Cancer Research in Breast Cancer

Cancer Research in Breast Cancer Patients

St. Joseph Hospital performs more clinical trials than any other community hospital in Orange County. And, continued advances in cancer care and prevention are the direct result of participation in clinical trials. National evidence from a wide range of studies suggests that cancer patients diagnosed and treated in a setting of multi-specialty care and clinical research may live longer and have a better quality of life.

As a participant in the NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) Pilot, The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment is committed to offering residents of Orange County, Southern California and beyond access to research-based cancer care. By expanding clinical trials and cancer care we hope to make it easier to receive high-quality cancer screening, prevention, treatment and palliative care services.

Clinical trials that are well designed and well executed are the best approach for eligible participants to:

Play an active role in their own health care.
Gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available.
Obtain expert medical care at leading health care facilities during the trial.
Help current and future cancer patients by contributing to medical research.

What are the different types of clinical trials?

Treatment trials test experimental treatments, new combinations of drugs or new
approaches to surgery or radiation therapy.

Prevention trials look for better ways to prevent disease in people who have never had the
disease or to prevent a disease from returning. These approaches may include medicines,
vaccines, vitamins, minerals or lifestyle changes.

Diagnostic trials are conducted to find better tests or procedures for diagnosing a particular
disease or condition.

Screening trials test the best way to detect certain diseases or health conditions.

Quality of Life trials (or Supportive Care trials) explore ways to improve comfort and the
quality of life for individuals with a chronic illness.

As the Nurse Navigator for the Breast Program, I am excited to announce that the Research department at the Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment has recently opened the 9th and 10th clinical trial for breast cancer patients. It is part of my responsibility as the Nurse Navigator for the Breast Program to serve as a reliable source of information about available research trials. I also serve as a vital link for cancer research by demonstrating familiarity with available program-specific trials, the associated eligibility and exclusion criteria, and the informed consent content and process. I assist the Research Department with communication and coordination of required research information, as needed and provide routine updates on patient status with the managing physician and the Cancer Research Department.


The following are a list of the clinical trials we have available at this time:

NSABP B-40 (Neo-Adj): A Randomized Phase III Trial of Neoadjuvant Therapy in Patients with Palpable and Operable Breast Cancer Evaluating the Effect of Pathologic Complete Response.

NSABP B-41 (Neo-Adj): A Randomized Phase III Trial of Neoadjuvant Therapy for Patients with Palpable and Operable HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

ACOSOG Z1031 (Stage II-III Neo-Adj): A Randomized Phase III Trial in Postmenopausal Women w/ Clinical Stage II and III Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer.

Dune Medical Devices (DCIS): Margin Probe, a Device for Intraoperative Assessment of Margin Status in Breast Conservation Surgery.

NSABP B-43 – (DCIS - NCCCP PRIORITY TRIAL):
A Phase III Clinical Trial Given Concurrently with Radiation Therapy and Radiation Therapy Alone for Women with HER2-Positive Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Resected by Lumpectomy.

NSABP B-39 (Stage 0-II): A Randomized Phase III Study of Conventional Whole Breast Irradiation (WBI) versus Partial Breast Irradiation (PBI) for Women with Stage 0, I, Or II Breast Cancer.

ECOG PACCT-1 (Adjuvant NCCCP PRIORITY TRIAL): Program for the Assessment of Clinical Cancer Tests (PACCT-1): Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment.

Endurance Exercise (Stage 0-II): Effects of Endurance Exercise on Bio-behavioral Outcomes of Fatigue - A Pilot Study.

NSABP B-42 (Stage I-IIIA NCCCP PRIORITY TRIAL): A Clinical Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Five Years of Letrozole Compared to Placebo in Patients Completing Five Years of Hormonal Therapy Consisting of an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) or Tamoxifen Followed by an AI in Prolonging Disease-Free Survival in Postmenopausal Women with Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer.

NSABP B-46-I (Stage I-IIIB): A Phase III Clinical Trial Comparing the Combination of TC Plus Bevacizumab to TC Alone and to TAC for Women with Node-Positive or High-Risk Node-Negative, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer.


For more information about clinical trials for breast cancer, please contact Stacey Fischer, RN, BSN, OCN, Nurse Navigator for the Breast Program at (714)734-6233 or the Research Department at the Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment at (714)734-6200.