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With support from a HMO Cancer Research Network Pilot Grant and a UNC Lineberger Developmental Award, Dr. Nichols and her team will validate breast cancer chemoprevention as the primary indication for therapy in a sample of 500 women; collect preliminary data on discontinuation and adherence, and estimate the level of evidence for a net benefit of chemoprevention. This work will demonstrate the feasibility of conducting a cohort study within a large integrated healthcare plan to evaluate breast cancer chemoprevention in real-world settings.

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Hazel Nichols, PhD

Approximately 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, and breast cancer remains the 2nd leading cause of cancer death among women. In 2013, the USPSTF, ASCO and NCCN published guidelines for risk reduction of primary breast cancer that encourage clinicians to counsel women about pharmacologic breast cancer risk reduction. To date, there has been no large study of chemoprevention use outside of a trial setting to evaluate risk-benefit profiles or quantify discontinuation and adherence. This study leverages the large number of Kaiser Permanente Northern California enrollees with extensive electronic pharmacy and medical record information to conduct a pilot study of breast cancer chemoprevention use. With support from a HMO Cancer Research Network Pilot Grant and a UNC Lineberger Developmental Award, Dr. Nichols and her team will validate breast cancer chemoprevention as the primary indication for therapy in a sample of 500 women; collect preliminary data on discontinuation and adherence, and estimate the level of evidence for a net benefit of chemoprevention. This work will demonstrate the feasibility of conducting a cohort study within a large integrated healthcare plan to evaluate breast cancer chemoprevention in real-world settings.