Trial Information

A Case Control Study to Define Clinical, Immunologic and Radiographic Features of the Aromatase Inhibitor Arthralgia Syndrome

This study is for women with post-menopausal breast cancer and hand pain. Patients do not
need to be taking aromatase inhibitors to be eligible for the study. We want to study the
joint findings in patients with hand pain and breast cancer undergoing treatment with
aromatase inhibitor medications and compare them to patients with hand pain and breast
cancer not treated with these medications.

Aromatase inhibitor drugs are used in certain types of breast cancer to reduce the risk of
cancer returning after treatment. One of the side effects of aromatase inhibitors is the
development of joint pain, a complication known as the Arthralgia Syndrome. The cause of the
Arthralgia Syndrome is not known, but we suspect that the pain may be due to inflammation in
the joints. Currently, the only effective treatment is to stop the aromatase inhibitor, and
so affected patients may miss out on an otherwise useful treatment to prevent return of
their cancer.

Post-menopausal patients with breast cancer and hand pain can enroll in the study. Patients
will be asked to come for a separate visit which will take about half a day.