Breast CancerEVABIOSEINNCT06347926
Study of Sexual Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer Who Had Multidisciplinary Management With Photobiomodulation for Genitourinary Syndrome of the Menopause
A study testing Questionnaires given before and after photobiomodulation in people with Breast Cancer, run by Institut du Cancer de Montpellier - Val d'Aurelle at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
The treatment of breast cancer as well as the disease are responsible for genito-urinary symptoms that can persist over time and impair quality of life. Given the improved prognosis of breast cancer, more and more patients are confronted with specific post-cancer issues, and the care has become a major health… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Breast Cancer
- What is being tested?
- Questionnaires given before and after photobiomodulation
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 25 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 13 Mar 2025to Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 years and older
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Woman ≥ 18,
- Diagnosis of breast cancer regardless of tumor biology or stage (localized or metastatic),
- Patient with persistent menopause genito-urinary symptoms after a minimum of 3 months of local treatment with vaginal moisturizers,
- Patient eligible for photobiomodulation as 2nd-line treatment for menopausal genitourinary syndrome as part of routine care.
Who cannot join
- Patient who have already undergone or are undergoing a 2nd-line treatment for menopause genito-urinary symptoms (photobiomodulation, laser, intra-vaginal injection of hyaluronic acid, etc.),
- Patient with psychic or cognitive impairment, or not sufficiently fluent in French to be able to fill in the quality of life questionnaires.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Institute of Cancer in Montpellier
Montpellier, Hérault, 34298
Angélique Bobrie, MD, 467618576 ext. +33, angelique.bobrie@icm.unicancer.fr
Angélique Bobrie, MD
About this study
The treatment of breast cancer as well as the disease are responsible for genito-urinary symptoms that can persist over time and impair quality of life. Given the improved prognosis of breast cancer, more and more patients are confronted with specific post-cancer issues, and the care has become a major health challenge.
Sexual health is a crucial component of well-being and overall quality of life. Vaginal dryness and dyspareunia are symptoms frequently found in patients treated for breast cancer, with chemotherapy and hormone therapy as risk factors. However, the treatment of sexual disorders remains underdeveloped in France.
Read more
Vaginal dryness is part of a broader syndrome known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), or vulvovaginal atrophy, which may combine vulvovaginal (dryness, irritation, burning), sexual (dyspareunia) and urinary (infections, pollakiuria, urgency) symptoms secondary to hypoestrogenemia, exacerbated by breast cancer treatments. Since hormonal treatments are contraindicated, the first-line treatment for GSM in patients treated for breast cancer is the application of non-hormonal trophic treatments (regular vaginal moisturizers, lubricants during intercourse). However, these treatments are often insufficient to provide effective relief. There is therefore growing interest in the development of second-line treatments for GSM : intra-vaginal hyaluronic acid injections, laser, photobiomodulation (PBM), etc. PBM using Light Emitting Diodes (LED) has been proposed as an alternative treatment for genitourinary syndrome of the menopause. The tissues are exposed to light sources in the visible spectrum, inducing non-thermal, non-cytotoxic biological effects that improve vaginal tissue trophicity.
In line with previous studies of sexual quality of life carried out at the center, and in the context of the recent establishment of our multidisciplinary network for the 2nd-line treatment of genitourinary menopausal syndrome with Photobiomodulation, we would like to carry out a descriptive study of the sexual QoL of patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer and benefiting from this oncosexological support.
Read the detailed description
Breast cancer affects around one in eight women, accounting for 58,459 new cases in 2018 in France. Advances in treatment have improved overall survival, which is currently around 90% at 5 years in industrialized countries. In France, 5.3% of women have survived breast cancer.
However, the disease and its treatment are responsible for symptoms that can persist over time and impair quality of life. Given the improved prognosis of breast cancer, more and more patients are confronted with the specific problems of the post-cancer period, and care for them has become a major health issue, highlighted in international recommendations and in Cancer Plans since 2003.
Sexual health is a crucial component of well-being and overall quality of life. Sexual quality of life is frequently impaired after cancer treatment. A large-scale survey carried out in France showed that sexual quality of life remained impaired in almost two thirds of patients 2 years and 5 years after cancer diagnosis, all sites combined. An abundance of literature underlines the high frequency of sexuality and intimacy disorders in patients treated for breast cancer, from diagnosis, throughout treatment and into the post-cancer period.
Sexual health is a complex issue, influenced by multiple factors such as education, beliefs, socio-cultural factors, intimacy, relationship with partner, physical and psychological well-being, body image, and personal and gender identity. These multiple factors can be disrupted, modified and altered as a result of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Vaginal dryness and dyspareunia are symptoms frequently found in patients treated for breast cancer, with chemotherapy and hormone therapy as risk factors.
However, the management of sexual disorders remains underdeveloped in France. Three prospective studies have been carried out at the Institute of Cancer in Montpellier (ICM), two of which have been published, analyzing sexual quality of life in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer, and have shown a deterioration in sexual quality of life similar to that described in the literature, with in particular a high frequency of libido disorders, vaginal dryness and altered sexual satisfaction. A low level of communication between patients and healthcare professionals was reported, with a high demand for care expressed by patients. Patients' opinions and suggestions for optimal care were also collected and analyzed. The analysis of these data showed that patients had initiated first-line treatments for vaginal dryness.
Vaginal dryness is part of a broader syndrome known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), or vulvovaginal atrophy, which may combine vulvovaginal (dryness, irritation, burning), sexual (dyspareunia) and urinary (infections, pollakiuria, urgency) symptoms secondary to hypoestrogenemia, exacerbated by breast cancer treatments. Since hormonal treatments are contraindicated, the first-line treatment for GSM in patients treated for breast cancer is the application of non-hormonal trophic treatments (regular vaginal moisturizers, lubricants during intercourse). However, these treatments are often insufficient to provide effective relief. There is therefore growing interest in the development of second-line treatments for GSM : intra-vaginal hyaluronic acid injections, laser, photobiomodulation (PBM), etc. Light Emitting Diode (LED) PBM has been proposed as an alternative treatment for genitourinary menopausal syndrome. he tissues are exposed to light sources in the visible spectrum, inducing non-thermal, non-cytotoxic biological effects that improve vaginal tissue trophicity. This non-invasive technique has few contraindications (epilepsy, photosensitizing treatment) and no known serious side effects, and has been studied in a number of indications, notably for the treatment of oral mucositis. There are few data on vaginal application, and this technology is being evaluated as part of a clinical trial at the Nimes hospital in patients with GSM in the general population. Interim results based on the inclusion of 130 patients showed clinical improvement in 61 out of 100 patients ("better" or "much better") treated with 6 sessions of PBM, with no serious adverse effects (PhD thesis). There are currently no data specifically on women treated for breast cancer. In the context of setting up an oncosexology care network at the Institute of Cancer in Montpellier.
In line with previous studies of sexual QoL carried out at the center, and in the context of the recent establishment of our multidisciplinary network for the 2nd-line treatment of genitourinary menopausal syndrome with Photobiomodulation, we would like to carry out a descriptive study of the sexual Qaulity of life of patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer and benefiting from this oncosexological support.
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer
- Being tested
- Questionnaires given before and after photobiomodulation
- Keywords
- Sexual troubles, Irritation, Dyspareunia, Vaginal dryness, Photobiomodulation
- Medical subject headings
- Breast Neoplasms, Dyspareunia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Questionnaires given before and after photobiomodulationProcedure or surgery
Questionnaires given at 1 month, 6 months and 12 months
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaires, scale and score | Experimental | Questionnaires, numeric visual scale and clinical score Receives: Procedure: Questionnaires given before and after photobiomodulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Sexual satisfaction score on one dimension of the SHQ-22 questionnaire
Evaluation by sexual health questionnaire (SHQ-22). The SHQ-22 questionnaire is a multidimensional quality of life instrument used to measure sexual health in patients with cancer (men or women). This new tool covers both sexual functioning and psychosexual components. It includes 8 items on sexual satisfaction, 3 items on sexual pain, and 11 single items in an integrative approach, leading to 7 functional scales and 4 symptom scales. In these questionnaires, higher scores in the functioning scales indicate a better functional level, whereas higher scores in the symptom scales indicate the severity of problems.
Measured: From baseline to 1 year
Secondary outcomes (6)
Sexual quality of life scores obtained on all dimensions of the SHQ-22 questionnaire
Evaluation by sexual health questionnaire (SHQ-22). The SHQ-22 questionnaire is a multidimensional quality of life instrument used to measure sexual health in patients with cancer (men or women). This new tool covers both sexual functioning and psychosexual components. It includes 8 items on sexual satisfaction, 3 items on sexual pain, and 11 single items in an integrative approach, leading to 7 functional scales and 4 symptom scales. In these questionnaires, higher scores in the functioning scales indicate a better functional level, whereas higher scores in the symptom scales indicate the severity of problems.
Measured: From baseline to 1 year
Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) score
Evaluation by questionnaire Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I). The PGI-I is a transition scale that is a single question asking the patient to rate their urinary tract condition now, as compared with how it was prior to before beginning treatment on a scale from 1 to 7. Very much better (1) to Very much worse (7).
Measured: From baseline to 1 year
Determination of the Vaginal Health Index clinical score
The vaginal health index scores five different signs of vaginal health on a one-to-five ranking system. The lower your score, the more unhealthy your vaginal tissue is. The score ranges from 5 (the worst vaginal health) to 25 (the best vaginal health). This scoring system helps doctors to diagnose the severity of genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
Measured: From baseline to 1 year
Determination of symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy by a visual numerical scale
Visual numerical scale from 0 (no pain and discomfort) to 10 (the most intense pain and discomfort)
Measured: From baseline to 1 year
Determination of adverse events by using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) scale of the National Cancer Institute.
Measured: From baseline to 1 year
Number of patients taking other treatments for treating sexual troubles
Measured: From baseline to 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Apr 2024
- Study start13 Mar 2025
- Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (14)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Breast CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Institut du Cancer de Montpellier - Val d'AurelleThe 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Questionnaires given before and after photobiomodulation
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Angélique Bobrie, MD, Study chair, Institute of Cancer in Montpellier
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06347926
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PROICM 2023-11 EVA
- Acronym
- EVABIOSEIN
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 28 Mar 2024
- Last updated
- 18 Nov 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Participant data will be made available on request and with the completion of a contract between the sponsor and the requester.
Publications
Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018 Nov;68(6):394-424. doi: 10.3322/caac.21492. Epub 2018 Sep 12.
PubMed 30207593Allemani C, Matsuda T, Di Carlo V, Harewood R, Matz M, Niksic M, Bonaventure A, Valkov M, Johnson CJ, Esteve J, Ogunbiyi OJ, Azevedo E Silva G, Chen WQ, Eser S, Engholm G, Stiller CA, Monnereau A, Woods RR, Visser O, Lim GH, Aitken J, Weir HK, Coleman MP; CONCORD Working Group. Global surveillance of trends in cancer survival 2000-14 (CONCORD-3): analysis of individual records for 37 513 025 patients diagnosed with one of 18 cancers from 322 population-based registries in 71 countries. Lancet. 2018 Mar 17;391(10125):1023-1075. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33326-3. Epub 2018 Jan 31.
PubMed 29395269Carter J, Lacchetti C, Andersen BL, Barton DL, Bolte S, Damast S, Diefenbach MA, DuHamel K, Florendo J, Ganz PA, Goldfarb S, Hallmeyer S, Kushner DM, Rowland JH. Interventions to Address Sexual Problems in People With Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Adaptation of Cancer Care Ontario Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Feb 10;36(5):492-511. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.75.8995. Epub 2017 Dec 11.
PubMed 29227723Ben Charif A, Bouhnik AD, Courbiere B, Rey D, Preau M, Bendiane MK, Peretti-Watel P, Mancini J. Sexual health problems in French cancer survivors 2 years after diagnosis-the national VICAN survey. J Cancer Surviv. 2016 Jun;10(3):600-9. doi: 10.1007/s11764-015-0506-3. Epub 2015 Dec 21.
PubMed 26685697Seguin L, Touzani R, Bouhnik AD, Charif AB, Marino P, Bendiane MK, Goncalves A, Gravis G, Mancini J. Deterioration of Sexual Health in Cancer Survivors Five Years after Diagnosis: Data from the French National Prospective VICAN Survey. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Nov 20;12(11):3453. doi: 10.3390/cancers12113453.
PubMed 33233583Dizon DS. Quality of life after breast cancer: survivorship and sexuality. Breast J. 2009 Sep-Oct;15(5):500-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4741.2009.00766.x. Epub 2009 Jul 14.
PubMed 19614908Frechette D, Paquet L, Verma S, Clemons M, Wheatley-Price P, Gertler SZ, Song X, Graham N, Dent S. The impact of endocrine therapy on sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer: encouraging results from a prospective study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2013 Aug;141(1):111-7. doi: 10.1007/s10549-013-2659-y. Epub 2013 Aug 14.
PubMed 23942873Del Pup L, Villa P, Amar ID, Bottoni C, Scambia G. Approach to sexual dysfunction in women with cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2019 Mar;29(3):630-634. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2018-000096. Epub 2019 Feb 13.
PubMed 30765487Ribi K, Luo W, Bernhard J, Francis PA, Burstein HJ, Ciruelos E, Bellet M, Pavesi L, Lluch A, Visini M, Parmar V, Tondini C, Kerbrat P, Perello A, Neven P, Torres R, Lombardi D, Puglisi F, Karlsson P, Ruhstaller T, Colleoni M, Coates AS, Goldhirsch A, Price KN, Gelber RD, Regan MM, Fleming GF. Adjuvant Tamoxifen Plus Ovarian Function Suppression Versus Tamoxifen Alone in Premenopausal Women With Early Breast Cancer: Patient-Reported Outcomes in the Suppression of Ovarian Function Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2016 May 10;34(14):1601-10. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2015.64.8675. Epub 2016 Mar 28.
PubMed 27022111Aptecar L, Fiteni F, Jarlier M, Delaine S, Guillerme V, Jacot W, D'Hondt V. Prospective evaluation of sexual health in breast cancer women during the first year of adjuvant hormonal treatment using a cancer patient's dedicated questionnaire: A glaring gap of communication between health professionals and patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2021 Apr;186(3):705-713. doi: 10.1007/s10549-020-06062-x. Epub 2021 Jan 15.
PubMed 33452553Bobrie A, Jarlier M, Moussion A, Jacot W, D'Hondt V. Sexual quality of life assessment in young women with breast cancer during adjuvant endocrine therapy and patient-reported supportive measures. Support Care Cancer. 2022 Apr;30(4):3633-3641. doi: 10.1007/s00520-022-06810-3. Epub 2022 Jan 14.
PubMed 35028721Hocke C, Diaz M, Bernard V, Frantz S, Lambert M, Mathieu C, Grellety-Cherbero M. [Genitourinary menopause syndrome. Postmenopausal women management: CNGOF and GEMVi clinical practice guidelines]. Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. 2021 May;49(5):394-413. doi: 10.1016/j.gofs.2021.03.025. Epub 2021 Mar 20. French.
PubMed 33757926Maris E, Salerno J, Hedon B, Mares P. [Management of vulvovaginal atrophy: Physical therapies. Postmenopausal women management: CNGOF and GEMVi clinical practice guidelines]. Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. 2021 May;49(5):414-419. doi: 10.1016/j.gofs.2021.03.021. Epub 2021 Mar 20. French.
PubMed 33757917Lanzafame RJ, de la Torre S, Leibaschoff GH. The Rationale for Photobiomodulation Therapy of Vaginal Tissue for Treatment of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: An Analysis of Its Mechanism of Action, and Current Clinical Outcomes. Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019 Jul;37(7):395-407. doi: 10.1089/photob.2019.4618. Epub 2019 Jun 17.
PubMed 31210575
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Nov 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Study of Sexual Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer Who Had Multidisciplinary Management With Photobiomodulation for Genitourinary Syndrome of the Menopause
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06347926
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EVABIOSEIN / PROICM 2023-11 EVA
- Conditions
- Breast Cancer
- Keywords
- Sexual troubles, Irritation, Dyspareunia, Vaginal dryness, Photobiomodulation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Institut du Cancer de Montpellier - Val d'AurelleUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 13 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Apr 2024 (actual)
- 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.
The treatment of breast cancer as well as the disease are responsible for genito-urinary symptoms that can persist over time and impair quality of life. Given the improved prognosis of breast cancer, more and more patients are confronted with specific post-cancer issues, and the care has become a major health challenge.
Sexual health is a crucial component of well-being and overall quality of life. Vaginal dryness and dyspareunia are symptoms frequently found in patients treated for breast cancer, with chemotherapy and hormone therapy as risk factors. However, the treatment of sexual disorders remains underdeveloped in France.
Vaginal dryness is part of a broader syndrome known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), or vulvovaginal atrophy, which may combine vulvovaginal (dryness, irritation, burning), sexual (dyspareunia) and urinary (infections, pollakiuria, urgency) symptoms secondary to hypoestrogenemia, exacerbated by breast cancer treatments. Since hormonal treatments are contraindicated, the first-line treatment for GSM in patients treated for breast cancer is the application of non-hormonal trophic treatments (regular vaginal moisturizers, lubricants during intercourse). However, these treatments are often insufficient to provide effective relief. There is therefore growing interest in the development of second-line treatments for GSM : intra-vaginal hyaluronic acid injections, laser, photobiomodulation (PBM), etc. PBM using Light Emitting Diodes (LED) has been proposed as an alternative treatment for genitourinary syndrome of the menopause. The tissues are exposed to light sources in the visible spectrum, inducing non-thermal, non-cytotoxic biological effects that improve vaginal tissue trophicity.
In line with previous studies of sexual quality of life carried out at the center, and in the context of the recent establishment of our multidisciplinary network for the 2nd-line treatment of genitourinary menopausal syndrome with Photobiomodulation, we would like to carry out a descriptive study of the sexual QoL of patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer and benefiting from this oncosexological support.
Detailed description
Breast cancer affects around one in eight women, accounting for 58,459 new cases in 2018 in France. Advances in treatment have improved overall survival, which is currently around 90% at 5 years in industrialized countries. In France, 5.3% of women have survived breast cancer.
However, the disease and its treatment are responsible for symptoms that can persist over time and impair quality of life. Given the improved prognosis of breast cancer, more and more patients are confronted with the specific problems of the post-cancer period, and care for them has become a major health issue, highlighted in international recommendations and in Cancer Plans since 2003.
Sexual health is a crucial component of well-being and overall quality of life. Sexual quality of life is frequently impaired after cancer treatment. A large-scale survey carried out in France showed that sexual quality of life remained impaired in almost two thirds of patients 2 years and 5 years after cancer diagnosis, all sites combined. An abundance of literature underlines the high frequency of sexuality and intimacy disorders in patients treated for breast cancer, from diagnosis, throughout treatment and into the post-cancer period.
Sexual health is a complex issue, influenced by multiple factors such as education, beliefs, socio-cultural factors, intimacy, relationship with partner, physical and psychological well-being, body image, and personal and gender identity. These multiple factors can be disrupted, modified and altered as a result of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Vaginal dryness and dyspareunia are symptoms frequently found in patients treated for breast cancer, with chemotherapy and hormone therapy as risk factors.
However, the management of sexual disorders remains underdeveloped in France. Three prospective studies have been carried out at the Institute of Cancer in Montpellier (ICM), two of which have been published, analyzing sexual quality of life in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer, and have shown a deterioration in sexual quality of life similar to that described in the literature, with in particular a high frequency of libido disorders, vaginal dryness and altered sexual satisfaction. A low level of communication between patients and healthcare professionals was reported, with a high demand for care expressed by patients. Patients' opinions and suggestions for optimal care were also collected and analyzed. The analysis of these data showed that patients had initiated first-line treatments for vaginal dryness.
Vaginal dryness is part of a broader syndrome known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), or vulvovaginal atrophy, which may combine vulvovaginal (dryness, irritation, burning), sexual (dyspareunia) and urinary (infections, pollakiuria, urgency) symptoms secondary to hypoestrogenemia, exacerbated by breast cancer treatments. Since hormonal treatments are contraindicated, the first-line treatment for GSM in patients treated for breast cancer is the application of non-hormonal trophic treatments (regular vaginal moisturizers, lubricants during intercourse). However, these treatments are often insufficient to provide effective relief. There is therefore growing interest in the development of second-line treatments for GSM : intra-vaginal hyaluronic acid injections, laser, photobiomodulation (PBM), etc. Light Emitting Diode (LED) PBM has been proposed as an alternative treatment for genitourinary menopausal syndrome. he tissues are exposed to light sources in the visible spectrum, inducing non-thermal, non-cytotoxic biological effects that improve vaginal tissue trophicity. This non-invasive technique has few contraindications (epilepsy, photosensitizing treatment) and no known serious side effects, and has been studied in a number of indications, notably for the treatment of oral mucositis. There are few data on vaginal application, and this technology is being evaluated as part of a clinical trial at the Nimes hospital in patients with GSM in the general population. Interim results based on the inclusion of 130 patients showed clinical improvement in 61 out of 100 patients ("better" or "much better") treated with 6 sessions of PBM, with no serious adverse effects (PhD thesis). There are currently no data specifically on women treated for breast cancer. In the context of setting up an oncosexology care network at the Institute of Cancer in Montpellier.
In line with previous studies of sexual QoL carried out at the center, and in the context of the recent establishment of our multidisciplinary network for the 2nd-line treatment of genitourinary menopausal syndrome with Photobiomodulation, we would like to carry out a descriptive study of the sexual Qaulity of life of patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer and benefiting from this oncosexological support.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Questionnaires given before and after photobiomodulation
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaires, scale and score | Experimental | Procedure: Questionnaires given before and after photobiomodulationQuestionnaires, numeric visual scale and clinical score |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Woman ≥ 18,
- Diagnosis of breast cancer regardless of tumor biology or stage (localized or metastatic),
- Patient with persistent menopause genito-urinary symptoms after a minimum of 3 months of local treatment with vaginal moisturizers,
- Patient eligible for photobiomodulation as 2nd-line treatment for menopausal genitourinary syndrome as part of routine care.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Patient who have already undergone or are undergoing a 2nd-line treatment for menopause genito-urinary symptoms (photobiomodulation, laser, intra-vaginal injection of hyaluronic acid, etc.),
- Patient with psychic or cognitive impairment, or not sufficiently fluent in French to be able to fill in the quality of life questionnaires.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaires given before and after photobiomodulationQuestionnaires given at 1 month, 6 months and 12 months | Procedure or surgery | Questionnaires, scale and score |
Primary outcome
Sexual satisfaction score on one dimension of the SHQ-22 questionnaire
Time frame: From baseline to 1 year
Evaluation by sexual health questionnaire (SHQ-22). The SHQ-22 questionnaire is a multidimensional quality of life instrument used to measure sexual health in patients with cancer (men or women). This new tool covers both sexual functioning and psychosexual components. It includes 8 items on sexual satisfaction, 3 items on sexual pain, and 11 single items in an integrative approach, leading to 7 functional scales and 4 symptom scales. In these questionnaires, higher scores in the functioning scales indicate a better functional level, whereas higher scores in the symptom scales indicate the severity of problems.
6 secondary outcomes
Sexual quality of life scores obtained on all dimensions of the SHQ-22 questionnaire
Time frame: From baseline to 1 year
Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) score
Time frame: From baseline to 1 year
Determination of the Vaginal Health Index clinical score
Time frame: From baseline to 1 year
Determination of symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy by a visual numerical scale
Time frame: From baseline to 1 year
Determination of adverse events by using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) scale of the National Cancer Institute.
Time frame: From baseline to 1 year
Number of patients taking other treatments for treating sexual troubles
Time frame: From baseline to 1 year
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Nov 2025.
- Background: PubMed 30207593Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018 Nov;68(6):394-424. doi: 10.3322/caac.21492. Epub 2018 Sep 12.
- Background: PubMed 29395269Allemani C, Matsuda T, Di Carlo V, Harewood R, Matz M, Niksic M, Bonaventure A, Valkov M, Johnson CJ, Esteve J, Ogunbiyi OJ, Azevedo E Silva G, Chen WQ, Eser S, Engholm G, Stiller CA, Monnereau A, Woods RR, Visser O, Lim GH, Aitken J, Weir HK, Coleman MP; CONCORD Working Group. Global surveillance of trends in cancer survival 2000-14 (CONCORD-3): analysis of individual records for 37 513 025 patients diagnosed with one of 18 cancers from 322 population-based registries in 71 countries. Lancet. 2018 Mar 17;391(10125):1023-1075. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33326-3. Epub 2018 Jan 31.
- Background: PubMed 29227723Carter J, Lacchetti C, Andersen BL, Barton DL, Bolte S, Damast S, Diefenbach MA, DuHamel K, Florendo J, Ganz PA, Goldfarb S, Hallmeyer S, Kushner DM, Rowland JH. Interventions to Address Sexual Problems in People With Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Adaptation of Cancer Care Ontario Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Feb 10;36(5):492-511. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.75.8995. Epub 2017 Dec 11.
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- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Participant data will be made available on request and with the completion of a contract between the sponsor and the requester.
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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.
Angélique Bobrie, MD study chair
Institute of Cancer in Montpellier
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Questionnaires given before and after photobiomodulation in people with Breast Cancer, run by Institut du Cancer de Montpellier - Val d'Aurelle at 1 site in France.
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 4 inclusion and 2 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Nov 2025. 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 France. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Angélique Bobrie, MD (467618576 ext. +33, angelique.bobrie@icm.unicancer.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Sexual satisfaction score on one dimension of the SHQ-22 questionnaire (time frame: From baseline to 1 year). 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 NCT06347926, which also lists 14 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 18 Nov 2025.