RecruitingNot Applicable

Extracellular Vesicles in Breast Cancer Patientsin Undergone Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Italy35 participantsStarted 2021-05-11

Plain-language summary

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-delimited particles, naturally released from the cells and mediators of intercellular cross-talk. In breast cancer (BC), EVs seem to be involved in the tumor microenvironment's shaping, in cancer cells invasion and in the set-up of metastasis. Clinical studies have provided initial evidence that EVs may have a prognostic and predictive value in breast cancer. Considering their presence in body fluids and their minimally invasive assessment through blood sampling, EVs could be liquid biopsy-derived biomarkers. Their quantification could be a complex challenge, requiring complicated and time-consuming pre-analytical procedures of EVs isolation. A new method for the detection of tumor-derived-EVs associated proteins is based on the use of Single Molecule Array (SiMoA), a digital ELISA technology able to detect and quantify extremely low concentrations of target proteins or particles. The aim of this study is to evaluate how this new technology can allow the quantification EVs plasma levels in patients affected by BC, providing useful diagnostic and prognostic information about the efficacy of the neoadjuvant treatment.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 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: * Signing of a specific informed consent for participation to the study * Female sex BC patients: * Diagnosis of breast cancer * Any TNM stage * Indication to neoadjuvant chemotherapy after multidisciplinary discussion Healthy controls: • Patients with a negative mammography, breast ultrasound or clinical breast evaluation within 12 months of the study enrolment Exclusion Criteria: BC patients: • Indication to upfront surgery Healthy controls: • Diagnosis of breast cancer

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

EVs levels

Timeframe: 78 months

EVs levels in time

Timeframe: 78 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05831397

SponsorIstituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2027-12-21

Contact for this trial

Fabio S Corsi, Professor

+390382592272 fabio.corsi@icsmaugeri.it

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Breast Cancer trials