A randomized trial of armpit (axilla) treatment for women with early stage breast cancer. POSNOC - POsitive Sentinel NOde: adjuvant therapy alone versus adjuvant therapy plus Clearance or axillary radiotherapy.

ISRCTN ISRCTN54765244
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN54765244
IRAS number 137785
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02401685
Secondary identifying numbers 16069, RD-5103-001-13, IRAS 137785
Submission date
25/02/2014
Registration date
25/02/2014
Last edited
01/11/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Ongoing
Condition category
Cancer
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/trials/a-trial-looking-treatment-armpit-breast-cancer-posnoc

Study website

Contact information

Dr Amit Goyal
Scientific

Royal Derby Hospital
Derby
DE22 3NE
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-2381-8337
Phone +44 (0)1332 785538
Email amit.goyal@nhs.net

Study information

Study designPragmatic randomised multi-centre non-inferiority trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Available in resources and publications section of trial website http://www.posnoc.co.uk/
Scientific titlePOSNOC - POsitive Sentinel NOde: adjuvant therapy alone versus adjuvant therapy plus Clearance or axillary radiotherapy. A randomized controlled trial of axillary treatment in women with early stage breast cancer who have metastases in one or two sentinel nodes
Study acronymPOSNOC
Study hypothesisCurrent study hypothesis as of 14/06/2019:
The hypothesis of the POSNOC trial is that low axillary tumour burden patients with macrometastases in 1 or 2 sentinel nodes, receiving systemic therapy, would have non-inferior outcomes whether they are randomised to adjuvant therapy alone or adjuvant therapy plus axillary treatment (either axillary node clearance or axillary radiotherapy).

Previous hypothesis:
The hypothesis of the POSNOC trial is that low axillary tumour burden patients (clinically and ultrasound node negative) with macrometastases in 1 or 2 sentinel nodes, receiving systemic therapy, would have non-inferior outcomes whether they are randomised to adjuvant therapy alone or adjuvant therapy plus axillary treatment (axillary node clearance or axillary radiotherapy).
Ethics approval(s)Nottingham Research Ethics Committee 2, 13/EM/0459, First REC approval date 02/01/2014
ConditionBreast Cancer
InterventionCurrent interventions as of 14/06/2019:
The trial interventions are either:
1. Adjuvant therapy alone (intervention)
Axillary radiotherapy is not allowed when randomised to this group.

2. Adjuvant therapy plus axillary treatment (standard care)
Axillary treatment can be either axillary node clearance or axillary radiotherapy as per local guidelines.

All participants will have adjuvant therapy according to local guidelines. Adjuvant therapy will include chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy for all women, and radiotherapy to breast or chest wall if indicated. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted treatment may be administered when indicated.

Previous interventions:
The trial interventions are either:
1. Adjuvant therapy alone (intervention)
Axillary and supraclavicular fossa radiotherapy is not allowed when randomised to this group.

2. Adjuvant therapy plus axillary treatment (standard care)
Axillary treatment can be axillary node clearance or axillary radiotherapy as per local guidelines.

All participants will have adjuvant therapy according to local guidelines. Adjuvant therapy will include chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy for all women, and radiotherapy to breast or chest wall if indicated. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted treatment may also be administered when indicated.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase III
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Adjuvant therapy
Primary outcome measureAxillary recurrence; Timepoint(s): at 5 years
Secondary outcome measures1. Anxiety; Timepoint(s): assessed at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 months
2. Arm morbidity; Timepoint(s): assessed at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months
3. Axillary recurrence free survival; Timepoint(s): assessed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months
4. Contralateral breast cancer; Timepoint(s): assessed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months
5. Disease free survival; Timepoint(s): assessed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months
6. Distant metastasis; Timepoint(s): assessed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months
7. Economic evaluation; Timepoint(s): assessed at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 months
8. Local (breast or chest wall) recurrence; Timepoint(s): assessed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months
9. Non-breast malignancy; Timepoint(s): assessed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months
10. Overall survival; Timepoint(s): assessed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months
11. Quality of life; Timepoint(s): assessed at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 months
12. Regional (nodal) recurrence; Timepoint(s): assessed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months
13. Time to axillary recurrence; Timepoint(s): assessed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months
Overall study start date01/01/2014
Overall study end date13/07/2026

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexFemale
Target number of participants1900
Total final enrolment1900
Participant inclusion criteriaCurrent inclusion criteria as of 14/06/2019:
Women will be eligible for inclusion only if ALL of the following criteria apply:
1. 18 years or older
2. Unifocal or multi-focal invasive tumour with lesion ≤5 cm in its largest dimension, measured pathologically or largest invasive tumour diameter on radiology should be used for women who are randomised intra-operatively or undergo sentinel node biopsy before neoadjuvant therapy (tumour size should be based only on the single largest tumour; do not add the sizes together from the multiple foci)
3. At sentinel node biopsy have 1 or 2 nodes with macrometastases (tumour deposit >2.0mm in largest dimension or defined as macrometastasis on molecular assay)
4. Fit for axillary treatment and adjuvant therapy
5. Have given written informed consent

Previous inclusion criteria:
Women will be eligible for inclusion only if ALL of the following criteria apply:
1. 18 years or older
2. Unifocal or multifocal invasive tumour with lesion ≤5 cm in its largest dimension, measured pathologically or for women who are randomised intraoperatively
largest tumour diameter on mammogram or ultrasound.
3. No axillary nodal metastasis on clinical and ultrasound examination.
4. At sentinel node biopsy have 1 or 2 sentinel nodes with macrometastases (tumour deposit >2.0mm in largest dimension or defined as macrometastasis on molecular assay)
5. Fit for axillary treatment and adjuvant therapy
6. Have given written informed consent
Participant exclusion criteriaCurrent exclusion criteria as of 14/06/2019:
Women will be excluded if they have:
1. Bilateral invasive breast cancer
2. More than 2 nodes with macrometastases
3. Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer except:
3.1. If sentinel node biopsy performed prior to neoadjuvant therapy in women with early breast cancer
3.2. Short duration of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy is acceptable (up to 3 months)
4. Previous axillary surgery on the same body side as the scheduled sentinel node biopsy
5. Not receiving adjuvant systemic therapy
6. Previous cancer less than 5 years previously or concomitant malignancy except:
6.1. Basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or
6.2. In situ carcinoma of the cervix or
6.3. In situ melanoma
6.4. Contra- or ipsilateral in situ breast cancer

Previous exclusion criteria:
Women will be excluded if they have:
1. Bilateral breast cancer
2. More than 2 sentinel node macrometastases or extranodal invasion
3. Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer
4. Previous axillary surgery on the same body side as the scheduled sentinel node biopsy
5. Not fit or eligible to receive adjuvant systemic therapy
6. Previous or concomitant malignancy except:
6.1. Adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or
6.2. Adequately treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix or
6.3. Adequately treated in situ melanoma
6.4. Contra- or ipsilateral in situ breast cancer
Recruitment start date01/01/2014
Recruitment end date13/07/2021

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Australia
  • England
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Royal Derby Hospital
Derby
DE22 3NE
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

Dr Teresa M. Grieve
Assistant Director of Research & Development
Research & Development Department
Royal Derby Hospital
Derby
DE22 3DT
England
United Kingdom

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Research, NIHRresearch, NIHR - National Institute for Health Research, NIHR (The National Institute for Health and Care Research), NIHR
Location
United Kingdom
National Health and Medical Research Council
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
NHMRC
Location
Australia

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/01/2027
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article 02/12/2021 06/12/2021 Yes No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

01/11/2023: The following changes have been made:
1. IRAS number added.
2. Drug/device/biological/vaccine name(s) added.
3. Study website added.
06/12/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The ClinicalTrials.gov number has been added.
12/08/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. The recruitment end date has been changed from 31/08/2021 to 13/07/2021.
2. The overall trial end date has been changed from 31/12/2026 to 13/07/2026.
3. The intention to publish date has been added.
4. The total final enrolment number has been added.
24/02/2020: The overall trial end date was changed from 31/12/2023 to 31/12/2026.
17/06/2019: Publication and dissemination plan and IPD sharing statement added.
14/06/2019: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Contact details, hypothesis, participant information sheet, interventions, inclusion/exclusion criteria were updated.
2. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/12/2023 to 31/08/2021.
3. Australia and New Zealand were added to the countries of recruitment.
4. The sponsor name was changed from "Derby Hospital NHS Foundation Trust" to "University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust".
5. National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) was added as a funder.