Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer
Conditions
Keywords
recurrent colon cancer, stage III colon cancer, stage IV colon cancer, recurrent rectal cancer, stage III rectal cancer, stage IV rectal cancer, recurrent pancreatic cancer, stage II pancreatic cancer, stage III pancreatic cancer, stage IV pancreatic cancer, recurrent breast cancer, stage IIIA breast cancer, stage IIIB breast cancer, stage IIIC breast cancer, stage IV breast cancer
Brief summary
RATIONALE: Studying samples of tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors identify and learn more about biomarkers related to cancer. PURPOSE: This laboratory study is collecting skin biopsy specimens from patients receiving irinotecan or gemcitabine for advanced solid tumors and using them to study change in DNA due to this treatment.
Detailed description
OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine the level of p-Chk1 and phospho-histone 2AX (p-H2AX), an indicator of DNA damage, and possibly downstream pathway markers in hair follicles from skin biopsies of patients treated with gemcitabine hydrochloride or irinotecan hydrochloride for advanced solid tumors. Secondary * Characterize the method for measurement (immunohistochemistry). * Measure inter- and intra-patient variability for the biomarker. * Partially characterize the dynamic time course of p-Chk1 and p-H2AX after administration of a DNA-damaging agent. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients undergo collection of 2 skin biopsies with hair follicles at 4 and 8 hours or at 4 and 6 hours after the start of irinotecan hydrochloride or gemcitabine hydrochloride treatment on day 1 of course 1. Repeat biopsies will be taken at 4, 6, or 8 hours after the start of irinotecan hydrochloride or gemcitabine hydrochloride on day 1 of 2 successive courses. Tissue is examined by immunohistochemistry and possibly other methods for changes in p-Chk1 and pH2AX. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 60 patients will be accrued for this study.
Interventions
Sponsors
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of advanced solid tumor malignancy (preferably colorectal, pancreatic, or breast cancer) * Scheduled to receive a standard dose, weekly regimen of either irinotecan hydrochloride or gemcitabine hydrochloride PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Not specified PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No DNA-damaging agent within the past 13 days
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Level of p-Chk1 and phospho-histone 2AX (p-H2AX) and possibly downstream pathway markers in hair follicles from skin biopsies of patients treated with gemcitabine hydrochloride or irinotecan hydrochloride for advanced solid tumors | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Characterization of the method for measurement (immunohistochemistry) | — |
| Inter- and intra-patient variability for the biomarker | — |
| Dynamic time course of p-Chk1 and p-H2AX after administration of a DNA-damaging agent | — |
Countries
United Kingdom, United States