An observational study in Breast Cancer Female, sponsored by University of Pennsylvania. Terminated at 1 site in Botswana. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-10.
Sponsored by University of Pennsylvania · Observational
Botswana is an ideal location to investigate tamoxifen adherence for numerous reasons. First, in contrast to many other countries in SSA, tamoxifen is affordable and widely available to women with ER+ breast cancer in Botswana. There is also a sufficiently high prevalence of WLW HIV and breast cancer in Botswana to provide adequate power for the proposed study. Lastly, there is a well-developed medical and scientific infrastructure, both from the clinical and laboratory perspective, to allow for successful completion of this proposed study
Breast cancer (BC) is the second-most common cancer in women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (Black 2019, Trimble 2017). Tamoxifen forms a cornerstone for treatment of ER+ breast cancer and daily use after initial medical, surgical, and/or radiation therapy decreases the annual odds of recurrence and death by 39% and 31% respectively (EBCTCG 2005). Despite the proven benefits of tamoxifen, non-adherence is common. Previous reports have indicated that 31-50% of women do not adhere to prescribed treatment regimens (Lash 2006, Lambert 2018, Peddie 2021). The reasons for non-adherence are broad and not fully understood but are thought to be influenced by numerous factors including medication side-effects, beliefs about cancer, and social support framework (Clancy 2020). Data is extremely limited concerning the adherence rates to tamoxifen therapy in Africa.
The metabolism of tamoxifen is complex. It is metabolized to its effector/active metabolites via the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme system, principally CYP2D6 with CYP2B6 playing a lesser, but important role (Nthontho Keneuoe Cecilia 2022). The CYP2D6 gene is highly variable but four principal drug metabolizer phenotypes have been identified: poor, intermediate, extensive, and ultra-rapid metabolizers (Nthontho KC 2022). Reduced speed of tamoxifen metabolism in poor metabolizers has been associated with higher risk of treatment failure, due to increased drug level in vivo and subsequent increased tamoxifen related side effects (Nardin 2020). However, to date, these various phenotypes have not been evaluated in an African population, so it is unclear to what extent these phenotypes effect tamoxifen adherence in SSA.
A unique aspect among the breast cancer population in Botswana is that a large portion of these women are also living with HIV. Studies have shown that the prevalence of HIV in the general population is up to 17.6% (Bhatia 2019). Little is known how antiretroviral medications effect tamoxifen adherence. One particular Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) medication, efavirenz (EFV), a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and potent CYP-inducer is used by a large portion of WLW HIV in SSA (Maseng 2022). EFV has been shown in vitro to increase estrogen expression both by inducing growth in ER-positive breast cancer cells lines (Sikora 2010) and clinically due to the development of gynecomastia seen in male patients (Osman 2020). It remains unclear, however, if and to what extent the combined administration of tamoxifen and efavirenz contributes to reduced tamoxifen adherence.
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This study's enrollment of 10 is below the median of 184 across 3,235 observational studies indexed under Breast Neoplasms.
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Patients will include females with ER+ breast cancer who are >18 years of age. The study population will include both women living with and without HIV.
Patients offered questionnaires and blood draws will only include women treated as outpatients and be of sufficient mental capacity to personally consent to the study.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
No intervention
Primary outcome
Reduced tamoxifen adherence, measured as reduced intake of pills number will be seen in women with reduced quality of EORTC QLQ( Cancer core quality of life questionnare acronym Q-C30 life scores, increased medication side effects, and/or increased barriers to medical care. Women living with (WLW) HIV taking tamoxifen will be less adherent to tamoxifen therapy due to the higher likelihood of medication side effects
Time frame: 12 months
Secondary outcome
Women identified as poor metabolizers will have higher tamoxifen and metabolite plasma concentrations (measured as mg/ml).
Time frame: 12 months
This study is terminated, as verified in Dec 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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