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Breast cancer patients at Blumenthal Cancer Center have access to the most current and innovative research studies available in the United States. High-risk individuals who do not have breast cancer also may participate in national breast cancer prevention studies.

Below are the open protocols available for breast cancer treatment:

• NSABP B-32 - A sentinel node study. The patient can not have any clinical palpable lymph nodes or axillary lymph node dissection.

• BCIRG 005 - A post-surgery study. Lymph node positive and HER-2 negative. Patient is randomized (computer chooses treatment) to one of two treatment arms:
  • Arm I - Taxotere, adriamycin and cytoxan given every three weeks for six cycles
  • Arm II - Adriamycin and cytoxan given every three weeks for four cycles, then taxotere given every three weeks for four cycles.
• BCIRG 006 - A post surgery study. Positive lymph nodes or high-risk node negative and HER-2 positive. The patient is randomized (computer chooses treatment) to one of three treatment arms:
  • Arm I - Adriamycin and cytoxan given every three weeks for four cycles, followed by taxotere every three weeks for four cycles
  • Arm II - Adriamycin and cytoxan given every three weeks for four cycles, followed by taxotere given every three weeks for four cycles and Herceptin given every week while receiving taxotere and then Herceptin is given every three weeks for one year
  • Arm III - Taxotere, carboplatin given every three weeks for six cycles and herceptin given every week while receiving taxotere and carboplatin and then herceptin is given every three weeks for 1 year.
• BCIRG 007 - This protocol is for patients with advanced breast cancer that contains the HER2 gene. Its purpose is to compare the effectiveness of the drug combination taxotere, platinum salt and herceptin. Patients are randomized to one of two research arms. Follow-up in this study will last 10 years.
• CMC - TNAC - A pre-surgery study. A clinical stage IIB or III. taxotere and vinorelbine is given every two weeks for six cycles then surgery followed by adriamycin and cytoxan every three weeks for four cycles, radiation treatment, if indicated, and tamoxifen by mouth every day for five years if the tumor is estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor positive
• CMC - TNAC - A pre-surgery study. HER-2 positive. Taxotere and vinorelbine herceptin given every two weeks for six cycles with herceptin given weekly for 12 weeks then surgery followed by adriamycin and cytoxan every three weeks for four cycles, radiation treatment, if indicated, and tamoxifen by mouth everyday for five years if the tumor is estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor positive