Researchers at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center are conducting innovative clinical trials that aim to improve care for patients with breast cancer.

Women’s cancers such as breast cancer are a priority for the swath of North Central Florida that the UF Health Cancer Center serves, which has a higher incidence of and death rates from breast cancer than the rest of Florida.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we highlight two of our newest clinical studies enrolling patients with breast cancer. The studies are based on the experience and expertise of UF Health’s team of breast cancer care providers. Both studies were designed to meet the unique needs of patients being treated at UF Health.
“The UF Health Cancer Center aims to improve treatment outcomes by offering clinical trials suited to all UF Health patients,” said Paul Crispen, M.D., the center’s associate director for clinical research.
A Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Compliance of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Comparing Indocyanine-Green (ICG) Guided vs. Traditional Guided in Patients Undergoing Axillary Node Dissection for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

This trial, led by surgical oncologist Lisa Spiguel, M.D., will study a novel method of lymphatic drainage massage, which is routinely performed after lymph node removal to treat postsurgical lymphedema. Lymphedema is a painful swelling of breast tissue that can happen after lymph nodes are removed or damaged because of fluid buildup.
The technique uses a medical dye called indocyanine green to help the physician visualize key areas with infrared cameras to guide lymphatic drainage massage. The traditional technique does not include visualization aids.
Thirty patients are expected to enroll in the trial. The study will include adults who are undergoing axillary lymph node dissection related to breast cancer with or without lymphatic reconstruction who consent to image-guided lymphatic drainage massage. The risk of lymphedema in patients who have axillary lymph node dissection is about 20% to 30%, according to the American Cancer Society.
The study aims to show whether indocyanine green-guided massage is more effective at treating and reducing the severity of lymphedema than the traditional method.
Preoperative Nicotine Cessation for Women with Breast Cancer Recommended for Reconstruction

This study, led by surgical oncologist Jennifer Fieber, M.D., will evaluate the feasibility of a smoking cessation intervention for women with breast cancer undergoing a mastectomy who are motivated to have reconstruction surgery. Because of the associated surgical risks, patients who use nicotine products are not offered reconstruction at the time of mastectomy or lumpectomy, which can cause emotional distress in women with breast cancer.
“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.
Women who are diagnosed with Stage 0 to 3 breast cancer undergoing mastectomy or lumpectomy who actively use nicotine products will be included. About 40 patients are expected to enroll on the trial.
The trial will use an innovative nicotine cessation intervention designed specifically for patients with breast cancer by the Area Health Education Center, one of the UF Health Cancer Center’s community partners, with input from Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D., associate director for community outreach and engagement at the UF Health Cancer Center.
The four-session intervention focuses on known tobacco cessation techniques and motivations to quit, with an additional focus on the benefits of quitting specifically for cancer and surgical patients. Those can include better outcomes, improved wound healing, and a lower chance of cancer recurrence. Each session is between 30 and 60 minutes. Because nicotine cannot be used for several weeks before surgery, the program will not rely on nicotine cessation products, making it unique from other interventions.
Both studies were funded through pilot grants from the UF Health Cancer Center.
Learn more
The UF Health Cancer Center is participating in a variety of events throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month to engage the community and empower people with high-quality breast health information. Check out a list of local Breast Cancer Awareness Month events.
In addition, this winter UF Health Cancer Center member Shahla Masood, M.D., medical director of the UF Health Breast Center – Jacksonville, will lead the 30th annual Multidisciplinary Symposium on Breast Disease on Amelia Island. The symposium, held Feb. 14-16, provides a multidisciplinary overview of the diagnosis and treatment of all stages of breast cancer. Faculty experts in surgical, medical and radiation oncology, pathology, radiology, surgery, and patient advocacy will speak. Learn more.
For more information on breast cancer clinical services, including screening, resources, or clinical trials, visit https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/breast-cancer.
Engaging the Community
Breast Cancer Awareness Month Events
The UF Health Cancer Center is participating in a variety of events throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month to engage the community and empower people with high-quality breast health information.
