Next steps
This research is ongoing, and additional follow-up is planned, according to Dr. Mullooly. She said the researchers hope to apply more recent analytical techniques to the mammograms and to study the histologic differences in their breast biopsy specimens, among other steps, to see if stronger relationships with greater clinical utility emerge.
It was a “very well done study” with “very provocative data,” said presentation moderator Jennifer Wargo, MD, professor of genomic medicine and surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
She was interested in the planned next steps, particularly the histologic analysis of dense versus less dense breast tissue. There could be “differences in stroma or hormonal levels even at the microenvironmental level” that “represent a potential field defect, which later puts someone at risk,” she said, adding that it’s “great” that the work is continuing.
The National Cancer Institute funded the research. Dr. Mullooly reported no relevant disclosures. Dr. Wargo disclosed relationships with Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche/Genentech, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Imedex, Dava Oncology, Omniprex, Illumina, Gilead, PeerView, Physician Education Resource, MedImmune, Merck, Biothera Pharmaceuticals, and Microbiome DX.
SOURCE: Mullooly M et al. AACR 2020, Abstract NG15.