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SAFE Programs

Screening At-Risk Families for Early Cancer Detection and Prevention

The Center for Medical Genetics is at the forefront of clinical research to understand cancer risks in families. SAFE programs are a collection of programs exhibiting innovative research design in early cancer screening, detection, prevention and elimination.

PROSE Study: Prevention and Observation of Surgical Endpoints

  • NIH sponsored, international collaborative study of BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers
  • Measure effectiveness of cancer prevention surgery
  • Study influence of lifestyle, habits, exposures, hormones and interacting genes
  • 21 participating centers worldwide
  • Over 3200 BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers enrolled

IMPACT study:  Identification of Men with a Genetic Predisposition to Prostate Cancer - Targeted Screening in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers and Controls

  • Sponsored by NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) Clinical Collaborative Research Program and a generous private donation to the NorthShore Center for Prostate Health for genetics research
  • International collaborative study of male BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers and mutation negative controls
  • Determine the usefulness of available screening methods for prostate cancer
  • Discover new and more effective ways of screening for prostate cancer
  • Over 20 participating countries

GOG-0199 Ovarian Cancer Study:

  • NIH sponsored, international collaborative study of women at high risk of ovarian cancer
  • Screening and prevention of ovarian cancer and quality of life
  • 124 participating centers
  • NorthShore has the highest enrollment rate of any site, accounting for 9% of total enrollment

NorthShore Breast MRI Screening Study

  • Sponsored by NorthShore Auxiliary, the Center for Medical Genetics’ study of women at high risk of breast cancer
  • Investigation of the ability of MRI to detect breast cancer early and evaluation of the false positive rate
  • First study evaluating the emotional experiences of women at high risk for breast cancer as they go through additional breast MRI screenings and possible biopsies.

PCFR Pancreatic Cancer Family Registry

  • Sponsored by Center for Medical Genetics
  • Registry for families with pancreatic cancer
  • Discovery of genes which cause pancreatic cancer

I1307K Ashkenazi Jewish Colon Cancer Study

  • NIH sponsored study of the role of a common mutation in colon cancer
  • Changes in genetic screening or colon cancer screening are not recommended based on I1307K genetic variant