Core Biopsies for Establishing a Breast Tumor Tissue Repository

May 8, 2026 updated by: University of Southern California

Core Biopsies of Breast Tumor Tissue Repository

This research trial establishes a breast tumor tissue repository from core biopsies. Collecting breast tissue from core biopsies may allow doctors to learn more about the biology of breast cancer and to analyze proteins, genes, and other components of tumor cells. It may also allow doctors to conduct future studies to help understand how breast cancer grows and how it responds to different types of therapy. This will help doctors develop better breast cancer therapies and better tests to help make treatment decisions.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To develop a baseline and serial breast cancer core biopsy repository within the University of Southern California (USC)/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Women's Cancer Program.

II. To develop and maintain a secure clinical database of relevant demographic, clinical, pathologic and longitudinal outcome characteristics of the samples to be banked.

III. To have an efficient process for the distribution of de-identified samples from the bank to researchers with institutional review board (IRB)-approved protocols or exemptions for the study of breast cancer-related questions. These studies would include analyses of tumor proteins and nucleic acids, serum/plasma and germline deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and immune cells in relationship to other baseline and follow-up clinical and pathological variables.

OUTLINE: Patients are assigned to 1 of 4 cohorts.

COHORT I (PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED EARLY STAGE BREAST CANCER WHO WILL UNDERGO DEFINITIVE SURGERY BEFORE ANY SYSTEMIC THERAPY): Patients undergo baseline and, if applicable, follow-up core needle biopsies of breast cancer in the breast, regional nodes, and distant metastases. Patients who experience a recurrence or progression after therapy undergo additional core biopsies at the time of recurrence. Clinical and blood specimens will also be gathered.

COHORT II (PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED BREAST CANCER WHO WILL RECEIVE STANDARD OF CARE SYSTEMIC THERAPY BEFORE SURGERY OR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED UNRESECTABLE DISEASE): Patients undergo core biopsy, clinical, and blood sample collection as in Cohort I. Patients also undergo biopsies at a specific time point following the initiation of standard systemic therapy.

COHORT III (PATIENTS BEING EVALUATED FOR A SUSPICIOUS BREAST MASS THAT HAS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF BEING CANCER): Patients undergo core biopsy, clinical, and blood sample collection as in Cohort I. Patients who have Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) 4b, 4c, and 5 lesions may undergo up to 6 additional 6 core biopsies.

COHORT IV (PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER RECURRENCE OR PROGRESSION [LOCAL, REGIONAL, OR DISTANT/METASTATIC]): Patients undergo core biopsy, clinical, and blood sample collection as in Cohort I. Patients may also undergo 1-3 extra core biopsies.

After completion of study, patients are followed up every 6 months.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

400

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 Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033
        • Recruiting
        • USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Julie Lang, M.D.

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects seen at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and LAC+USC Medical Center will be recruited for this trial.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Known or suspected breast cancer
  • Known or suspected metastatic solid tumor that originated in the breast per the patient's medical history

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to sign informed consent
  • Known bleeding disorder
  • Use of anticoagulant medications (heparin, warfarin, etc.) within one week prior to biopsy
  • Use of antiplatelet medications (aspirin, clopidogrel, etc.) within one week prior to biopsy

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

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Cohort I (newly diagnosed, surgery before systemic therapy)
Patients undergo baseline and, if applicable, follow-up core needle biopsies of breast cancer in the breast, regional nodes, and distant metastases. Patients who experience a recurrence or progression after therapy undergo additional core biopsies at the time of recurrence. Blood and tissue sample collections will also be gathered along with completion of surveys.
Other: cytology specimen collection procedure
Correlative studies
Other Names:
  • cytologic sampling
Cohort II (newly diagnosed, systemic therapy before surgery)
Patients undergo core biopsy, blood and tissue sample collections, and completion of surveys. Patients also undergo biopsies at a specific time point following the initiation of standard systemic therapy.
Other: cytology specimen collection procedure
Correlative studies
Other Names:
  • cytologic sampling
Cohort III (patients with suspicious breast mass)
Patients undergo core biopsy, blood and tissue sample collections, and surveys. Patients who have BIRADS 4b, 4c, and 5 lesions may undergo up to 6 additional 6 core biopsies.
Other: cytology specimen collection procedure
Correlative studies
Other Names:
  • cytologic sampling
Cohort IV (breast cancer recurrence or progression)
Patients undergo core biopsy, blood and tissue sample collections, and completion of surveys. Patients may also undergo 1-3 extra core biopsies.
Other: cytology specimen collection procedure
Correlative studies
Other Names:
  • cytologic sampling
Cohort V (solid tumor suspicious of originating from breast primary)
Patients will undergo a confirmatory biopsy for diagnosis in which 1-3 additional core biopsies will be obtained for research purposes. Patients will also undergo blood and tissue sample collections and completion of surveys.
Other: cytology specimen collection procedure
Correlative studies
Other Names:
  • cytologic sampling

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Development of a baseline and serial breast cancer core biopsy repository within the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Women's Cancer Program
Time Frame: Up to 10 years
Up to 10 years
Development and maintenance of a secure clinical database of relevant demographic, clinical, pathologic, and longitudinal outcome characteristics of the samples to be banked
Time Frame: Up to 10 years
Up to 10 years
Development of an efficient process for the distribution of de-identified samples from the bank to researchers with IRB-approved protocols or exemptions for the study of breast cancer-related questions
Time Frame: Up to 10 years
Up to 10 years

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Southern California

Collaborators

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Evanthia Roussos-Torres, M.D., University of Southern California

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)

November 14, 2013

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 14, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 14, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 23, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 23, 2014

First Posted (Estimated)

September 26, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 8, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1B-13-2 (Other Identifier: USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center)
  • P30CA014089 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • NCI-2014-01932 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))
  • HS-13-00342

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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