The Breast Cancer Program is a developing scientific program comprised of a diverse group of 18 members from nine different departments.

The primary goals for the breast cancer program are as follows:

1. The development of trials examining the use of chemotherapy and targeted agents pre-operative to allow correlation of molecular profiles with response to therapy;
2. The development of an Emory-wide prospective breast cancer tumor bank to compare molecular profiles between patients based on race and age; and
3. The development of unique breast-imaging techniques.

The breast cancer program has seen many accomplishments in the last two and a half years. For example, the program has established and maintained a regular, multidisciplinary breast cancer conference that meets weekly. Meetings have centered on the discussion of programmatic issues such as the establishment of a tissue repository and database, upcoming grant deadlines, prospective tissue collection, and membership drive. Emerging scientific themes include the use of nanotechnology in breast cancer, novel breast cancer imaging techniques and gene methylation in breast cancer.

A breast tissue satellite bank has been established. To facilitate this initiative, a "front-door" consent program was started wherein consent for tissue collection and dissemination are obtained up front, priot to surgery, streamlining the collection process and ensuring HIPAA compliance. This procedure has been in place at Emory University HOspital as of August 2003 and was started at Grady Memorial Hospital in October 2003, with tissues from both sites feeding into the tissue repository. A similar program is scheduled to open at Crawford Long Hospital. The tissue bank will continue to be expanded and will include blood collection as well as extensive questionnaires on socio-economic and breast cancer-related data. A tissue databank of archived breast cancer is also in existence.

The Emory Winship Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Program is comprised of Emory University faculty from nine departments and the Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, and the Emory-Georgia Tech Department of Biomedical Engineering. The breast program currently consists of 18 members spanning five medical school departments and includes representation from: Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Pathology, Radiology & Imaging, Radiation Oncology, Cancer Biology and the School of Medicine Tissue Procurement Facility.

• Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

• Breast Cancer Faculty

Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies conducted to evaluate new therapies. Such research relies on patients who volunteer to try the new or changed therapy. The purpose of these trials is to determine if a new treatment is safe, effective, and better than the standard of care.

Clinical trials are important, as they lead to tomorrow's standard of care. Advances in medicine and science result from new ideas developed through research. Risks and side effects exist with almost any treatment whether it is standard of care or clinical trial. However many safeguards are in place to make clinical trials as safe as possible. Before a drug is tested in patients, it is extensively studied in the laboratory and on animal models.

Any research conducted at Emory Winship Cancer Institute and Emory University must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is made up of doctors from different specialties, ethicists, administrators, and members of the public. An IRB is required by the U.S. Food and Administration (FDA) to ensure protection of the rights and welfare of patients who are enrolled in clinical trials. Therefore, the IRB is authorized to review, require changes to, approve, or disapprove studies. Also, clinical trial patients are carefully monitored. Blood tests, x-rays, other procedures are performed regularly to detect and record any changes, good or bad, in the patient's condition. The monitoring provides scientists with valuable data for making patient care decisions and for documenting research results.

This is a summary of the clinical trials involving Breast Cancer at Emory Winship Cancer Institute. If you have questions regarding a Breast trial, please call 1-888-WINSHIP.

Breast Cancer Faculty

Andrew Karellas, PhD

Carl D'Orsi, MD

David Jaye, MD

Dipali Sharma, PhD

Gabriela Oprea-llies, MD

John Eley, MD, MPH

Lily Yang, MD, PhD

Mark Wilson, PhD

Mary Jo Lund, PhD

Padma Nadella, MD

Paula Vertino, PhD

Ruth O'Regan, MD, MRCPI

Shuming Nie, PhD

Theresa Gillespie, PhD, RN

Toncred Styblo, MD

Victoria Green, MD, JD