Skip to content

Does Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction Decrease the Risk of Lymphedema After Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

A Randomized Controlled Trial: Does Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction Decrease the Incidence of Lymphedema After Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04241341
Enrollment
180
Registered
2020-01-27
Start date
2020-01-22
Completion date
2027-01-01
Last updated
2026-02-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Breast Cancer Lymphedema

Keywords

Axillary Lymph Node Dissection, Lymphatic Reconstruction, 20-021

Brief summary

The researchers are doing this study to see if having immediate lymphatic reconstruction after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) can decrease the development of lymphedema, a side effect of ALND. Other purposes of the study include: Comparing the approach of immediate lymphatic reconstruction after ALND with the approach of ALND alone Looking at whether having immediate lymphatic reconstruction after ALND improves a person's quality of life Seeing if adding standard of care radiation therapy to either study approach (immediate lymphatic reconstruction after ALND or ALND alone) has an effect on development of lymphedema

Interventions

PROCEDUREAxillary Lymph Node Dissection with Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction

Axillary Lymph Node Dissection with Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction

PROCEDUREAxillary Lymph Node Dissection without Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction

Current standard treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering \[MSK\]).

Four validated patient reported outcome measures (PROMs): the Upper Limb Lymphedema-27 (ULL-27), the Quality of Life Measure for Limb Lymphedema (LYMQOL), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (CESD-R), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Study participants will undergo standard lymphedema measurements and quality-of-life questionnaires at baseline before ALND and postoperatively at 6 weeks (+/- 30 days) and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months (+/- 30 days). If patients are unable to complete their questionnaires at the time of their in-office visit, a link to the questionnaires in REDCap will be emailed to them.

OTHERmeasured by arm volume

Bilateral arm volumes will be measured with sequential circumferential measurements with the truncated cone formula. If a patient cannot return to Manhattan for these assessments but is seen by a lymphedema therapist in a regional location or at an institution outside of MSK as part of their routine cancer treatment, this data can be used in the final analysis

Sponsors

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Patients will be randomized to one of two groups: ALND with ILR (intervention group) and ALND without ILR (control group; current standard treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering \[MSK\]).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Female breast cancer patients 18-75 years of age * Patients consenting for unilateral ALND (prior history of SLNBx allowed if \<6 months from consent) OR patients consenting for unilateral SLNBx with possible ALND, with a clinically or radiographically positive lymph node OR a high likelihood of ALND per the Breast Surgeon * Identification of at least one transected lymphatic channel and at least one vein to be used for bypass at the time of ALND during surgery

Exclusion criteria

* Male breast cancer patients * Non-English speaking participants * Female breast cancer patients with axillary recurrence * Female breast cancer patients who have a history of ALND * Female patients requiring bilateral ALND for the treatment of their breast cancer * Female breast patients treated with SLNBx only

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
the number of patients that had a decrease incidence of lymphedemaup to 2 yearsas measured by arm volume will be a ≥10% increase in arm volume

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMichelle Coriddi, MD

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 28, 2026