Laurel A. Habel, PhD

People

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research
2000 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 891-3715 (phone)
laurel.habel@kp.org
Kaiser Permanente Researcher Profiles

Laurel Habel, PhD, has been a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research since 1996. Dr. Habel obtained her master’s in public health in epidemiology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1980 and her doctorate in epidemiology from the University of Washington, Seattle in 1996. Dr. Habel’s research interests include the etiology and progression of cancer and precursor lesions for cancer; mammographic density and other biomarkers of disease risk or progression; and the association between use of medications and cancer risk. She is the principal investigator or site principal investigator on several federally-funded research projects.

Current Position(s):

Research Scientist III, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Consulting Professor in Epidemiology, Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

Section Affiliations:

Associate Director, Cancer Research

Primary Research Interests:

Breast cancer etiology and progression
Etiology and progression of precursor lesions for cancer
Mammographic density and other biomarkers of disease risk or progression
Use of medication and cancer risk

Studies

Adherence to Oral Chemotherapy among Patients with Solid Tumors

Use of oral chemotherapy agents for the treatment of many solid tumors has been increasing. This project aims to examine the use of oral chemotherapy over the last 10 years, the proportion of patients who are adherent to their oral therapy, and the factors related to adherence.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: Northern California Community Benefit Programs

Pharmaceuticals and Cancer

This study continues surveillance of more than 200 of the most commonly prescribed drugs for carcinogenicity, and examines selected drug-cancer associations of potential importance.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: Kaiser Permanente Institutional Planned Giving

Genome-wide Pleiotropy Scan across Multiple Cancers

Understanding similarities among phenotypically distinct cancers could provide insight into biological basis of disease and suggest treatment overlap among patients with seemingly distinct cancers. We will evaluate this by undertaking a genome-wide association study (GWAS) across all major cancers types in the genotyped cohort of the Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health. Our aims are to: 1) Undertake an overall cancer GWAS across cancer sites to obtain a baseline estimate of the potential pleiotrophic association of genetic variants with multiple cancers. 2) Apply recently developed cross-site GWAS methods to search for potential associations across varying subgroups of cancers. 3) Extend the approach applied in Aim 2 to consider more complex sets of cancer subtypes. 4) The potential subgroups for consideration in the combined GWAS will be based on germline genetic information. We will develop novel approaches that cluster individuals with cancer into potential subgroups that reflect their genetic similarity.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: National Cancer Institute

A Biophysical Stromal Basis for Radiation Sensitivity in Ductal Carcinoma in situ

We hypothesize that high tensile forces of activated stroma play a critical role in the survival and proliferation of cancerous epithelial cells through direct involvement of the YAP-TAZ and PI3-k pathways, and that disengaging pro-survival mechanosignaling emanating from the activated stroma is a promising approach to enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Our goals are to determine if tensile forces specifically regulate ionizing radiation (IR) therapy resistance by testing 1) whether the YAP-TAZ and PI3-k pathways are acting independently in IR-mediated cell death and proliferation; and 2) whether integrin mechanosignaling modifies this regulation. In addition, we have the unique opportunity to investigate whether stromal biophysical and morphological features are associated YAP-TAZ signaling and disease progression in clinical DCIS.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: National Cancer Institute

Mammographic Density and Prognosis among Breast Cancer Intrinsic Subtypes

The primary goal of this study is to determine whether mammographic density at diagnosis of invasive breast cancer predicts risk of subsequent breast cancer events among patients participating in two large and well-characterized population-based cohorts (LACE and Pathways) within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California health plan membership. Breast cancers have already been classified into intrinsic subtypes using a 50-gene assay (PAM50 assay).
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: National Cancer Institute

Genome-Wide Association Study of Mammographic Density

Mammographic density (MD) is one of the strongest known risk factors for breast cancer. Our primary goal is to identify novel genes for MD by conducting a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 30,000 Caucasian women participating in KPNC's Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health (RPGEH). We will obtain routine screening mammograms and assess breast density. RPGEH and KPNC databases will provide genome-wide marker data for over 650K SNPs as well as extensive epidemiologic and medical data, including BMI, lifestyle and reproductive factors, and use of prescription medications.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: National Cancer Institute

A Comparison of HER2 Positive and HER2 Negative Disease among a Large Population-Based Cohort of Breast Cancer Patients

The aims of this study are to: 1) Estimate the age-specific incidence of HER2+ breast cancer in the Northern California Kaiser Permanente membership. 2) Among breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2005, compare demographic (e.g., age, race) and tumor (e.g., ER, PR, size, grade, nodal status) characteristics for those with HER2 positive and HER2 negative disease. 3) Among a random selection of HER2+ patients, collect additional information on cormorbid conditions of importance for treatment with Herceptin and/or entry into adjuvant clinical trials. 4) Compare the characteristics of HER2+ patients in the KP membership to those of patients entered into the standard adjuvant chemotherapy/Herceptin trials and estimate the percent of KP patients with HER2+ disease that would have been eligible for either of these trials.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: Genentech, Inc.

Study of Womens Health Across the Nation (SWAN): UC Davis and Kaiser Permanente

The objective of this project is to follow a large multi-ethnic sample of premenopausal women through the menopausal transition, in order to investigate the influence of biological and social and cultural factors on age at menopause, symptoms of menopause and change in disease risk factor status.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: National Institute on Aging

Highlighted Publications

Tamoxifen and Antidepressant Drug Interaction in a Cohort of 16 887 Breast Cancer Survivors

Author(s): Haque R; Shi J; Schottinger JE; Ahmed SA; Cheetham TC; Chung J; Avila C; Kleinman K; Habel LA; Fletcher SW; Kwan ML

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2016 Mar;108(3). Epub 2015-12-01.

Current Position(s):

Section Affiliations:

Primary Research Interests:

Studies

Adherence to Oral Chemotherapy among Patients with Solid Tumors

Pharmaceuticals and Cancer

Genome-wide Pleiotropy Scan across Multiple Cancers

A Biophysical Stromal Basis for Radiation Sensitivity in Ductal Carcinoma in situ

Mammographic Density and Prognosis among Breast Cancer Intrinsic Subtypes

Genome-Wide Association Study of Mammographic Density

A Comparison of HER2 Positive and HER2 Negative Disease among a Large Population-Based Cohort of Breast Cancer Patients

Study of Womens Health Across the Nation (SWAN): UC Davis and Kaiser Permanente

Highlighted Publications

Tamoxifen and Antidepressant Drug Interaction in a Cohort of 16 887 Breast Cancer Survivors

Publications

Prescription medications for sleep disturbances among midlife women during 2 years of follow-up: a SWAN retrospective cohort study

Hydrochlorothiazide and risk of melanoma subtypes

Initiation and adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy among urban, insured American Indian/Alaska Native breast cancer survivors

Cross-cancer evaluation of polygenic risk scores for 16 cancer types in two large cohorts

A large-scale association study detects novel rare variants, risk genes, functional elements, and polygenic architecture of prostate cancer susceptibility

Identification of 31 loci for mammographic density phenotypes and their associations with breast cancer risk

Pan-cancer study detects genetic risk variants and shared genetic basis in two large cohorts

Risk of Renal Cell Carcinoma Associated with Calcium Channel Blockers: A Nationwide Observational Study Focusing on Confounding by Indication

Cardiovascular Outcomes in Relation to Antihypertensive Medication Use in Women with and Without Cancer: Results from the Women's Health Initiative

Alcohol and tobacco use in relation to mammographic density in 23,456 women

Adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer patients: impact of a health system outreach program to improve adherence

Haloperidol and Prostate Cancer Prevention: More Epidemiologic Research Needed

Blood pressure lowering medication initiation and fracture risk: a SWAN pharmacoepidemiology study

Re: Cancer outcomes in DCIS patients without locoregional treatment

The associations of anthropometric, behavioural and sociodemographic factors with circulating concentrations of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3 in a pooled analysis of 16,024 men from 22 studies

Reproductive Factors and Mammographic Density: Associations Among 24,840 Women and Comparison of Studies Using Digitized Film-Screen Mammography and Full-Field Digital Mammography

Benign Papillary Breast Mass Lesions: Favorable Outcomes with Surgical Excision or Imaging Surveillance

Gabapentin and Cancer Risk: Updated Findings from Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Examining the role of access to care: Racial/ethnic differences in receipt of resection for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer among integrated system members and non-members

Patterns of medication adherence in a multi-ethnic cohort of prevalent statin users diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer

Photosensitizing Antihypertensive Drug Use and Risk of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A Cohort Study of Metformin and Colorectal Cancer Risk among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Feasibility of analyzing DNA copy number variation in breast cancer tumor specimens from 1950 to 2010: how old is too old?

Serum cholesterol trajectories in the 10 years prior to lymphoma diagnosis

Disparities in Prostate, Lung, Breast, and Colorectal Cancer Survival and Comorbidity Status among Urban American Indians and Alaskan Natives

Clinical risk score to predict likelihood of recurrence after ductal carcinoma in situ treated with breast-conserving surgery

Age at menarche and late adolescent adiposity associated with mammographic density on processed digital mammograms in 24,840 women

Hydrochlorothiazide use is strongly associated with risk of lip cancer

Research Letter: Anticholinergic Drugs and the Gallbladder - A Neglected Effect?

Statin use and risk of multiple myeloma: An analysis from the Cancer Research Network

Feasibility of collecting tumor samples of breast cancer patients diagnosed up to 50 years ago in the Child Health and Development Studies

Effect of Race and Ethnicity on Antihypertensive Medication Utilization Among Women in the United States: Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

Genome-wide association study of prostate-specific antigen levels identifies novel loci independent of prostate cancer.

The Effect of California's Breast Density Notification Legislation on Breast Cancer Screening

Statins and Reduced Risk of Liver Cancer: Evidence for Confounding

Use of sildenafil or other phosphodiesterase inhibitors and risk of melanoma

Exercise and Prognosis on the Basis of Clinicopathologic and Molecular Features in Early Stage Breast Cancer; The LACE and Pathways Studies

Exercise and Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Women With Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer

Case-control study of mammographic density and breast cancer risk using processed digital mammograms

Breast cancer multigene testing trends and impact on chemotherapy use

Time for integrating clinical, lifestyle and molecular data to predict drug responses - Authors' reply

Identification of Associations Between Prescribed Medications and Cancer: A Nationwide Screening Study

Tamoxifen and Antidepressant Drug Interaction in a Cohort of 16 887 Breast Cancer Survivors

A meta-analysis of individual participant data reveals an association between circulating levels of IGF-I and prostate cancer risk

Characteristics of second breast events among women treated with breast-conserving surgery for DCIS in the community

Pioglitazone Use and Risk of Bladder Cancer--Reply

Analyzing historical trends in breast cancer biomarker expression: a feasibility study (1947-2009)

Physical Activity and Risk of Male Breast Cancer

Pioglitazone Use and Risk of Bladder Cancer and Other Common Cancers in Persons With Diabetes

Prediagnostic Sex Steroid Hormones in Relation to Male Breast Cancer Risk

Risk Prediction for Local Breast Cancer Recurrence Among Women with DCIS Treated in a Community Practice: A Nested, Case-Control Study

A large multi-ethnic genome-wide association study of prostate cancer identifies novel risk variants and substantial ethnic differences

Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Differences in Short-Term Breast Cancer Survival Among Women in an Integrated Health System

Association of high obesity with PAM50 breast cancer intrinsic subtypes and gene expression

A hybrid approach to identify subsequent breast cancer using pathology and automated health information data

Metformin use and lung cancer risk in patients with diabetes

Association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and change in mammographic density over time in the SWAN mammographic density subcohort

Reply to L. Cabel et al

Treatment patterns for ductal carcinoma in situ from 2000-2010 across six integrated health plans

Imputation of the Rare HOXB13 G84E Mutation and Cancer Risk in a Large Population-Based Cohort

Characterization and Treatment of Local Recurrence Following Breast Conservation for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Distant Invasive Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive T1a and T1b Node-Negative Localized Breast Cancer Diagnosed From 2000 to 2006: A Cohort From an Integrated Health Care Delivery System

Complications of herpes zoster in cancer patients

Proteinuria testing among patients with diabetes mellitus is associated with bladder cancer diagnosis: potential for unmeasured confounding in studies of pioglitazone and bladder cancer

Performance of Claims-based Algorithms for Identifying Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Among Patients Diagnosed With Breast Cancer