Plichta
Principal Investigator
Jennifer K Plichta
Associate Professor of Surgery
Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
Contact Information

Duke South, Blue Zone, Office #4553
Phone: 919-681-9156

Overview

BAM logo

As an active breast surgeon, Dr. Plichta’s research largely focuses on clinical outcomes, including Breast and More (BAM!). Topics of interest include: breast cancer genetics, breast cancer risk, breast atypia, breast cancer in the elderly, breast surgery, and metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Although MBC is a deadly disease, we have demonstrated some improvements in prognosis over time. To this end, we are actively working towards the implementation of a prognostic staging system for patients with de novo MBC. In contrast, most patients with breast atypia will never develop invasive breast cancer, yet identifying patients most at risk has been challenging. As such, we are seeking to identify risk factors most associated with the development of breast cancer.

Similar to these high-risk patients, those with certain germline genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, are also predisposed to developing breast cancer. However, this distinct population will often undergo intense surveillance and some may opt to have risk reducing surgery. A better understanding of these management options is critical to ensure truly informed and shared decision making, which is the aim of our work.

Shared decision making is also particularly important when treating older patients with breast cancer, as they are often more heterogeneous than other age groups. While concerns of under-treatment and over-treatment are important for all breast cancer patients, older patients often require more careful review and more discussion centered on quality of life and goals of care. Given these additional considerations, we are seeking to further refine the optimal care strategy for this unique population.

Breast Cancer awareness ribbon

Lab Members

Group photo of the Plichta Lab members
Tori Chanenchuk
Tori Chanenchuk
MS2, Duke University School of Medicine
Juliet Dalton
Juliet Dalton
MS3, Duke University School of Medicine
Michael Lee
Michael Lee
MS3, Duke University School of Medicine
Anna Louie
Anna Louie
General Surgery Resident, Duke Department of Surgery

 

Koumani Ntowe
Koumani Ntowe
MS3, Duke University School of Medicine
Sydney Record
Sydney Record, BA
MS4, Duke University School of Medicine
Samantha Thomas
Samantha Thomas, MS
Senior Biostatistician

Project Collaborators:

Prior Lab Members

Amanda Sergesketter, MD

Amanda Sergesketter, MD
MS3, 2017-2018

Presentations and Publications

  1. Sergesketter AR, Thomas SM, Fayanju OM, Plichta JK. Does the biology and prognosis of breast atypia vary by race/ethnicity? Podium presentation at the Annual Meeting of the SC/NC Chapters of the American College of Surgeons for the Cancer Competition; July 12-14, 2018; Myrtle Beach, SC.
  2. Plichta JK, Vernia H, Grimm LJ, Sergesketter AR, Thomas SM, Hwang ES, Plichta RP. It’s not you, it’s me: The influence of surgeon gender on patient satisfaction scores. Oral presentation at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2018; October 21-25, 2018; Boston, MA. Abstract published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2018 Oct; 227:e31.
  3. Sergesketter AR, Thomas SM, Gupta AM, Fayanju OM, Rosenberger LH, Menendez CS, Greenup RA, Hyslop T, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. The influence of age on the biology and prognosis of breast atypia. Quickshot oral presentation at the 14th Annual Academic Surgical Congress; Feb 5-7, 2019; Houston, TX.
  4. Sergesketter AR, Thomas SM, Gupta AM, Fayanju OM, Rosenberger LH, Menendez CS, Greenup RA, Hyslop T, Parrilla Castellar ER, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. The influence of age on the histopathology and prognosis of breast atypia. J Surg Res. 2019 Sep;241:188-198. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.03.047. Epub 2019 Apr 24.
  5. Plichta JK, Thomas SM, Sergesketter AR, Greenup RA, Fayanju OM, Rosenberger LH, Tamirisa N, Hyslop T, Hwang ES. Clinical and pathologic stage discordance in 433,514 Breast Cancer Patients. Am J Surg. 2019 Oct;218(4):669-676. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.07.016. Epub 2019 Jul 18.
  6. Sergesketter AR, Thomas SM, Parrilla Castellar ER, Fayanju OM, Menendez CS, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Do histopathology and clinical outcomes of breast atypia vary by race/ethnicity? J Surg Res. 2020 Nov;255:205-215. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.05.066. Epub 2020 Jun 18.
  7. Plichta JK, Thomas SM, Sergesketter AR, Greenup RA, Rosenberger LH, Fayanju OM, Kimmick G, Force J, Hyslop T, Hwang ES. A novel staging system for de novo metastatic breast cancer refines prognostic estimates. Ann Surg. 2022 Apr 1;275(4):784-792. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000004231. Epub 2020 Jul 9.
  8. Plichta JK, Williamson H, Sergesketter AR, Grimm LJ, Thomas SM, DiLalla G, Zwischenberger BA, Hwang ES, Plichta RP. It’s not you, it’s me: The influence of patient and surgeon gender on patient satisfaction scores. Am J Surg. 2020 Nov;220(5):1179-1188. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.07.036. Epub 2020 Aug 15.
Cosette DeChamp

Cosette (DeChant) Champion, MD
MS3, 2018-2019

Presentations & Publications

  1. DeChant CA, Ren Y, Thomas SM, Menendez CS, Fayanju OM, Rosenberger LH, Gupta AM, Greenup RA, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. DCIS with microinvasion: Is it in situ or invasive disease. Oral presentation at the American Society of Breast Surgeons’ Annual Meeting 2019; April 30-May 5, 2019; Dallas, TX. Abstract published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2019 May; 26(Suppl 2):32(#580617).
  2. Champion CA, Thomas SM, Plichta JK, Parrilla Castellar ER, Rosenberger LH, Greenup RA, Hyslop T, Hwang ES, Fayanju OM. Disparities at the intersection of race and ethnicity: Examining trends and outcomes in Hispanic women with breast cancer. Podium presentation at the 6th Annual Duke Cancer Institute Scientific Retreat ($1000 award); Oct 25, 2019; Durham, NC
  3. Plichta JK, Rosenberger LH, DeChant CA, Hwang ES. Ductal carcinoma in situ management: All or nothing, or something in between? (review). Curr Breast Cancer Rep (2019) 11: 190. doi: 10.1007/s12609-019-0306-2.
  4. DeChant CA, Thomas SM, Rosenberger LH, Fayanju OM, Greenup RA, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Ductal carcinoma in situ in the elderly: What is the ideal treatment plan? J Unexplored Med Data 2019;4:2. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2572-8180.2019.07.
  5. Champion CA, Ren Y, Thomas SM, Fayanju OM, Rosenberger LH, Greenup RA, Menendez CS, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. DCIS with microinvasion: Is it in situ or invasive disease. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019 Oct;26(10):3124-3132. doi: 10.1245/s10434-019-07556-9. Epub 2019 Jul 24.
Nina Tamirisa

Nina Tamirisa, MD
Fellow, 2018-2019

Presentations & Publications

  1. Tamirisa N, Thomas SM, Fayanju OM, Greenup RA, Rosenberger LH, Hyslop T, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Axillary nodal evaluation in elderly breast cancer patients: potential effects on treatment decisions and survival. Oral presentation at the American Society of Breast Surgeons’ Annual Meeting 2018; May 2-6, 2018; Orlando, FL. Abstract published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2018 June; 25(Suppl 2):25(#403418).
  2. Tamirisa N, Thomas SM, Fayanju OM, Greenup RA, Rosenberger LH, Hyslop T, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Axillary nodal evaluation in elderly breast cancer patients: Potential effects on treatment decisions and survival. Ann Surg Oncol. 2018 Oct;25(10):2890-2898. doi: 10.1245/s10434-018-6595-2. Epub 2018 Jul 2.
Rebecca Vernon, MD

Rebecca Vernon, MD
MS3, 2019-2020

Presentations & Publications

  1. Vernon R, Thomas SM, Greenup RA, Fayanju OM, Rosenberger LH, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Restaging stage IV breast cancer: Model validation for metastatic disease in an institutional cohort. Quickshot oral presentation at the 15th Annual Academic Surgical Congress; Feb 4-6, 2020; Orlando, FL.
  2. Plichta JK, Thomas SM, Vernon R, Fayanju OM, Rosenberger LH, Hyslop T, Hwang ES, Greenup RA. Breast cancer histopathology, stage at presentation, and treatment in the extremes of age. Breast Cancer Res Treat. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2020 Feb;180(1):227-235. doi: 10.1007/s10549-020-05542-4. Epub 2020 Jan 24.
Caitlin Marks, MD

Caitlin Marks, MD
MS3, 2019-2020

Presentations & Publications

  1. Marks CE, Ren Y, Rosenberger LH, Thomas SM, Greenup RA, Fayanju OM, Kimmick G, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Optimization of axillary management in elderly women with node-positive breast cancer. Podium presentation at the 6th Annual Duke Cancer Institute Scientific Retreat ($1000 award); Oct 25, 2019; Durham, NC. Poster presentation at Duke Research Week; Oct 17, 2019; Durham, NC. Oral presentation at the 15th Annual Academic Surgical Congress; Feb 4-6, 2020; Orlando, FL.
  2. Marks CE, Ren Y, Rosenberger LH, Thomas SM, Greenup RA, Fayanju OM, McDuff S, Kimmick G, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Surgical management of the axilla in elderly women with node-positive breast cancer. J Surg Res. 2020 Oct;254:275-285. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.04.036. Epub 2020 May 29.
  3. Plichta JK, Ren Y, Marks CE, Thomas SM, Greenup RA, Rosenberger LH, Fayanju OM, Hwang ES, Force J. Surgery for men with breast cancer: Do the same data still apply? Ann Surg Oncol. 2020 Nov;27(12):4720-4729. doi: 10.1245/s10434-020-08901-z. Epub 2020 Jul 23.
  4. Marks CE, Thomas SM, Fayanju OM, Sammons S, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Metastatic breast cancer: Who benefits from surgery? Am J Surg. 2022 Jan;223(1):81-93. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.07.018. Epub 2021 Jul 22.
  5. Neely B, Shahsahebi M, Marks CE, Power S, Kanter A, Howell C, Hyslop T, Plichta JK. Design and evaluation of a computational phenotype to identify patients with metastatic breast cancer within the electronic health record. JCO Clin Cancer Inform. 2022
Mahsa Taskindoust

Mahsa Taskindoust, MD
MS3, 2020-2021

Presentations & Publications

  1. Taskindoust M, Thomas SM, Sammons S, Fayanju OM, Greenup RA, Rosenberger LH, DiLalla G, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Survival outcomes among patients with metastatic breast cancer: Review of 47,000 patients. Podium presentation at the Society of Surgical Oncology Cancer Symposium 2021; March 18-21, 2021; Virtual Event. Poster presentation at the 5th Annual Duke Surgery Research Day; April 21, 2021; virtual event. Abstract published in the Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Feb;28(Suppl 1):1-162; abstract #6. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-09682-9.
  2. Plichta JK, Taskindoust M, Greenup RA. Surgery in the setting of metastatic breast cancer (review). Curr Breast Cancer Rep. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-023-00476-4. Epub 20 Jan 2023.
  3. Taskindoust M, Thomas SM, Sammons S, Fayanju OM, DiLalla G, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Survival outcomes among patients with metastatic breast cancer: Review of 47,000 patients. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Nov;28(12):7441-7449. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-10227-3. Epub 2021 May 28. Associated visual abstract; Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Jul 13. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-10296-4.
Jackie Dillon, MD

Jackie Dillon, MD
MS3, 2020-2021

Presentations & Publications

  1. Dillon J, Thomas SM, Rosenberger LH, DiLalla G, Fayanju OM, Greenup RA, Menendez CS, Tolnitch LA, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Mortality risk in older patients with breast cancer undergoing breast surgery: How low is “low risk”? Poster presentation at the American Society of Breast Surgeons’ 22nd Annual Meeting; April 28-May 2, 2021; Orlando, FL (hybrid in-person and virtual event). Poster of distinction (oral presentation) at the 5th Annual Duke Surgery Research Day; April 21, 2021; virtual event. Abstract published in the Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 May;28(Suppl 2):163-400; abstract #174. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-10068-0.
  2. Dillon J, Thomas SM, Rosenberger LH, DiLalla G, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. The impact of insurance status on survival for patients with metastatic breast cancer. Virtual abstract presented in association with the Association of Women Surgeons’ “AWS Research Madness: Road to AWS 2021”. Online visual abstract presentation (round 1). Selected for quickshot presentation on 9/18/2021 (round 2). Selected for oral presentation on 10/9/2021 (round 3). Selected for final round of competition, quickshot oral presentation (round 4) at the live/virtual AWS Annual Meeting on Oct 16, 2021.
  3. Dillon J, Ademuyiwa FO, Barrett M, Moss HA, Wignall E, Menendez C, Hughes KS, Plichta JK. Review: Disparities in genetic testing for heritable solid-tumor malignancies. Surgical Oncology Clinics: Disparities and Determinants of Health in Surgical Oncology, Elsevier. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2022 Jan;31(1):109-126. doi: 10.1016/j.soc.2021.08.004. Epub 2021 Oct 19.
  4. Dillon J, Thomas SM, Rosenberger LH, DiLalla G, Fayanju OM, Menendez CS, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Mortality in older patients with breast cancer undergoing breast surgery: How low is “low risk”? Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Oct;28(10):5758-5767. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-10502-3. Epub 2021 Jul 26. Associated visual abstract; Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-10612-y.
Krislyn Miller, DO

Krislyn Miller, DO
Fellow, 2021-2022

Presentations & Publications

  1. Miller KN, Thomas SM, Rosenberger LH, DiNome ML, DiLalla G, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Neoadjuvant therapy for older patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer: Comparison of chemotherapy and endocrine approaches. Virtual poster presentation (short recorded oral presentation) at the Society of Surgical Oncology 2022 International Conference on Surgical Cancer Care, SSO Virtual Meeting Week; Feb 28-Mar 3, 2022. Virtual Event. Abstract published in the Ann Surg Oncol 29, 331–544 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-022-11828-2.
  2. Miller KN, Thomas SM, Sergesketter AR, Rosenberger LH, DiLalla G, DiNome ML, Botty A, Menendez C, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. The influence of BMI on the histopathology and outcomes of patients diagnosed with atypical breast lesions. Poster presentation at the American Society of Breast Surgeons’ 23rd Annual Meeting; April 7-10, 2022; Las Vegas, NV. Abstract published in the Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Apr;29(Suppl 1):1-330; abstract #1146081. doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-11703-0.
  3. Miller KN, Thomas SM, Sergesketter AR, Rosenberger LH, DiLalla G, van den Bruele AB, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. The influence of body mass index on the histopathology and outcomes of patients diagnosed with atypical breast lesions. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Oct;29(10):6484-6494. doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-12313-6. Epub 2022 Aug 11. Associated visual abstract: Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Oct;29(10):6495. doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-12445-9.
Megan Rooney, MD

Megan Rooney, MD
MS3, 2021-2022

Presentations & Publications

  1. Rooney M, Thomas SM, Miller KN, Sammons S, Rosenberger LH, DiLalla G, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Disparities in survival outcomes of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Quickshot oral presentation at the 17th Annual Academic Surgical Congress; Feb 1-3, 2022; Orlando, FL.
  2. Rooney MM, Ren Y, Plichta JK. Defining realistic expectations for BRCA1/2 patients based on management strategy. Virtual podium presentation at the Association of Women Surgeons 1st Annual Data Mania event; April 3, 2022; virtual event.
  3. Rooney MM, Ren Y, Taylor-Cho M, Menendez C, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. The breast life in BRCA: Imaging and biopsy burden for BRCA1/2 patients. Poster presentation at the American Society of Breast Surgeons’ 23rd Annual Meeting; April 7-10, 2022; Las Vegas, NV. Abstract published in the Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Apr;29(Suppl 1):1-330; abstract #1148478. doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-11703-0.
  4. Rooney MM, Miller KN, Plichta JK. Genetics of breast cancer: Risk models, who to test, and management options. Surgical Clinics: Breast Cancer Management, Elsevier. Surg Clin North Am. 2023 Feb;103(1):35-47. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2022.08.016. Epub 2022 Oct 17.
  5. Rooney MM, Miller KN, Rosenberger LH, Plichta JK. Surgical treatment of de novo metastatic breast cancer (review). Curr Breast Cancer Rep. 2022 Sep;14:83–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-022-00448-0. Epub 25 Apr 2022.
  6. Rooney MM, Thomas SM, Taskindoust M, Greenup RA, Rosenberger LH, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. The role of tumor phenotype in the surgical treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Am J Surg. Am J Surg. 2023 Jan;225(1):84-92. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.09.029. Epub 2022 Sep 22.
  7. Plichta JK, Rushing CN, Lewis HC, Rooney MM, Blazer DG, Thomas SM, Hwang ES, Greenup RA. Implications of missing data on reported breast cancer mortality. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2023 Jan;197(1):177-187. doi: 10.1007/s10549-022-06764-4. Epub 2022 Nov 5.
Kendra Parrish

Kendra Parrish, DO​​​​​​
Breast Surgical Oncology Fellow, 2022-2023

Presentations and Publications

  1. Record SM, Chanenchuk T, Parrish KM, Kaplan SJ, Kimmick G, Plichta JK. Prognostic tools for older women with breast cancer: A systematic review. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Aug 30;59(9):1576. doi: 10.3390/medicina59091576.
  2. Parrish KM, Thomas SM, Record S, Botty van den Bruele A, Chiba A, DiLalla G, DiNome ML, Force J, Rosenberger LH, Woriax, HE, Hwang ES, Plichta JK. Should stage IA breast cancer be expanded? ePoster presentation at the Society of Surgical Oncology 2023 International Conference on Surgical Cancer Care; Mar 22-25, 2023; Dallas, TX. Abstract published in Ann Surg Oncol (2023) 30:S1–S257. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-023-1332-7. 

Research Events

Fellows 2023

 

ASBS 2023

 

BRAG Research Poster Presentation

 

Plichta lab members at a research event
Plichta lab member presenting research
Plichta lab members and faculty at a research event
Plichta lab members at a research event
Plichta lab members at a research event
Plichta lab members at a research event
Plichta lab member presenting research
Plichta lab member presenting research
Plichta lab members at a research event
Plichta lab member presenting research

Outreach Events

Outreach

 

Plichta lab members at an outreach event
Plichta lab members at an outreach event
Plichta lab members at an outreach event
Plichta lab members at an outreach event
Plichta lab members at an outreach event

Funded Projects and Publications

A full list of Dr. Plichta's funded projects and publications is available on her faculty profile.

View Dr. Plichta's Profile