Changes in Knee Articular Cartilage Volume in Women on Aromatase Inhibitors
Recruitment status was Active, not recruiting
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Purpose
Many women with breast cancer are treated with a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors (mainly letrozole or anastrozole), which lowers the amount of estrogen being produced in the body. Women on aromatase inhibitors appear to experience joint pains and arthralgia. The aim of this study is to determine whether the joint pains experienced by some women on aromatase inhibitors is associated with more defects in their cartilage, compared to women not receiving this therapy. Using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, the knee joint will be examined to assess changes in cartilage volume over time.
| Condition | Intervention | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Arthralgia |
Drug: aromatase inhibitors (letrozole, anastrozole) |
Phase 4 |
| Study Type: | Observational |
| Study Design: | Observational Model: Cohort Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional |
| Official Title: | Assessment of Knee Joint Articular Cartilage Volume Change, Bone Loss and Change in Body Composition in Women Treated With Anastrozole or Letrozole and Comparison With Untreated Controls |
- Knee cartilage volume [ Time Frame: Two years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Menopausal symptoms [ Time Frame: Two years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Well-being [ Time Frame: Two years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
| Estimated Enrollment: | 170 |
| Study Start Date: | May 2005 |
| Estimated Study Completion Date: | December 2010 |
| Estimated Primary Completion Date: | May 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
The mechanism of increased bone loss and fracture risk is clearly related to the depletion of estrogen production in the bone. But why there is a higher rate of reporting arthralgia, fracture and joint pain amongst women on aromatase inhibitors is not understood.
Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure knee articular cartilage volume, we have demonstrated that post menopausal hormone therapy used for at least five years is associated with retention of articular cartilage in the knee, indicating that oestrogen may protect against the development of osteoarthritis in post menopausal women. Furthermore, we have recently observed that free testosterone is associated with loss of tibial cartilage, after taking into account age, body mass index, baseline tibial cartilage volume, tibial plateau area and total bone mineral content in healthy men. Whether an excess of testosterone to oestrogen as a consequence of aromatase inhibition has an adverse effect on articular cartilage volume warrants further investigation.
This study will include non-hysterectomised women aged 40 to 65 years who have undergone breast surgery and then commenced on aromatase inhibitors within the preceding 12 weeks. The control group (which has been fully recruited) included non-hysterectomised, healthy women aged 40 to 65 years. A MRI of the dominant knee will be used to compare changes in knee articular volume over time. A MRI will be done at baseline and again at 2 years. Changes in knee articular volume is the primary outcome. We will also use this opportunity to compare menopausal symptoms (assessed using the Menopause Quality of Life [MENQOL] questionnaire) between women treated with aromatase inhibitors and those who are not. Well-being will also be assessed using the Psychological General Well-Being index.
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 40 Years to 65 Years |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Female |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
| Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Participants will be informed of study by their treating physician and invited to participate and by community sample.
Inclusion Criteria:
Group 1 :
- Aged 40 - 65
- Non-hysterectomised women who have undergone breast surgery
- Women on aromatase inhibitors within preceding 12 weeks
Group 2 : control group
- Healthy, non-hysterectomised women aged 40-65 .
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous knee injury requiring non-weight bearing treatment for > 24 hrs or surgery (including arthroscopy)
- Inability to complete the study (eg proposed relocation)
- Contraindication to undergoing an MRI including pacemaker, metal sutures, presence of shrapnel, iron filings in eye
- Claustrophobia
Additional Exclusions for Group 1
- Treatment with tamoxifen for > 8 weeks prior to commencement
- Knee pain lasting for >24 hours in the last 5 years (prior to commencement on anastrozole or letrozole)
- Anastrazole or Letrozole therapy for > 12 weeks
Contacts and Locations| Australia, Victoria | |
| Women's Health Program, Monash University | |
| Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3181 | |
| Principal Investigator: | Susan Davis, MBBS FRACP PhD | Director Women's Health Program |
More Information
No publications provided
| Responsible Party: | Professor Susan Davis, Women's Health Program |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00111241 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: | 2004/949 |
| Study First Received: | May 18, 2005 |
| Last Updated: | September 17, 2009 |
| Health Authority: | Australia: National Health and Medical Research Council |
Keywords provided by Monash University:
|
bone fracture cartilage osteoporosis |
breast cancer aromatase inhibitors knee articular cartilage volume |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Arthralgia Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Pain Signs and Symptoms Letrozole Anastrozole |
Aromatase Inhibitors Antineoplastic Agents Therapeutic Uses Pharmacologic Actions Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 16, 2013