New Buffett Taylor Chair in Breast Cancer Research returns to HHS roots
The return of renowned breast cancer physician and researcher Dr. Andrea Eisen to Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is being celebrated by the hospital’s medical, research, innovation and teaching communities.
“Dr. Eisen’s leadership in translational research — where discoveries in the lab lead to treatments that prolong and save lives — will help advance care for patients with a hereditary risk of breast cancer and their at-risk family members here in Hamilton and around the world.” — Dr. Marc Jeschke, VP, research and chief scientific officer
Eisen launched her career as a medical oncologist at HHS more than 20 years ago, before relocating to Toronto where she built an international reputation as an expert in cancer genetics and high-risk breast cancer.
Last summer, Eisen returned to Hamilton as the Buffett Taylor Chair in Breast Cancer Research, a position previously held by renowned HHS medical oncologist and breast cancer researcher, Dr. Mark Levine.
“The Buffett Taylor Chair presented a wonderful opportunity for me to come back to Hamilton, where I still have colleagues from my early days here,” says Eisen, who is based at HHS Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre (JHCC). Through this position, Eisen is developing a breast cancer research program focused on high-risk hereditary cancer syndromes and cancer genetics.
“Our research community is thrilled to welcome Dr. Eisen back to Hamilton,” says Dr. Marc Jeschke, the hospital’s vice president of research and chief scientific officer. “Dr. Eisen’s leadership in translational research — where discoveries in the lab lead to treatments that prolong and save lives — will help advance care for patients with a hereditary risk of breast cancer and their at-risk family members here in Hamilton and around the world.”
Eisen is also the provincial breast cancer lead for Cancer Care Ontario (Ontario Health), where her responsibilities include prioritizing, promoting and leading the development of clinical practice guidelines. And she holds a scientist position with the Escarpment Cancer Research Institute, a joint research institute of HHS and McMaster, located at JHCC.
Advancing hereditary breast cancer research
Eisen currently spends 50 per cent of her time on research, 30 to 40 per cent providing direct patient care and the remainder on administrative tasks.
“We welcome the additional bench strength that Dr. Eisen brings to our team of physicians caring for those in our community faced with a breast cancer diagnosis, including those at high risk.” — Neil Johnson, VP, oncology
“HHS has an excellent clinical cancer genetics program with lots of opportunity to contribute to research,” says Eisen, who helped get the hospital’s cancer genetics program off the ground back in 2000 when she launched her career here as a medical oncologist. Eisen had just completed a two-year fellowship in breast cancer genetics at University of Pennsylvania before joining HHS. Back then, the hospital had a small genetics program that she helped support and expand with knowledge gleaned through her fellowship.
Dr. Andrea Eisen (standing) looks at a mammogram image. About 30 to 40 per cent of Dr. Eisen’s work involves providing direct care to breast cancer patients.
“Dr. Eisen helped lay the foundation for our cancer genetics program at HHS before moving to Toronto, so this was a wonderful opportunity to recruit her back to our hospital as a leader in her field,” says Dr. Jonathan Sussman, who led recruitment efforts to bring Eisen back to HHS and McMaster University. Sussman is an HHS radiation oncologist, as well as a professor and chair of the department of oncology at McMaster’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.
Eisen’s arrival is also welcome news for the HHS Centre for Data Science and Digital Health (CREATE) team, which is partnering with her to expand the Learning Health System for Breast Cancer they created to include patient data on genetics. CREATE is staffed with experts in software engineering, AI and data sciences, and Eisen’s clinical expertise will support the team in integrating genetics information into this artificial intelligence system.
Leading-edge patient care
Eisen is also providing direct care for JHCC breast cancer patients, including patients at high risk due to family histories. She’s mentoring junior faculty, supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students working with JHCC patients, and supervising graduate and postgraduate trainees conducting research in her field.
“We welcome the additional bench strength that Dr. Eisen brings to our team of physicians caring for those in our community faced with a breast cancer diagnosis, including those at high risk,” says Neil Johnson, vice president of oncology for HHS. “And we’re excited for the mentorship role she’s providing to our junior faculty and our learners.”
Eisen cares for patients with advanced breast cancer, and also healthy family members at risk of developing diseases like breast or ovarian cancer due to, for example, BRCA genes.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the most common genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer is about 60 per cent for patients with these genes. The chances of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is as much as 40 per cent for BRCA1 mutation carriers and up to 20 per cent for BRCA2.
When people with BRCA genes are identified early, they can take preventative measures such as surgery to avoid getting breast or ovarian cancer.
“The counselling aspect of my work is incredibly rewarding, because we can offer people treatment options so they don’t develop these cancers down the road,” says Eisen.
Reaching this healthy but high-risk population has its challenges, in part because of Canada’s size and diverse population. “We would like to see more potentially at-risk family members reach out about genetic counselling,” she says. “But it’s fairly common for family members to live in another province or country.”
Saying “yes” to research opportunities
Some JHCC patients with hereditary breast cancer are currently involved in a study aimed at identifying risk factors. Other studies currently underway explore financial and psycho-social impacts on this patient population.
Eisen says she’s looking forward to introducing new studies that explore new and better treatments, and expanding research partnerships locally, nationally and globally. Hereditary cancer syndromes are rare, so partnerships are vital for ensuring large numbers of patients for studies.
Welcoming Explore Research
HHS recently launched Explore Research, the hospital’s new patient recruitment process for research studies. Prior to Explore Research, HHS patients were invited to take part in studies on a case-by-case basis by a member of their health-care team, such as their doctor.
Now, all patients receiving care at HHS are automatically be enrolled in Explore Research, unless they choose to opt out. Through Explore Research, patients will have the opportunity to be contacted about potential research studies that may fit with their illness and treatment plan.
“We’ve made tremendous strides in the treatment of breast cancer, and that’s because so many patients have been willing to contribute to research by taking part in studies,” says Eisen, who welcomes Explore Research as a highly valuable recruitment tool.
“We have a really top-notch care at JHCC, with important research also happening. I would encourage patients to be very confident in their care here, and take part in any research opportunities they’re eligible for.”
