BREAst screening Tailored for HEr (BREATHE)-A study protocol on personalised risk-based breast cancer screening programme

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 31;17(3):e0265965. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265965. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Routine mammography screening is currently the standard tool for finding cancers at an early stage, when treatment is most successful. Current breast screening programmes are one-size-fits-all which all women above a certain age threshold are encouraged to participate. However, breast cancer risk varies by individual. The BREAst screening Tailored for HEr (BREATHE) study aims to assess acceptability of a comprehensive risk-based personalised breast screening in Singapore. Advancing beyond the current age-based screening paradigm, BREATHE integrates both genetic and non-genetic breast cancer risk prediction tools to personalise screening recommendations. BREATHE is a cohort study targeting to recruit ~3,500 women. The first recruitment visit will include questionnaires and a buccal cheek swab. After receiving a tailored breast cancer risk report, participants will attend an in-person risk review, followed by a final session assessing the acceptability of our risk stratification programme. Risk prediction is based on: a) Gail model (non-genetic), b) mammographic density and recall, c) BOADICEA predictions (breast cancer predisposition genes), and d) breast cancer polygenic risk score. For national implementation of personalised risk-based breast screening, exploration of the acceptability within the target populace is critical, in addition to validated predication tools. To our knowledge, this is the first study to implement a comprehensive risk-based mammography screening programme in Asia. The BREATHE study will provide essential data for policy implementation which will transform the health system to deliver a better health and healthcare outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms* / prevention & control
  • Cohort Studies
  • Early Detection of Cancer / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammography / methods
  • Mass Screening

Grants and funding

This study is funded by the JurongHealth Fund (reference number JHF-20-RE-003) and the Precision Health Research Singapore Clinical Implementation Pilot (PRECISE CIP) Fund. M.H. is supported by the JurongHealth Fund, PRECISE CIP Fund, the Breast Cancer Prevention Programme under Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health Programme of Research Seed Funding (SSHSPH-Res-Prog-BCPP), Breast Cancer Screening Prevention Programme under Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUHSRO/2020/121/BCSPP/LOA), National Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist Award (Senior Investigator Category, NMRC/CSA-SI/0015/2017), the National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS) Centre Grant Programme (CGAug16M005), NCIS Ng Teng Fong General Hospital Collaborative grant (CGAug16C002) and Asian Breast Cancer Research Fund. J.Li is supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF-NRFF2017-02) and BMRC Central Research Fund (Applied Translational Research). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.