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

Section Affiliations:

Cancer

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

Radiomic and genomic predictors of breast cancer risk

Creating more personalized breast cancer risk prediction models would enhance the benefits and limit the harms of routine breast cancer screening. This study aims to evaluate the performance of multi-feature image risk score (radiomics) models in a large population-based cohort; determine whether image-based scores predict breast cancer risk independently of clinical and genetic predictors; and transfer the best image-based algorithm from 2D to 3D images.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: National Cancer Institute

Radiomic and genomic predictors of breast cancer risk

Improving breast cancer risk prediction models could enable more personalized screening. This would enhance the benefits of screening while limiting the harms. This study will evaluate the performance of multi-feature image risk score models in a large population-based cohort; determine whether image-based scores predict breast cancer risk independently of clinical and genetic predictors; and ransfer the best image-based algorithm from 2D to 3D images.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: National Cancer Institute

Developing a TPMG Pathway for Selective Oncotype DX Testing in Early Breast Cancer

The goal of this project is to determine whether Ki-67 testing, using newer methods, could be used as a replacement for Oncotype DX testing in selected patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: TPMG Delivery Science Projects Program

Improved Selection of BRCA-negative High-Risk Women for Breast MRI Screening through Validation of IBIS Risk Model Variants

The goal of this project is to identify the optimal IBIS model that maximizes screening benefits and minimizes harms. We hypothesize that the “full” model (with all breast cancer risk factors) has better calibration/discrimination compared to a reduced model that includes age and family history only. We also hypothesize that that “full” model will improve cancer yield without affecting MRI referrals.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: TPMG Delivery Science Projects Program

Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Mammographic Density

This study will combine functional data from gene expression and co-expression networks with GWAS data to elucidate the genetic determinants of mammographic density, an important risk factor for breast cancer.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: National Cancer Institute

NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) – KP Community Site

The overarching goal of the KP NCORP Community Site is to bring the benefits of medical advances to our racially and ethnically diverse membership and to the community at large by increasing clinical trial access/accrual and by conducting cancer care delivery research (CCDR).
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: National Cancer Institute

Multi-panel Gene Mutation Testing and Targeted Therapy -STRATA Program

Identify KPNC patients with metastatic/incurable cancer for testing of tumors by next generation sequencing (NGS). NGS screening protocol is aligned to a portfolio of pharma-sponsored therapeutic protocols open now or theoretically open in the future, in addition to treatment off study or on NCI or non-STRATA trials.
Investigator: Habel, Laurel
Funder: The Permanente Medical Group

Highlighted Publications

Hydrochlorothiazide and risk of melanoma subtypes

Author(s): Habel, Laurel A; Achacoso, Ninah; Fireman, Bruce; Pedersen, Sidsel Arnspang; Pottegård, Anton

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2021 10;30(10):1396-1401. Epub 2021-05-26.

Current Position(s):

Section Affiliations:

Primary Research Interests:

Studies

Radiomic and genomic predictors of breast cancer risk

Radiomic and genomic predictors of breast cancer risk

Developing a TPMG Pathway for Selective Oncotype DX Testing in Early Breast Cancer

Improved Selection of BRCA-negative High-Risk Women for Breast MRI Screening through Validation of IBIS Risk Model Variants

Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Mammographic Density

NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) – KP Community Site

Multi-panel Gene Mutation Testing and Targeted Therapy -STRATA Program

Highlighted Publications

Hydrochlorothiazide and risk of melanoma subtypes

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

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

Publications

Breast Cancer Recurrence by Subtype in a Diverse, Contemporary Cohort of Young Women

MiXcan: a framework for cell-type-aware transcriptome-wide association studies with an application to breast cancer

Assessment of genetic susceptibility to multiple primary cancers through whole-exome sequencing in two large multi-ancestry studies

Anti-Müllerian hormone levels and breast cancer risk in the study of women's health across the nation

Telehealth for Preoperative Evaluation of Patients With Breast Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Identification of Drug-Cancer Associations: A Nationwide Screening Study

Post-diagnostic beta blocker use and breast cancer-specific mortality: a population-based cohort study

Genome-wide and transcriptome-wide association studies of mammographic density phenotypes reveal novel loci

Care in the time of COVID-19: impact on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in a large, integrated health care system

TP53 Gain-of-Function and Non-Gain-of-Function Mutations Are Differentially Associated With Sidedness-Dependent Prognosis in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Hydrochlorothiazide and risk of melanoma subtypes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Re: Cancer outcomes in DCIS patients without locoregional treatment

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

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

Haloperidol and Prostate Cancer Prevention: More Epidemiologic Research Needed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hydrochlorothiazide use is strongly associated with risk of lip cancer

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

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

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

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

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

Circulating sex hormones in relation to anthropometric, sociodemographic and behavioural factors in an international dataset of 12,300 men

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

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

Effectiveness of bisphosphonate use and risk of contralateral breast cancer and recurrence in women with early-stage breast cancer treated with tamoxifen

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

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

Physical Activity and Risk of Male Breast Cancer

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

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

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