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RecruitingNCT01840293Updated Dec 19, 2025

Breast Cancer Proteomics and Molecular Heterogeneity

An observational study in Primary Breast Cancer and Recurrent/Metastatic Breast Cancer, sponsored by Cancer Trials Ireland. Recruiting at 6 sites in Ireland. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-19.

Sponsored by Cancer Trials Ireland · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Other
Enrollment
1,780
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Primary objective:

The primary objective is to define the proteomic and molecular characteristics of primary and recurrent/ metastatic breast tumours with special focus on the expression of S100 protein and the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) genes

Secondary objective:

  • To expand our understanding of the complex molecular pathways dictating the progression of breast cancer and their response to different treatment regimes.
  • To relate proteomic findings to survival data
  • To identify potential serum markers of breast cancer progression
Read the detailed description

This is a translational study. Patient will undergo standard treatment and tissue and blood samples will be taken at various time points:

Tissue: Fresh frozen (FF) and Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE) will be collected at time of surgery/biopsy of a primary or a recurrent/metastatic tumour tissue.

Blood: Two types of study bloods (non-heparinised and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)) will be taken pre-neoadjuvant treatment (if applicable), pre- and post-operatively of primary and recurrent/ metastatic breast cancer (if recurrent/metastatic diagnosis and no biopsy/surgery required then study bloods will be taken prior to starting treatment).

Additional blood samples will be taken annually at follow-up visits for 5 years from primary cases and for up to 2 years from recurrent/metastatic cases.

Non-heparinised blood will be processed to serum. Clinical data will be collected at all times of biological sampling.

02

Conditions studied

  • Primary Breast Cancer
  • Recurrent/Metastatic Breast Cancer

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03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

All newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, recurrent and stage IV metastatic breast cancer patients.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients diagnosed with primary breast cancer attending hospital for the resection of their tumour tissue

    Or

    -Patients with suspected or confirmed recurrent or metastatic breast cancer (Patient has a history of a biopsy- or surgically- (i.e. pathologically) confirmed primary breast cancer) attending hospital for the resection/biopsy and/or treatment of tumour tissue

    Or

    -Patient with suspected (but not necessarily biopsy confirmed) newly diagnosed stage 4 breast cancer attending hospital for the resection/biopsy and/or treatment of their tumour tissue

  2. Patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment are also eligible (if applicable)
  3. Patients have to be ≥ 18 years of age
  4. Patients must be able to give informed consent
04

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Other
Enrollment
1,780 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Primary Breast Cancer
  • Recurrent/Metastatic Breast Cancer
05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Investigation of proteins and their pathways in primary breast cancer

    Investigation of proteins and their pathways in primary breast cancer, which are associated with patient outcome.

    Time frame: 10 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Comparison of the molecular profile between primary and recurrent/metastatic lesions in breast cancer

    Time frame: 10 years

  2. Identification of novel molecular mechanisms of breast cancer recurrence

    Identification of novel molecular mechanisms of breast cancer recurrence, therapy resistance and/or metastasis

    Time frame: 10 years

  3. Determination of novel potential molecular targets

    Determination of novel potential molecular targets that can be used to develop future prevention and treatment advances in patients with breast cancer

    Time frame: 10 years

06

Study locations

4 of 6 sites recruiting
  • Cork University Hospital
    Cork, Ireland
    • Cancer Clinical Trials Unit · Contact · 021 4234816
    • Paul Redmond · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
  • Beaumont Hospital
    Dublin, Ireland
    • Contact Person · Contact · 01- 809 3000
    • Arnold Hill, Prof · Principal investigator
    • Bryan Hennessy, Prof · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
  • St James's Hospital
    Dublin, Ireland
    Completed
  • St. Vincent's University Hospital
    Dublin, Ireland
    • CCRT · Contact · 01 221 4000
    • Janice Walshe · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
  • University Hospital Limerick
    Limerick, Ireland
    Active, not recruiting
  • University Hospital Waterford
    Waterford, Ireland
    • Cancer Clinical Trials Office · Contact · 051 848 000
    • Gerry O'Donoghue · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Charmsaz S, Doherty B, Cocchiglia S, Vareslija D, Marino A, Cosgrove N, Marques R, Priedigkeit N, Purcell S, Bane F, Bolger J, Byrne C, O'Halloran PJ, Brett F, Sheehan K, Brennan K, Hopkins AM, Keelan S, Jagust P, Madden S, Martinelli C, Battaglini M, Oesterreich S, Lee AV, Ciofani G, Hill ADK, Young LS. ADAM22/LGI1 complex as a new actionable target for breast cancer brain metastasis. BMC Med. 2020 Nov 19;18(1):349. doi: 10.1186/s12916-020-01806-4. PubMed 33208158 ↗
  • Charmsaz S, Hughes E, Bane FT, Tibbitts P, McIlroy M, Byrne C, Cocchiglia S, McBryan J, Hennessy BT, Dwyer RM, Kerin MJ, Hill AD, Young LS. S100beta as a serum marker in endocrine resistant breast cancer. BMC Med. 2017 Apr 12;15(1):79. doi: 10.1186/s12916-017-0836-2. PubMed 28399921 ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01840293
Lead sponsor
Cancer Trials Ireland
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 25, 2013
Start date
Feb 2013
Primary completion
Dec 2029 (estimated)
Completion
Jan 2038 (estimated)
Last update
Dec 19, 2025

Study contacts

Cancer Trials Ireland
Contact
info@cancertrials.ie

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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