The Levine Cancer Institute is looking for patients interested in participating in a global study evaluating potential treatment for aggressive forms of breast cancer.

Some 150,000 Americans live with metastatic breast cancer, an advanced form of the disease. Such patients receive medicines for the remainder of their lives to try and control the spread of the disease and manage symptoms.

Carolinas Hematology-Oncology Associates, in conjunction with researchers at Levine Cancer Institute, is participating in the EMILIA Study, which is part of a global search for additional options.

EMILIA is a Phase III clinical research study to determine if the medicine trastuzumab emtansine is safe and effective compared to a targeted therapy, lapatinib, combined with chemotherapy. The study will evaluate if the medicine can extend survival or increase the time women with metastatic breast cancer live without cancer worsening.

Participants must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for the study and have HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer that progressed during or after treatment with Herceptin and a taxane-based therapy. To determine if you are eligible, call 1-888-662-6728 or visit www.emiliaclinicaltrial.com.