Epigenetic Testing for Breast Cancer Risk Stratification

Promoter region hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes is one the earliest molecular events in malignant transformation and is readily detectable in apparently normal benign breast epithelium adjacent to breast cancers. The investigators hypothesize that DNA methylation of certain genes occurs as a field change in benign breast tissue that is at high risk for malignant transformation, and as such, can be exploited for tissue-based breast cancer risk stratification. Additional work is required to identify new DNA methylation markers potentially useful for periareolar fine needle aspiration (RP-FNA)-based breast cancer risk stratification, to determine whether these markers are methylated more frequently in benign samples from women who develop breast cancer, to determine whether assessment of these markers is reproducible, to determine whether tamoxifen reduces DNA methylation, and to better understand the pattern of DNA methylation in benign samples from unselected healthy control populations. Each of these objectives contributes to advancement of a clinically useful RP-FNA-based breast cancer risk stratification test.

In addition, identification of genes that are preferentially methylated in estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancer will provide clues to the underlying biology responsible for this aggressive form of breast cancer. This knowledge may lead to the discovery of the causes of ER negative breast cancer, approaches for recognizing women at increased risk for this type of breast cancer, and approaches for reducing this risk.

This study seeks to identify patterns of DNA methylation in benign breast epithelial cells associated with an increased risk for breast cancer with a focus on ER negative breast cancer.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Breast Cancer

Detailed Description

Promoter region hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes is one the earliest molecular events in malignant transformation and is readily detectable in apparently normal benign breast epithelium adjacent to breast cancers. We hypothesize that DNA methylation of certain genes occurs as a field change in benign breast tissue that is at high risk for malignant transformation, and as such, can be exploited for tissue-based breast cancer risk stratification. Additional work is required to identify new DNA methylation markers potentially useful for periareolar fine needle aspiration (RP-FNA)-based breast cancer risk stratification, to determine whether these markers are methylated more frequently in benign samples from women who develop breast cancer, to determine whether assessment of these markers is reproducible, to determine whether tamoxifen reduces DNA methylation, and to better understand the pattern of DNA methylation in benign samples from unselected healthy control populations. Each of these objectives contributes to advancement of a clinically useful RP-FNA-based breast cancer risk stratification test.

In addition, identification of genes that are preferentially methylated in estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancer will provide clues to the underlying biology responsible for this aggressive form of breast cancer. This knowledge may lead to the discovery of the causes of ER negative breast cancer, approaches for recognizing women at increased risk for this type of breast cancer, and approaches for reducing this risk.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 158

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75204
      • UT Southwestern Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 30 years to 79 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Archived tumor tissue, Newly diagnosed primary breast cancer patients and healthy women who have never been diagnosed with breast cancer

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women between the ages of 30 and 79.
• Untreated stage 1 - 3 invasive breast cancer or a woman never diagnosed with breast cancer.
• BI-RADS 1, 2, or 3 breast imaging within 12 months for women >40 years of age recruited into the control group.

Exclusion Criteria:

• <30 or >80 years of age
• Unable to provide informed consent
• Presence of an undefined palpable or mammographic breast lesion suspicious for malignancy (BIRADS 4 or 5)
• Breast implants
• Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy
• Any prior breasts irradiation
• Any systemic chemotherapy in the past
• Performance status that restricted normal activity for a significant portion of the day
• Use of luteinizing-hormone-releasing-hormone (LHRH) analogs, prolactin inhibitors, antiandrogens, or systemic glucocorticoids within three months
• Ever use of tamoxifen, raloxifene, or other SERMs
• Ever use of aromatase inhibitors
• Pregnancy or lactation within six months

• Bleeding diathesis of any kind

  1. Inherited coagulation disorder
  2. Current coumadin use
  3. Use of drugs that inhibit platelet aggregation within 10 days

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
DNA methylation	This objective assesses methylation of seven genes in 97 archival breast cancer samples.	2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Frequency of methylation	Measure the frequency of methylation of ER positive and ER negative breast cancer-associated genes in benign breast epithelial cells obtained by RP-FNA.	2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• Collaborators: United States Department of Defense
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Rolf Brekken, MD, UT Southwetstern Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 27, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 28, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): December 29, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): June 1, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 31, 2016
• Last Verified: May 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: STU 092011-047; BC103910 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO