Breast NeoplasmsNCT00475761
Breast Mammogram and Tissue Study
An observational study of Breast Neoplasms, run by National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Background: Women whose mammograms show a lot of dense areas are more likely to develop breast cancer and to have cancers that are missed by mammograms. It is unclear why some factors lead to having dense breasts and why having dense breasts increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 to 65 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Breast Neoplasms
- How many people
- 466 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 11 May 2007to not given
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 to 65 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Primary clinical- patients referred to diagnostic breast biopsy due to an abnormal breast imaging exam.
Who may be able to join
- Inclusion criteria for participation in the study are women, ages 40-65 years of age, who are undergoing a radiologically-guided biopsy (stereotactic- ultrasound-guided). We will NOT exclude subjects for current or past use of exogenous hormones; prior hysterectomy or salpingoophorectomy or presentation with a breast mass. Although most biopsies are prompted by a radiologic finding (typically abnormal calcifications or masses), some biopsies are performed for symptoms that are unassociated with a radiologic finding, such as nipple discharge, palpable mass, discomfort, etc. Elevated density per se is not a biopsy indication. ALL women referred for radiologically guided biopsy, irrespective of the indication, will be considered eligible for the pilot study.
Who cannot join
- We will EXCLUDE women who have a prior history of breast cancer, have had an EXCISIONAL breast biopsy within one year, women who have implants in place, women taking tamoxifen or raloxifene for chemoprevention and women who have received non-surgical treatments for cancers of other organs.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Breast Radiology Evaluation and Study of Tissues (Breast) Stamp Project
Background:
Women whose mammograms show a lot of dense areas are more likely to develop breast cancer and to have cancers that are missed by mammograms.
Read more
It is unclear why some factors lead to having dense breasts and why having dense breasts increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
Objectives:
To determine why some women s breasts look dense on mammograms.
To determine what types of cells and tissues make up dense areas of breasts and why these tissues may be more likely to become cancerous.
Eligibility:
Women between 40 and 65 years of age who have not had breast cancer or received medicines or radiation for any type of cancer and who are scheduled to undergo a breast biopsy.
Design:
This study is conducted at the University of Vermont, in collaboration with the NCI.
Participants undergo the following:
- Review of their medical records collected over the last 2 years by the Vermont Mammography Registry.
- Participation in a short telephone interview.
- Height and weight measurement.
- Testing of biopsy tissue collected for diagnosis or treatment.
- Future contacts regarding health status for up to 10 years, including review of additional mammograms, removed tissues, questionnaires and medical records collected by the Vermont Mammography Registry during the 10-year study.
Participants may also undergo the following optional procedures:
- Provide a mouthwash sample for genetic testing.
- Provide a blood sample to test for markers of dense mammograms or breast cancer.
Read the detailed description
High breast density and aging are the strongest risk factors for sporadic breast cancer among women. Although glandular epithelium contributes to mammographic density, non-epithelial tissue components represent its major determinants: adipose tissue is radiolucent and fibrous tissue is dense. The hypothesis is that epidemiologic factors associated with elevated breast density alter the breast microenvironment (ME) (defined as all cells and structures surrounding luminal glandular cells including: myoepithelial cells; basement membrane, stromal fibroblast and myofibroblasts; endothelial cells and pericytes; inflammatory cells, collagens, matrix proteins, growth factors, hormones, and other biochemical components) in a manner that enhances dysregulated proliferation of breast epithelium and ultimately cancer. Specifically, the Investigators propose that epidemiologic factors that lead to increased exposure to hormones and inflammatory mediators alter the ME, leading to both increased breast density and cancer. The critical importance of the ME in carcinogenesis is supported by experimental and clinical data showing that epithelial abnormalities alone are generally insufficient for cancer development without concurrent changes in the ME. The primary aim of this pilot study is to demonstrate the feasibility of collecting the data needed to elucidate the biologic mechanisms that mediate the substantial breast cancer risk associated with high mammographic density. Specifically, the Investigators will develop, fine tune, and validate a complex cross-sectional study protocol to collect risk factor data and biological specimens (blood, buccal cells, tissue fluids, and tissue) required to discover mechanisms and biomarkers that link high mammographic density (as measured quantitatively using computerized methods) to breast cancer risk. They will enroll 250 women between the ages of 40 to 65 years undergoing a radiologically guided biopsy at the University of Vermont, the largest center within the Vermont Breast Cancer Surveillance System (VBCSS), to participate in this pilot study of mammographic density.
- Conditions
- Breast Neoplasms
- Keywords
- Breast biopsy, Breast imaging, Breast Cancer, Mammographic Density, Natural History
- Medical subject headings
- Breast Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Breast Cohort | Primary clinical- patients referred to diagnostic breast biopsy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility of collecting data needed
Feasibility of collecting data needed from pilot to report the preliminary results from the pilot data in published manuscripts.
Measured: Dec. 2022
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 May 2007 (estimated)
- Study start11 May 2007
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Breast NeoplasmsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Cancer Institute (NCI)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 466 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Gretchen L Benson, Ph.D., Principal investigator, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00475761
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 999907150
- Other IDs
- 07-C-N150
- Status last verified
- 30 Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 18 May 2007
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Gierach GL, Patel DA, Pfeiffer RM, Figueroa JD, Linville L, Papathomas D, Johnson JM, Chicoine RE, Herschorn SD, Shepherd JA, Wang J, Malkov S, Vacek PM, Weaver DL, Fan B, Mahmoudzadeh AP, Palakal M, Xiang J, Oh H, Horne HN, Sprague BL, Hewitt SM, Brinton LA, Sherman ME. Relationship of Terminal Duct Lobular Unit Involution of the Breast with Area and Volume Mammographic Densities. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016 Feb;9(2):149-58. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-15-0282. Epub 2015 Dec 8.
PubMed 26645278Gierach GL, Geller BM, Shepherd JA, Patel DA, Vacek PM, Weaver DL, Chicoine RE, Pfeiffer RM, Fan B, Mahmoudzadeh AP, Wang J, Johnson JM, Herschorn SD, Brinton LA, Sherman ME. Comparison of mammographic density assessed as volumes and areas among women undergoing diagnostic image-guided breast biopsy. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014 Nov;23(11):2338-48. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-0257. Epub 2014 Aug 19.
PubMed 25139935Horne HN, Sherman ME, Pfeiffer RM, Figueroa JD, Khodr ZG, Falk RT, Pollak M, Patel DA, Palakal MM, Linville L, Papathomas D, Geller B, Vacek PM, Weaver DL, Chicoine R, Shepherd J, Mahmoudzadeh AP, Wang J, Fan B, Malkov S, Herschorn S, Hewitt SM, Brinton LA, Gierach GL. Circulating insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 and terminal duct lobular unit involution of the breast: a cross-sectional study of women with benign breast disease. Breast Cancer Res. 2016 Feb 18;18(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s13058-016-0678-4.
PubMed 26893016
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Breast Radiology Evaluation and Study of Tissues (Breast) Stamp Project
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00475761
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 999907150
- Conditions
- Breast Neoplasms
- Keywords
- Breast biopsy, Breast imaging, Breast Cancer, Mammographic Density, Natural History
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 466 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- 11 May 2007 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 May 2007 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Background:
Women whose mammograms show a lot of dense areas are more likely to develop breast cancer and to have cancers that are missed by mammograms.
It is unclear why some factors lead to having dense breasts and why having dense breasts increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
Objectives:
To determine why some women s breasts look dense on mammograms.
To determine what types of cells and tissues make up dense areas of breasts and why these tissues may be more likely to become cancerous.
Eligibility:
Women between 40 and 65 years of age who have not had breast cancer or received medicines or radiation for any type of cancer and who are scheduled to undergo a breast biopsy.
Design:
This study is conducted at the University of Vermont, in collaboration with the NCI.
Participants undergo the following:
- Review of their medical records collected over the last 2 years by the Vermont Mammography Registry.
- Participation in a short telephone interview.
- Height and weight measurement.
- Testing of biopsy tissue collected for diagnosis or treatment.
- Future contacts regarding health status for up to 10 years, including review of additional mammograms, removed tissues, questionnaires and medical records collected by the Vermont Mammography Registry during the 10-year study.
Participants may also undergo the following optional procedures:
- Provide a mouthwash sample for genetic testing.
- Provide a blood sample to test for markers of dense mammograms or breast cancer.
Detailed description
High breast density and aging are the strongest risk factors for sporadic breast cancer among women. Although glandular epithelium contributes to mammographic density, non-epithelial tissue components represent its major determinants: adipose tissue is radiolucent and fibrous tissue is dense. The hypothesis is that epidemiologic factors associated with elevated breast density alter the breast microenvironment (ME) (defined as all cells and structures surrounding luminal glandular cells including: myoepithelial cells; basement membrane, stromal fibroblast and myofibroblasts; endothelial cells and pericytes; inflammatory cells, collagens, matrix proteins, growth factors, hormones, and other biochemical components) in a manner that enhances dysregulated proliferation of breast epithelium and ultimately cancer. Specifically, the Investigators propose that epidemiologic factors that lead to increased exposure to hormones and inflammatory mediators alter the ME, leading to both increased breast density and cancer. The critical importance of the ME in carcinogenesis is supported by experimental and clinical data showing that epithelial abnormalities alone are generally insufficient for cancer development without concurrent changes in the ME. The primary aim of this pilot study is to demonstrate the feasibility of collecting the data needed to elucidate the biologic mechanisms that mediate the substantial breast cancer risk associated with high mammographic density. Specifically, the Investigators will develop, fine tune, and validate a complex cross-sectional study protocol to collect risk factor data and biological specimens (blood, buccal cells, tissue fluids, and tissue) required to discover mechanisms and biomarkers that link high mammographic density (as measured quantitatively using computerized methods) to breast cancer risk. They will enroll 250 women between the ages of 40 to 65 years undergoing a radiologically guided biopsy at the University of Vermont, the largest center within the Vermont Breast Cancer Surveillance System (VBCSS), to participate in this pilot study of mammographic density.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Breast Cohort | – | –Primary clinical- patients referred to diagnostic breast biopsy |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 to 65 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Primary clinical- patients referred to diagnostic breast biopsy due to an abnormal breast imaging exam.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Inclusion criteria for participation in the study are women, ages 40-65 years of age, who are undergoing a radiologically-guided biopsy (stereotactic- ultrasound-guided). We will NOT exclude subjects for current or past use of exogenous hormones; prior hysterectomy or salpingoophorectomy or presentation with a breast mass. Although most biopsies are prompted by a radiologic finding (typically abnormal calcifications or masses), some biopsies are performed for symptoms that are unassociated with a radiologic finding, such as nipple discharge, palpable mass, discomfort, etc. Elevated density per se is not a biopsy indication. ALL women referred for radiologically guided biopsy, irrespective of the indication, will be considered eligible for the pilot study.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- We will EXCLUDE women who have a prior history of breast cancer, have had an EXCISIONAL breast biopsy within one year, women who have implants in place, women taking tamoxifen or raloxifene for chemoprevention and women who have received non-surgical treatments for cancers of other organs.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Feasibility of collecting data needed
Time frame: Dec. 2022
Feasibility of collecting data needed from pilot to report the preliminary results from the pilot data in published manuscripts.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 26645278Gierach GL, Patel DA, Pfeiffer RM, Figueroa JD, Linville L, Papathomas D, Johnson JM, Chicoine RE, Herschorn SD, Shepherd JA, Wang J, Malkov S, Vacek PM, Weaver DL, Fan B, Mahmoudzadeh AP, Palakal M, Xiang J, Oh H, Horne HN, Sprague BL, Hewitt SM, Brinton LA, Sherman ME. Relationship of Terminal Duct Lobular Unit Involution of the Breast with Area and Volume Mammographic Densities. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016 Feb;9(2):149-58. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-15-0282. Epub 2015 Dec 8.
- Background: PubMed 25139935Gierach GL, Geller BM, Shepherd JA, Patel DA, Vacek PM, Weaver DL, Chicoine RE, Pfeiffer RM, Fan B, Mahmoudzadeh AP, Wang J, Johnson JM, Herschorn SD, Brinton LA, Sherman ME. Comparison of mammographic density assessed as volumes and areas among women undergoing diagnostic image-guided breast biopsy. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014 Nov;23(11):2338-48. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-0257. Epub 2014 Aug 19.
- Background: PubMed 26893016Horne HN, Sherman ME, Pfeiffer RM, Figueroa JD, Khodr ZG, Falk RT, Pollak M, Patel DA, Palakal MM, Linville L, Papathomas D, Geller B, Vacek PM, Weaver DL, Chicoine R, Shepherd J, Mahmoudzadeh AP, Wang J, Fan B, Malkov S, Herschorn S, Hewitt SM, Brinton LA, Gierach GL. Circulating insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 and terminal duct lobular unit involution of the breast: a cross-sectional study of women with benign breast disease. Breast Cancer Res. 2016 Feb 18;18(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s13058-016-0678-4.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Gretchen L Benson, Ph.D. principal investigator
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Breast Neoplasms, run by National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility of collecting data needed (time frame: Dec. 2022). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00475761, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Oct 2026.