ECOG-ACRIN Breast Cancer Committee chair Antonio Wolff tapped to co-lead the NCI Breast Cancer Steering Committee

Antonio C. Wolff, MD (Johns Hopkins University), chair of the Breast Cancer Committee for the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN), has been elected to co-lead the Breast Cancer Steering Committee for the National Cancer Institute. He begins the three-year term this week (April 1, 2024). Although the new position has required Dr. Wolff to step down from his leadership position at ECOG-ACRIN, he will remain an active member of the Group.

“With Antonio’s leadership of our Breast Cancer Committee, ECOG-ACRIN ushered in a new wave of clinical studies to test novel drugs, individualize therapy based on risk of recurrence or toxicity, and integrate novel combinations of imaging and tissue markers into treatment,” said Peter O’Dwyer, MD, group co-chair.

Dr. Wolff became chair of the ECOG-ACRIN Breast Cancer Committee in 2017 after serving four years as co-chair. Among the most notable advancements made in breast cancer research by ECOG-ACRIN during his tenure is the TAILORx trial, which showed that most women with early breast cancer could forego chemotherapy when guided by a genomic test. Other phase 3 trials integrated imaging (MRI) and molecular analyses to guide radiation therapy in DCIS (E4112) and proved that there was no benefit from locoregional therapy in patients presenting with metastatic breast cancer (E2108). He facilitated a study showing the benefits of abbreviated breast MRI over digital breast tomosynthesis for screening women with dense breasts (EA1141).

Many other trials by the committee are ongoing, with results eagerly anticipated, such as one aimed at reducing chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in Black women with breast cancer (EAZ171). Another is testing less chemotherapy in some patients without compromising outcomes (CompassHER2 pCR or EA1181). CompassHER2 pCR is a perfect example of the interest from investigators and patients on optimization trials that may allow excellent outcomes with lower risk of toxicities, and this trial activated at the very start of the COVID pandemic and accrued at twice the projected rate.

“The CompassHER2 pCR trial is just one example of Antonio’s dedication to involving all the Cooperative Groups in important trials, and building such studies through consensus. We also deeply appreciate his commitment to fostering the inclusion of early-career investigators in NCI-sponsored research,” said Mitchell Schnall, MD, PhD, group co-chair.

Antonio Wolff joined ECOG-ACRIN over 25 years ago while a young research fellow at Johns Hopkins, an institutional member of ECOG-ACRIN since 1970. Like many other members of ECOG-ACRIN, he gained much of his early clinical trials expertise through the Group’s practice of assigning junior investigators to co-lead clinical trials under the mentorship of experienced researchers.

ECOG-ACRIN will announce new leadership for the Breast Cancer Committee following its upcoming meeting in May.

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