Dr. Neumayer Discusses the POWER PIINC Trial

Leigh A. Neumayer, MD, professor of surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, co-director of the multidisciplinary team treating breast cancer at Huntsman Cancer Institute, discusses the POWER PIINC trial, a study to measure the preoperative window of endocrine therapy.

Neumayer says patients with early stage breast cancer will receive 7 days of preoperative tamoxifen. After the surgery, the patients will then receive tamoxifen for 14 days in order to counteract the immunosuppressive nature of surgery. The study has enrolled 40 patients so far.

Neumayer says the trial will allow researchers to develop a better understanding of the symptoms associated with tamoxifen. These patients will be followed for 18 months in order to determine if there is a change in compliance. Neumayer believes if patients have a chance to try out tamoxifen, they might be willing to go on it later.