2 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Some patients who undergo breast cancer treatment with lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy develop significant late skin and soft tissue changes, resulting in a poor cosmetic outcome. The goal of this study is to try to predict severe tissue reactions by using a combination of three of the latest blood tests, one of which we have developed ourselves.
RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x rays to kill tumor cells. Radiation therapy may cause skin reactions when patients are exposed to high-energy x rays. Studying the genetic pattern of patients before and after radiation therapy may help doctors prevent toxicity and plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This clinical trial studies genetic susceptibility to radiation-induced skin reactions in racial/ethnic groups of patients with breast cancer.