Guiding research to improve how chemotherapy is monitored

What’s the title of the study?

Monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy - contrast enhanced mammography versus magnetic resonance imaging, a noninferiority study

What’s the study about?

Researchers are developing a study which will look at what imaging can best monitor how well a breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy, when it is given before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy).

This is important as it allows the surgeon to decide the best treatment for each patient. It also shows how sensitive the cancer is to chemotherapy drugs.

At the moment, MRI is more accurate than mammography and ultrasound at predicting the size of someone’s breast cancer. But, an MRI scan can be uncomfortable, and not all women can have them. It can also be hard to get an MRI scan quickly due to pressures on the NHS.

This study will look at whether a new type of imaging called contrast enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is more accurate than MRIs in showing how well cancer is responding to chemotherapy. They also want to know how women feel about CESM.

They’ve set up a patient advisory panel of people who've had a personal diagnosis of breast cancer who've been guiding the development of the study so far. 

The researchers are wanting to invite new members to join the group to ensure that the study is relevant and accessible for as many people as possible.

Who can take part?

You can take part if you’re a woman who’s had a personal experience of breast cancer.

The researchers especially welcome interest from women who:

• have had chemotherapy before surgery
• are from Black, South Asian or other ethnic minority communities

They're specifically looking to involve women as men are rarely treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. And when they are, they would not rotuinely have an MRI.

Why do you want me to be involved?

The researchers hope that this study will mean that women having neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the future will have the option of imaging technology which allows for faster and easier monitoring in the future.

By joining the group, you can help ensure that the study is accessible and appropriate to all women eligible to join.

What will you ask me to do?

The advisory group is currently supporting researchers as they apply for funding. If the research is successfully funded, it’ll continue to support and advise the study throughout its duration.

The study will look to recruit women who've just been diagnosed but not started treatment. The researchers are aware that this period is very difficult. So, as part of the group, you'll help researchers think about how to recruit and support participants. 

You’ll be asked to join an online meeting about the funding application in the next 2 weeks. Following this, the researchers expect to meet online with the group twice a year. The researchers especially want the group’s advice on how they can make the study accessible and how best to recruit participants.

If you’re interested, you could help to lead the group, which would involve joining meetings more regularly.

You’ll have all expenses paid and the researchers will give you thank-you vouchers to recognise your contribution.