PLoS ONE (Jan 2022)

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

  • Jenny Liu,
  • Peh Joo Ho,
  • Tricia Hui Ling Tan,
  • Yen Shing Yeoh,
  • Ying Jia Chew,
  • Nur Khaliesah Mohamed Riza,
  • Alexis Jiaying Khng,
  • Su-Ann Goh,
  • Yi Wang,
  • Han Boon Oh,
  • Chi Hui Chin,
  • Sing Cheer Kwek,
  • Zhi Peng Zhang,
  • Desmond Luan Seng Ong,
  • Swee Tian Quek,
  • Chuan Chien Tan,
  • Hwee Lin Wee,
  • Jingmei Li,
  • Philip Tsau Choong Iau,
  • Mikael Hartman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265965
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 3
p. e0265965

Abstract

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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.