Summary and Roadmap of Breast Cancer Research in the Veterans Affairs

Women are the largest growing population of Veterans within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System. Among women Veterans, breast cancer is the most common malignancy (30% of all cancers), yet little is known about the unique needs of women Veterans with cancer and how to provide them with high quality care. The VA health care system has initiated multiple system-wide systemic efforts, including launching the Breast and Gynecologic Cancer System of Excellence (BGSOE) to address this knowledge gap. This report summarizes the outcomes of the inaugural 2023 VA Women's Cancer Research Conference, which assembled 37 multidisciplinary clinicians, scientists, the VA and civilian partners with a shared goal of advancing VA breast cancer research. Conference objectives were to build a collective vision for improving: (1) referral patterns for breast cancer treatment and patient-level outcomes and (2) molecular and genetic testing patterns across the breast cancer continuum among women Veterans. The meeting hosted 15 speakers at the Houston VA Medical Center. Future research priorities for women Veterans with cancer were identified from discussions and a post-conference survey. We then administered a 13-question post-conference survey to conference attendees. Respondents ranked the research priorities. The survey results show that the cross-cutting cancer research priorities designed to transform cancer care for women Veterans at the VA fit into 5 broad areas of study, including (1) care quality for treatment, (2) improving treatment, (3) care quality of molecular and genetic testing, (4) risk reduction through risk assessment and germline genetic testing, and (5) establishing strategic partnerships. Our data elucidate areas for further investigation to improve the delivery of cancer care.