ETHAN
Endocrine therapy before surgery for male breast cancer
How well does male breast cancer respond to endocrine therapy before surgery, and which therapy is most effective?
Phase 2 · Open-label, randomized treatment trial
Who may be eligible?
- Men aged 18 or older with recently diagnosed breast cancer, before surgery.
- Stage 1, 2, or 3; hormone-receptor positive and HER2-negative.
The trial team can help confirm eligibility and availability.
Study details and treatments
Full study title
ETHAN: A phase 2 study comparing different Endocrine THerapies for mAle breast canNcer
Drugs used
Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen (Brand name is Novadex), is currently the standard of care for men with breast cancer. It is classified as an oral Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) and blocks the estrogen receptors on cells.
Anastrozole
Anastrozole (Brand name is Arimidex), used to treat hormone-receptor positive breast cancer by lowering estrogen levels in the body. It is an oral nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor.
Degarelix
Degarelix (Brand name is Firmagon), used for gonadal suppression by lowering testosterone. It is administered by a subcutaneous injection under the skin.
Abemaciclib
Abemaciclib (Brand name is Verzenio), an oral targeted therapy used to treat hormone positive and HER2- negative breast cancer. It is classified as a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor. It is currently prescribed for high-risk for reoccurrence, advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It works by blocking proteins on the cancer cells, to prevent the cell cycle and will inhibit growth and spread of the cancer cells.
Locations
7 locations throughout the United States, including Pittsburgh.
