This phase II/III trial studies if contrast-enhanced ultrasounds using a contrast dye, perflutren lipid microspheres (Definity), can predict the response to chemotherapy by estimating the pressure in the cancer in patients with breast cancer that has spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes (locally advanced). The efficacy of cancer therapy is affected by the pressure in the cancer. Definity is a contrast dye used to create better images during ultrasounds. The purpose of this trial is to determine if a special kind of ultrasound, called contrast-enhanced ultrasound, an experimental imaging test, can detect pressures in cancer to determine the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.
Who can participate
Age range
21 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Provide signed and dated informed consent form
* Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study
* At least 21 years old
* Be diagnosed with breast cancer (T1 or greater LABC, any N and M0)
* Be scheduled for neoadjuvant chemotherapy
* Be medically stable
* Be conscious and able to comply with study procedures
* If a female of child-bearing potential, must have a negative urine pregnancy test
Exclusion Criteria:
* Males
* Females who are pregnant or nursing
* Patients with other primary cancers requiring systemic treatment
* Patients with any distal metastatic disease
* Patients undergoing neoadjuvant endocrine therapy
* Patients who are medically unstable, patients who are seriously or terminally ill, and patients whose clinical course is unpredictable. For example:
* Patients on life support or in a critical care unit;
* Patients with unstable occlusive disease (e.g., crescendo angina);
* Patients with clinically unstable cardiac arrhythmias, such as recurrent ventricular tachycardia;
* Patients with uncontrolled congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] Class IV);
* Patients with recent cerebral hemorrhage;
* Patients who have undergone surgery within 24 hours prior to the study sonographic examination
* Patients with known hypersensitivity or allergy to any component of Definity
* Patients with unstable cardiopulmonary conditions or respiratory distress syndrome
* Patients…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Calculation of tumor volume changes with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC)
Timeframe: Up to study completion (48 months)
2
Prediction of the patients' clinical and pathological response
Timeframe: Up to study completion (48 months)
3
The ability of the SHAPE method to distinguish responders from non-responders