Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy; Should we Preserve the Pectoral Fascia? (PROFAS)

January 10, 2023 updated by: Linetta Koppert, Erasmus Medical Center

Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy; Should we Preserve the Pectoral Fascia?: Protocol of a Dutch Double Blinded, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Pilot Study With a Within-subject Design

Many surgical guidelines promote the removal of the pectoral fascia in mastectomies for invasive breast cancer, but there is no evidence to support this statement in (bilateral) prophylactic mastectomies. Reported wound-related local complications following mastectomy include seroma, flap necrosis, infection, hematoma, and nerve injury. Seroma causes discomfort and may delay the reconstructive procedures. Whether the removal or preservation of the pectoral fascia influences seroma formation following mastectomy remains unclear to our knowledge.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
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

The primary objective of this pilot study is to investigate the impact of removal versus preservation of the pectoral fascia on drain policy and needle aspirations in women who undergo a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. The secondary objective is to investigate the impact of removal versus preservation of the pectoral fascia on postoperative (surgical) complications.

The study design includes a double-blinded, prospective, randomized controlled pilot study with a within-subject design. All patients will undergo a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and randomization will occur within the patient. Preservation of the PF will be performed in one breast (intervention), while removal of the PF will be performed in the contralateral breast of the same patient (control). Consequently, the operation involves a total bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, with unilateral preservation of the PF

The follow-up time of each patient will be 6 weeks. The patients' files will be viewed after the removal of the drain for additional recorded variables.

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.
Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

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.
21

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

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 Locations

  • Netherlands
      • Rotterdam, Netherlands
        • Recruiting
        • Erasmus Medical Center
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Linetta Koppert, MD, PhD, MHS
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Dalibor Vasilic, MD, PhD

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 to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female patient
  • Scheduled for a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy in the Erasmus MC Academic Breast Cancer Centre in Rotterdam
  • Ability to give written consent
  • Adequate understanding of Dutch language

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of diagnosis of invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
  • Other malignancies

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
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.
Other: Right: removal of fascia pectoralis, left: preservation of fascia pectoralis
Procedure: Fascia pectoralis preservation
A total mastectomy will be performed in the control breast: a procedure which includes removal of the breast glandular tissue including the PF and subcutaneously excision of the nipple-areolar complex, while the pectoralis muscle will be spared. As much of the healthy skin envelope will be preserved to enable the performance of an effective breast reconstruction afterwards. When a nipple-sparing mastectomy is performed, the skin envelope together with the nipple-areolar complex will be spared. The investigational part of the operation is preservation of the PF. Dissection of cutaneous flaps and the breast with or without the PF will be performed with electrocautery.
Other: Left: removal of fascia pectoralis, right: preservation of fascia pectoralis
Procedure: Fascia pectoralis preservation
A total mastectomy will be performed in the control breast: a procedure which includes removal of the breast glandular tissue including the PF and subcutaneously excision of the nipple-areolar complex, while the pectoralis muscle will be spared. As much of the healthy skin envelope will be preserved to enable the performance of an effective breast reconstruction afterwards. When a nipple-sparing mastectomy is performed, the skin envelope together with the nipple-areolar complex will be spared. The investigational part of the operation is preservation of the PF. Dissection of cutaneous flaps and the breast with or without the PF will be performed with electrocautery.

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
Drainproduction in milliliters
Time Frame: Until drain removal, maximum 1 week
The total drainage volume of the left and right breast in milliliters
Until drain removal, maximum 1 week
Time to drain removal in days
Time Frame: Until drain removal, maximum 1 week
Number of days until drain removed
Until drain removal, maximum 1 week

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
Seroma (yes/no)
Time Frame: Up to 6 weeks
Occurrence of seroma
Up to 6 weeks
Needle aspirations (number)
Time Frame: Up to 6 weeks
Number of needle aspirations
Up to 6 weeks
Postoperative pain (score 1-10)
Time Frame: Up to 6 weeks
Postoperative pain measured with Visual Analogue Scale
Up to 6 weeks
Postoperative bleeding (yes/no)
Time Frame: Up to 6 weeks
Occurrence of postoperative bleeding
Up to 6 weeks
Wound related issues (yes/no)
Time Frame: Up to 6 weeks
Wound related issues such as hematoma or infection
Up to 6 weeks
Hospitalization duration (in days)
Time Frame: Up to 6 weeks
Duration of hospitalization, including readmissions
Up to 6 weeks

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.
Erasmus Medical Center

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.
January 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

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 1, 2023

Study Completion (Anticipated)

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 1, 2023

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 17, 2022

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 20, 2022

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 26, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

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.
January 11, 2023

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.
January 10, 2023

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.
January 1, 2023

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.
  • NL72939.078.20
  • NTR7620 (Registry Identifier: trialregister.nl)

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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