Comparing Surgical Intervention with Conservative Complex Physical for breast cancer lymphedema
Official title: The LYMPH Trial - Microsurgical Versus Conservative Treatment of Chronic Breast Cancer Associated Lymphedema
The LYMPH Trial - Comparing Microsurgical With Conservative Treatment of Chronic Breast Cancer Associated Lymphedema: Study Protocol of a Pragmatic Randomized International Multicentre Superiority Trial
Interventions
Surgical Intervention
LVA (Lymphovenous Anastomosis) and VLNT (Vascularised Lymph Node Transfer) are two advanced microsurgical techniques that are increasingly implemented in clinical practice in specialized centers and that are already carried out after health insurance application according to local standard of care. They have been studied in their respective mode of action as well as in their effectiveness in treating chronic BCRL (Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema) in a multitude of mostly observational and single center studies with highly encouraging results. Patients in the interventional arm A will receive surgery with one of the two approaches or a combination of both, in a one or two-stage method, at the discretion of the treating surgeon. Depending on local standards one or both of the above might be combined with liposuction to the affected arm in a one or two-stage approach as well.
Conservative Complex Physical Decongestion Therapy
Patients randomized to the control arm will receive CDT (Conservative Complex Physical Decongestion Therapy), which currently is considered as the best available standard of care. For this, patients will be referred to one of the dedicated LE (physical/skin) therapy clinics, if not already treated by one, according to their place of residence for continuation of standard conservative therapy. Recommendations to the procedures and treatment frequency of the conservative therapy will be made, but CDT will be done at the discretion of the treating physiotherapist.
Canadian Sites (2)
McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital
Montreal, Canada
University of British Columbia, Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre
Vancouver, Canada
Eligibility Criteria
See who this study is looking for10 criteria
The trial’s own eligibility text, word for word from the registry. Only the trial site can say who takes part.
Inclusion
- +Written informed consentInformed consentThe process of being told what taking part involves, then choosing freely.Read more →.
- +Patients ≥ 18 years of age.
- +Former diagnosis of breast cancer.
- +Clinical diagnosis of chronic Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema (BCRL) (persisting for more than 3 months) classified as ≥ Stage 1, according to ISL.
- +Minimum of 3 months Conservative Complex Physical Decongestion Therapy.
- +Ability to complete the QoL questionnaires.
- +Willingness to undergo surgery.
Exclusion
- −Primary congenital Lymphedema or non-BCRL.
- −Previous surgical BCRL treatment on the side intended for intervention.
- −No indication for lymphatic surgery according to clinical judgment of the treating surgeon (individual reasons will be specifically documented).
In plain language
Assembled directly from this trial’s registry record. Every sentence traces to a field below — nothing here is generated or interpreted.
What this study is
This study is testing a treatment for a condition.
This study is not organised into the usual phase numbers — that is common for device, behavioural, and diagnostic research.
What is being given or done in this study: Surgical Intervention, Conservative Complex Physical Decongestion Therapy.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.primaryPurpose
- designModule.phases
- armsInterventionsModule.interventions[].name
How the study is run
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
This study is open-labelOpen-labelEveryone knows which treatment is being given — nothing is hidden.Read more →: everyone knows which treatment is being given, including you and the study team.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
One group receives an existing treatment, so the two can be compared.
There are 2 groups in this study.
From the trial registry
Built from this field:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Who the study is looking for
The study lists a minimum age of 18 years, with no upper limit given.
The study is open to people of any sex.
The study does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
These are the criteria the study lists. Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How big and how long
The study aims to enrol about 280 people.
The study is currently expected to finish around June 2036.
The main measurement is taken over: two time assessment at baselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more → and 15 month after randomizationRandomisedWhich group you go into is decided by chance, not by you or your doctor.Read more →.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
What the study measures
Change in Quality of Life Questionnaire (Lymph-ICFInformed consentThe process of being told what taking part involves, then choosing freely.Read more →-UL) — measured over two time assessment at baselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more → and 15 month after randomizationRandomisedWhich group you go into is decided by chance, not by you or your doctor.Read more →.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].measure
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
Source: NCT05890677 on ClinicalTrials.gov. The full registry text is further down this page — this summary never replaces it.
Not medical advice. What do these terms mean?
What is being tested — in plain terms
About Surgical InterventionProcedure
LVA (Lymphovenous Anastomosis) and VLNT (Vascularised Lymph Node Transfer) are two advanced microsurgical techniques that are increasingly implemented in clinical practice in specialized centers and that are already carried out after health insurance application according to local standard of care. They have been studied in their respective mode of action as well as in their effectiveness in treating chronic BCRL (Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema) in a multitude of mostly observational and single center studies with highly encouraging results. Patients in the interventional arm A will receive surgery with one of the two approaches or a combination of both, in a one or two-stage method, at the discretion of the treating surgeon. Depending on local standards one or both of the above might be combined with liposuction to the affected arm in a one or two-stage approach as well.
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a procedure is here: A surgery, technique or clinical procedure being studied.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
About Conservative Complex Physical Decongestion TherapyProcedure
Patients randomized to the control arm will receive CDT (Conservative Complex Physical Decongestion Therapy), which currently is considered as the best available standard of care. For this, patients will be referred to one of the dedicated LE (physical/skin) therapy clinics, if not already treated by one, according to their place of residence for continuation of standard conservative therapy. Recommendations to the procedures and treatment frequency of the conservative therapy will be made, but CDT will be done at the discretion of the treating physiotherapist.
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a procedure is here: A surgery, technique or clinical procedure being studied.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
Common questions
Answered from this trial’s registry record. Where the record doesn’t say, these answers say so rather than filling the gap.
Am I eligible for this trial?
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part. Concord cannot make that determination, and neither can any tool that has not examined you.
What the study lists: a minimum age of 18 years.
The full inclusionInclusion criteriaThe things you must have or be for a study to consider you.Read more → and exclusion criteriaExclusion criteriaThe things that would prevent someone from taking part.Read more → are published on this page, exactly as the study team wrote them.
The useful next step is to bring this trial to your doctor. Answering a few questions first gives them something concrete to review.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
One group receives an existing treatment so the two can be compared.
From the trial registry
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Would I know which treatment I am getting?
This study is open-labelOpen-labelEveryone knows which treatment is being given — nothing is hidden.Read more →: everyone knows which treatment is being given, including you and the study team.
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
From the trial registry
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
Who can join?
The study lists a minimum age of 18 years, with no upper limit given.
It is open to people of any sex.
It does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can confirm whether a particular person can take part.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How long would this take?
The study's main measurement is taken over: two time assessment at baselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more → and 15 month after randomizationRandomisedWhich group you go into is decided by chance, not by you or your doctor.Read more →.
The study as a whole is currently expected to finish around 2036-06.
How long any one person takes part can differ from the study length. The study team can tell you what the schedule looks like in practice.
From the trial registry
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
How many people are taking part?
The study aims to enrol about 280 people.
From the trial registry
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
Where is this happening?
This study lists 3 locations, including: Montreal, Canada; Vancouver, Canada; Rochester, New York, United States.
Sites can open and close during a study, so confirm with the team before travelling.
From the trial registry
- trial_locations
About This Trial
The aim of this study is to test whether lymphatic surgery provides better QoL (assessed with the Lymph-ICF-UL, (Lymphedema Functioning Disability and health questionnaire for upper limb lymphedema)) 15 months after randomization (and therefore about one year after surgery) compared to conservative treatment only for patients with chronic lymphedema (LE)
Other Sites (1)
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, New York, United States
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See if this trial could fit youThis page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical trial eligibility can only be determined by the trial site after proper screening. Trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the most current status. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about clinical trial participation.