A Pilot Pre-operative Window Trial of Black Cohosh in Women With Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

Inclusion Criteria:

A patient/subject is eligible for enrollment if all of the following inclusion criteria are met:

Pre- and post-menopausal women ≥ 18 years of age newly diagnosed with DCIS histologically confirmed on breast core biopsy
Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
ECOG performance status 0-1
Life expectancy >12 months
Willing to schedule definitive resection of DCIS 4 weeks +/- 1 week after study enrollment
Original breast core biopsy specimen available for pathologic review and staining by Yale School of Medicine Department of Pathology

Exclusion Criteria:

A patient /subject will not be eligible for this study if any of the following exclusion criteria are met:

Pregnant or nursing within past 6 months
Lactose intolerant, lactose allergy or salicylate allergy
Patients who have already undergone excisional biopsy for qualifying DCIS
Patients with ipsilateral treatment for DCIS or breast cancer within 12 months prior to entering this study
Patients receiving any other chemotherapy or investigational agents
Serious concomitant systemic disorders (including active infections) or psychiatric illness/social situations that would compromise the safety of the patient or compromise the patient's ability to complete the study, at the discretion of the investigator.
Liver function tests ≥ 20% of the institutional upper limits of normal
Creatinine > 1.5 times the institutional upper limit of normal
ANC < 1,500 /µL
Platelets < 100,000 /µL
History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to black cohosh
The effects of black cohosh on the developing human fetus at the recommended therapeutic dose are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.

Prior/concurrent therapy including:

Tamoxifen, raloxifene, letrozole, anastrozole, or exemestane in the past 6 months

Chemotherapy, biologic therapy (e.g., trastuzumab [Herceptin®]), or breast radiotherapy to the breast currently affected by DCIS within the past 12 months
Any exogenous hormonal therapy including estrogen-, progesterone-, and/or androgen-based agents in the past 6 months
Phytoestrogens or OTC medications with estrogenic or androgenic properties in the past 6 months
Any black cohosh preparation within the past 6 months