NCT06776458 Chronic Impacts of Endocrine Therapy on Cardiovascular and Brain Health Outcomes in Breast Cancer
| NCT ID | NCT06776458 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Toronto |
| Condition | Breast Cancer Females |
| Study Type | OBSERVATIONAL |
| Enrollment | 112 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-02-01 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-09-30 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.
This trial targets 112 participants in total. It began in 2025-02-01 with a primary completion date of 2026-09-30.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Aromatase inhibitors are the most used endocrine therapy for hormone-positive breast cancer. Despite the evidence that aromatase inhibitor therapy is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, potentially related to the duration of use, no studies have been conducted to characterize the long-term effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on the heart or vessel structure and function as underlying determinants of cardiovascular mortality. This study will characterize the long-term effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on established and novel health indices for CVD in breast cancer patients, by examining cross-sectionally compare health indices 1-, 5- and 10-years post-diagnosis in breast cancer survivors to controls. Specifically, our objectives are as follows: 1. To examine the effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on early risk indicators for cardiovascular disease in the peripheral vasculature and heart, including aortic stiffness (primary outcome) and secondary outcomes of peripheral and carotid artery stiffness, blood biomarkers (lipids), blood pressure, carotid intima media thickness, endothelial function, and left ventricular ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain, and left ventricular diastolic function, in breast cancer survivors compared to controls. 2. To examine the effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on factors related to cerebrovascular health, autonomic regulation, and cognitive function, including BDNF, heart rate variability, cerebrovascular function in response to a supine-sit-stand maneuver and squatting challenge, and a core battery of cognitive function tests, in breast cancer survivors compared to controls. 3. To examine the effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on body composition, bone mineral density, and protein metabolism, in breast cancer survivors compared to controls. 4. To examine the effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy on lifestyle factors (behavioural), including diet, physical activity (including cardiorespiratory fitness), sleep, stress, and quality of life, in breast cancer survivors compared to controls. The investigators hypothesize that biologic and behavioural cardiovascular health indices will be deteriorated relative to controls as early as 1 year post-diagnosis and that prolonged use will further accelerate aging-related impairments.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Case group: * Biologically female * Post-menopausal with natural (no bilateral oophorectomy) amenorrhea for at least 1 year * If using hormone replacement therapy, limit of a maximum of 3 years of treatment but not within the last 6 months. * Diagnosis of stage I, II, or III breast cancer * Hormone receptor positive breast cancer * HER negative (ER+/PR+/HER-) breast cancer * Breast cancer patients \~1 post-diagnosis who have received aromatase inhibitor therapy * Breast cancer patients \~5 and \~10 years post-diagnosis who have received aromatase inhibitor therapy for at least 2 years * Received surgery/radiation therapies Control group: * Biologically female * Post-menopausal with natural (no bilateral oophorectomy) amenorrhea for at least 1 year * If using hormone replacement therapy, limit of a maximum of 3 years of treatment but not within the last 6 months. Exclusion Criteria: * Previous treatment using tamoxifen endocrine therapy in a pre-or peri-menopausal setting * Major signs or symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or renal disease (taken from the American College of Sports Medicine's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription 11th edition Table 2.1: pain or discomfort in the chest, neck, jaw, arms with rest or exercise, shortness of breath at rest or with mild exertion, dizziness or syncope, loss of balance or passing out, ankle edema, palpitations or tachycardia, intermittent claudication, known heart murmur, unusual fatigue with usual activities.) * American Heart Association's absolute or relative contraindications for symptom-limited maximal exercise testing (myocardial infarction, aortic or coronary artery stenosis, heart failure, pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis, inflammation of the heart (myocarditis, pericarditis, and/or endocarditis), uncontrolled cardiac arrythmia, advanced or complete electrical heart block, stroke or transient ischemia attack, blood pressure \>200mmHg/100mmHg, a cancer diagnosis other than skin cancer) * Unable to provide informed consent or communicate in English * Mobility limitations to exercise testing (i.e., wheelchair, walker use, limp impeding walking) * Extreme claustrophobia
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT06776458 clinical trial?
This trial is open to female participants only, studying Breast Cancer Females. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT06776458 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT06776458 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at amy.kirkham@utoronto.ca for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT06776458 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Toronto, Canada.
Who is sponsoring the NCT06776458 clinical trial?
NCT06776458 is sponsored by University of Toronto. The trial plans to enroll 112 participants.
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