About the Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Research Group

The Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Research Group conducts and fosters the development of research on the prevention and early detection of breast cancer, cervix and human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers, endometrial cancers, ovarian cancers, and precursor conditions related to these cancers. New approaches to clinical prevention are investigated, including alternative dosing of agents to reduce side effects with similar efficacy, topical application of preventive agents for breast and cervical cancer, risk-reducing surgery for high-risk women, and cancer immunoprevention, including HPV vaccines. 

Phase 0/I/II Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Program

This group jointly administers the Phase 0/I/II Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Program evaluating new agents, surrogate biomarkers, and new technologies to identify premalignant lesions, and in the cases of cervical and HPV-related cancers, new technologies to optimize HPV-based screening and early detection.

PREVENT Cancer Preclinical Drug Development Program

The group works closely with the PREVENT program, housed in the Chemopreventive Agent Development Research Group, on developing new animal models for ovarian cancer that can be used to evaluate chemopreventive agents, as well as developing new agents for breast and gynecologic cancers.

Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study

The group also directs an inter-institute collaboration with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) evaluating cancer within the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS), a long-term follow-up of a randomized clinical trial in which pre-diabetic individuals were randomized to metformin, lifestyle intervention, or placebo.