inducing a very stable form of dormancy that limits the ability of surviving tumor cells to grow back, or
to metastasize. We are hopeful that this approach can help women with recalcitrant disease who need
additional treatment choices.
DR. CHANDARLAPATY: We focus on two major types of breast cancer: those that have the receptor
for the estrogen hormone, and those that have the HER2 receptor. Our lab is interested in
understanding how these cancers evolve and develop resistance to anti-estrogens and anti-HER2
therapies, and then devising ways to combat these patterns of resistance. For instance, we found that
breast cancers that are exposed to antiestrogen therapy develop mutations that cause the estrogen
receptor to remain active, even without any estrogen. So we developed and studied drugs that can
target those mutant estrogen receptors. At the same time, we’re studying the evolutionary process that
allowed the breast tumors to develop those mutations, so that we can develop treatments that will
prevent the mutations from occurring in the first place.
What area of breast cancer research do
you focus on specifically?
Dr. McDAID: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains one of the most recalcitrant
forms of
breast cancer, particularly for patients who have inherited mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes. While
tubulin
inhibitors are still effective for these patients, response rates are lower, and patients can relapse
and develop metastatic disease that is resistant to drugs. Even after therapy, some breast cancer cells
aren’t killed, but become dormant, and resume growth at a later stage. My lab is developing novel
tubulin inhibitors that induce cancer cell death even in TNBCs that no longer respond to drugs like
paclitaxel. Another new benefit of these drugs is inducing a very stable form of dormancy that limits
the
ability of surviving tumor cells to grow back, or to metastasize. We are hopeful that this approach can
help women with recalcitrant disease who need additional treatment choices.
DR. CHANDARLAPATY: We focus on two major types of breast cancer: those that have the receptor
for the estrogen hormone, and those that have the HER2 receptor. Our lab is interested in understanding how these
cancers evolve and develop resistance to anti-estrogens and anti-HER2 therapies, and then devising ways to combat
these patterns of resistance. For instance, we found that breast cancers that are exposed to antiestrogen therapy
develop mutations that cause the estrogen receptor to remain active, even without any estrogen. So we developed
and studied drugs that can target those mutant estrogen receptors. At the same time, we’re studying the
evolutionary process that allowed the breast tumors to develop those mutations, so that we can develop treatments
that will prevent the mutations from occurring in the first place.