Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles in Breast Cancer Patients

NCT ID: NCT05798338

Last Updated: 2025-11-25

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

105 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-12-01

Study Completion Date

2026-09-30

Brief Summary

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Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-delimited particles, naturally released from cells and mediators of intercellular cross-talk. In breast cancer (BC), EVs seem to be involved in the tumor microenvironment's shaping, in cancer cells invasion and in the set-up of metastasis.

Clinical studies have provided initial evidence that these vesicles may have a prognostic and predictive value in breast cancer. Considering their ubiquitous presence in body fluids and their minimally invasive assessment through blood sampling, EVs could have a potential as liquid biopsy-derived biomarkers. Their quantification though is a complex task requiring complicated and time-consuming pre-analytical procedures of EVs isolation.

This protocol want to develop a new method for the detection of tumor-derived-EVs associated proteins, based on the use of Single Molecule Array (SiMoA), a digital ELISA technology able to detect and quantify extremely low concentrations of target proteins or particles.

The aim of this study is to evaluate how this new technology can allow the quantification of EVs plasma levels in patients affected by BC, providing useful diagnostic and prognostic information.

Detailed Description

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This is a prospective, observational, monocentric and no profit study. The study involves the analysis of plasma from patients with breast cancer in order to quantify and characterize tumor-derived EVs at specific disease stages.

The enrollment of consecutive patients affected by BC referring to an EUSOMA-accredited Breast Unit is planned.

The patients will be divided into three pre-planned groups, as follows:

Population 1: patients diagnosed with early breast cancer patients (stage I-III) with indication to curative surgery.

Population 2: a control group made of sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers, not affected by cancer or chronic diseases.

Population 3: patients with metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. For each patient a blood sample will be collected and plasma will be isolated. A new SiMoA assay based on the use of anti-CD63 and anti-CD9 antibodies, two well known protein markers of EVs, will be used to capture and quantify EVs directly from plasma without requiring any prior sample processing.

The study will be conducted following the International Conference on Harmonization \[ICH\] Good Clinical Practice \[GCP\] guidelines. The Ethical Committee of ICS Maugeri authorized the study as protocol 2490/2020.

Conditions

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Breast Cancer

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

CASE_CONTROL

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Early Breast Cancer patients

* Diagnosis of early breast cancer;
* Indication for surgery after multidisciplinary discussion.

Blood sample

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Analysis of plasma in order to quantify and characterize EVs

Metastatic Breast Cancer patients

* First diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer confirmed by cytological/histological examination or by imaging;
* Indication to chemotherapy.

Blood sample

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Analysis of plasma in order to quantify and characterize EVs

Healthy patients

\- Patients having a negative mammography or breast ultrasound within 12 months from the study enrollment.

Blood sample

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Analysis of plasma in order to quantify and characterize EVs

Interventions

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Blood sample

Analysis of plasma in order to quantify and characterize EVs

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Signing of a specific informed consent for participation to the study
* Female sex

Population 1:

* Diagnosis of early breast cancer;
* Indication for surgery after multidisciplinary discussion.

Population 2:

\- Patients having a negative mammography or breast ultrasound within 12 months from the study enrollment.

Population 3:

* Diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer confirmed by cytological/histological examination or by imaging;
* Indication to chemotherapy.

Exclusion Criteria

Population 1:

* Presence of distant metastases
* Synchronous presence of a different tumor
* Indication to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Population 2:

* Diagnosis of breast cancer
* Synchronous presence of a different tumor or chronic disease

Population 3:

\- Patients who are unfit for systemic chemotherapy treatment
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

90 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Fabio Corsi

Prof

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA

Pavia, Lombardy, Italy

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Italy

Central Contacts

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Fabio Corsi, Professor

Role: CONTACT

0382592272

SARA PAOLA ALBASINI, MsC

Role: CONTACT

3497378405

Facility Contacts

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Fabio Corsi, Professor

Role: primary

0382592272

Sara Albasini, MsC

Role: backup

3497378405

Other Identifiers

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2490

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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