Metastatic Breast Cancer Network

What Metastatic Breast Cancer Network does

Metastatic Breast Cancer Network (MBCN) is a volunteer, patient-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in New York (c/o SHARE, 165 West 46th St., Suite 712). It is the first organization solely devoted to the needs of patients with metastatic (Stage IV) breast cancer, serving an estimated 155,000 U.S. individuals living with MBC along with their caregivers and families. MBCN's mission centers on reducing isolation, providing disease-specific education, advocating for research funding, and amplifying the patient voice in policy and clinical trial design.

The organization delivers a portfolio of free patient resources: the MBC Connect mobile and web-based interactive patient registry and research portal (HIPAA-compliant, English/Spanish); the Metastatic Trial Search clinical trial finder powered by BreastCancerTrials.org; downloadable educational brochures; a peer-support telephone hotline and telephone support groups; online message boards; an e-newsletter; and patient-advocacy toolkits. MBC Connect enables patients to maintain longitudinal treatment profiles, complete quality-of-life surveys, and receive personalized news and clinical trial matches, building a de-identified dataset that supports MBC research. The organization also organizes and sponsors regional conferences and webinars.

MBCN operates on a donation- and sponsorship-based revenue model with no fees charged to patients or caregivers. Funding sources include individual and memorial donations, corporate sponsorships from pharmaceutical companies (notably Novartis's Kiss This 4 MBC campaign) and grants. Strategic alliances are central to its model: MBCN is a core member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance (32 nonprofits, 11 pharma/biotech firms, 18 patient advocates), collaborates with academic centers (UNC Lineberger, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute), Komen affiliates, METAvivor, and BreastCancerTrials.org, and played a leading role in establishing October 13 as National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day via U.S. Congressional resolutions in 2009.

Name

Metastatic Breast Cancer Network

Legal name

Metastatic Breast Cancer Network

Website

https://mbcn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Metastatic Breast Cancer Network is a volunteer, patient-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that provides free education, peer support, clinical trial navigation, and the MBC Connect patient registry for the estimated 155,000 U.S. individuals living with Stage IV breast cancer and their caregivers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Patient Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

Keywords

• Metastatic breast cancer support
• Patient advocacy services
• Cancer clinical trials
• Peer support programs
• Patient education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memorial Contributions: MBCN receives contributions made in memory of patients whose lives were cut short by metastatic breast cancer to fund research leadership awards and operational activities.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with pharmaceutical companies like Novartis for campaigns such as Kiss This 4 MBC generate donations to fund metastatic breast cancer research.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MBCN is a volunteer, patient-led advocacy organization that provides free information, education, peer support, and digital tools for people living with metastatic (Stage IV) breast cancer and their caregivers. Core offerings include the MBC Connect interactive patient registry, the Metastatic Trial Search clinical trial finder, free downloadable educational brochures, peer support hotlines and telephone support groups, online communities, advocacy resources, and sponsored educational conferences.

Product overview

Metastatic Breast Cancer Network (MBCN) is a volunteer, patient-led advocacy organization that provides information, resources, and support for people living with metastatic (Stage IV) breast cancer. The organization operates primarily as an information and support hub rather than a technology company. Its core offerings include MBC Connect, an interactive patient registry and research tool; the Metastatic Trial Search clinical trial finder; free educational brochures; peer support via telephone hotline and support groups; online communities; and patient advocacy resources. MBCN also organizes and sponsors conferences and educational events, and champions clinical trials and research funding for metastatic breast cancer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MBC Connect
• Metastatic Trial Search
• Clinical Trials Finder
• Free Brochures

Quantifiable outcome

• MBC Connect provides patients opportunity to own and update their own health information while analyzing aggregated patient data
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Metastatic Breast Cancer AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2018MBC Alliance is a consortium of 32 nonprofit organizations, 11 pharmaceutical/biotech companies, and 18 individual patient advocates. MBCN participates in the alliance which works to transform and improve lives of people living with MBC through advancing research, improving patient knowledge, and increasing public understanding of MBC. MBC Connect was launched by the Alliance.
• Metastatic Breast Cancer Connect RegistrycoreTechnology or Integration · 13 October 2018Interactive patient registry and research portal that provides patients ability to update information over time, respond to surveys about their MBC history and quality of life, and receive personalized clinical trial opportunities. Data is de-identified, encrypted, and HIPAA-compliant.
• University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2018MBCN partnered with UNC Lineberger researchers for a national survey of 1,054 women with metastatic breast cancer on financial toxicity. MBCN helped recruit participants and offered a $10 Amazon gift card for survey completion.
• Susan G. Komen Greater NYCmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 October 2017MBCN partnered with Susan G. Komen Greater NYC as an association partner for the Truth and Dare Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference, providing learning, fellowship, and current information on MBC treatments and research.
• Susan G. Komen Puget SoundmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 September 2017MBCN participated as a sponsor and partner in the Northwest Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference supported by Komen Puget Sound, Amazon Web Services, Swedish Cancer Institute, and other sponsors.
• NovartismajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 September 2017Novartis partnered with MBCN and METAvivor for the Kiss This 4 MBC campaign. For every social media post using #KissThis4MBC, Novartis donated $10 to MBCN and METAvivor, with a goal of generating at least $200,000 for metastatic breast cancer research.
• METAvivormajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2017MBCN partners with METAvivor for advocacy campaigns including Kiss This 4 MBC. Both are patient-driven advocacy organizations dedicated to supporting research for people living with metastatic breast cancer.
• University of Pittsburgh Cancer InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2017MBCN awarded Dr. Steffi Oesterreich a $100,000 Research Leadership Award to support her research on invasive lobular breast cancer as a distinct subtype of metastatic breast cancer.
• BreastCancerTrials.orgcoreTechnology or IntegrationMetastatic Breast Cancer Alliance partnered with BreastCancerTrials.org to create the Metastatic Trial Search engine that translates clinical trial descriptions into plain English for easier patient access.
• SHARE Cancer SupportminorOthersMBCN is hosted at SHARE's New York office location. SHARE is a cancer support organization providing resources for breast and ovarian cancer patients.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Largest U.S. cancer nonprofit providing research funding, patient support, and education across all cancer types, including a dedicated MBC program. Overlaps with MBCN in patient education and research funding but operates at vastly larger scale across all cancers.
• Susan G. Komen: Largest U.S. breast cancer nonprofit, with significant MBC programming and regional affiliates (e.g., Komen Greater NYC, Komen Puget Sound) that partner with MBCN. Operates in the same patient space but with vastly greater fundraising, marketing, and grantmaking scale.

Direct peers

• SHARE Cancer Support: Cancer support organization for breast and ovarian cancer patients that hosts MBCN at its New York office. Provides peer support, helplines, and educational programs that closely mirror MBCN's offerings and patient segments.
• Breastcancer.org: Major nonprofit providing medically reviewed breast cancer information, community forums, and clinical trial resources. Highly comparable as a free digital education and peer community destination for breast cancer patients, including those with metastatic disease.
• Young Survival Coalition (YSC): Nonprofit supporting young adults diagnosed with breast cancer through resources, advocacy, and community. Comparable as a peer-support and education nonprofit targeting a defined breast cancer sub-population, though focused on age rather than stage.
• Tigerlily Foundation: Breast cancer advocacy organization focused on young women, with strong emphasis on MBC patients of color and patient-led programs. Comparable as a younger, patient-led advocacy nonprofit with similar education, support, and policy missions.
• METAvivor: Patient-driven metastatic breast cancer advocacy nonprofit that funds research grants and runs MBC awareness campaigns. METAvivor is the most directly comparable peer — co-partner with MBCN on Kiss This 4 MBC and shares the same mission, donor base, and patient-led model.
• National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC): Advocacy-focused breast cancer nonprofit that lobbies for research funding and policy change. Comparable to MBCN as a policy-driven advocacy voice for breast cancer patients, though broader in scope.
• Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC): National nonprofit providing education and support to people affected by breast cancer, including a dedicated metastatic program. Comparable as a peer-led education and support organization with overlapping patient resources, conferences, and helpline services.

Others

• Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance: Coalition of 60+ nonprofits, pharma companies, and patient advocates — of which MBCN is a founding member — that coordinates cross-organization MBC research and advocacy. Treated as an ecosystem/parent-like entity rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MBCNbuzz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/metastaticbc
• Facebookfacebook.com/MetastaticBreastCancerNetwork
• Pinterestpinterest.com/MetastaticBC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metastatic Breast Cancer Network