screening

Incremental Impact of Breast Cancer SNP Panel on Risk Classification and Screening

This project investigates the incremental utility of SNP panel risk assessment compared to existing risk prediction models among women undergoing mammography screening. Breast cancer risk assessment has the potential to decrease morbidity and mortality from breast cancer through improved prevention and screening strategies. Given that current interventions for breast cancer prevention (i.e. SERMs and prophylactic surgery) have significant risks, accurate breast cancer risk assessment can target these interventions to women who will have the greatest benefit to risk ratio. Accurate breast cancer risk assessment can also improve the accuracy of breast cancer screening, thereby reducing the risk of unnecessary biopsies. Currently, only 15-33% of women who undergo biopsy for an abnormal mammogram actually are found to have cancer. Better assessment of a woman's underlying breast cancer risk (i.e. pre-test probability) can increase the accuracy of the post-test probability and inform decisions about need for further testing/biopsy.