BIDMC and Dana-Farber transition to new breast oncology care model

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute announced that clinical services for breast oncology will fully transition to a new multidisciplinary care model on October 19, bidmc.org reported.

Key Clinical Takeaways:
• Outpatient breast oncology services will move to Dana-Farber, while surgical services will be handled by BIDMC surgeons from Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians.
• BIDMC employs the Clairity screening tool.
• Dana-Farber operates the largest portfolio of breast cancer clinical trials in New England.

Transition of Clinical Services in Boston

Outpatient breast oncology will operate out of Dana-Farber, recognized as the largest clinical breast cancer program in New England. Meanwhile, surgical procedures will be performed by a team led by Elizabeth Mittendorf.

Mittendorf also serves as President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Surgical team members joining the effort include Laura Dominici, Faina Nakhlis, Michael Cassidy, Alexis Graham-Stephenson, Christopher Vetter, Stephanie Ng, Esther Rhei, Tara Talaie, and Alison Woods.

I’ve had the privilege of working side-by-side with this team of breast surgeons and can confidently say they are among the best in the world—passionate about delivering the best possible care for our patients while also collaborating with our multi-disciplinary colleagues to drive clinical excellence and future innovations in breast cancer care, Mittendorf said.

Artificial Intelligence Integration for Risk Assessment

As part of the institutional screening efforts, BIDMC utilizes the Clairity screening tool. BIDMC was the first hospital in the country to offer the FDA-authorized software, which supplements standard mammograms to project a woman’s five-year risk of developing breast cancer. According to hospital data, 125 women have utilized the screening tool, with 550 additional appointments scheduled.

Incorporating Clairity is part of our broader breast cancer screening effort to make risk assessments more accessible, Mittendorf stated regarding the deployment of the software. We are the first hospital in the country to offer this service, which will hopefully allow us to find breast cancers in the earliest and most treatable stages, and deliver more personalized screenings for women.

Dana-Farber and BIDMC Advance Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

Dana-Farber maintains a clinical trial portfolio. Sara Tolaney noted that clinical trials evaluate new drugs, diagnostics, and therapies before standard approval.

Surgical clinical trials are simultaneously hosted at BIDMC to investigate methods for alleviating lymphedema, improving breast reconstruction, and advancing less invasive techniques. Recent regulatory actions include three FDA approvals for new breast cancer therapies over the past year, stemming from Dana-Farber-led studies targeting HER2+ metastatic breast cancer, triple-negative metastatic breast cancer, and hormone-receptor positive breast cancer.

Multidisciplinary Support Services

BIDMC houses the Boston Lymphatic Center for lymphedema management alongside its Comprehensive Breast Care Center. Clinical trials are the bedrock of cancer research, helping to advance new medicines and further improve care practices, Tolaney added.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.