Abstract PS4-11-24: Enhancing Quality of Care Using Project ECHO: Insights from Breast Density and Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment Programs

Abstract As of 2020, more than 168,000 women in the United States were living with advanced breast cancer, which carries a 5-year relative survival rate of approximately 31%. Over the past decade, this survival rate has gradually improved, thanks to advances in treatment, earlier detection, and a deeper understanding of disease biology. With these developments—alongside regular updates to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines and growing awareness of risk factors such as breast density—care for patients with advanced breast cancer has become increasingly complex. To help ensure equitable access to emerging therapies and evolving standards of care, the American Cancer Society launched two ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) programs: one focused on breast density and risk assessment, and the other aimed at enhancing treatment for advanced breast cancer. Project ECHO is an innovative telementoring model that moves knowledge instead of patients. Through an “all teach, all learn” approach, healthcare professionals enhance their skills and knowledge to improve patient outcomes across the cancer continuum through sharing evidence-based practices and resources. Through case-based learning and a series of interactive sessions, participants across the globe share, learn, and collaborate to ensure that health care professionals are equipped to provide the right care at the right time and place, giving everyone the opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. The Addressing Breast Density & Risk in Primary Care ECHO, the first of the two breast-focused ECHO programs, addressed the unique needs of providing care to patients with dense breasts, family history, and genetic markers. The overall program goal was to advance the understanding of the role breast density plays in a patient’s overall cancer risk. By the end of the program, participants had the knowledge to communicate​ and integrate breast cancer risk assessment into primary care practice​. This was achieved through six monthly sessions, held from November 2024 to April 2025 led by subject matter experts who delivered clinical presentations and facilitated interactive discussions. The ECHO reached a total of 121 unique participants across 31 states. Participant health systems were comprised of 50% urban, 32% suburban, and 18% rural communities. A participant echoed the program’s success with the comment on how they care for patients, “I counsel every patient now in a different manner. Discussing density is now routine, computing breast cancer (TC) risk scores as well.” The Improving Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer ECHO program, launched in May and will conclude in November 2025, aims to address best practices in shared decision-making and high-quality treatment of advanced breast cancer. By the end of the program, multidisciplinary professionals will have the knowledge on strategies to address the optimal sequencing of systemic therapy, utilize novel radiotherapeutics for detecting and treating breast cancer, and leverage healthcare professionals to support the physical and psychosocial journey of patients undergoing treatment. In the first two sessions, a total of 100 unique attendees across 20 states participated. Upon completion, knowledge, confidence, and likelihood to recommend to colleagues will be reported. As advancements in the field of breast cancer accelerate, staying informed is no longer optional; it is essential. ECHO programs serve as a powerful catalyst for bridging knowledge gaps by connecting a global network of health care professionals. Through dynamic, peer-to-peer collaboration, these programs not only share best practices but they foster expertise, elevate clinical standards, and empower health care professionals to provide exceptional, evidence-based care to their patients. Citation Format: A. Rosen, M. Odom, J. McBride, C. Blackwater, M. Black, K. Marcelle, B. Morris, S. Sivendran. Enhancing Quality of Care Using Project ECHO: Insights from Breast Density and Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment Programs [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS4-11-24.