This is a study to test the effectiveness of a drug (denosumab) on preventing the development of breast cancer in women with an inherited BRCA1 mutation.

Denosumab is a drug that is currently used to treat bone loss in order to reduce the risk of broken bones in healthy people, and is also used to reduce new bone growths in cancer patients whose cancer has spread to their bones. Research has shown that denosumab may also reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women with an inherited BRCA1 mutation.

This study will look at a new vaccine known as INO-5401 used alone or combined with a second vaccine called INO-9012. The study will test if the vaccine is safe (without large side effects) and test a new way of giving vaccines. It will also test whether the vaccine activates the immune system. A goal of this research is to reduce cancer risk in people with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Additional studies will be needed to learn if this vaccine approach lowers cancer risk in mutation carriers. 

The Ohio State University and FORCE want to understand if a family communication guide for people with BRCA mutations is helpful and if it’s also useful to have a video that you can text or email to family members that explains your BRCA mutation. We are currently looking for people between the ages of 18-80 who have mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2, have an active email address, and an internet capable device like a computer, tablet, or smartphone.  Participants will be asked to complete a total of 3 surveys.  Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive just the communication guide or the guide plus the sharable.  Each survey will take 10-15 minutes (the study could take up to 1.5 hours to complete depending on how much time you spend reviewing the study materials). 

You can get more information or ask to participate in the study by sending an email to: brcashare@osumc.edu.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate if denosumab can reduce the breast density of premenopausal women who have dense breasts. Denosumab is an FDA-approved injectable medication that is used to treat osteoporosis and to prevent fractures in cancer patients with bone metastases. This study could help us identify novel ways to prevent breast cancer in younger women.

A new study is recruiting people who received unexpected genetic test results about their cancer risk after having genetic testing done for some other reason.

This is a study of people with "secondary results” from genetic testing. Secondary results are unexpected. They are not related to the reason the person had the genetic test but are shared because they may be very important to the person’s health. Most secondary results have to do with high risks for health problems that can be treated or prevented. Many of these results are related to cancer risk. If you think you have received a secondary result, you may be eligible to join this study.

The goal of the Wisdom Study is to determine if breast cancer screening can be made better by personalizing each woman’s mammogram schedule, compared to the current one-size-fits-all, annual approach. The Wisdom Study is designed to end the confusion about when to start and how often to have a mammogram. For more information, visit the WISDOM Study website.