Dr. Virgilio Sacchini

Dr. Virgilio Sacchini, MD, is an experienced breast surgical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), where he specializes in the surgical treatment of breast cancer and benign breast diseases. Performing approximately 330 operations each year, he is skilled in the full spectrum of breast surgery, including breast conservation (lumpectomy), mastectomy, prophylactic surgery for high-risk individuals, and procedures to manage axillary lymph node involvement. He is widely recognized as a pioneer of nipple-sparing mastectomy and has built one of the largest experiences with this technique in the United States. Prior to joining MSK, Dr. Sacchini served as Deputy Director of the Breast Department at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, where he was a co-investigator of clinical trials evaluating lumpectomy and sentinel-node mapping, a clinical coordinator of the Italian Breast Cancer Prevention Study with Tamoxifen, and a clinical investigator in breast cancer trials for the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).

Dr. Sacchini's clinical and research focus centers on achieving the best possible cancer outcomes and cosmetic results while minimizing complications and the risk of relapse. His scientific work over the past 15 years has concentrated on establishing the safety of nipple-sparing mastectomy in select patients, including those at high risk due to genetic mutations, and on refining the technique to improve both oncologic and cosmetic outcomes. At MSK, he is an active researcher involved in clinical trials investigating chemoprevention of breast cancer, prophylactic nipple-sparing mastectomy for high-risk women, and intraoperative radiation therapy for early-stage disease. He has published more than 160 research papers and book chapters on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer.

Committed to treating each patient as an individual rather than a medical record number, Dr. Sacchini emphasizes personalized, compassionate care that addresses both the physical and psychological needs of people facing a breast cancer diagnosis. He works to reassure patients that the disease is treatable and that quality of life can be preserved, tailoring care plans that draw on the full range of modern therapies, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted treatments. His dedication to reducing both overtreatment and undertreatment reflects a career-long commitment to improving the curability of cancer while protecting his patients' well-being.