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.
Carolyn Bhakta, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery
Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
Dr. Bhakta is an expert in the evaluation and treatment of breast cancer. As an oncoplastic breast surgeon, she combines traditional breast cancer surgery with cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery techniques. Additionally, she is certified in breast ultrasound through the American Society of Breast Surgeons.
Karan Shah, M.D., M.B.A.
Chief, Radiation Oncology
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
Our hospital in Northern Illinois is recognized as a designated Comprehensive Breast Imaging Center by the American College of Radiology and offers timely access to both screening and diagnostic mammography. Appointments are typically available within one week, with additional access at our Morton Grove location.
Referred patients are commonly seen within a week, and results are communicated to both patients and referring providers within 24 to 48 business hours.
Open Chicago-Area Breast Cancer Clinical Trials
As part of our commitment to expanding access to innovative therapies, City of Hope® Cancer Center Chicago offers a broad portfolio of breast cancer clinical trials. Highlighted below are select studies currently enrolling patients at our Zion, Illinois location.
ASPEN-09-03: A Study of Evorpacept in Combination With Trastuzumab and Chemotherapy in Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer (ASPEN-09-03)
- Description: The Substudy Protocol ASPEN-09-03 is a Phase 2, single-arm, multicenter study evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of evorpacept in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in participants with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who have previously received trastuzumab-deruxtecan.
- Conditions: Metastatic breast cancer
- Study Sponsor: ALX Oncology Inc.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07007559
- Note: At the time the study opened, City of Hope was the only location in Illinois to offer this trial.
Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of HER2/ Neu Peptide GLSI-100 (GP2 + GM-CSF) in HER2/ Neu Positive Subjects (FLAMINGO-01)
- Description: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center, Phase 3 study of GLSI-100 immunotherapy in HLA-A*02 positive and HER2/neu positive subjects who are at high risk for disease recurrence and have completed both neoadjuvant and postoperative adjuvant standard of care therapy.
- Conditions: Breast cancer
- Study Sponsor: Greenwich LifeSciences, Inc.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05232916
A Phase 1/ 2 Trial of TER-2013 in Patients With Solid Tumors Harboring AKT/ PI3K/ PTEN Pathway Alterations
- Description: This is a Phase 1/2, open-label, multicenter study evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and anti-tumor activity of TER-2013 in patients with advanced solid tumors harboring AKT/PI3K/PTEN pathway alterations.
- Conditions:
- Breast cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Lung squamous cell carcinoma
- Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
- Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- Solid tumor
- Cervical cancer
- Study Sponsor: Terremoto Biosciences Inc.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07109726
- Note: At the time the study opened, City of Hope was the only location in Illinois to offer this trial.
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: