UCSF trial aims to spare DCIS patients from invasive surgery
CBS San Francisco profiled QLHC's RECAST DCIS trial, testing whether active surveillance and hormone therapy can replace surgery and radiation for DCIS — a diagnosis that accounts for 20–25% of all breast cancers and that researchers believe may often not require aggressive intervention.
A feature by CBS News San Francisco highlights QLHC's RECAST DCIS trial, an innovative research study designed to determine whether certain patients diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) can safely avoid invasive surgery and radiation. Instead of following the traditional treatment pathway, the trial investigates whether active surveillance combined with hormone therapy can provide a safe and effective alternative for carefully selected patients. DCIS represents approximately 20–25% of all breast cancer diagnoses, yet research has shown that many low-risk cases may never progress to invasive breast cancer. Despite this, thousands of patients undergo surgery and radiation each year. The RECAST DCIS trial aims to better understand which patients can be safely monitored, reducing unnecessary treatment while maintaining excellent clinical outcomes. By using advanced risk assessment and personalized care strategies, researchers hope to improve quality of life, minimize treatment-related side effects, and provide patients with more informed choices about their care. The study reflects a growing movement toward precision medicine, where treatment decisions are guided by the biology of the disease rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The RECAST trial also seeks to generate high-quality clinical evidence that could influence future treatment guidelines and redefine how low-risk DCIS is managed worldwide. If successful, the findings may help establish active surveillance as a standard care option for appropriate patients, reducing overtreatment while preserving patient safety and long-term health. As highlighted by CBS News San Francisco, this research demonstrates QLHC's commitment to advancing innovative clinical trials that challenge conventional thinking and create more personalized, patient-centered approaches to breast cancer care.