Now Enrolling: EAZ171 Trial to Lessen Neuropathy in African American Breast Cancer Patients

Docetaxel or Paclitaxel in Reducing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in African American Patients with Stage I-III Breast Cancer

Recent research shows patients of African ancestry have a much higher risk of experiencing side effects from chemotherapy, especially neuropathy, and thus have a higher risk of discontinuing treatment. This results in increased recurrence and worse survival rates in Black patients compared with White patients. Trial EAZ171 aims to improve outcomes for Black women with breast cancer by:

• determining which women are most at risk for neuropathy based on their DNA, and
• determining which regularly prescribed chemotherapy treatment, docetaxel or paclitaxel, will result in less neuropathy.

Through this work, researchers hope to definitively conclude which treatment is better, and less likely to cause neuropathy, for women of African ancestry. They also hope to learn more about why Black women, specifically, are more susceptible to neuropathy.

This study is led by Bryan P. Schneider, MD (Indiana University), pictured.