Voornaam, your FORCE February Hereditary Cancer Update

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Growing FORCE to reach a broader community

We have been busy over the last six months, growing our programs to serve more people and families facing hereditary cancers. Read our Impact Statement to learn about our new mission, website and the expanded community we serve. We hope you are inspired by our many accomplishments these last six months.
Read our most recent impact statement

Video addresses COVID-19 vaccines for people with inherited mutations

Matt Yurgelun, MD, and Allison Kurian, MD, medical experts in hereditary cancer and FORCE advisory board members, address the safety of new COVID-19 vaccines for people with inherited mutations.
Watch our video

2021 starts with policy wins for the community

While the end of 2020 was turbulent in many ways, we achieved some important legislative wins for the community, including:

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Announcing the FORCE Spanish language portal and upcoming Spanish language webinars

Please join us or share information about our upcoming Spanish language webinars on Participating in Clinical Trials and Managing Hereditary Cancer Risk. Visit the FORCE Spanish language portal to register for these events, view recordings of past Spanish language webinars, access hereditary cancer news and review research updates. The FORCE Spanish language portal and webinar series is sponsored by Susan G. Komen.

Listening to patients coping with hormone therapy side effects

Side effects from hormone therapy are a common reason that many patients stop treatment early. Some people never start hormone therapy. Results of a new study suggest that there may be ways to improve the number of patients who stick with therapy.

It all adds up!

Express your loyalty to our mission by setting up a monthly giving plan. You can cancel it at any time. Please consider setting up a monthly giving plan today! In one year, a gift of:

A new imaging drug for advanced prostate cancer

The FDA recently approved a new type of imaging technology for patients with advanced prostate cancer. This new imaging approach is better able to detect whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of the body than current technology.

“My personal philosophy is that although I did not choose to be on this HBOC journey, I can choose HOW I travel it." Read our latest blogs

With deep sadness we share that the FORCE community has lost a tireless volunteer, an enthusiastic leader, a dedicated advocate, a patient and a dear friend. Read our latest blog to find out more about Teri Woodhull's impact on the FORCE community. Subscribe to our blog digest for personal stories and deeper insights into issues that affect our community. Recent topics include:

Obtain virtual support

You are not alone! Connect with peers and trained volunteers who understand the decisions you face from the comfort of your home.

Navigation portals connect people to information, research and support resources

FORCE has new portal pages with links to information, research and support resources. Find relevant information organized by topic, cancer type or gene mutation:

Find hereditary cancer studies and participate in research!

Please visit our Search and Enroll Tool to find and participate in research studies enrolling patients, like you.
Find research studies

Clinical trials and research studies need participants

The research studies below are enrolling people with, or at high risk for, hereditary cancer.

Information and support needs of previvors

This research study (#1511) is a 15 to 20-minute survey regarding the information and support needs of previvors. Marleah Dean Kruzel, the principal investigator and professor at University of South Florida, is recruiting females over 18-years old, who have tested positive for a genetic mutation that increases their risk for hereditary cancer (or have a family history of carrying a genetic mutation) but have not been diagnosed with cancer, and select English as their language. Participants will receive a $10 electronic gift card. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Josephine, the Study Coordinator, at cancercomm@usf.edu.

Pain anxiety in cancer survivors

Are you a cancer survivor who received a cancer diagnosis at 18 years of age and older? If so, you may qualify to participate in the study "Pain Anxiety in Cancer Survivors”! You can participate by using your personal computer from home. We are investigating the relation of childhood adversity, pain, and fear of cancer recurrence. Participation involves completing a 15-minute computerized survey online from your home computer. No compensation is being offered for participation in this research study.
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Talazoparib for people with metastatic breast cancer who have acquired (somatic) BRCA mutations

This study is enrolling individuals with metastatic breast cancer (triple-negative or hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer) who have a BRCA1/2 mutation found in a liquid biopsy (cell-free DNA) but do not have a known inherited BRCA1/2 mutation to see if talazoparib is an effective treatment. This study is also using liquid biopsies to track treatment response and resistance. The study is open at Massachusetts General Hospital, and will also open soon at the University of California San Francisco and 5 other academic centers in the U.S.
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Genetic vaccine for the treatment of MSI-H colorectal, gastric and gastro-esophageal junction tumors

The goal of this cancer treatment study is to find the best dose and learn how safe and effective this cancer vaccine is for treating advanced colorectal, gastric and gastro-esophageal junction tumors that test positive for the biomarkers MSI-High or dMMR.
Learn more about the study

TALAPRO-2, A Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Research Study

Living with advanced prostate cancer can feel overwhelming. TALAPRO-2 is a clinical trial investigating a potential treatment for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have DNA damage repair (DDR) deficiency. To learn more, visit the TALAPRO-2 website.
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SOROCk study for women with a BRCA1 mutation

Women with a BRCA1 mutation ages 35-50 at risk for ovarian cancer are eligible for the SOROCk study. SOROCk will determine if removal of the fallopian tubes alone can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer nearly as much as removing both the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Preserving the ovaries will prevent surgically-induced menopause. The study will also examine quality of life.
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Denosumab and mammographic density in premenopausal women with dense breasts

This study is looking at the effect of denosumab on breast density of premenopausal women who have dense breasts. Denosumab is an FDA-approved medication for osteoporosis and to prevent fractures in cancer patients with bone metastases. This study could help identify new ways to prevent breast cancer in younger women.
Learn about the study

Study for people with unexpected genetic results

Did you receive an unexpected genetic test result related to cancer risk? A new study is recruiting people who had genetic testing done for some other reason and received results related to their cancer risks. The goal of this study is to learn what people think about, and how they use results like this.
Learn more about the study

A study to evaluate rucaparib in patients with solid tumors and with deleterious mutations in HRR genes (LODESTAR)

The LODESTAR study is evaluating the response of the PARP inhibitor rucaparib in people with advanced solid tumors (including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate and other cancers) who have an inherited or acquired mutation in any of the following genes: BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, RAD51C, RAD51D, BARD1, BRIP1, FANCA, NBN, RAD51 or RAD51B.
Learn more about LODESTAR

ELLIE's Project

Do you have a genetic mutation increasing your risk of cancer? Help inform us how future research on lifestyle habits can better serve YOU! Take a 20-minutes survey to learn about nutrition and exercise in relationship to hereditary cancer mutations.
Take the survey

IMMray™ PanCan-d Test for early detection of pancreatic cancer in high-risk groups

Pilot study of denosumab in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers scheduling risk-reducing Salpingo-Oophorectomy

Are you a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carrier scheduled to have your fallopian tubes and ovaries removed? Learn about an opportunity to enroll in a clinical trial looking at the effects of denosumab on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus (for women getting a hysterectomy) of women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Denosumab is an FDA-approved injectable medication that is used to treat osteoporosis and to prevent fractures in cancer patients with bone metastases. The eventual goal is to understand if denosumab may be used to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.
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Screening for men at high genetic risk for prostate cancer

CALLING ALL MEN WITH A BRCA MUTATION, A LYNCH SYNDROME MUTATION or one of the other mutations listed below! The National Institutes of Health has a clinical trial for men at high genetic risk for prostate cancer. This is trial is for men without prostate cancer, ages 30 to 75, who have tested positive for Lynch syndrome (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, EPCAM) or BRCA1, BRCA2, HOXB13, ATM, NBN, TP53, BRIP1, CHEK2, PALB2, RAD51C, RAD51D, FANCA. The trial involves screening MRI of the prostate every two years and biopsy of the prostate if the MRI is abnormal. There is no cost for travel or study-related tests.
Learn more about the study

A study in advanced breast cancer patients with BRCA 1/2 mutations evaluating olaparib alone or in combination with atezolizumab

This is a study for women or men who have been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer with a BRCA 1/2 mutation. The goal of this study is to look at whether giving the DNA damage repair inhibitor (PARP inhibitor) olaparib (Lynparza) in combination with the immunotherapy atezolizumab (Tecentriq) improves outcomes for patients compared to olaparib alone.
Learn more about the study

CheckMate-9KD

Menopause and cognitive difficulty study

Did you know undergoing surgically or chemically induced menopause could put you at risk for cognitive difficulties? Our study seeks to determine the effectiveness of a stimulant drug called Vyvanse on the cognitive functioning of women who experience executive functioning difficulties following surgically induced menopause. For more information, please contact our team.

Learn more about IMPRES

GENTleMEN Study: Genetic Testing for Men with Metastatic Prostate Cancer

The goal of this research study is to determine if online genetic education and testing with online telephone genetic counseling is an acceptable method of delivering genetic testing to men with metastatic prostate cancer.

This study involves undergoing genetic counseling and genetic testing for inherited cancer risk.

Learn more about the study

Athena- rucaparib and novolumab for maintenance in ovarian cancer

ATHENA is a study for women who are newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer. ATHENA is looking at whether maintenance therapy with a PARP inhibitor and/or immunotherapy improves outcomes for women who have completed front-line ovarian cancer treatment.

Learn more about ATHENA

Genetic Education for Men (GEM) Study

The Genetic Education for Men (GEM) study, is a clinical trial evaluating educational tools for men from families in which a BRCA1/2 gene mutation has been identified. In order to identify untested men from BRCA1/2 families, we are seeking women who have received positive BRCA1/2 test results and have at least one untested male relative.

Learn more about the GEM study

ARIEL4- ovarian cancer

ARIEL4 is a treatment study for women with relapsed, high-grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. ARIEL4 is designed to evaluate rucaparib against standard of care chemotherapy in women who have had at least two prior chemotherapy regimens. Visit the ARIEL4 Study page for more information.

More information on ARIEL4

TRITON3- prostate cancer

The purpose of TRITON3 is to determine how patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and an inherited BRCA1, BRCA2 or ATM gene mutation or tumor genetic deficiency respond to treatment with the PARP inhibitor rucaparib (Rubraca) compared to treatment with physician's choice of abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, or docetaxel.

More information on TRITON3

PALB2 Study

The PALB2 Study is an international research study looking to recruit women with PALB2 mutations who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Research shows that PALB2 mutations increase the risk of developing breast cancer; however, it is not clear how to best treat or reduce the risk of breast cancer in women with PALB2 mutations. This research study collects information about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment using short questionnaires in order to learn more about breast cancer among women with a PALB2 mutation. This information will help to determine the best treatment for women with PALB2-associated breast cancer and determine which factors predict survival. Through a better understanding, we can personalize breast cancer treatment to increase survival and determine how to best manage at risk family members to detect cancer early or prevent it. For more information please email PALB2study@wchospital.ca.

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