Who we are
Research and Training Centre for Integrated Therapies in Breast Cancer
CERITIN is a university center dedicated to the development and dissemination of integrated therapies in breast cancer, with the aim of improving the clinical outcomes and quality of life of patients through a multidisciplinary, personalized and evidence-based approach.
Born from the clinical and research experience gained at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, the Center represents an innovative model of integration between oncology, lifestyles and validated complementary treatments, with a structured set of interventions aimed at:
- reduce the side effects of treatments
- improve adherence to care
- support psychological and physical well-being
- promoting healthy lifestyles
- contribute to the reduction of the risk of recurrence
Each pathway is personalized and defined by a multidisciplinary team experienced in integrated oncology.
CERITIN makes use of the many years of experience of the Integrated Breast Therapies Unit at the Gemelli Polyclinic Foundation, which offers all patients of the Breast Unit access to complementary therapeutic resources, according to guidelines and in structured, synchronous clinical paths coordinated by doctors experienced in integrated medicine.
Integrated therapies, prescribed according to a personalized program, aim to:
- to support the patient in the prehabilitation of surgical and pharmacological treatments, after a systematic analysis of psychological and nutritional needs starting from diagnosis;
- manage the main side effects and toxicities of therapies;
- promote the recovery of psycho-physical well-being;
- reduce the risk of recurrence, through the improvement of lifestyles and adherence to treatment.
Our mission is to promote an integrated model of care, based on evidence of safety and efficacy, which puts the person and not just the disease at the center, concretely improving the experience and outcomes of patients with breast cancer.
For over 15 years, the Breast Centre of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS has been offering an integrated therapy service, which combines scientifically validated lifestyles and complementary treatments with traditional oncological therapies, to improve the outcomes of patients with breast cancer.
In 2015, a first-level University Master's Degree on "Integrated Therapies in Female Oncological Pathologies" was established at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome, which to date has already graduated 31 health professionals (doctors, biologists, pharmacists and professional nurses).
In 2019, with the contribution of the non-profit organization Komen Italia, a Simple Operating Unit of "Integrated Therapies in Senology" was established at the A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, nationally recognized as a pioneering model of therapeutic integration.
In this time frame, the Integrated Therapies Unit has organized numerous scientific events and carried out translational and clinical research activities, documented by over 15 scientific publications and the launch of 6 non-profit clinical trials.
The experience gained has led in recent months to a further step forward with the creation of a University Research and Training Centre on Integrated Therapies in Breast Neoplasms (CERITIN), in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.
This new Center aims to strengthen training and research activities in the field of integrated therapies, to facilitate their more widespread dissemination in Breast Centers.
