PET scans for locally advanced breast cancer and diagnostic MRI to determine the extent of operation and radiotherapy

Fit women with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) are treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation treatment and surgery. There is no set order for the radiation treatment or surgery, and no agreement about the type of surgery. Women are not always given the chance to have breast conservation surgery (BCS) because there is not enough evidence internationally that provesthis is safe, even though it has been offered to some women in some Cancer Centres around the world for the last 10 years with very good results. There is no evidence that having BCS reduces the chance of being cured of LABC, compared to having a mastectomy. Having a mammogram and ultrasound at diagnosis and at the end of chemotherapy is normal practice. Some women have a mammogram and/or ultrasound at some time during chemotherapy, but not all. Some women have a breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan before, during or after chemotherapy, but not all women. PET-CT scans are done occasionally. The purpose of this study is to; Investigate whether women with LABC can have breast conservation surgery (BCS) instead of mastectomy, with a low chance of cancer coming back in the breast. Work out if breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and PET-CT are better ways of seeing how breast cancer responds to chemotherapy or hormone therapy compared to mammogram, ultrasound and examination by doctors. The study will investigate whether the quality of life is better for women with LABC who undergo BCS rather than mastectomy and why some women decide (and doctors recommend) to have one form of surgery or the other (BCS or mastectomy), or have their type of chemotherapy changed.

Primary Sponsor

Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG)

Final Accrual

24

Closing Date of Accrual

April 2020

Trial Chairperson

A/Prof Verity Ahern, Westmead Hospital, NSW

Trial Contact

Tracy.Pearl-Larson@health.nsw.gov.au

Clinical Trial Registration

Related Post

DECREASE trial into prostate cancer
8 July, 2025

Recruitment Milestone Achieved for TROG 19.06 DECREASE Trial

TRIAL UPDATE: 8 July 2025 The TROG 19.06 DECREASE

Geoff Zipper - aka Swamp - on the Kokoda Trail
26 June, 2025

Cancer Survivor to Take on Fifth Kokoda trek to Support TROG

LATEST NEWS: 26 June 2025 He may be 76