About Dr. C.B. Koppiker

Dr. Chaitanyanand B. Koppiker

Recognitions

• ET Edge Maharashtra Achievers’ Award 2019 supported by Femina (2019)
• Pune’s most powerful award (2018-19)
• Recognition of Breast Research Unit at Orchids Breast Health Centre by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India (2016)
• Citadel Honor for outstanding contribution in the field of medicine in Pune, India(2015)
• Recognition of Breast Research Unit at Orchids Breast Health Centre by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India (2016)
• Nominated as one of the ten citizens in Pune for the title ‘PUNE HEROES’ by Pune Mirror, by Times Group in 2014
• Rotary Citations for Excellence in Breast Cancer diagnosis and treatment (2014)
• Remarkable achievement award by the Lavasa city for social work (2012)
• Citation from Kanara Saraswat Association, Bombay for exemplary community service(2011)
• Citadel Honors for ‘Outstanding contribution in the field of Medicine in Pune City’(2008)

About Dr. Chaitanyanand B. Koppiker

With over 35 years of experience, and largest number of Breast Oncoplastic surgeries in Asia, Dr.C.B Koppiker is one of the renowned breast cancer surgeon globally. He has a huge contribution in the field of Breast Cancer, for his role as a surgeon, researcher and trainings and educational programs.

Dr. Koppiker is fondly known as the Father of Breast Oncoplasty in India since he has performed more than 2000 breast surgeries till date inclusive of more than 900 breast oncoplastic surgeries, over 200 breast reconstructions & above 850 sentinel node excisions.

Dr. Koppiker is also an excellent educator and has trained more than 500 surgeons from India, Middle East, Indonesia, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia, gaining hands-on experience in Oncoplastic techniques.

He is on the board of directors of several national and international societies including the Senology International Society (SIS), Brazil, Society of Oncoplastic Surgery (SOS), U.S.A and has been a visiting faculty for the SOS, U.S.A. Recently, he has also been appointed as the joint Editor in Chief of the Journal of Oncoplastic Surgery, U.S.A. which is been established by the SOS, U.S.A.

Role as a Philanthropist

Dr. Koppiker is also the founder and Managing Trustee of Prashanti Cancer Care Mission (PCCM), a well-known NGO and a registered public charitable trust established in 1995 in the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India, providing free-ships and major concessions to under privileged breast cancer patients through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and all the breast cancer diagnostic services including Digital Mammography with 3D Tomosynthesis, Sonography, Ultrasonography (USG) with capabilities of Automated Breast Volume Scanner (ABVS), Breast Elastography and ARFI imaging (shear wave mediated tissue stiffness/elasticity quantification), (VAB) Vacuum Assisted Biopsy, Biopsy, etc;

Prashanti Cancer Care Mission was born out of un-fulfilled desires of departed cancer patients, caregivers and doctors. Since, many cancer patients could not either start their cancer treatment or complete it because of lack of funds, Dr. Koppiker along with the support from social workers, caregivers, cancer survivors and patients started PCCM, which today serves thousands of breast cancer patients annually.

The aim of the Mission further goes to extend emotional and psychosocial support for these breast cancer patients and their caregivers through the bewildering maze of challenges the disease brings to its wake.

Role in Training and Education

Dr. Koppiker is also an excellent educator and is fondly referred to as Father of Breast Oncoplasty in India. Dr. Koppiker established the International School of Oncoplastic Surgery (ISOS) in 2014, to fill the existing gaps in surgical training in the niche field of Oncoplastic Breast Surgery. He has trained over 500 surgeons from India, Middle East, Indonesia, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. He also incepted the first and only formal Breast Oncoplastic Surgery training program to India through his association with University of East Anglia, UK.

For his work, he has recently been conferred honorary Associate Professorship at University of East Anglia, UK and is also the Southeast Asia Regional Convenor of the Master’s program in Breast Oncoplasty, University of East Anglia (UEA), UK. Since 2017, 4 batches of students have successfully enrolled and are working towards a Master’s degree in Breast Oncoplasty.

He also serves as a board member on many international societies like Society of Oncoplastic Surgery (SOS), USA, Senology International Society (SIS), Brazil, to name a few.

He has also been appointed as the joint Editor in Chief of the Journal of Oncoplastic Surgery, U.S.A which is managed by the SOS, U.S.A.

Recently, he has established an online educational platform Breast Global. Breast Global is an effort to bridge the gaps in knowledge by providing a single platform where experts, trainees and industry can have access to a plethora of global learning and training opportunities.

Role in Research

Dr. Koppiker in association with Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune started a very successful breast cancer research program, Centre for Translational Cancer Research (CTCR). He is the Research Lead at CTCR and mentors an interdisciplinary team of clinicians and research scientist focusing on breast cancer. CTCR has set up first of its kind Breast Cancer Biobank in the city of Pune, India. This valuable resource will aid in the understanding of breast cancer biology and assist in advances to precision medicine.

The clinical features and demographic distribution of breast cancer patients in India are significantly different compared to that of the world. CTCR efforts in collaboration with IISER-Pune led to deeper insights into the molecular aspects of various breast cancer subtypes with a specific focus on Triple Negative Breast Cancers (TNBC), as they are most aggressive and fatal clinical subtype prevalent in Indian women. The meta-analysis has also reported a higher proportion of TNBCs with younger age at incidence in India.

Dr. Koppiker’s vision for advanced breast cancer education and research has culminated into major international projects like the inception of Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA), a comprehensive open-source database of clinical and molecular profiles of cancer patients in India.

He has published numerous book chapters, research and clinical papers in national and international journals. For his contribution to combat breast cancer in India, Dr. Koppiker has been widely felicitated by numerous recognitions and awards by various social and medical organizations.

Areas other than Breast Surgery

• Pioneered several surgical procedures in 1990’s such as Liver Cryotherapy, Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Hepatic artery catheterization for liver tumors. Was the only surgeon in India to do Cryosurgery.
• First in India to establish vascular access team using long-term venous access techniques in 1994. Conducted numerous workshops in India on the same
• Established with fellow radiotherapists ‘Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation Protocol’, one of the first such programs in India presented at RSNA, Chicago
• Performed several low anterior resections on liver and conducted multiple workshops on Stapler Surgery
• Been a principal investigator and co-investigator in several international trials

Organizations

Orchids Breast Health, Pune, India

Dr. Koppiker founded Orchids Breast Health, a PCCM initiative, in 2009 in Pune, India, with state-of-the-art facilities which provides free services or services at major concession in all the breast cancer diagnostic including Mammography with 3D Tomosynthesis, Breast Elastography and Ultrasonography with capabilities of Automated Breast Volume Scanner (ABVS) and Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB), etc;

Orchids Breast Health has an in-house onco-pharmacy which provides free or concessional chemotherapy drugs to un-affording cancer patients at the center. Chemotherapy day care at the center is a 10-bedded day care facility where patients complete their chemotherapy treatment within several hours as opposed to the overnight stay in hospitals.

Dr. Koppiker has developed proficiency in procedures such as breast reduction, breast augmentation and nipple-areola reconstruction and has integrated all cosmetic breast surgical procedures in practice to the benefit of breast cancer patients. He has performed more than 2000 breast surgeries till date inclusive of more than 900 breast oncoplastic surgeries, 200+ breast reconstructions, 850+ sentinel node excisions and achieved a rate of 85% breast reconstruction in patients needing mastectomy.

A genetic clinic has been established at Orchids Breast Health, which provides pre and post test counseling and genetic testing services as per the international standards. Over 450 individuals representing patients and family members have been counseled, and 250 of them have undergone genetic testing. A comprehensive database of families and individuals with disease-causing gene mutations has been established as per global guidelines.

Prashanti Cancer Care Mission, Pune, India

Dr. Koppiker initiated Prashanti Cancer Care Mission, a non-profit organization in 1995 in Pune, India, out of un-fulfilled desires of departed cancer patients as many of them could not either start or complete their cancer treatment due to limited or insufficient resources.

PCCM is active in providing free-ships and major concessions to under privileged breast cancer patients and also runs programs for patient rehabilitation and counseling. It is active in increasing community based awareness through breast cancer awareness programs and early detection campaigns.

PCCM has been recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India with Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) status to conduct clinical and translational research.

PCCM provides rehabilitation and support to breast cancer patients and their families via a support group called “Pink Ribbon Group” initiative. The Pink Ribbon Club is a great source of support as it embraces and hand hold the breast cancer patients, their caregivers and newly detected cancer patients through the journey and make sure that the patients and their families maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay positive when fighting this disease. Alternate therapies, healing methods, relaxation and expressive art therapies are introduced to participants which not only entertains them but also gives them a chance to interact with other patients, care givers and volunteers.

In addition to its philanthropic initiatives, PCCM has also organized an annual Breast Cancer Awareness Marathon to spread awareness among citizens in Pune, India. Through these activities, breast cancer patients and survivors are provided a platform and encouraged to share their experiences.

The Mission also established a mobile breast clinic on wheels, a novel concept in India, which takes Breast Care Services such as Clinical Breast Examination, Breast Cancer Screening and Mammography to the doorsteps of women in the community.

PCCM in association with Tata Trusts and Swasth India Foundation collaborated to facilitate early screening or detection of breast and cervical cancer across the country through state-of-the-art mobile vans completely equipped with mammography, portable colonoscopy units, biopsy, pap-smear procedure and other diagnostic facilities. These mobile diagnostic vans provided cutting edge technology which effectively carried out annual checkups, spot screening and minor procedures that saved valuable lives by ensuring early detection of cancer. Breast Cancer awareness advocate and popular celebrity Ms. Kajol Devgan, also the brand ambassador of the Mission, unveiled the diagnostic vans.

In 2017, PCCM also founded a genetic clinic which provides pre and post test counseling, subsidized genetic testing services as per the international standards. A collaborative research study undertaken by the genetic clinic aim to determine the germline mutational profile of TNBCs.

International School for Oncoplastic Surgery (ISOS)

Dr. Koppiker established the International School of Oncoplastic Surgery (ISOS) in 2014, to fill the existing gaps in surgical training in the niche field of Oncoplastic Breast Surgery and has trained over 500 surgeons from India, Middle East, Indonesia, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. In a collaborative effort with Prof. Jerome Periera and University of East Anglia (UEA), U.K. he started the Mastership program in Breast Oncoplasty in India in 2017.

Recently, he has been awarded with honorary Associate Professorship at the University of East Anglia (UEA), U.K. and is also the South-East Asia regional convenor for UEA’s award winning Mastership in Breast Oncoplastic program.

He is on the board of directors of several national and international societies including the Senology International Society (SIS), Brazil, Society of Oncoplastic Surgery (SOS), U.S.A and has been a visiting faculty for the SOS, U.S.A. Recently, he has also been appointed as the joint Editor in Chief of the Journal of Oncoplastic Surgery, U.S.A. which is been established by the SOS, U.S.A.

Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA)

Since its inception by Dr. Koppiker in 1995, PCCM has constantly strived to provide comprehensive health care to all its patients. Further to strengthen the translational cancer research, PCCM in 2017, collaborated with Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in a powerful model of public-private partnership through CSR funds from Bajaj Auto Ltd, to establish the Center for Translational Cancer Research (CTCR). CTCR aims to bring together clinicians and researchers to integrate breast cancer research, training, and education. CTCR in collaboration with IISER led to deeper insights into the molecular aspects of various breast cancer subtypes with a specific focus on TNBCs.

PCCM established the breast cancer tissue biobank and database with the vision that tissue repositories with annotated patient data can be of immense importance to understand cancer profiles and identify targeted and personalized therapies like seen in the 2006 landmark project by NCI-USA The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

PCCM team along with Prof. Sunil Badve communicated with the TCGA Director Prof. Zenklusen and TCGA team was thus invited to India for a conference. The main objective of the conference was to gain insights and understand the TCGA workflow. Mainly through the Bajaj CSR funds available with CTCR as well as support from Persistent Systems and Wellcome Trust – DBT India alliance, an immensely successful conference was held in 2019 at IISER, Pune, India.

Dr. Jean Claude Zenklusen (Director, TCGA) along with a team of TCGA domain experts served as conference faculty besides other distinguished cancer researchers from India and abroad. Over 350 delegates comprising of onco-clinicians, basic researchers, bioinformaticians, geneticists, translational researchers, big-data scientists, bioethicists, and regulatory experts attended the event.

In addition to discussing the global trends in multi-omics research, the conference proceedings were focused on the need for understanding  the molecular profiles of Indian cancers in view of increasing cancer burden, unique clinico-pathological profiles, and intrinsic population diversity. Significantly, a consensus emerged between all attendees that multi-omics profiling of Indian cancers represents an unmet medical need. Hence, an Indian national cancer research project, themed on the US-NCI-TCGA model was deemed timely and pertinent.

Based on this consensus and several rounds of subsequent brainstorming with Dr. Jean Claude Zenklusen (Director TCGA) along with Prof. Sunil Badve, Emory University, USA, Dr. Koppiker, PCCM Pune,  Prof. L.S. Shashidhara, IISER Pune and Dr. Anand Deshpande, Persistent Systems, proposed setting up a national project for genomic profiling of Cancers in India with the support from US-NCI-TCGA.

Thus, in 2020 the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas project was initiated. Following the success of the first conference, PCCM in collaboration with other CTCR members also organized the 2nd TCGA Conference with the theme ‘Towards Team Science for Multi-omics Studies in South Asia’ in 2020 and the 3rd ICGA Conference with the theme ‘Biobanking to Omics: Collecting the Global Experience’ in 2022 in a virtual format.

Centre for Translational Cancer Research, Pune, India

Dr. Koppiker is the Research Lead and runs several breast cancer research programs at the Centre for Translational Cancer Research Foundation (CTCR), a public-private partnership supported by Bajaj Auto Ltd., founded under the aegis of Prashanti Cancer Care Mission and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India, in 2017.

CTCR aims to conduct clinically relevant translational research to address clinical questions related to breast cancer prognosis and bring together clinicians and researchers to integrate breast cancer research, training, and education.

CTCR in collaboration with IISER led to deeper insights into the molecular aspects of various breast cancer subtypes with a specific focus on TNBCs and it is anticipated that the activities of the Centre will have a direct positive impact on the national capacity for translational cancer research and most importantly, on the effective management of breast cancer in India.

CTCR has also been instrumental in the establishment of first of its kind Breast Cancer Biobank in the city of Pune for developing a retrospective cohort of breast cancer patients that have been diagnosed and treated at Orchids Breast Health. The biobank is set with the vision that tissue repositories with annotated patient data have been proven to be of immense importance to understand cancer profiles and identify targeted and personalized therapies.

Dr. Koppiker has published several research and clinical papers along with numerous book chapters in national and international journals and has attended over 100 conferences and workshops in India and abroad.

Breast Global

Breast Global has been conceptualized by Dr. Koppiker, Dr. Ashutosh Kothari – Oncoplastic & Reconstructive Breast Surgeon, Guy’s & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London and Prof. Chintamani – Consultant Surgeon and Professor at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. Breast Global has emerged from the belief that access to specialist breast training should be universal, regardless of geographical location.

During pandemic, training and capacity building of budding breast surgeons and breast cancer medical specialists was getting hampered. Thus, Breast Global portal was instituted in March 2021, with an aim to bridge the gaps in knowledge by providing a single platform where experts, trainees and industry can have access to a plethora of global learning and training opportunities.

The Breast Global platform organized its first e-conference in June 2021, with the theme “Crux to Consensus” with an aim to address existing critical controversies in the delivery of breast cancer care around the world and to achieve a consensus on acceptable standards of care through evidence-based discussions, lectures and constructive debate. Around 20 global Breast Cancer Organizations partnered with Breast Global and several national and international breast cancer experts with over 2000 participants attended the virtual conference globally.

Bajaj Auto Ltd. was instrumental in providing generous support through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) grant.

Breast Global is one of its kind global entity, an online platform which provides global education, training and learning resources to doctors and surgeons working in the field of Breast Cancer management.

Since its launch in March 2021, Breast Global within a short while was able to draw global attention and strong membership interest. The first webinar organized by Breast Global in May 2021, consisted of around 800 participants from the global community and was a huge success due to its unique interactive format.

The first Breast Global e-conference, ‘From Crux to consensus’ organized in June 2021 was extremely successful due to global participation of many national and international Breast cancer experts and over 2000 participants.

Breast Global Journal was also launched during this conference and five highly successful webinars were also organized during this period.

Breast Global initiated a Junior Doctors forum to steer the platform by developing fresh new ideas for establishing the BG journal ahead.

Publications and Research

• Koppiker, C. B., Noor, A. U., Dixit, S., Busheri, L., Sharan, G., Dhar, U., et.al., (2022) Advanced Autologous Lower Dermal Sling Technique for Immediate Breast Reconstruction Surgery in Small and Non-ptotic Breasts. Indian Journal of Surgical Oncology, 1-10 (doi: 10.1007/s13193-022-01524-8).

• Koppiker, C. B., Joshi, S., Mishra, R., Kelkar, D., Chigurupati, P., Joshi, A., et.al., (2022). Therapeutic mammoplasty as a viable surgical approach in Breast Cancer Patients from India: A Single Institutional Audit (medrxiv: 10.1101/2021.06.22.21258390v2).

• Busheri, L., Dixit, S., Nare, S., Alhat, R., Thomas, G., Jagtap, M., et.al., (2021) Breast cancer biobank from a single institutional cohort in an urban setting in India: Tumor characteristics and survival outcomes. Cancer Treatment and Research Communications, 28, 100409 (doi: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100409) PMID: 34098400.

• Busheri, L., Nare, S., Banale, R., Bapat, A., Nagarkar, M., Vetale, D., et.al., (2021) Cancer Patient Management during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Audit of a Single-Surgeon Unit in a COVID-Hotspot. South Asian Journal of Cancer, 10(01), 39-41 (doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731578) PMID: 34430517; PMCID: PMC8380147.

• Sahasrabuddhe, N. A., Korlimarla, A., Kulkarni, M., Kusuma, V., Prabhu, J. S., Dixit, S., et.al., (2021) NGS-based profiling of key cancer genes in Indian triple-negative breast cancer patients reinforces molecular heterogeneity of the disease. Indian Journal of Cancer, 58(4), 598 (doi: 10.4103/ijc.IJC_432_20) PMID: 34975100.

• Bapat, A., Gahlaut, S., Mishra, R., Noor, A. U., Busheri, L., Reddy, R., Shaikh, S., Mannan, A., Nare, S., Dixit, S., Koppiker, C. B., (2021) Familial Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment with respect to a Silent BRCA2 mutation (medrxiv: 10.1101/2021.07.01.21258680v1).

• Vaid, P. M., Puntambekar, A. K., Banale, R. A., Reddy, R. R., Unde, R. R., Namewar, N. P., Kelkar, D., Shashidhara, L.S., Koppiker, C. B., Kulkarni, M., (2020) Stromal Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (sTILs) as a putative prognostic marker to identify a responsive subset of TNBC in an Indian Breast Cancer Cohort (medrxiv: 10.1101/2020.08.19.20177865v1).

• Kulkarni, A., Kelkar, D. A., Parikh, N., Shashidhara, L. S., Koppiker, C. B., & Kulkarni, M. (2020) Meta-analysis of prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer and its clinical features at incidence in Indian patients with breast cancer. JCO global oncology, 6, 1052-1062 (doi: 10.1200/GO.20.00054) PMID: 32639876; PMCID: PMC7392736.

• Koppiker, C. B., Noor, A. U., Dixit, S., Busheri, L., Sharan, G., Dhar, U., et.al., (2019) Extreme oncoplastic surgery for multifocal/multicentric and locally advanced breast cancer. International journal of breast cancer, 2019 (doi: 10.1155/2019/4262589) PMID: 30915240; PMCID: PMC6402217.

• Koppiker, C. B., & Dixit, S. (2019) Oncoplastic breast surgery in India: thinking globally, acting locally. Indian Journal of Surgery, 81(2), 103-110 (doi: 10.1007/s12262-019-01890-8).

• Varghese, B., Deshpande, P., Dixit, S., Koppiker, C. B., & Jalnapurkar, N., (2019) Primary angiosarcoma of the breast: a case report. Journal of Radiology Case Reports, 13(2), 15 (doi: 10.3941/jrcr.v13i2.3449).

• Baptist, J., Dixit, S., Busheri, L., Krishnan, L., Alhat, R., Verghese, B., & Koppiker, C. B., (2017) Evaluating the Performance of an Advanced Breast Cancer Diagnosis Unit in India. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 8(4) (doi: 10.1007/s12262-019-01890-8)

• Jadhav, M., Krishnan, L., Dixit, S., Jadhav, S., Gaikwad, A., Busheri, L., et.al., (2017) Performance of CBE and Mammography for Breast Cancer Screening in Indian Setup. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 8(4) (doi: 10.5958/0976-5506.2017.00418.1).

• Nare, S., Dixit, S., Verghese, B., Krishnan, L., Busheri, L., Deshmukh, C., & Koppiker, C.B., (2017) Breast Cancer Biobank: A Novel Resource for Translational Research. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 8(4) (doi: 10.5958/0976-5506.2017.00465.x).

• Shekhawat, L., Busheri, L., Dixit, S., Patel, C., Dhar, U., & Koppiker, C. B.,(2015) Patient-reported outcomes following breast reconstruction surgery and therapeutic mammoplasty: prospective evaluation 1 year post-surgery with BREAST-Q questionnaire. Indian journal of surgical oncology, 6(4), 356-362 (doi: 10.1007/s13193-015-0432-x)

• Julka, P. K., Chacko, R. T., Nag, S., Parshad, R., Nair, A., Koppiker, C. B., et.al., (2013) A phase 2 study of sequential neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine and doxorubicin followed by gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with large or locally advanced operable breast cancer: results from long-term follow-up. Breast Cancer, 20(4), 357-362 (doi: 10.1007/s12282-012-0343-4) PMID: 22354450.

• Swamy, K., Narayanan, V. S., Basu, S., Maiya, V., Achari, R., Deshpande, S., et.al., (2009) Dose escalation in image-guided, intensity-modulated radiotherapy of carcinoma prostate: Initial experience in India. Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics, 5(4), 277.

• Julka, P. K., Chacko, R. T., Nag, S., Parshad, R., Nair, A., Oh, D. S., Hu, Z., Koppiker, C. B., Nair, S., Dawar, R., Dhindsa, N., Miller, I. D., Ma, D., Lin, B., Awasthy, B., & Perou, C. M. (2008) A phase II study of sequential neoadjuvant gemcitabine plus doxorubicin followed by gemcitabine plus cisplatin in patients with operable breast cancer: prediction of response using molecular profiling. British journal of cancer, 98(8), 1327–1335 (doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604322).

• Bapat, S. A., Mali, A. M., Koppikar, C. B., & Kurrey, N. K. (2005) Stem and progenitor-like cells contribute to the aggressive behavior of human epithelial ovarian cancer. Cancer research, 65(8), 3025-3029 (doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-3931).

• Vyas, J. J., Desai, P. B., Sampat, M. B., Shinde, S. R., Rao, D. N., Sarkar, S., Badwe, R., Tiwari, J., & Koppikar, A. (1989) Observations on Indian node-negative breast cancer patients: a multivariate analysis. Journal of surgical oncology, 42(4), 256–263 (doi: 10.1002/jso.2930420411)