This is a biomarker study designed to test the preclinically generated hypothesis of anti-tumoral activity of denosumab in patients with early breast cancer candidates a tumour excision

This is a biomarker study designed to test in patients the preclinically generated hypothesis of anti-tumoral activity of denosumab.The main objective is to demonstrate the antiproliferative and/or pro-apoptotic activity of denosumab in early breast cancer. Other endpoints are to correlate denosumab activity with RANK and RANKL expressions through mRNA and protein; to characterize the differential antiproliferative activity of denosumab between different phenotypes of breast cancer; to identify biomarkers, to identify global changes in gene expression and validate the activity of RANKL antibody in clinical samples. A total of 60 patients with early breast cancer (Stages I and II) candidates to tumor excision as first therapeutic approach will be randomized 2:1, a treatment arm that will receive two doses of denosumab following diagnosis, and a control arm that will not receive treatment. At least 24 patients with hormone receptor negative breast cancer and 24 premenopausal patients will be included in the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Understand and sign Informed Consent for this study.

• Women ≥ than 18 years, (the inclusion process will be modified to recruit at least 24 premenopausal patients).

• Capable, under investigator judgment, to understand the non-therapeutic nature of the study.

• Diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in early, curable, stage (I or II) candidate to radical surgery as first therapeutic approach.

• Her2 negative receptor status.

• Any estrogen, progesterone status (the inclusion process will be modified to recruit at least 24 patients with TNBC tumors).

• No previous systemic treatment for any malignancy.

• No ongoing treatment with denosumab or bisphosphonates.

• Tumour amenable for baseline Biopsy and punch-Biopsy after excision.

  • Adequate Serum calcium or albumin-adjusted serum calcium ≥ 2.0 mmol/L (8.0 mg/dL) and ≤ 2.9 mmol/L (11.5 mg/dL)
  • No prior history or current evidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw
  • No Active dental or jaw condition which requires oral surgery, including tooth extraction. Noplanned invasive dental procedures.

• General Laboratory test within normality or with non-relevant deviations of normality as per investigator judgment.

• Patients must have a normal organ and bone marrow function as defined local standards: Leukocytes, Absolute neutrophil count, Platelets, Total bilirubin, AST/ALT/GOT/GPT, Creatinine, Creatinine clearance, Magnesium, Phosphorus.

• Subject with reproductive potential must be willing to use, in combination with her partner, 2 acceptable methods of effective contraception or practice sexual abstinence throughout the study and continue for 6 months after study duration. Subjects who are surgically sterile (e.g. history of bilateral tubal ligation, hysterectomy) or whose sexual partner is sterile (e.g. history of vasectomy) are not required to use additional contraceptive measures".

Exclusion Criteria:

• Invasive breast cancer non-amenable to surgical excision as first therapeutic approach.

• HER2-positive Breast Cancer

• Metastatic breast cancer or other condition that recommends other treatment than surgery as the primary therapeutic approach.

• Prior systemic treatment for any malignancy.

• Treatment with denosumab contraindicated.

• Bleeding diathesis or other concomitant condition that contraindicate inclusion in the study as per investigator judgment.

• High risk of ONJ or hypocalcemia:

  • Inadequate Serum calcium or albumin-adjusted serum calcium < 2.0 mmol/L (8.0 mg/dL) or > 2.9 mmol/L (11.5 mg/dL).
  • Prior history or current evidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw

• Active dental or jaw condition which requires oral surgery, including tooth extraction. Planned invasive dental procedures.

• Subject has known sensitivity to any of the products to be administered during the study (e.g., mammalian derived products, calcium, or vitamin D).

• Subject is pregnant or breast feeding or planning to become pregnant / breastfeed while on study through 6 months after the end of treatment.

• Subject is of child bearing potential and is not willing to use, in combination with her partner, two highly effective methods of contraception or abstinence during treatment and for 5 months after the end oftreatment.

• Patients have prior history or current evidence of osteonecrosis or osteomyelitis of the jaw.

• Patients have active dental or jaw condition which requires oral surgery, including tooth extraction.

• Patients have non-healed dental or oral surgery, including tooth extraction.

• Patients with planned invasive dental procedures for the course of the study.

• Ongoing treatment with denosumab or bisphosphonates