On

Breast Surgery Research

Research in our department looks to the future of surgical operations by incorporating alternative surgical techniques, SPY Fluorescence Angiography, negative-pressure wound therapy and wire-free localisation, all with an eye to improving patient-related outcomes.

Our department is exploring the effectiveness of multimodal early supportive care to maximise functioning and wellbeing during treatment and prior to surgery. The multimodal supportive care program is currently recruiting patients, and comprises of holistic nursing assessment, education (lifestyle, nutrition, lymphoedema risk, pre-surgery), personalised exercise, and screening using patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) for symptoms and early intervention.

Further investigation is being undertaken by our department into the utility of sensation-preserving breast reconstruction, immediate reconstructive lymphovenous anastomosis, targeted axillary dissection practices (a nation-wide registry) and artificial intelligence based decision aid utilities for patients.

Our Research Team

Associate Professor Cindy Mak	Department Head, Breast Surgeon
Associate Professor Sanjay Warrier	Research Lead, Breast Surgeon
Dr Farhad Azimi	Associate Research Lead, Breast Surgeon
Dr Belinda Chan	Breast Surgeon
Dr Susannah Graham	Breast Surgeon
Dr Jue Li Seah	Breast Surgeon
Dr Nipu Jayatilleke	Breast Surgeon
Dr Adam Ofri	Breast Cancer Trials Research Fellow, Breast Surgeon, Masters student
Jack Kelly	Data Manager and Research Officer
Dr Chu Nguyen	PhD student
Dr Gaik Si Quah	Masters student
Dr Ru Udayasiri	Masters student
Dr Nicola Davis	Masters student
Dr Pascal Ting	Masters student

Selected Grants

Amount awarded	Grant and project details
$40,000	Sydney Research, 2023-2025 Clinician Researcher Scholarship Investigator: Nguyen C

Our Publications

2024

Cui RBJ, Hawes S, Potter AJ, Merrick K, Warrier S, Azimi F. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the breast in pregnancy. J Surg Case Rep. 2024 Jan 16;2024(1):rjad738. doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjad738.

Nguyen CL, Dayaratna N, Graham S, Azimi F, Mak C, Pulitano C, Warrier S. Evolution of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence in Breast and Axilla Surgery: An Australasian Experience. Life (Basel). 2024 Jan 17;14(1):135. doi: 10.3390/life14010135.

Meyer B, Stirzaker C, Ramkomuth S, Harvey K, Chan B, Lee CS, Karim R, Deng N, Avery-Kiejda KA, Scott RJ, Lakhani S, Fox S, Robbins E, Shin JS, Beith J, Gill A, Sioson L, Chan C, Krishnaswamy M, Cooper C, Warrier S, Mak C, Rasko JE, Bailey CG, Swarbrick A, Clark SJ, O'Toole S, Pidsley R. Detailed DNA methylation characterisation of phyllodes tumours identifies a signature of malignancy and distinguishes phyllodes from metaplastic breast carcinoma. J Pathol. 2024 Apr;262(4):480-494. doi: 10.1002/path.6250. Epub 2024 Feb 1.

Tajziehchi P, Dayaratna N, Holten BE, Dusseldorp JR. Flap neurotisation improves sensation outcomes in abdominally based autologous breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2024 Mar;90:280-291. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2024.01.045. Epub 2024 Feb 8.

Dalli J, Nguyen CL, Jindal A, Epperlein JP, Hardy NP, Pulitano C, Warrier S, Cahill RA. A feasibility study assessing quantitative indocyanine green angiographic predictors of reconstructive complications following nipple-sparing mastectomy. JPRAS Open. 2024 Jan 26;40:32-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jpra.2024.01.012.

Cui RBJ, Hawes S, Azimi F, Chan B, Graham S, Mak C, Seah JL, Warrier S. Avoiding unnecessary sentinel lymph node biopsy with the use of superparamagnetic iron oxide mapping agents (Magtrace®) in breast surgery. ANZ J Surg. 2024 Jun;94(6):1090-1095. doi: 10.1111/ans.18936. Epub 2024 Mar 8.

Nguyen CL, Cui R, Zhou M, Ali F, Easwaralingam N, Chan B, Graham S, Azimi F, Mak C, Warrier S. Cost-Effectiveness of Radar Localisation Versus Wire Localisation for Wide Local Excision of Non-palpable Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2024 Jun;31(6):3916-3925. doi: 10.1245/s10434-024-15142-x. Epub 2024 Mar 12.

Easwaralingam N, Nguyen CL, Ali F, Chan B, Graham S, Azimi F, Mak C, Warrier S. Radar localization of breast and axillary lesions with SCOUT: a prospective single institution pilot study. ANZ J Surg. 2024 Jun;94(6):1083-1089. doi: 10.1111/ans.19022. Epub 2024 May 13.

Chow O, Graham S, Ricciardello D, Davies M, Lajevardi S, Hussain G, Deva AK. Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess Negative Pressure Wound Therapy versus Standard-of-care Dressings in Breast Surgery: A Pilot Study. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024 Jul 17;12(7):e5799. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005799.

Holten B, Dayaratna N, Mak C, Dusseldorp J. Abdominal wall function following breast reconstruction with abdominal tissue flaps: a systematic review. Breast. 2024;74:103659. doi:10.1016/j.breast.2024.103659.

2023

2022

Dayaratna N, Ahmadi N, Mak C, Dusseldorp J. (2022). Robotic-assisted deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap harvest for breast reconstruction. ANZ journal of surgery. 93. 10.1111/ans.18107.

Goltsman, D., Warrier, S., Mak, C., Spillane, A., & Ascherman, J. (2022). Association between body mass index and adverse surgical outcomes of implant-based breast reconstruction: a prospective cohort study of 5,545 breast reconstructions. Annals Of Breast Surgery, 6. doi:10.21037/abs-21-2

Nguyen CL, Comerford AP, Dayaratna N, Lata T, Paredes SR, Easwaralingam N, Seah JL, Azimi F, Mak C, Pulitano C, Warrier SK. (2022) Trends in outcomes with adoption of indocyanine green angiography in postmastectomy reconstruction. ANZ J Surg. 2022 Dec 28. doi: 10.1111/ans.18241.

Nguyen CL, Dayaratna N, Comerford AP, Tam SKM, Paredes SR, Easwaralingam N, Seah JL, Azimi F, Mak C, Pulitano C, Warrier SK (2022) Cost-effectiveness of indocyanine green angiography in postmastectomy breast reconstruction. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2022 Sep;75(9):3014-3021. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2022.04.050.

Nguyen CL, Liu Y et al (2022). Utility of indocyanine green angiography in delaying breast reconstruction postmastectomy. European Journal of Plastic Surgery. 10.1007/s00238-022-01944-3.

Nguyen CL, Tam M, et al (2022). Patterns of ischaemia and reperfusion in nipple-sparing mastectomy reconstruction with indocyanine green angiography, Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2022.08.006.

Ofri A, Bhimani N, Warrier S (2022) Older Breast Cancer in Australia: Tumour Characteristics of Screened Versus Symptomatic Breast Cancers. J Oncol Res Ther 7: 10126. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29011/2574-710X.10126.

Ofri A, Bhimani N, Warrier S (2022) Older Breast Cancer: Not all T1 HR+ Breast Cancers are Equal. J Oncol Res Ther 7: 10127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29011/2574-710X.10127.

Ofri A, Stuart K et al (2022). Diagnosis and management of phyllodes tumours for the surgeon: An algorithm. The surgeon : Journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland. 10.1016/j.surge.2022.01.004.

2021

Giunta, Sarah & Laidsaar-Powell, & Chan, Belinda et al. (2021). Considering the Type and Timing of Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy: Qualitative Insights into Women's Decision-Making. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 54. 102024. 10.1016/j.ejon.2021.102024.

Goltsman, David & Bruce, Eleanor & Mak, Cindy & Spillane, Andrew & Warrier, Sanjay. (2021). The Issue of Late Stage Breast Cancer in Sydney, NSW. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 90. 10.1111/ans.16803.

Goltsman, David & Warrier, Sanjay & Mak, Cindy & Spillane, Andrew & Ascherman, Jeffrey. (2021). Association between body mass index and adverse surgical outcomes of implant-based breast reconstruction: a prospective cohort study of 5,545 breast reconstructions. Annals of Breast Surgery. 10.21037/abs-21-2.

Harvey, Kate & Andersson, et al (2021). A single-cell and spatially resolved atlas of human breast cancers. Nature Genetics. 53. 1334-1347. 10.1038/s41588-021-00911-1.

Nguyen, Chu Luan et al. (2021). Indocyanine green angiography in breast reconstruction surgery: A systematic review of cost-analysis studies. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. 74. 10.1016/j.bjps.2021.08.013.

Pitiyarachchi, Omali & Heller, Gillian & Hui, Mun & McNeil, Catriona & Beith, Jane. (2021). Concordance of core biopsy and definitive surgical specimen results in early breast cancer. 10.1111/ajco.13632.

Warrier, Sanjay & Nguyen, Chu & Easwaralingam, Neshanth. (2021). Indocyanine green laser angiography demonstrating mastectomy flap tissue perfusion following nipple sparing mastectomy.. ASVIDE. 8. 103-103. 10.21037/asvide.2021.103.

Warrier, Sanjay & Nguyen, Chu Luan & Easwaralingam, Neshanth. (2021). Acellular dermal matrices in breast reconstruction: a narrative review and institutional perspective. Annals of Breast Surgery. 5. 17-17. 10.21037/abs-20-68.

Wu, Sunny & Roden, Daniel et al. (2021). Cryopreservation of human cancers conserves tumour heterogeneity for single-cell multi-omics analysis. Genome Medicine. 13. 10.1186/s13073-021-00885-z.

2020

Chen, J., N. Easwaralingam, S. Warrier, A. Ong, E. K. Carson, C. Mak, K. Snook, K. Middleton, A. Parker, C. Palmieri, A. Spillane, G. B. Mann, E. Lim and D. Segara (2020). Window of opportunity treatment in breast cancer. ANZ J Surg 90(1-2): 34-40.

Goltsman, David & Warrier, Sanjay & Mak, Cindy & Ascherman, Jeffrey. (2020). Is Obesity Associated with Poorer Surgical Outcomes Among Women with Breast Reconstruction for Breast Cancer?. ANZ Journal of Surgery. 90. 10-22. 10.1111/ans.15833.

Lam, Danny & Warrier, Sanjay & Ahmadi, Nariman & Leslie, Scott & Rindani, Rahul. (2020). Value of Indocyanine Green Angiography to Guide Wound Management and Prevent Necrosis in a Robotic Surgical Procedure. Journal of Endourology Case Reports. 10.1089/cren.2019.0149.

Strach, M. C., T. Prasanna, M. A. Carrigy, K. Bilton, M. Hui, M. Harrison, J. M. Beith and C. M. McNeil (2020). Impact of a novel breast cancer survivorship program on patient-centered outcomes: A single institutional study. Breast J 26(7): 1466-1471.

Wu, Sunny & Roden, Daniel & Al-Eryani, Ghamdan & Bartonicek, Nenad & Harvey, Kate & Cazet, Aurelie & Chan, Chia-Ling & Junankar, Simon & Hui, Mun & Millar, Ewan & Beretov, Julia & Horvath, Lisa & Joshua, Anthony & Stricker, Phillip & Wilmott, James & Quek, Camelia & Long, Georgina & Scolyer, Richard & Yeung, Bertrand & Swarbrick, Alexander. (2020). Cryopreservation of human cancers conserves tumour heterogeneity for single-cell multi-omics analysis. 10.1101/2020.06.04.135277.

Wu, Sunny & Roden, Daniel & Wang, Chenfei & Holliday, Holly & Harvey, Kate & Cazet, Aurelie & Murphy, Kendelle & Pereira, Brooke & Al-Eryani, Ghamdan & Bartonicek, Nenad & Hou, Rui & Torpy, James & Junankar, Simon & Chan, Chia[1]Ling & Lam, Eric & Hui, Mun & Gluch, Laurence & Beith, Jane & Parker, Andrew & Swarbrick, Alexander. (2020). Single-cell analysis reveals diverse stromal subsets associated with immune evasion in triple-negative breast cancer. 10.1101/2020.06.04.135327.

Wu, Sunny & Roden, Daniel & Wang, Chenfei & Holliday, Holly & Harvey, Kate & Cazet, Aurélie & Murphy, Kendelle & Pereira, Brooke & Al-Eryani, Ghamdan & Bartonicek, Nenad & Hou, Rui & Torpy, James & Junankar, Simon & Chan, Chia‐Ling & Lam, Chuan & Hui, Mun & Gluch, Laurence & Beith, Jane & Parker, Andrew & Swarbrick, Alexander. (2020). Stromal cell diversity associated with immune evasion in human triple ‐ negative breast cancer. The EMBO Journal. 10.15252/embj.2019104063.

Breast Surgery Research

Our Research Team

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Our Publications

2024

Breast Surgery Research

Breast Surgery Research

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