- My largest scientific contributions are related to the design, implementation, and analysis of breast cancer treatment and prevention clinical trials through my role as protocol statistician for several randomized clinical trials as part of NSABP/NRG Oncology. The resulting publications report the primary results comparing treatment efficacy for endpoints such as breast cancer incidence and recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival.
- Vicini FA, Cecchini RS, White JR, Arthur DW, Julian TB, Rabinovitch RA, Kuske RR, Ganz PA, Parda DS, Scheier MF, Winter KA, Paik S, Kuerer HM, Vallow LA, Pierce LJ, Mamounas EP, McCormick B, Costantino JP, Bear HD, Germain I, Gustafson G, Grossheim L, Petersen IA, Hudes RS, Curran WJ Jr, Bryant JL, Wolmark N. Long-term primary results of accelerated partial breast irradiation after breast conserving surgery for early-stage breast cancer: a randomised, phase 3, equivalence trial. Lancet. 2019 Dec 14;394(10215):2155-2164. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32514-0. Epub 2019 Dec 5. PMID: 31813636
- Margolese L, Cecchini RS, Julian TB, Ganz PA, Costantino JP, Vallow LA, Albain KS, Whitworth PW, Cianfrocca ME, Brufsky AM, Gross HM, Soori GS, Hopkins JO, Fehrenbacher L, Sturtz K, Wozniak TF, Seay TE, Mamounas EP, Wolmark N. Anastrozole versus tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with ductal carcinoma in situ undergoing lumpectomy plus radiotherapy (NSABP B-35): a randomized, double-blind, phase 3 clinical trial. Lancet. 2015 Dec 10; online. PMID: 26686957. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01168-x.
- Patient reported outcomes and quality of life data among cancer survivors and toxicity profiles in relation to cancer treatment play an important role in cancer clinical trials. I have collaborated with investigators to study the effects of chemotherapy on menstrual cycles and the onset of amenorrhea in premenopausal women as well as the effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy on patient reported quality-of-life outcomes such as mental/physical status and fatigue.
- Ganz PA, Cecchini RS, Fehrenbacher L, Geyer CE Jr, Rastogi P, Crown JP, Thirlwell MP, Ellison DM, Boileau JF, Flynn PJ, Jeong JH, Mamounas EP, Wolmark N. NRG Oncology/NSABP B-47 menstrual history study: impact of adjuvant chemotherapy with and without trastuzumab. NPJ Breast Cancer. 2021 May 20;7(1):55. doi: 10.1038/s41523-021-00264-2. PMID: 34016989; PMCID: PMC8137688
- Ganz PA, Cecchini RS, Julian TB, Margolese R, Costantino JP, Vallow LA, Albain KS, Whitworth PW, Cianfrocca ME, Brufsky AM, Gross HM, Soori GS, Hopkins JO, Fehrenbacher L, Sturtz K, Wozniak TF, Seay TE, Mamounas EP, Wolmark N. Patient-reported outcomes with anastrozole versus tamoxifen for postmenopausal patients with ductal carcinoma in situ treated with lumpectomy plus radiotherapy (NSABP B-35): A randomised, double-blind, phase 3 clinical trial. Lancet. 2015 Dec 10; online. PMID: 26686960.
- I am interested in assessing breast cancer risk and published investigations into the relationship between patient characteristics such as body mass index and mammographic breast density and breast cancer risk.
- Cecchini RS, Swain SW, Costantino JP, Rastogi P, Jeong JH, et al. Body mass index at diagnosis and breast cancer survival prognosis in clinical trial populations from NRG Oncology/NSABP B-30, B-31, B-34 and B-38. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarker Prev. 2016 Jan 25; 25 (1):51-9. PMID: 26545405.
- Cecchini RS, Costantino JP, Cauley JA, Cronin WM, Wickerham DL, Bandos H, Weissfeld JL, Wolmark N. Baseline mammographic breast density and the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women participating in the NSABP study of tamoxifen and raloxifene (STAR). Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.). 2012 Nov; 5 (11):1321-9. PMID: 23060039.
- I am also interested in studying inequalities in cancer outcomes and access to resources among disparate and underrepresented populations.
- Cook ED, Yeager KA, Cecchini RS, Boparai J, Brown CL, Duncan M, Cronin WM, Paskett ED. Recruitment practices for U.S. minority and underserved populations in NRG oncology: Results of an online survey. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications 2018 June; 10: 100-104. doi:10.1016/j.conctc.2018.03.003 Epub 2018 Mar 9.
Education
| Allegheny College, Meadville, PA | BS | 5/2002 | Mathematics |
| University of Pittsburgh | MS | 4/2004 | Biostatistics |
| University of Pittsburgh | PhD | 4/2012 | Epidemiology |
Teaching
BIOST 2179 Biostatistics Consulting Practicum
