Three prominent Chicago hospitals have formed an unprecedented partnership to advance breast cancer treatment through collaborative clinical trials. Northwestern Medicine, UChicago Medicine, and RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center have established the Chicago Breast Cancer Research Consortium, marking the first collaboration of its kind between these nationally recognized institutions.
The consortium is currently conducting clinical trials that began in July, focusing on patients with ER+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The study combines two drugs: elacestrant and ribociclib, which researchers believe can improve patient survival when used together.
Clinical Trial Details and Patient Experience
The trial has enrolled approximately 18 patients to date, with a target enrollment of at least 175 participants. Mardi Kaplan, one of the trial participants, exemplifies the patient population the consortium aims to serve. Initially diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2017, Kaplan underwent aggressive treatment including bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. Despite these interventions, her cancer progressed to stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2022.
"When I was diagnosed, I had significant amount of cancer in my liver. It has shrunk, but I have two tumors that have remained fairly large in my liver," Kaplan explained. Her oncologist at Northwestern Medicine identified her as a candidate for the consortium's clinical trial.
Addressing Diversity in Clinical Research
Dr. Kunle Odunsi, director of the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center and overseer of the consortium's clinical trials, emphasized the importance of the partnership's geographic reach. "These three hospitals cover different areas of the city and Chicagoland, so we're going to see increased diversity. And the reason why that is important is that the more diverse the population that we enroll in our clinical trials, the more generalizable the results are going to be when it comes to real world practice," he stated.
The consortium's mission extends beyond research collaboration to ensure equitable access to advanced breast cancer care, particularly for women in underserved communities across Chicago.
Foundation Support and Historical Impact
The Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation is funding this initiative, continuing its four-decade commitment to breast cancer research. The organization has raised $50 million for breast cancer research and researcher education since its inception. Notably, the foundation previously invested in early research for tamoxifen, which has become the standard of care for preventing and treating certain types of breast cancer.
Laura Sage, co-founder of the nonprofit and daughter of its namesake, highlighted the critical need for private sector funding. "We're at a point where research, medical research, is being cut. It's more important than ever for the private sector to fill that gap. The good news is that I'm more optimistic than ever that, with funding, we can make material progress in the fight against breast cancer," she said.
Future Outlook
The consortium has two additional clinical trials planned for the near future, expanding its research portfolio beyond the current elacestrant-ribociclib combination study. Dr. Odunsi emphasized that "clinical trials are not just experiments. They are designed to help with clinical outcomes of our patients, where they have better survival and better quality of life."
For patients like Kaplan, who married in 2023 and continues to embrace life while managing metastatic breast cancer, the research represents hope for extended survival. "Because there's no cure for metastatic breast cancer, just knowing more that lines of treatment are available, just gives me the, I guess, confidence and assurance that my life will hopefully be longer; and so research is really, really critical for that purpose," she reflected.
