This clinical trial in New Jersey and Massachussetts (United States) aims to study anastrozole (ANAS, Arimidex) in treating aromatase inhibitor musculoskeletal symptoms in female patients with stage I-III breast cancer. The outcome to be measured is the stopping of treatment due to musculoskeletal symptoms and its association with the genes of each patient.
The details
Anastrozole is a type of aromatase inhibitor drug (reduce the production of the hormone estrogen) and is used in breast cancer treatment. It may stop the growth of tumour cells. However, it may cause musculoskeletal symptoms which are symptoms where muscles, bones and joints are affected. Examples of musculoskeletal symptoms include pain, aching or stiffness in the body, twitching muscles and fatigue. These symptoms might be serious enough that patients has to stop treatment, which would affect their breast cancer outcome.
Who are they looking for?
This trial will recruit 1,000 female participants. Patients must be post-menopausal. Patients must not have previously received aromatase inhibitor therapy with exemestane (Aromasin) , letrozole (Femara), or anastrozole. Patients must not be taking daily analgesic (pain relief ) medication for active or chronic conditions. Patients must not have a prior history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT; blood clots in veins that are not close to the skin) or pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the blood vessels supplying the lungs) in the past 5 years.
How will it work
All patients will receive anastrozole orally once a day for a total of 12 months. They will be given a questionnaire to fill out for the purpose of measuring their musculoskeletal symptoms. Laboratory tests will also be done to determine their gene characteristics.
