Arthralgia
Conditions
Keywords
bone fracture, cartilage, osteoporosis, breast cancer, aromatase inhibitors, knee articular cartilage volume
Brief summary
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.
Detailed description
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.
Interventions
DRUGaromatase inhibitors (letrozole, anastrozole)
Women prescribed an aromatase inhibitor by their clinician were compared with healthy controls in the community who had been recruited to a prior study
Sponsors
Monash University
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
40 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
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
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Knee Cartilage Volume | Baseline, two years | change in medial and lateral articular tibial cartilage volume over two years |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Knee Subchondral Bone Expansion | Baseline, Two years | change in subchondral bone expansion area over two years |
Countries
Australia
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Women With Breast Cancer on Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer prescribed an aromatase inhibitor | 45 |
| Control healthy postmenopausal aged-matched controls from prior data base | 70 |
| Total | 115 |
Withdrawals & dropouts
| Period | Reason | FG000 | FG001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Study | Adverse Event | 1 | 0 |
| Overall Study | Lost to Follow-up | 1 | 0 |
| Overall Study | Protocol Violation | 9 | 8 |
| Overall Study | Withdrawal by Subject | 4 | 0 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Women With Breast Cancer on Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy | Control | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 45 Participants | 70 Participants | 115 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment Australia | 45 participants | 70 participants | 115 participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 45 Participants | 70 Participants | 115 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | — / — | — / — |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 45 | 0 / 70 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 45 | 0 / 70 |
Outcome results
Primary
Knee Cartilage Volume
change in medial and lateral articular tibial cartilage volume over two years
Time frame: Baseline, two years
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women With Breast Cancer | Knee Cartilage Volume | 2042 mm³ | Standard Deviation 151 |
| Control | Knee Cartilage Volume | 1971 mm³ | Standard Deviation 207 |
Secondary
Knee Subchondral Bone Expansion
change in subchondral bone expansion area over two years
Time frame: Baseline, Two years
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women With Breast Cancer | Knee Subchondral Bone Expansion | 2020 mm² | Standard Deviation 180 |
| Control | Knee Subchondral Bone Expansion | 1992 mm² | Standard Deviation 204 |