Radiation Therapy and Thymus Function in Young Women With Breast Cancer (NCT07725172) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Radiation Therapy and Thymus Function in Young Women With Breast Cancer
United States125 participantsStarted 2026-09
Plain-language summary
Breast cancer treatment sometimes includes radiation to the breast or chest wall. There is a small gland, called the thymus, located in the upper chest that may receive a small amount of the radiation aimed at the breast. The goal of this study is to collect blood samples from young women with breast cancer to study the effect of radiation therapy on the thymus gland.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 50 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:
* Women aged 18 to 50 undergoing mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer of any subtype at DUMC and associated satellite centers
* Histologic documentation of breast cancer based on pathology
* Systemic therapies including hormone therapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy as given for breast cancer treatment at the discretion of the treating medical oncologist are allowed and use of such therapies will be documented and included as a covariate
* Willing and able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Prior history of therapeutic high-dose irradiation of the thorax (e.g. for treatment of lung cancer, head/neck cancer, Hodgkin disease, etc., not just radiological imaging alone)
* History of thymectomy or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs within the past six months
* Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune conditions
* Individuals with Down's syndrome
* Male 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
Level of signal joint T cell Receptor Exclusion Circles (sjTREC) in peripheral blood T cells
Timeframe: baseline
2
Level of signal joint T cell Receptor Exclusion Circles (sjTREC) in peripheral blood T cells
Timeframe: at the end of RT, about 5 weeks
3
Level of signal joint T cell Receptor Exclusion Circles (sjTREC) in peripheral blood T cells
Timeframe: 6 months post-RT
4
Level of signal joint T cell Receptor Exclusion Circles (sjTREC) in peripheral blood T cells
Timeframe: within 3 months after breast cancer surgery
5
Level of signal joint T cell Receptor Exclusion Circles (sjTREC) in peripheral blood T cells
Timeframe: approximately 8-11 months after breast cancer surgery
6
Level of CD4+ recent thymic emigrant (RTE) cells in participant blood samples
Timeframe: baseline
7
Level of CD4+ RTE cells in participant blood samples