Xuan Anh Phi

Before coming to the Netherlands, I studied pharmacy in Vietnam, my home country. In 2011 with the ambition to become an epidemiologist, I came to the Netherlands and obtained my master degree in Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology. Currently, I am a PhD candidate in the Oncological Epidemiology. I have been working under the supervision of Prof. G.H de Bock, Prof. N. Houssami and Dr M.W.J Greuter. My research’s title is “Breast cancer screening in women at elevated risk” with three aims: (1) to evaluate the accuracy of MRI and mammography in breast cancer screening in women with genetic mutation or family history according to their age; (2) to investigate the accuracy of tomosynthesis in screening women with dense breasts; and (3) to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of screening with MRI in women with a BRCA1 or a BRCA2 mutation age over 60. Three articles have been published on an Individual Patient Data meta-analysis regarding the first aim. The results supported screening with MRI and mammography in women with BRCA1/2 or family history both in young and old women regarding cancer detection perspective. It was shown that the contribution of mammography to MRI was less pronounced in women with BRCA1 than in women with BRCA2 mutation, especially in those younger than 40. This suggested to consider different regime for different BRCA mutation types. Regarding the value of tomosynthesis in breast cancer screening, we reviewed and meta-analysed evidence regarding cancer detection, recall rate, sensitivity and specificity of tomosynthesis compared to mammography. The last project is a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the intensified screening with annual MRI plus mammography in women with a BRCA1/2 mutation after age 60 to the current guideline which includes annual mammography. The results of the two project are expected to be announced in the near future. The results of my PhD projects are relevant for policy maker as well as researcher considering current guidelines, practice and the future research in breast cancer screening women with a known or suspected gene mutation.