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Bupivacaine for Post-operative Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery

Phase 3
Recruiting
Led By Laurie Kirstein, MD
Research Sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Patients scheduled for surgery at the JRSC or MSK Monmouth
Patients undergoing unilateral mastectomy with or without SLNB or axillary dissection
Must not have
Patients are having bilateral mastectomy
Male breast cancer patients
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 24 hours
Awards & highlights
Pivotal Trial
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing whether adding bupivacaine to the surgical site can better manage pain and reduce the amount of opioids needed after surgery.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for women over 18 years old undergoing a unilateral mastectomy, with or without lymph node removal. It's open to those having surgery at specific centers and who haven't had the opposite breast removed within the last 6 months. Excluded are men, bilateral mastectomy patients, long-term opioid users, those under 40kg, non-English speakers, immediate reconstruction cases, and anyone with significant baseline pain.
What is being tested?
The study tests if adding bupivacaine—a numbing medication—directly to the surgical site can better manage post-surgery pain compared to usual painkillers alone. The goal is also to see if this method reduces opioid use after surgery. Participants will either receive bupivacaine or saline (placebo) alongside standard care.
What are the potential side effects?
Bupivacaine may cause side effects like numbness beyond the target area, weakness, nausea or vomiting. In rare cases it could lead to more serious issues such as heart problems or allergic reactions.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I am scheduled for surgery at JRSC or MSK Monmouth.
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I am having or had a mastectomy on one breast, with or without lymph node removal.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I am having both of my breasts removed.
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I am a male diagnosed with breast cancer.
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I experience pain greater than 3 not related to breast surgery.
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I am not having my mastectomy with tumescence.
Select...
I use long-acting opioid medications.
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I weigh less than 40kg.
Select...
I am having immediate breast reconstruction.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 24 hours
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 24 hours for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
number of patients that have moderate to severe pain

Awards & Highlights

Pivotal Trial
The final step before approval, pivotal trials feature drugs that have already shown basic safety & efficacy.
No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Bupivacaine + usual post-operative medicationsExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
The intervention in this study is the insertion of 20cc of 0.5% bupivacaine via a drain into the mastectomy wound for 2 hours ± 30 minutes postoperatively in patients undergoing unilateral mastectomy without breast reconstruction +/- SLNB, +/- axillary dissection.
Group II: Saline + usual post-operative medicationsActive Control2 Interventions
The intervention in this study is the insertion of 20cc of saline via a drain into the mastectomy wound for 2 hours ± 30 minutes postoperatively in patients undergoing unilateral mastectomy without breast reconstruction +/- SLNB, +/- axillary dissection.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Bupivacaine
2013
Completed Phase 4
~1530

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterLead Sponsor
1,979 Previous Clinical Trials
599,699 Total Patients Enrolled
207 Trials studying Breast Cancer
82,819 Patients Enrolled for Breast Cancer
Laurie Kirstein, MDPrincipal InvestigatorMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Media Library

Bupivacaine Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT03351348 — Phase 3
Bupivacaine 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03351348 — Phase 3
Breast Cancer Research Study Groups: Saline + usual post-operative medications, Bupivacaine + usual post-operative medications
Breast Cancer Clinical Trial 2023: Bupivacaine Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT03351348 — Phase 3
~30 spots leftby Nov 2026