The new MAC30 trial compares two treatments for early-stage breast cancer in premenopausal women

MAC30 has recently opened in Canada and will compare two commonly used treatment choices for premenopausal women with ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer and a low to intermediate risk of recurrence. Researchers are testing the addition of chemotherapy to ovarian function suppression plus hormonal therapy versus ovarian function suppression plus hormonal therapy alone. Both these approaches are used across North America, and it is not clear as to whether chemotherapy is needed in this population

"For pre-menopausal patients MAC30 is an important trial addressing the value of adding adjuvant chemotherapy to optimal adjuvant endocrine therapy," says Canadian Study Chair Dr. Jean-Pierre Ayoub, CHUM-Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal.

Patients with this type of early-stage breast cancer have a moderate risk of the cancer returning and may receive chemotherapy as part of their usual care. Chemotherapy may or may not be necessary and is associated with toxicity and a decreased quality of life while on treatment.

Researchers want to know how much more benefit chemotherapy adds and if putting women into early menopause may give the same benefit as chemotherapy. 

"MAC30 is an opportunity to help researchers understand if there's any added benefit to survival outcomes by combining chemotherapy with the usual treatment. Additionally, this trial will capture the impact that these treatment options have on women's quality of life," says Michelle Audoin, a CCTG Patient Representative living with metastatic breast cancer. “This trial addresses an important need that will help clinicians and patients make the best decisions for their cancer treatment.”

Women with a breast cancer diagnosis at a younger age are more likely to die from their disease than their older counterparts. There remains a pressing need for advancements in therapeutic options for this patient population. The addition of chemotherapy to the other usual treatment could prevent cancer from returning, but it could also cause more side effects.

• For more information, please visit the MAC30 patient information page
• For trial specific information please visit the CCTG MAC30 members page