Breast Cancer Research Program

The Breast Cancer Program places a strong emphasis on breast epithelial cell and molecular biology, basic science-driven translational and clinical research, and molecular epidemiology. Program members conduct research across a variety of disciplines and research focus areas, including: cellular signaling and molecular biology; breast pathology; genomic profiling; biomedical informatics; medical, surgical, and radiation oncology; clinical trial design; epidemiology; and supportive care studies.

RESEARCH THEMES

The Breast Cancer Program has expertise in and leads clinical trials related to:

ER-Positive Breast Cancer

Identifying the role of PI3K inhibitors in resistance to antiestrogens in ER+ breast cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Molecular sub-classification of triple negative breast cancer and discovery of novel treatment targets

Non-Invasive Imaging

Evaluating non-invasive imaging technologies to predict anti-cancer drug action and treatment response

Breast Development & Disease

Studying the role of ERBB3 in mammary gland development, transformation and adaptive resistance

Cancer Stem Cells

Understanding the role of TGFβ in cancer stem-like behavior and tumor progression

Disparities & Risk Factors

Investigating obesity as a metabolic marker of breast cancer risk in African Americans

Combatting Resistance

Discovering actionable therapy targets in drug-resistant breast tumors after neoadjuvant therapy

Targeted Therapies

Leading innovative clinical trials with targeted therapies and combinations

Program Leader

Ingrid A. Mayer, M.D., M.S.C.I.

Program Leader

Ben Park, M.D., Ph.D.

All Program Members

Featured Publications

A Critical Need for Better Cancer Immunotherapy Models: Are Organotypic Tumor Spheroid Cultures the Answer?

Balko JM (BC), Sosman JA.

Cancer Discov 2018 FEB 8(2):143-145 PMID:29431673.

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MYC and MCL1 Cooperatively Promote Chemotherapy-Resistant Breast Cancer Stem Cells via Regulation of Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation

Lee KM, Giltnane JM, Balko JM (BC), Schwarz LJ, Guerrero-Zotano AL, Hutchinson KE, Nixon MJ, Estrada MV, Sánchez V, Sanders M (BC), Lee T, Gómez H, Lluch A, Pérez-Fidalgo JA, Wolf MM, Andrejeva G, Rathmell JC (HT), Fesik SW (ST), Arteaga CL

Cell Metab. 2017 OCT 3 26(4):633-647.e7 PMC5650077

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Genomic profiling of ER(+) breast cancers after short-term estrogen suppression reveals alterations associated with endocrine resistance

Giltnane JM, Hutchinson KE, Stricker TP (BC), Formisano L, Young CD, Estrada MV, Nixon MJ, Du L, Sanchez V, Ericsson PG, Kuba MG, Sanders M (BC), Mu XJ, Van Allen EM, Wagle N, Mayer IA (BC), Abramson VG (BC), Gόmez H, Rizzo M, Toy W, Chandarlapaty S, Mayer EL, Christiansen J, Murphy D, Fitzgerald K, Wang K, Ross JS, Miller VA, Stephens PJ, Yelensky R, Garraway L, Shyr Y (NP), Meszoely IM (BC), Balko JM (BC), Arteaga CL (BC)

Sci Transl Med 2017 AUG 9 9(402) PMC5723145

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An Acquired HER2(T798I) Gatekeeper Mutation Induces Resistance to Neratinib in a Patient with HER2 Mutant-Driven Breast Cancer

Hanker AB (BC), Red Brewer M, Brewer MR, Sheehan JH (BC), Koch JP, Sliwoski GR, Nagy R, Lanman R, Berger MF, Hyman DM, Solit DB, He J, Miller V, Cutler RE, Lalani AS, Cross D, Lovly CM (TR), Meiler J (TR), Arteaga CL (BC)

Cancer Discov 2017 JUN 8 7(6):575-585 PMC5457707

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Neoadjuvant Trials in ER(+) Breast Cancer: A Tool for Acceleration of Drug Development and Discovery.

Guerrero-Zotano AL, Arteaga CL (BC).

Cancer Discov 2017 JUN 7(6):561-574 PMC5497752.

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Program News

January 18, 2019

Research team documents potential new treatment path for breast cancer

Immunotherapies that take off the “brakes” on the adaptive anti-tumor response have worked well in melanoma and lung cancer but less so in breast cancers. That could change.