Two UF Health surgical oncologists have received pilot funding from the UF Health Cancer Center to develop new interventional treatment trials focused on addressing the needs of women with breast cancer.
Women’s cancers such as breast cancer are a priority for the geographic area the UF Health Cancer Center serves, which has a greater incidence and mortality from breast cancer than the rest of Florida. Additionally, women are frequently underrepresented in clinical trials evaluating cancers.
Jennifer Fieber, M.D., an assistant professor in the division of surgical oncology in the department of surgery, received funding for a pilot study investigating preoperative nicotine cessation for women with breast cancer who would otherwise be candidates for reconstructive or oncoplastic surgery.
“We hope to broaden the number of women with breast cancer who are eligible for oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery and further empower our patients to have personalized options while pursuing treatment for breast cancer,” Fieber said.
Lisa Spiguel, M.D., an associate professor in the division of surgical oncology in the department of surgery, received funding for a study that aims to improve treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema. Spiguel’s study will assess whether defining individual anatomy with indocyanine green lymphography will provide more effective manual lymphatic drainage treatment against progression to late-stage breast cancer-related lymphedema for patients at high risk.
Fieber and Spiguel are members of the UF Health Cancer Center’s Cancer Control and Population Sciences research program.
“The UF Health Cancer Center aims to improve treatment outcomes by offering clinical trials suited to all of our patients,” said Paul Crispen, M.D., associate director for clinical research at the UF Health Cancer Center. “We are excited to support these innovative trials led by our team of breast cancer experts.”
“The UF Health Cancer Center aims to improve treatment outcomes by offering clinical trials suited to all of our patients. We are excited to support these innovative trials led by our team of breast cancer experts.”
Paul Crispen, M.D., Associate Director for Clinical Research, UF Health Cancer Center
The center’s pilot funding programs receive crucial support from the state of Florida through the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Act (Fla. Stat. § 381.915).
