Early Detection of Breast Cancer in Women With Suspicious Mammograms

June 5, 2025 updated by: Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
This is a non-treatment study. It will not involve the use of any investigational drug or device. Potential participants will be enrolled through direct contact with collaborating clinical sites when the patient's annual 3D mammogram report yields a BIRADS rating of 4-5. The clinical Investigators or a member of their staff will conduct consent discussion once a suspicious mammogram report is identified or if a patient is referred for imaging of a suspicious area in the breast. After consenting the participant will be asked to donate a blood sample, a saliva sample, medical records pertaining to the suspicious mammogram report and a medical history questionnaire. The participants will be followed after one year to capture progression or resolution of their suspicious mammogram report. After a biopsy confirms the diagnosis of cancer or benign lesion, a recut sample of the tissue may be requested for research.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. According to estimates, approximately 46,000 women in the United States, and 130,000 women in the European Union, die due to breast cancer yearly. Early detection is of paramount importance in reducing mortality from this major public health burden. Screening mammography has been shown to reduce breast cancer mortality by 20% to 35% in women aged 40 to 69 years. Detection of small volume breast cancer at early stages is associated with a 10-year disease-free survival rate as high as 98% in patients with pT1a,bN0M0 tumors (measuring 1 cm or less, with disease-free axillary lymph nodes and no distant metastasis). The assumption that early diagnosis will lead to improved treatment outcomes has driven the search for diagnostic biomarkers.

Despite this enthusiasm, a biomarker for stage I breast cancer has been elusive. The predictive value of mammography declines in cohorts of patients with denser breast tissue and smaller lesions, and recent studies have indicated that the small amount of biomarker molecules emanating from a breast tumor of less than 1 cm is well below the sensitivity of detection for current analytical methods. In addition, biomarkers in body fluids are highly perishable. Biomarkers break down during collection, transport and storage due to endogenous degradative enzymes yielding false negatives. Thus there is a significant need for new technologies that will a) identify and measure low abundance biomarkers (less than 1 nanogram/mL), and b) is low cost and can be seamlessly integrated into the clinical workflow.

Primary Objective:

The primary goal of this study is to a) experimentally discover putative plasma markers for detecting early, stage I breast cancer in the setting of a suspicious mammogram and distinguish those cancers from benign lesions b) verify the putative markers through molecular profiling; and c) validate the markers by mass spectrometry.

Secondary Objectives:

  1. Determine percent accuracy of breast cancer diagnosis in the context of 3D mammographically (screen detected) tumors.
  2. Determine percent precision of cancer diagnosis in the context of 3D mammographically (screen detected) tumors.
  3. Discover additional protein markers of early stage breast cancer that distinguish these tumors from benign lesions identified by mammography by comparing protein markers between patients with invasive cancer vs. benign tumors as determined by biopsy.
  4. Additionally compare protein markers between patients with invasive cancer and pre-invasive neoplasms as determined by biopsy.
  5. Bank samples for future research and sequencing.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
270

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Virginia
      • Newport News, Virginia, United States, 23606
        • Dorothy G Hoefer Comprehensive Breast Center
      • Norfolk, Virginia, United States, 23507
        • Sentara Norfolk General Breast Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

All participants will be enrolled through direct contact with collaborating clinical sites. In the first phase this study will strive to enroll 150 participants who are identified as having a suspicious mammogram. Review of the data for the first set of 150 patients revealed a set of biomarkers discovered and evaluated blindly that showed a strong statistical correlation with cancer versus non cancer in the final pathologic diagnosis. Based on this success, a decision is made by the PI to extend the study to enroll an additional 120 patients.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women who receive a suspicious mammogram report or are scheduled to receive testing for suspect breast area, with a subsequent biopsy to confirm diagnosis
  • Willingness and ability to donate biospecimens for the purpose of propelling research.
  • Participants aged ≥ 18.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals under 18 years of age or over 89 years of age.
  • A known history of breast cancer.
  • A diagnosis or history of any other type of cancer.
  • Participants who are male.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Invasive Cancer
Invasive cancer confirmed by biopsy
Other: Biomarkers
Experimentally discover putative plasma markers for detecting early, stage I breast cancer in the setting of a suspicious mammogram and distinguish those cancers from benign lesions b) verify the putative markers through molecular profiling; and c) validate the markers by mass spectrometry.
Benign or pre-invasive lesion
Benign or pre-invasive lesion confirmed by biopsy
Other: Biomarkers
Experimentally discover putative plasma markers for detecting early, stage I breast cancer in the setting of a suspicious mammogram and distinguish those cancers from benign lesions b) verify the putative markers through molecular profiling; and c) validate the markers by mass spectrometry.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Identify markers to differentiate cancers from benign lesions
Time Frame: Duration of Study, estimated 2 years
Experimentally discover putative plasma markers for detecting early, stage I breast cancer in the setting of a suspicious mammogram and distinguish those cancers from benign lesions, verify the putative markers through molecular profiling; and validate the markers by mass spectrometry.
Duration of Study, estimated 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Determine Accuracy
Time Frame: 1 week (from mammogram to biospy)
1. Determine percent accuracy of breast cancer diagnosis in the context of 3D mammographically (screen detected) tumors.
1 week (from mammogram to biospy)
Determine Precision
Time Frame: 1 week (from mammogram to biospy)
2. Determine percent precision of cancer diagnosis in the context of 3D mammographically (screen detected) tumors.
1 week (from mammogram to biospy)
Discover additional protein markers
Time Frame: Duration of Study, estimated 2 years
3. Discover additional protein markers of early stage breast cancer that distinguish these tumors from benign lesions identified by mammography by comparing protein markers between patients with invasive cancer vs. benign tumors as determined by biopsy.
Duration of Study, estimated 2 years
Compare protein markers
Time Frame: Duration of Study, estimated 2 years
4. Additionally compare protein markers between patients with invasive cancer and pre-invasive neoplasms as determined by biopsy.
Duration of Study, estimated 2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
George Mason University
Dorothy G. Hoefer Foundation

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Richard Hoefer, DO, Sentara Healthcare

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 8, 2017

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 1, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 8, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 10, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 6, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 5, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 16-09-EX-0146

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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