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Featured Clinical Trials

Cancer Studies Highlighted in the NCI Cancer Bulletin
  • Posted: 05/23/2006
  • Updated: 10/22/2010

Tailored Treatment for Breast Cancer

Name of the Trial

Phase III Randomized Study of Adjuvant Combination Chemotherapy and Hormonal Therapy Versus Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy Alone in Women With Previously Resected Axillary Node-Negative Breast Cancer With Various Levels of Risk for Recurrence (TAILORx Trial) (ECOG-PACCT-1). See the protocol summary 1.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Joseph A. Sparano, Study Chair, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.

Why This Trial Is Important

Adding chemotherapy to hormone therapy in the adjuvant (after surgery) treatment of women with breast cancer has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. However, the additional benefit provided by chemotherapy is small for women whose lymph nodes are free of disease and whose tumors are positive for the estrogen hormone receptor. Because chemotherapy can cause serious side effects, doctors want to find ways to identify patients who will benefit from chemotherapy and those who may be able to avoid it because of little added benefit.

In this trial, doctors will use a test called the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay, which measures the activity of a set of genes in breast tumor tissue. Previous research has shown that a low score in this assay identifies women who will benefit little from chemotherapy, whereas those with a high score benefit substantially. More information is needed about women with scores in the middle range.

Patients will be assigned to one of three major groups. Those with Oncotype DX scores ≤10 will be treated with adjuvant hormone therapy only. Women with scores of 11 to 25 will be randomly assigned to adjuvant hormone therapy alone or adjuvant combination chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Women with scores ≥26 will be treated with adjuvant combination chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

For More Information

This study is no longer accepting new patients. To find other clinical trials for breast cancer, search the NCI's list of clinical trials 2 or call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) for more information. The toll-free call is confidential.

Related Pages

  • Search for Clinical Trials 2
    NCI's List of Cancer Clinical Trials.
  • The TAILORx Breast Cancer Trial 3
    A collection of material about the Trial Assigning IndividuaLized Options for Treatment (Rx), or TAILORx, which will examine whether a molecular test can assign women with early-stage breast cancer to the most appropriate and effective treatment.
  • Breast Cancer Home Page 4
    NCI's gateway for information about breast cancer.


Glossary Terms

assay (A-say)
A laboratory test to find and measure the amount of a specific substance.
estrogen receptor positive (ES-truh-jin reh-SEP-ter PAH-zih-tiv)
Describes cells that have a receptor protein that binds the hormone estrogen. Cancer cells that are estrogen receptor positive may need estrogen to grow, and may stop growing or die when treated with substances that block the binding and actions of estrogen. Also called ER+.
gene (jeen)
The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein.
hormone therapy (HOR-mone THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment that adds, blocks, or removes hormones. For certain conditions (such as diabetes or menopause), hormones are given to adjust low hormone levels. To slow or stop the growth of certain cancers (such as prostate and breast cancer), synthetic hormones or other drugs may be given to block the body’s natural hormones. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the gland that makes a certain hormone. Also called endocrine therapy, hormonal therapy, and hormone treatment.
lymph node (limf node)
A rounded mass of lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. Lymph nodes filter lymph (lymphatic fluid), and they store lymphocytes (white blood cells). They are located along lymphatic vessels. Also called lymph gland.

Table of Links

1http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ECOG-PACCT-1
2http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search
3http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/noteworthy-trials/tailorx
4http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast