Integrating breast cancer and heart disease risk to understand chemoprevention decisions for high-risk women
Official title: Integrating Breast Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Risk to Explore Decision-Making for Chemoprevention Among Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11421824 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how women at high risk for breast cancer decide whether to take preventive medicines, while also considering their heart health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 8, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $690,043 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA293927-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421824 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women at high risk for breast cancer (e.g., with AH or LCIS) who are considering chemoprevention and discussing it with their healthcare providers.
✕Less likely to help
Women at low risk for breast cancer or those not considering preventive medications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
In this study, researchers will look at how women with high-risk breast lesions decide about using preventive drugs like SERMs, aromatase inhibitors, and statins. They will use a human-centered design approach to understand the patient journey from learning risk to talking with clinicians. The goal is to identify barriers and gaps that lead to low uptake of breast cancer chemoprevention compared with cardiovascular prevention. The work will involve patient perspectives, clinician input, and iterative design to develop strategies that support informed, shared decision-making. Results could inform more patient-friendly guidelines and tools to improve preventive care choices for this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may have clearer, more personalized options and support to choose preventive therapies that fit their risk profile and values.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials showed substantial risk reduction with chemoprevention when used; this study is novel in integrating breast cancer prevention with cardiovascular prevention decision-making.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kukafka, Rita — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kukafka, Rita
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Helping women weigh breast cancer and heart disease risks to decide on preventive medicines
This project will help women at high risk for breast cancer understand both their breast cancer and heart disease risks so they can make clearer choices about preventive medicines like SERMs, aromatase inhibitors, and statins.
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Exploring decision-making for breast cancer prevention in diverse women at high risk
This study is looking at why women from diverse backgrounds who are at high risk for breast cancer are less likely to use certain preventive medications for breast cancer, even though they often take other medications for heart health, and it aims to find ways to help them feel more comfortable discussing these options
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Personalized breast cancer care with COMPASS: a patient-friendly decision aid integrated with your medical records
A research project aims to help breast cancer patients make informed treatment choices through a computerized decision-support tool linked to their health records.
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Aging, DNA Methylation, and Cardio Risk in Breast Cancer Survivors
A study to help breast cancer survivors understand how aging and DNA changes might raise the chance of heart disease.
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Helping older women make informed choices about breast cancer screening
This study is designed to help women aged 75 and older make smart choices about breast cancer screening by looking at important data and creating a helpful tool that explains the benefits and risks of mammograms just for them.
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A technology to help breast cancer patients make personalized treatment decisions
This study is testing a new computer tool called COMPACT that helps breast cancer patients understand their treatment choices better, so they can make decisions that feel right for them and improve their overall experience.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.