About me
Dr. Claudine Isaacs is a medical oncologist who specializes in the care of women with all stages of breast cancer. She is Professor of Medicine and Oncology, Associate Director of Clinical Research and Leader of the Clinical Breast Cancer Program at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is also the Medical Director of the Jess and Mildred Fisher Center for Hereditary Cancer and Clinical Genomics Research. She has been practicing for over 20 years.
Dr. Isaacs received her medical degree and internal medicine residency training at McGill University, Canada. She completed fellowship training in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at McGill University and a Fellowship in Breast Medical Oncology in the Division of Medical Oncology at Georgetown University. She then joined the faculty in the Department of Medicine and Oncology at Georgetown University.
Dr. Isaacs has extensive experience in the conduct of clinical trials focusing on all aspects of breast cancer. Additional research interests include cancer risk assessment and medical management and prevention strategies for women at high risk for breast cancer. She has served as the principal investigator of a variety of clinical trials in the treatment of early-stage and metastatic breast cancer, and currently serves as the principal investigator of the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium (TBCRC), the ISPY2 trial at Georgetown University. She has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications. She has also served on a number of committees, including the Cancer Education Committee at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the ASCO Scientific Program Committee, the Breast Oncology Local Diseases Task Force of the Breast Steering Committee of the National Cancer Institute, and most recently the ASCO guidelines committee. She has been named one of America's Top Cancer Doctors by Castle Connolly/Newsweek for many years running, and has also received designations from Washingtonian Magazine and Women's Health Magazine.
Dr. Isaacs' Philosophy of Care:
I strive to personalize the care of my patients by tailoring state-of-the-art therapy to their individual situations and by providing them with access to cutting-edge clinical trials. Equally important is that the care of my patients extends well beyond focusing just on the optimal therapy of their cancer. My approach to care is to relate to each of my patients as individuals in the context of their lives, and not solely based on the characteristics of their disease. To that end, I work with a wonderful and dedicated multidisciplinary group of expert colleagues who are deeply committed to and involved with our patients' care. The whole team is focused solely on breast cancer and includes medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, breast imagers, and pathologists who are supported by an experienced team of clinical nurse coordinators, nurse navigators, research nurses, genetic counselors and social workers, all championing a multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery. We are not treating a disease. We are treating a person and we are here to provide state-of-the-art medical treatment and to accompany that person navigates their cancer journey.
Practice locations
Distance from Change LocationEnter your Location
3800 Reservoir Road Northwest Lombardi Cancer Center Washington, DC, 20007
202-444-2223Fax 202-444-1229
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
-
List of insurance plans we accept
- Cigna HealthSpring Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- CFBCBS EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Open HMO
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- POS OA & OA Plus
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- Opoen HMO Option
- Innovation Health: POS
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- PPO and PPO Plus
- Open POS II
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Open EPO Plus
- Network OA
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- First Health PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- FIRST HEALTH
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- United Student Resources
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Tricare Prime
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
Fellowship Program: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (1993)
Fellowship Program: McGill University (1992)
Internship/Residency: Montreal General Hospital (1990)
Residency Program: McGill University (1990)
Internship Program: Montreal General Hospital (1988)
Medical School: McGill University (1987)
Awards
- America’s Top Doctors for Women, Women’s Health Magazine
- Marquis Who’s Who in America
- America’s Top Doctors, Castle Connolly
- Newsweek’s Top Cancer Doctors
- Top Doctors Washington DC, Washingtonian Magazine
- Global Directory Top Doctors
- Global Directory of Who’s Who
- Top Doctors Washington DC Area, Northern Virginia Magazine
- Estelle Ramey Mentorship Award, Georgetown University School of Medicine
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Liu MC, Shields PG, Warren RD, Cohen P, Wilkinson M, Ottaviano YL, Rao SB, Eng-Wong J, Seillier-Moiseiwitsch F, Noone AM, Isaacs C. Circulating tumor cells: a useful predictor of treatment efficacy in metastatic breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 2009;27(31):5153-9. PMID 19752342
- Schwartz M, Peshkin B, Hughes C, Main D, Isaacs C, Lerman C. Impact of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation testing on psychological distress in a clinic-based sample. J Clin Oncol 2002;20:514-520.
- Isaacs C, Peshkin BN, Schwartz M, DeMarco TA, Main D, Lerman C. Breast and ovarian cancer screening practices in healthy women with a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Breast Cancer Res and Treat 2002;71:103-112.
- Lehman CD, Isaacs C, Schnall MD, Pisano ED, Ascher SM, Weatherall PT, Bluemke DA, Bowen DJ, Marcom PK, Armstrong DK, et al. Cancer yield of mammography, MR, and US in high-risk women: prospective multi-institution breast cancer screening study. Radiology 2007;244(2):381-8.
- Schwartz MD, Isaacs C, Graves KD, Poggi E, Peshkin BN, Gell C, Finch C, Kelly S, Taylor KL, Perley L. Long-term outcomes of BRCA1/BRCA2 testing: risk reduction and surveillance. Cancer. 2011;118:510-517
- Mandelblatt JS, Faul LA, Luta G, Makgoeng SB, Isaacs C, Taylor K, Sheppard VB, Tallarico M, Barry WT, Cohen HJ. Patient and physician decision styles and breast cancer chemotherapy use in older women: Cancer and Leukemia Group B protocol 369901. J Clin Oncol 2012;(21):2609-14.
- Sheppard VB, Isaacs C, Luta G. Narrowing the racial gaps in breast cancer chemotherapy initiation: the role of the patient-provider relationship. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2013 May;139(1):207-16.
- Potosky, A. L., O'Neill, S. C., Isaacs, C., Tsai, H.-T., Chao, C., Liu, C., Ekezue, B. F., Selvam, N., Kessler, L. G., Zhou, Y. and Schwartz, M. D. Population-based study of the effect of gene expression profiling on adjuvant chemotherapy use in breast cancer patients under the age of 65 years. Cancer. 2015;121(22):4062-70.
- Budd, G. T., Barlow, W. E., Moore, H. C., Hobday, T. J., Stewart, J. A., Isaacs, C., Salim M, Cho J, Rinn K, Albain K, Chew H, Burton G, Moore TD, Srkalovic G, McGregor B, Flaherty L, Livingston R, Lew D, Gralow J, Hortobagyi, G. N. SWOG S0221: A Phase III Trial Comparing Chemotherapy Schedules in High-Risk Early-Stage Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol, 2015;33(1), 58-64. PMID 25422488
- Park JW, Liu MC, Yee D, Yau C, van 't Veer LJ, Symmans WF, Paoloni M, Perlmutter J, Hylton NM, Hogarth M, DeMichele A, Buxton MB, Chien AJ, Wallace AM, Boughey JC, Haddad TC, Chui SY, Kemmer KA, Kaplan HG, Isaacs C, Nanda R, Tripathy D, Albain KS, Edmiston KK, Elias AD, Northfelt DW, Pusztai L, Moulder SL, Lang JE, Viscusi RK, Euhus DM, Haley BB, Khan QJ, Wood WC, Melisko M, Schwab R, Helsten T, Lyandres J, Davis SE, Hirst GL, Sanil A, Esserman LJ, Berry DA; I-SPY 2 Investigators. Adaptive Randomization of Neratinib in Early Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016 Jul 7;375(1):11-22. PMID: 27406346
- Zhang X, Chiang HC, Wang Y, Zhang C, Smith S, Zhao X, Nair SJ, Michalek J, Jatoi I, Lautner M, Oliver B, Wang H, Petit A, Soler T, Brunet J, Mateo F, Angel Pujana M, Poggi E, Chaldekas K, Isaacs C, Peshkin BN, Ochoa O, Chedin F, Theoharis C, Sun LZ, Curiel TJ, Elledge R, Jin VX, Hu Y, Li R. Attenuation of RNA polymerase II pausing mitigates BRCA1-associated R-loop accumulation and tumorigenesis. Nat Commun. 2017 Jun 26;8:15908. PMID: 28649985; PMCID: PMC5490191.
- Mandelblatt JS, Small BJ, Luta G, Hurria A, Jim H, McDonald BC, Graham D, Zhou X, Clapp J, Zhai W, Breen E, Carroll JE, Denduluri N, Dilawari A, Extermann M, Isaacs C, Jacobsen PB, Kobayashi LC, Nudelman KH, Root J, Stern RA, Tometich D, Turner R, VanMeter JW, Saykin AJ, and Ahles T. Cancer-Related Cognitive Outcomes Among Older Breast Cancer Survivors in the Thinking and Living With Cancer Study. J Clin Oncol 2018. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.18.00140. PMID 30281396
- Pohlmann PR, Isaacs C. Extended Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Postmenopausal Women: Treating Many to Benefit a Few. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2018 Jan 1;110(1). PMID: 28922782
- Qian F, Wang S, Mitchell J, McGuffog L, Barrowdale D, Leslie G, for CIMBA. Height and Body Mass Index as Modifiers of Breast Cancer Risk in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers: A Mendelian Randomization Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2018 Oct 12. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djy132. PMID: 30312457
- Heeke AL, Pishvaian MJ, Lynce F, Xiu J, Brody JR, Chen WJ, Baker TM, Marshall JL, Isaacs C. Prevalence of Homologous Recombination-Related Gene Mutations Across Multiple Cancer Types. JCO Precis Oncol. 2018;2018. doi: 10.1200/PO.17.00286. Epub 2018 Jul 23. PMID:30234181
- Wood ME, Garber JE, Isaacs C, Masood S, Bedrosian I, Tung N, Chun J, Schnabel FR, Arun BK; International Society of Cancer Risk Assessment and Management. Genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and the USPSTF recommendations. Breast J. 2019 Jul;25(4):575-577. PMID: 31280501
- Nanda R, Liu MC, Yau C, Shatsky R, Pusztai L, Wallace A, Chien J, Forero-Tores A, Ellis E, Han H, Clark A, Albain K, Boughey JC, Jaskowiak NT, Elias A, Isaacs C, Kemmer K, Helsten T, et al, for the I-SPY 2 Investigators. Effect of Pembrolizumab Plus Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Pathologic Complete Response in Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer: An Analysis of the Ongoing Phase 2 Adaptively Randomized I-SPY2 Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020;6(5):676-684
- Yee D, DeMichele AM, Yau C, Isaacs C, Symmans WF, Albain KS, et al for ISPY2. Association of Event-Free and Distant Recurrence-Free Survival With Individual-Level Pathologic Complete Response in Neoadjuvant Treatment of Stages 2 and 3 Breast Cancer: Three-Year Follow-up Analysis for the I-SPY2 Adaptively Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020 Sep 1;6(9):1355-1362. PMID: 32701140; PMCID: PMC7378873.
- Tung NM, Boughey JC, Pierce LJ, Robson ME, Bedrosian I, Dietz JR, Dragun A, Gelpi JB, Hofstatter EW, Isaacs CJ, Jatoi I, Kennedy E, Litton JK, Mayr NA, Qamar RD, Trombetta MG, Harvey BE, Somerfield MR, Zakalik D. Management of Hereditary Breast Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society for Radiation Oncology, and Society of Surgical Oncology Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2020 Jun 20;38(18):2080-2106. PubMed PMID: 32243226.
- Chandler Y, Jayasekera J, Schechter C, Isaacs C, Cadham C, Mandelblatt J. Simulation of Chemotherapy Effects in Older Breast Cancer Patients With High Recurrence Scores. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2020 Jun 1;112(6):574-581. PMID: 31612208
- Ambrosone CB, Zirpoli GR, Hutson AD, McCann WE, McCann SE, Barlow WE, Kelly KM, Cannioto R, Sucheston-Campbell LE, Hershman DL, Unger JM, Moore HCF, Stewart JA, Isaacs C, Hobday TJ, Salim M, Hortobagyi GN, Gralow JR, Budd GT, Albain KS. Dietary Supplement Use During Chemotherapy and Survival Outcomes of Patients With Breast Cancer Enrolled in a Cooperative Group Clinical Trial (SWOG S0221). J Clin Oncol. 2020 Mar 10;38(8):804-814. PMID: 31855498; PMCID: PMC7062457.
- O'Neill SC, Taylor KL, Clapp J, Jayasekera J, Isaacs C, Mary Atieh Graham D, Goldberg SL, Mandelblatt J. Multilevel Influences on Patient-Oncologist Communication about Genomic Test Results: Oncologist Perspectives.J Health Commun. 2018;23(7):679-686. PMID:30130477
- Chien AJ, Tripathy D, Albain KS, Symmans WF, Rugo HS, Melisko ME, Wallace AM, Schwab R, Helsten T, Forero-Torres A, Stringer-Reasor E, Ellis ED, Kaplan HG, Nanda R, Jaskowiak N, Murthy R, Godellas C, Boughey JC, Elias AD, Haley BB, Kemmer K, Isaacs C, Clark AS, Lang JE, Lu J, Korde L, Edmiston KK, Northfelt DW, Viscusi RK, Yee D, Perlmutter J, Hylton NM, Van't Veer LJ, DeMichele A, Wilson A, Peterson G, Buxton MB, Paoloni M, Clennell J, Berry S, Matthews JB, Steeg K, Singhrao R, Hirst GL, Sanil A, Yau C, Asare SM, Berry DA, Esserman LJ. MK-2206 and Standard Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Improves Response in Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive and/or Hormone Receptor-Negative Breast Cancers in the I-SPY 2 Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2020 Apr 1;38(10):1059-1069. PMID: 32031889; PMCID: PMC7106976.
- Nanda R, Liu MC, Yau C, Shatsky R, Pusztai L, Wallace A, Chien AJ, Forero-Torres A, Ellis E, Han H, Clark A, Albain K, Boughey JC, Jaskowiak NT, Elias A, Isaacs C, Kemmer K, Helsten T, Majure M, Stringer-Reasor E, Parker C, Lee MC, Haddad T, Cohen RN, Asare S, Wilson A, Hirst GL, Singhrao R, Steeg K, Asare A, Matthews JB, Berry S, Sanil A, Schwab R, Symmans WF, van 't Veer L, Yee D, DeMichele A, Hylton NM, Melisko M, Perlmutter J, Rugo HS, Berry DA, Esserman LJ. Effect of Pembrolizumab Plus Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Pathologic Complete Response in Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer: An Analysis of the Ongoing Phase 2 Adaptively Randomized I-SPY2 Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020 May 1;6(5):676-684. PMID: 32053137; PMCID: PMC7058271.
- Radovich M, Jiang G, Hancock BA, Chitambar C, Nanda R, Falkson C, Lynce FC, Gallagher C, Isaacs C, Blaya M, Paplomata E, Walling R, Daily K, Mahtani R, Thompson MA, Graham R, Cooper ME, Pavlick DC, Albacker LA, Gregg J, Solzak JP, Chen YH, Bales CL, Cantor E, Shen F, Storniolo AMV, Badve S, Ballinger TJ, Chang CL, Zhong Y, Savran C, Miller KD, Schneider BP. Association of Circulating Tumor DNA and Circulating Tumor Cells After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With Disease Recurrence in Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Preplanned Secondary Analysis of the BRE12-158 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2020 Sep 1;6(9):1410-1415. PMID: 32644110; PMCID: PMC7349081.
Complete List of Bibliography: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1JoY-eSaL0CAN/bibliography/public/