestyle factors (behavioural), including diet, physical activity (including cardiorespiratory fitness), sleep, stress, and quality of life, in breast cancer survivors compared to controls.

The investigators hypothesize that biologic and behavioural cardiovascular health indices will be deteriorated relative to controls as early as 1 year post-diagnosis and that prolonged use will further accelerate aging-related impairments.

Being tested
N/A - Usual Care
Keywords
Aromatase Inhibitors, Breast Cancer Females, Heart Disease Risk Factors

What participants receive

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

  • N/A - Usual CareOther

    Breast cancer survivors will have received usual care aromatase inhibitors for up to 10 years post-diagnosis.

Study groups in NCT06776458
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Aromatase Inhibitors (1 year)Breast cancer patients at 1-year post-diagnosis, who were treated with aromatase inhibitors
Receives: Other: N/A - Usual Care
Aromatase Inhibitors (5 year)Breast cancer patients at 5-year post-diagnosis, who were treated with aromatase inhibitors
Receives: Other: N/A - Usual Care
Aromatase Inhibitors (10 years)Breast cancer patients at 10-years post-diagnosis, who were treated with aromatase inhibitors
Receives: Other: N/A - Usual Care
Matched Controls (1 year)A woman without a history of cancer will be recruited to match each breast cancer patient will be matched on age and BMI (within 3 years and 3 kg/m2, whenever possible)
Matched Controls (5 years)A woman without a history of cancer will be recruited to match each breast cancer patient will be matched on age and BMI (within 3 years and 3 kg/m2, whenever possible)
Matched Controls (10 years)A woman without a history of cancer will be recruited to match each breast cancer patient will be matched on age and BMI (within 3 years and 3 kg/m2, whenever possible)

What is being measured

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

  1. Aortic Stiffness

    Aortic stiffness, measured non-invasively by pulse wave velocity, will be assessed using applanation tonometry.

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

Secondary outcomes (13)
  1. Brachial Artery Endothelial Function

    Endothelial function will be assessed using the gold standard method of flow mediated dilation (FMD) using non-invasive duplex ultrasound (GE Vivid IQ) and edge-tracking software.

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  2. Carotid Artery Stiffness

    Functional assessment of the carotid artery stiffness will be assessed using B-mode ultrasound and artery edge-tracking software

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  3. Carotid Intima Media Thickness

    Structural assessment of the carotid artery thickness will be assessed using B-mode ultrasound and artery edge-tracking software

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  4. Arterial Stiffness

    Measured by Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) of the arm and leg

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  5. Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF)

    Cardiac outcomes will be assessed via echocardiography (GE Vivid IQ) and analyzed using Echopac software, represented as a % using the following formula: stroke volume/end diastolic volume x 100%.

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  6. Global Longitudinal Strain

    Cardiac outcomes will be assessed via echocardiography (GE Vivid IQ) and analyzed using Echopac software, expressed as a percentage of the relative change in length of the left ventricle through a cardiac cycle.

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  7. Left Ventricular Diastolic Function

    Cardiac outcomes will be assessed via echocardiography (GE Vivid IQ) and analyzed using Echopac software, assessed by the ratio of peak early diastolic velocity to peak mitral valve velocity (E/A ratio).

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  8. Cerebrovascular Response

    Cerebral blood flow velocity response (delta change compared to rest) of the middle cerebral artery will be assessed using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (Neurovision Transcranial Doppler System Model 500M) in accordance with recent guidelines, in response to postural changes (sit-to-stand) and exercise (squatting).

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  9. Brain derived neurotrophic factor

    Brain derived neurotrophic factor will be assessed via fasted venipuncture using in-house assays.

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  10. Lipid profile

    HDL, LDL, total Cholesterol, Triglycerides analyzed from blood serum using a clinical assay at a core lab.

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  11. Hemoglobin A1c

    Analyzed from blood plasma using a clinical assay at a core lab.

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  12. Insulin resistance

    Calculated as Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) from fasting blood measures of glucose and insulin, analyzed using a clinical assay at a core lab.

    Measured: Day 2 (In-Person Session)

  13. Protein metabolism

    Analyzed from breathing test and urine sample before and after the participant consume a test protein drink.

    Measured: Day 1 (At-Home Session)

Timeline

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

  1. First posted15 Jan 2025
  2. Study start1 Feb 2025 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

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

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
112 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06776458
Sponsor's protocol ID
REB #46819
Acronym
STRIVE-Chronic
Status last verified
Jan 2025
First submitted
30 Dec 2024
Last updated
15 Jan 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Breast Cancer Females, run by University of Toronto at 1 site in Canada.

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 14 inclusion and 6 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Jan 2025. 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 Canada. 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.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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

Contact Amy A. Kirkham, PhD (416-946-4069, amy.kirkham@utoronto.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Aortic Stiffness (time frame: Day 2 (In-Person Session)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 15 Jan 2025.

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