Breast Cancer Program
Accelerating Access to Leading-Edge Breast Cancer Treatment
City of Hope® Cancer Center Chicago, located in Northern Illinois, provides specialized, collaborative care to treat all stages of breast cancer, including early-stage through advanced-stage, metastatic and recurrent disease. Our program is locally founded on over three and a half decades of clinical expertise, and is the only Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence™ in the state of Illinois and one of only nine comprehensive centers recognized with this distinction in the United States by the National Quality Measures for Breast Cancers Program™.
Meet Our Clinical Leaders
Our program is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of experts specializing in breast cancer, including surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, supportive care team members and more. Several of our physicians hold faculty positions within City of Hope and externally and have obtained unique certifications.
David Winchester, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Co-Medical Director, Breast Program
Professor, Department of Surgery
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Winchester is an expert in the evaluation and treatment of breast cancer, with over 20 years of experience. In addition to his leadership role in Northern Illinois, he provides surgical intervention for breast cancer in both our Zion and North Shore locations, and is fluent in English and Spanish.
Karan Shah, M.D., M.B.A.
Co-Medical Director, Breast Program
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncologist
Dr. Shah treats breast cancer patients with the full spectrum of radiation services and techniques, including conventional and stereotactic radiation therapy, as well as hypofractionated approaches. With over a decade practicing at City of Hope Chicago, he has held a variety of leadership roles, and currently acts as co-medical director of the Northern Illinois Breast Program.
Teja Poosarla, M.D.
Director of Medical Oncology, Breast Program
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Poosarla has dedicated the last decade of her career to the treatment of breast cancer, as well as supported the advancement of therapeutic options through clinical trials and research. Additionally, she has a strong interest in breast cancer survivorship.
About Our Program
Our program in Northern Illinois is part of the City of Hope network, which has been instrumental in breast cancer clinical breakthroughs, including Herceptin for HER2+ breast cancer.
Types of breast cancers we treat:
We offer a wide range of services for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer including:
Additionally, we offer:
- An established precision medicine program that incorporates genetic sequencing and profiling of primary tumors to determine strategic targeted therapies or clinical trial opportunities
- A supportive health and survivorship program for patients and their loved ones
- Access to the nation’s top subspecialists through organ-specific weekly cancer conferences, to provide information sharing and optimize therapeutic options for patients
Breast Cancer Screening and Patients at High-Risk of Developing Breast Cancer
Our hospital in Northern Illinois is recognized as a designated Comprehensive Breast Imaging Center by the American College of Radiology, and offers screening and diagnostic mammogram appointments in as little as one week.
For those at higher risk of developing breast cancer, our team is available to offer advanced screening diagnostics, risk assessments and genetic counseling and testing. Should treatment be recommended, our team can provide medical risk reduction strategies, including medication-based and prophylactic surgeries, including reconstructive options.
Open Chicago-Area Breast Cancer Clinical Trials
City of Hope® Chicago is dedicated to advancing cancer treatment by leveraging innovative therapies and offering best-in-class clinical trials. As part of this commitment, we are currently enrolling for the following breast cancer clinical trials at our location in Zion, Illinois.
Shorter Chemo-Immunotherapy Without Anthracycline Drugs for Early-Stage Triple Negative Breast Cancer
- Description: This phase III trial compares the effects of shorter chemotherapy (chemo)-immunotherapy without anthracyclines to usual chemo-immunotherapy for the treatment of early-stage triple negative breast cancer.
- Conditions:
- Stage 1, 2, 3A or 3B breast cancer
- Early-stage triple-negative breast carcinoma
- Study Sponsor: SWOG Cancer Research Network
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT05929768
A Study to Evaluate the Effect of GDC-4198 Alone and in Combination With Giredestrant Versus Abemaciclib and Giredestrant in Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Estrogen Receptor-Positive (ER+), Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Negative (HER2-) Breast Cancer
- Description: The purpose of this study is to assess the safety of GDC-4198 alone and in combination with giredestrant and also the efficacy of GDC-4198 + giredestrant versus abemaciclib + giredestrant in participants with locally advanced or metastatic ER+, HER2- breast cancer.
- Conditions: Breast cancer
- Study Sponsor: Genentech, Inc.
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT07100106
- Note: At the time the study opened, City of Hope Cancer Center is the only location in the Midwest to offer this trial.
Testing Low Dose Tamoxifen for Invasive Breast Cancer, the (LoTam) Trial (LoTam)
- Description: This phase III trial compares the effect of low dose tamoxifen to usual hormonal therapy, including aromatase inhibitors, in treating post-menopausal women with hormone positive, HER2 negative early-stage breast cancer.
- Conditions:
- Stage 0, 1 or 2A breast cancer
- Estrogen receptor-positive breast carcinoma
- HER2-negative breast carcinoma
- Study Sponsor: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
- Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06671912
Refer a Patient to City of Hope
We strive to offer a well-coordinated experience for our referring providers. Upon receiving your referral, our team will immediately begin processing it, with minimal work on your end.
Our Commitment to Clinical Excellence
Our Illinois cancer center is recognized by several organizations that evaluate the quality of hospital breast programs, including:
Latest Breast Cancer News
Dedication to Speed to Care
City of Hope Cancer Center and our outpatient cancer care locations are intentionally structured to maximize speed to care, with: