Breast Cancer Research Program

PROJECT 004 – BREAST CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAM
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The Breast Cancer Research Program (BC) has a strong emphasis on high-impact, collaborative, multi-
disciplinary and mechanism-based research encompassing breast epithelial cell and molecular biology, genetics
and genomics, immunotherapy, basic science-driven translational and clinical research, innovative clinical trials
and molecular epidemiology. To address the needs of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) catchment
area, Specific Aims of the Program are:
Aim 1. To discover predictive biomarkers and mechanisms of drug resistance in specific breast cancer subtypes,
and translate these findings to clinical trials.
Aim 2. To reduce health disparities in breast cancer, focusing on the impact of genomics, obesity, healthcare
use and lifestyle on breast cancer outcomes.
Aim 3. To optimize care delivery in breast cancer, focusing on novel methods for dissemination of new data and
cutting-edge technologies as well as implementation of recent guidelines and approved therapies for breast
cancer
Ongoing basic and translational discoveries from BC and other programs provide a steady pipeline for novel
interventional trials with innovative approaches. These discoveries and translation to clinical studies are
enhanced by a global systematic liquid biopsy (cell-free DNA [cfDNA]) and tissue repository protocol for all stages
and types of breast cancer. These trials are part of a robust interventional portfolio, with an abundance of
genomically-driven trials and accruals to interventional treatment trials (17% of our patients) which is comparable
to the national average (16%) for the past and current project periods. BC also has extensive scientific
collaborations with multiple national and international institutions, as well as consortia and pharma.
There are 27 program members from 11 departments and three schools with $6.7M in total peer-reviewed
funding and NCI making up 43% ($2.9M), including a Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE)
in Breast Cancer. Member expertise includes cellular signaling, molecular biology, breast pathology, genetics,
genomic profiling, bioinformatics, medical, surgical and radiation oncology, clinical trial design, epidemiology and
quality of life studies. Out of 396 publications, 20% are intra-programmatic and 34% are inter-programmatic.
Members also have 185 collaborative publications with investigators at other NCI-designated cancer centers.

Grant Number: 4P30CA068485-30
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Justin Balko