A key novel component of my research programme is the integration of radiological and breast imaging platforms as tools to understand molecular markers associated with breast cancer risk and outcomes by incorporating the macroscopic marker, mammographic breast density, which is strongly associated with breast cancer risk and progression. In a recent report, our findings highlighted the potential clinical benefit of utilising mammographic breast density decline as a biosensor of tamoxifen effectiveness among women with ER-positive breast cancer treated with tamoxifen (Mullooly et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology; 2016). Ongoing analysis will examine the role of mammographic breast density and its decline in determining risk of a subsequent contralateral breast cancer development following primary invasive breast cancer diagnosis. Future research in this area will not only hold relevance for the increasing number of breast cancer survivors at risk of developing contralateral breast cancer, but will also have the potential for informing breast cancer aetiology and strategies for prevention.
