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CompletedNCT00002542Updated Apr 1, 2020

Tamoxifen in Treating Women With High-Risk Breast Cancer

A Phase 3 interventional study of CMF regimen and cyclophosphamide in Breast Cancer, sponsored by NCIC Clinical Trials Group. Completed at 48 sites in Canada. Open to female participants aged Up to 120 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-04-01.

Sponsored by NCIC Clinical Trials Group · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 6 years 3 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jul 1993, registered Nov 1999).
Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
672
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
Up to 120 Years
Sex
Female
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Study summary

RATIONALE: Estrogen can stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells. Hormone therapy using tamoxifen may fight breast cancer by blocking the uptake of estrogen. Chemotherapy uses different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.

PURPOSE: Phase III trial to study the effectiveness of tamoxifen following surgery and chemotherapy in treating women who have stage I breast cancer at high risk of recurrence or stage II or stage III breast cancer.

Read the detailed description

OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the duration of overall survival and disease-free survival in premenopausal women with operable, high risk node negative or axillary node-positive breast cancer who have undergone complete surgical resection of all known disease by means of total or partial mastectomy, and have received standard adjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF), cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and fluorouracil (CEF), or doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by either daily tamoxifen for 5 years or placebo. II. Compare the short- and long-term toxicity in patients receiving tamoxifen versus placebo. III. Monitor follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol levels, and determine whether overall survival and disease-free survival are affected by hormonal or menopausal status during or at completion of adjuvant chemotherapy or during or after tamoxifen or placebo treatment in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double blind study. Patients are stratified by adjuvant chemotherapy regimen (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and fluorouracil vs cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil vs cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin), hormone receptor status (ER and/or PR positive vs ER and PR negative), number of positive nodes (1-3 vs 4-9 vs 10 or more), and participating institution. Patients receive one of three regimens of adjuvant chemotherapy at the discretion of the investigator. Regimen A: Patients receive oral cyclophosphamide on days 1-14 and epirubicin IV and fluorouracil IV on days 1 and 8. Courses repeat every 28 days for a total of 6 courses. Following chemotherapy, lumpectomy patients receive local radiotherapy daily for 5 weeks. Regimen B: Patients receive oral cyclophosphamide on days 1-14 or cyclophosphamide IV on day 1 and 8, methotrexate on days 1 and 8, and fluorouracil IV on days 1 and 8. Courses repeat every 28 days for a total of 6 courses. Concurrent with or following chemotherapy, lumpectomy patients receive local radiotherapy daily for 5 weeks. Regimen C: Patients receive doxorubicin IV and cyclophosphamide IV every 21 days for a total of 4 courses. Following chemotherapy, lumpectomy patients receive local radiotherapy daily for 5 weeks. Patients are then randomized to receive either oral tamoxifen or a placebo once daily for 5 years, beginning within 6 weeks of completion of chemotherapy. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed for survival.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 800 patients will be accrued for this study over 4 years.

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Conditions studied

  • Breast Cancer

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Keywords

  • stage I breast cancer
  • stage II breast cancer
  • stage IIIA breast cancer
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In context

Breast Neoplasms

12,544 studies on the registry are indexed under Breast Neoplasms; 2,892 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 672 is above the median of 72 across 9,303 interventional studies indexed under Breast Neoplasms.

Browse Breast Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

NCIC Clinical Trials Group is the lead sponsor of 114 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Of its 27 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 7 (26%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
Up to 120 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Adenocarcinoma of the breast with 1 or more histologically proven positive axillary nodes OR Adenocarcinoma of the breast with negative axillary nodes or adverse prognostic factors such that the patient is at high risk for recurrence and node negative lesion is characterized by the following features: Tumor at least 1 cm Poorly differentiated, SBR grade III, or MSBR grade V and/or lymphatic/vascular invasion Pathologic review by experienced breast pathologist recommended if grade is unspecified and lymphatic/vascular invasion is absent Disease considered potentially curable and treated by 1 of the following: Complete surgical removal of the breast plus axillary node dissection Partial surgical removal of the breast plus axillary node dissection, with the intention of giving breast irradiation following completion of an adjuvant chemotherapy regimen Regional nodal or chest wall irradiation not prohibited but strongly discouraged No evidence of residual tumor in the axilla following dissection No microscopic evidence of residual tumor at the resection margins following total mastectomy Further excision highly recommended if there is microscopic residual disease present at partial mastectomy margins If further excision is not undertaken, a radiotherapy boost to the tumor bed is required in addition to breast irradiation given following protocol chemotherapy Disease clinically staged prior to surgery as T1-T3a, N0-2, M0 No clinical T4 disease, i.e.: No extension to the chest wall No edema (including peau d'orange) No skin ulceration No satellite skin nodules confined to the same breast No inflammatory carcinoma Disease pathologically staged following surgery as TNM stage I, II, or III (T0-4; N0-2; M0) T4 allowed only with dermal involvement on pathology assessment No evidence of metastatic disease beyond the homolateral axillary nodes on pre-chemotherapy chest x-ray, bone scan (with radiographs of suspicious areas), and abdominal ultrasound (required only if bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, or AST/ALT are elevated) Simultaneous bilateral breast carcinoma allowed Complete tumor resection on both breasts required Axillary dissection on both sides must meet criteria as above if both sides are clinically node-positive Axillary dissection on the second side optional if the axilla is clinically negative at the time of surgery and the other side is node-positive Adjuvant chemotherapy must begin within 14 weeks of initial pathologic diagnosis Hormone receptor status: Any receptor level allowed (values must be available if biochemical method used; immunocytochemical assay permitted)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Sex: Female Menopausal status: Pre- or perimenopausal, i.e., meeting at least 1 of the following criteria: Normal menstruation Amenorrhea for less than 1 year (up to 3 years in patients under age 52) Biochemical evidence of ovarian function Hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy in patients under age 56 Premenopausal women no greater than age 50 who were started on replacement hormone therapy before amenorrhea are eligible Performance status: ECOG 0-2 prior to chemotherapy Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Polymorphs and bands at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: (unless abdominal ultrasound indicates liver metastasis) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times normal AST and/or ALT no greater than 2 times normal Renal: Not specified Other: No history of serious underlying medical illness or psychiatric or addictive disorder No second malignancy within 5 years except: Curatively treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer Curatively treated endometrium, colon, or thyroid cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No plan for pregnancy during the 5-year study period Fertile women must use effective contraception (other than oral contraception) Accessible for treatment and follow-up

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Colony-stimulating factors allowed (use must be documented) Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy No concurrent other cytotoxic therapy Endocrine therapy: Adjuvant tamoxifen (20 mg po daily) allowed up to 2 weeks before or during adjuvant chemotherapy provided drug is discontinued at randomization No long-term prednisone or other hormones Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Surgery: See Disease Characteristics

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Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
672 participants (actual)

Interventions

  • DrugCMF regimen
  • Drugcyclophosphamide
  • Drugdoxorubicin hydrochloride
  • Drugepirubicin hydrochloride
  • Drugfluorouracil
  • Drugmethotrexate
  • Drugtamoxifen citrate
  • Radiationradiation therapy
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Study locations

48 sites
  • Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre
    St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador AIB 3V6, Canada
  • The Royal Victoria Hospital
    Barrie, L4M 6M2, Canada
  • William Osler Health Centre, Brampton Memorial
    Brampton, L6R 3J7, Canada
  • Tom Baker Cancer Centre
    Calgary, T2N 4N2, Canada
  • PEI Cancer Treatment Centre,Queen Elizabeth Hospital
    Charlottetown, C1A 8T5, Canada
  • Cross Cancer Institute
    Edmonton, T6G 1Z2, Canada
  • QEII Health Sciences Center
    Halifax, B3H 1V7, Canada
  • Juravinski Cancer Centre at Hamilton Health Sciences
    Hamilton, L8V 5C2, Canada
  • Centre Hospitalier Regional de Lanaudiere
    Joliette, J6E 6J2, Canada
  • Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario at Kingston
    Kingston, K7L 5P9, Canada
  • L'Hotel-Dieu de Levis
    Levis, G6V 3Z1, Canada
  • London Regional Cancer Program
    London, N6A 4L6, Canada
  • Credit Valley Hospital
    Mississauga, L5M 2N1, Canada
  • CHUM - Hopital Notre-Dame
    Montreal, H2L 4M1, Canada
  • McGill University - Dept. Oncology
    Montreal, H2W 1S6, Canada
  • CHUM - Hotel Dieu du Montreal
    Montreal, H2W 1T8, Canada
  • CHUM - Pavillon Saint-Luc
    Montreal, H3X 3J4, Canada
  • Stronach Regional Health Centre at Southlake
    Newmarket, L3Y 2P9, Canada
  • Lakeridge Health Oshawa
    Oshawa, L1G 2B9, Canada
  • Ottawa Health Research Institute - General Division
    Ottawa, K1H 8L6, Canada
  • Penticton Regional Hospital
    Penticton, V2A 3G6, Canada
  • Peterborough Regional Health Centre
    Peterborough, K9H 7B6, Canada
  • CHUQ-Pavillon Hotel-Dieu de Quebec
    Quebec City, G1R 2J6, Canada
  • CHA-Hopital Du St-Sacrement
    Quebec City, G1S 4L8, Canada
  • University Institute of Cardiology and
    Quebec, G1V 4G5, Canada
  • Allan Blair Cancer Centre
    Regina, S4T 7T1, Canada
  • Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation
    Saint John, E2L 4L2, Canada
  • Saskatoon Cancer Centre
    Saskatoon, S7N 4H4, Canada
  • Algoma District Cancer Program
    Sault Ste. Marie, P6A 2C4, Canada
  • Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke
    Sherbrooke, J1H 5N4, Canada
  • Niagara Health System
    St. Catharines, L2R 7C6, Canada
  • Regional Cancer Program of the Hopital Regional
    Sudbury, P3E 5J1, Canada
  • BCCA - Fraser Valley Cancer Centre
    Surrey, V3V 1Z2, Canada
  • Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre
    Thunder Bay, P7B 6V4, Canada
  • Toronto East General Hospital
    Toronto, M4C 3E7, Canada
  • Odette Cancer Centre
    Toronto, M4N 3M5, Canada
  • St. Michael's Hospital
    Toronto, M5B 1W8, Canada
  • Mount Sinai Hospital
    Toronto, M5G 1X5, Canada
  • Univ. Health Network-The Toronto General Hospital
    Toronto, M5G 2C4, Canada
  • Univ. Health Network-Princess Margaret Hospital
    Toronto, M5G 2M9, Canada
  • Women's College Hospital
    Toronto, M5S 1B2, Canada
  • St. Joseph's Health Centre
    Toronto, M6R 1B5, Canada
  • Trillium Health Centre - West Toronto
    Toronto, M9C 1A5, Canada
  • Humber River Regional Hospital
    Toronto, M9N 1N8, Canada
  • BCCA - Vancouver Cancer Centre
    Vancouver, V5Z 4E6, Canada
  • BCCA - Vancouver Island Cancer Centre
    Victoria, V8R 6V5, Canada
  • Windsor Regional Cancer Centre
    Windsor, N8W 2X3, Canada
  • CancerCare Manitoba
    Winnipeg, R3E 0V9, Canada
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References and documents

Publications

  • Bramwell VHC, Pritchard KI, Tu D, et al.: How compliant are patients with oral hormonal therapies? Data from a randomized, placebo controlled study of tamoxifen after adjuvant chemotherapy in premenopausal women with early breast cancer (NCIC CTG MA.12). [Abstract] Breast Cancer Res Treat 106 (1): A-3055, 2007.
  • Bramwell VH, Pritchard KI, Tu D, et al.: Tamoxifen (T) compared to placebo (P), after adjuvant chemotherapy (CT), in premenopausal women with early breast cancer (EBC): interim results of NCIC-CTG MA.12. [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 25 (Suppl 18): A-547, 2007.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 1, 2020, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00002542
Lead sponsor
NCIC Clinical Trials Group
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jul 29, 2004
Start date
Jul 20, 1993
Primary completion
Mar 7, 2007
Completion
Jan 11, 2011
Last update
Apr 1, 2020

Study contacts

Vivien HC Bramwell, MB, BS, PhD, FRCP
study chair · London Health Sciences Centre

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2020. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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