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The Young Women's Breast Cancer Study

Helping Ourselves, Helping Others: The Young Women's Breast Cancer Study

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01468246
Acronym
HOHO
Enrollment
1302
Registered
2011-11-09
Start date
2006-11-01
Completion date
2035-01-01
Last updated
2026-02-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Breast Cancer

Keywords

Breast Cancer, Cohort, Young Women, Survivorship, Fertility

Brief summary

The investigators are conducting a longitudinal cohort study of young women with breast cancer. The investigators identify women age 40 and younger with newly-diagnosed breast cancer from academic and community healthcare institutions. After women consent to the study, they fill-out surveys and give blood samples, and the investigators collect tissue from their breast cancer tumor after it is removed. Women are surveyed every 6 months for the first 3 years after diagnosis, then yearly thereafter for an additional 7 years (for a total follow-up of at least 10 years following diagnosis). The study investigates short and long-term disease and treatment issues, tumor biology and the relationship to patient outcomes, and psychosocial concerns at baseline and in follow-up among a cohort of young women who are newly-diagnosed with breast cancer.

Detailed description

This is a longitudinal cohort study of young women with breast cancer. Over a 6-year period, the investigators aim to identify over 1,600 women age 40 and younger with newly diagnosed breast cancer from academic and community health care institutions. It is anticipated that 1,300 of these women will agree to participate in an observational study. Patient surveys, medical record review, and blood and tissue collection will be utilized. Women will be surveyed every 6 months for the first 3 years after diagnosis, then yearly thereafter for an additional 7 years (for a total follow-up of 10 year following diagnosis). The study will investigate short and long-term disease and treatment issues, and psychosocial concerns at baseline and in follow-up among a cohort of young women (age 40 or younger) newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The investigators aim to characterize the population of young women at diagnosis and in follow-up regarding disease and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., presentation and disease characteristics, treatment patterns and quality of care, short and long-term side effects, and psychosocial concerns including fertility, sexual functioning, and menopausal issues). The investigators will also collect tumor and blood specimens to characterize the tumors, and bank for future studies including molecular evaluations of disease characteristics, genetic variability and hormonal levels in blood. Ultimately, the investigators aim to develop predictors of outcome, and identify areas that may be amenable to intervention.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Female * Diagnosis of breast cancer * Age 40 or younger at diagnosis * Informed consent obtained from patient * Ability to understand written and spoken English to the extent necessary to complete the questionnaires

Exclusion criteria

* Inability to understand written and spoken English to the extent necessary to complete the questionnaires * Absence of informed consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Identify a cohort of young women (age 40 or younger) newly diagnosed with breast cancer10 yearsCharacterize the population of young women at diagnosis and in follow-up regarding disease and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., presentation and disease characteristics including evaluating women with metastatic disease, reported frequency and factors associated with genetic testing, treatment patterns and quality of care, short and long-term side effects, and psychosocial concerns including fertility, sexual functioning, and menopausal issues).
Specimen Collection10 yearsCollect tumor and blood specimens to characterize the tumors, and bank for future studies including molecular evaluations of disease characteristics, genetic variability and hormonal levels in blood.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Identify Predictors of Outcome10 yearsUltimately, the investigators aim to develop predictors of outcome and identify areas that may be amenable to intervention for young women with breast cancer.

Countries

Canada, United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJeffrey Peppercorn, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORSteven Come, MD, MPH

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORTherese Mulvey, MD

Mass General/North-Shore Cancer Center

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORBlair Ardman, MD

Lowell General Hospital

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORLawrence Blaszkowsky, MD

Newton-Wellesley Hospital

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORFrank G Basile, MD

Cape Cod Hospital

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOREllen Warner, MD

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORVirginia Borges, MD

University of Colorado, Denver

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORKathryn Ruddy, MD, MPH

Mayo Clinic

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORKatherina Zabicki Calvillo, MD, FACS

South Shore Hospital

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJeanna Walsh, MD

Dana-Farber/New Hampshire Oncology-Hematology

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORNatalie Sinclair, MD

DF/BWCC at Milford Regional Medical Center

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 29, 2026