Breast Cancer Program

The Breast Cancer Program (BCP) of the Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) is a multidisciplinary team of highly productive investigators focused on a common goal: to reduce the burden and mortality of breast cancer by elucidating biological mechanisms underlying the disease and translating this knowledge to improved detection, prevention and treatment. BCP members are highly collaborative, working on interconnected scientific aims that span the continuum from basic science to clinical research. Specific Aims are: 1) Elucidate the biologic, genetic and molecular mechanisms of breast cancer development and progression; 2) Advance understanding of genetic susceptibility to optimize screening and prevention for those at risk; 3) Develop innovative imaging approaches to improve breast cancer screening, detection and biomarkers to guide treatment and assess therapeutic response, and 4) Translate laboratory discoveries to clinical trials of novel therapeutics, incorporating biomarkers of response and outcome. Members made fundamental discoveries to identify breast cancer drivers, mechanisms of tumor dormancy and genome integrity, interferon response, and the relationship between radiation and immunogenicity. These findings were translated into new targeted therapeutics, novel combinations, genomic and predictive assays, and cutting-edge imaging methods and probes. Program members design and implement innovative clinical trials, leading clinical/translational teams within the ACC, nationally and internationally. In the current funding period, there were 1,386 accruals onto interventional trials and 14,079 accruals onto non-interventional trials. The complementary skills of Program co-Leaders (PLs) Angela DeMichele, MD, MSCE (clinical trials/biomarkers) and Roger Greenberg, MD, PhD (basic science/genetics) facilitate intra- and inter- Programmatic collaborations. With clinical translation of basic science as a major focus, the PLs expanded clinical research units for breast cancer and genetics, grew and curated large biospecimen banks, and recruited exceptional senior and junior faculty. These developments have fostered new ideas and collaborations supported by ACC pilot funds. The PLs also initiated two new basic science centers, the Center for Genome Integrity and the Mark Foundation Center. The 25 members of BCP come from seven University Departments and two Schools, reflecting multi-disciplinary expertise. BCP members hold $10.4M in cancer-related grant funding (annual direct costs), of which $6.6M is peer-reviewed and $4.3M is NCI-funded. Members hold 26 R01s or equivalent (of which six are multi-PI awards), an NCI R33 Moonshot Grant, and a DOD Breast Cancer Center of Excellence. Over the current funding cycle, BCP members published 403 cancer-related papers, of which 22% were intra-Programmatic collaborations, 37% were inter-Programmatic collaborations, and 72% were multi-institutional in nature. Supported by senior clinical leaders within the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers-accredited Rowan Breast Center, BCP generates high-impact, practice-changing research, improving breast cancer treatment and outcomes.