Off-Target Effects of Breast Cancer Adjuvant Radiation Therapy on Thymus Function in Young Women
Duke University
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.
Description
This study includes participants whose plan of care may or may not include radiation therapy. * Participants whose plan of care includes radiation therapy will have about three teaspoons of research blood collected at the following time points: * Before the start of radiation therapy * At the end of radiation therapy * About six months after completing radiation therapy * Participants whose plan of care does NOT include radiation therapy will have about three teaspoons of research blood collected at the following timepoints: * After surgery (up to three months after surgery) * Abo…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–50 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- No
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 t…
Interventions
- ProcedureBlood draw for the laboratory assessment
Blood will be drawn and processed for Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). PBMC biomarkers will be used to assess thymopoiesis .
Location
- Duke Cancer CenterDurham, North Carolina