Screening Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain in Patients With Breast Cancer

Screening Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Managed With First/Second Line Chemotherapy or Inflammatory Breast Cancer Managed With Definitive Intent: A Prospective Study

This research study is studying the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to screen for brain metastases (spread of the breast cancer to the brain).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Breast Cancer; Metastatic Breast Cancer; Triple Negative Breast Cancer; HER2-positive Breast Cancer; Inflammatory Breast Cancer; Hormone Receptor Positive Malignant Neoplasm of Breast
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: MRI

Detailed Description

This research study is a Phase II clinical trial. Phase II clinical trials examine the safety and effectiveness of an investigational intervention, in this case magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, to learn whether it is helpful in managing a specific disease.

In this research study, the investigators are utilizing screening MRIs of the brain to evaluate breast cancer patients for metastases to the brain. The investigators hope to understand whether screening MRIs of the brain can be implemented into the standard of care to earlier detect brain metastases in a population where screening MRIs of the brain are not currently recommended or systematically performed.

This trial will contain 4 cohorts:

1. Those with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) will undergo screening MRI of the brain as part of a single arm, non-comparative study

2+3. Those with hormone receptor positive/(human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative (HR+/HER2-) and HER2 positive (HER2+) subtypes will be randomized to receipt of screening MRI of the brain or no screening MRI of the brain to definitively test the value of MRI screening.

4. Patients with inflammatory breast cancer being treated with curative intent will undergo screening MRI of the brain as part of a single arm, non-comparative study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 214
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS; Phone Number: 617-732-7560; Email: aaaizer@partners.org
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Ivy Ricca, BA; Phone Number: 6175828927; Email: iricca@mgb.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
      • Recruiting
      • Brigham and Women's Hospital
      • Contact: Ayal Aizer; Phone Number: 617-732-7560; Email: aaaizer@partners.org
      • Principal Investigator: Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants must have histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer with pathologic assessment of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status. If subtype has changed over the course of a patient's disease, the treating clinician and/or study PI is responsible for selecting the subtype that most likely reflects the preponderance of oncologic disease at the time of enrollment.
• Participants must have radiographic evidence of extracranial, distant metastases or unresectable, locally recurrent breast cancer and be initiating (within 8 weeks of registration) first-line or second-line chemotherapy for their metastatic/recurrent disease OR inflammatory breast cancer being managed with curative intent within six months of diagnosis.
• Participants must be age 18 years or older.
• Participants must have a life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks.
• Participants must be willing to undergo study procedures.
• The effects of gadolinium / other magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based contrast agents on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
• Participants must possess the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants who have a contraindication to MRI (e.g. noncompatible implanted metallic device for which MRI is absolutely contraindicated).
• Participants who have chronic kidney disease stage IV-V or end stage renal disease.
• Participants with a history of anaphylactic reactions to gadolinium.
• Pregnant women are excluded from this study because gadolinium-based agents have not been proven to be safe to administer to a developing fetus. Similarly, breastfeeding women will be excluded from this study.
• Patients with a prior diagnosis of brain metastases

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Screening
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Inflammatory Breast Cancer Managed with Curative Intent; Patients will receive an initial screening magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain; If no evidence of intracranial involvement is identified, additional screening MRIs of the brain every six months for two years and at initial systemic progression.	Device: MRI; MRI (which stands for magnetic resonance imaging) provide imaging of the brain which help look for brain metastases (spread of the breast cancer to the brain).; Other Names: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Experimental: HR+ or HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer - Screening Arm; An initial MRI screening will be conducted; If negative, patients will receive a second MRI of the brain at first systemic progression after study entry	Device: MRI; MRI (which stands for magnetic resonance imaging) provide imaging of the brain which help look for brain metastases (spread of the breast cancer to the brain).; Other Names: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
No Intervention: HR+ or HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer - No Screening Arm; No initial MRI screening will be conducted
Experimental: Triple Negative Breast Cancer; An initial MRI screening will be conducted; If negative, patients will receive a second MRI of the brain at first systemic progression after study entry	Device: MRI; MRI (which stands for magnetic resonance imaging) provide imaging of the brain which help look for brain metastases (spread of the breast cancer to the brain).; Other Names: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Neurologic Quality of Life at 12 Months using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory - Brain Tumor Module	For patients with HR+/HER2- or HER2+ metastatic breast cancer	12 Months
Incidence of Symptomatic Brain Metastases	For patients with triple negative metastatic breast cancer	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Incidence of Brain Metastases	For patients with inflammatory breast cancer managed with curative intent	Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Number of brain metastases	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Size of brain metastases	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Development of metastases in the brainstem as seen on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Development of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis as seen on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Radiographic appearance of brain metastases	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Development of symptomatic brain metastases based on review of medical notes / history	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Neurologic death	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
All-cause mortality	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Development of seizures based on review of medical notes / history	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Receipt of whole brain radiation due to brain metastases	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Receipt of neurosurgical resection due to brain metastases	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Quality of life assessment via EuroQol Group 5D Instrument	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Neurocognitive function using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test Instrument	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Neurocognitive function using the Trail Making Test Instrument	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Neurocognitive function using the Controlled Oral Word Association Test	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Neurocognitive function using the Mini-Mental Status Exam Instrument	Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Collaborators: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Conquer Cancer Foundation
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ayal Aizer, MD, MHS, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 26, 2019
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 19, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 22, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): July 24, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 17, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Breast Cancer; Metastatic breast cancer; Triple Negative Breast Cancer; HER2-positive Breast Cancer; Inflammatory Breast Cancer; Hormone Receptor Positive Malignant Neoplasm of Breast
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Skin Diseases; Breast Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms; Inflammatory Breast Neoplasms; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Tomography; Diagnostic Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Other Study ID Numbers: 19-066

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: The Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center encourages and supports the responsible and ethical sharing of data from clinical trials. De-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript may only be shared under the terms of a Data Use Agreement. Requests may be directed to: [contact information for Sponsor Investigator or designee]. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Data can be shared no earlier than 1 year following the date of publication
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: BWH - Contact the Partners Innovations team at http://www.partners.org/innovation DFCI - Contact the Belfer Office for Dana-Farber Innovations (BODFI) at innovation@dfci.harvard.edu
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No