Associate Professor, Departments of Breast Medical Oncology and Molecular & Cellular Oncology
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
2007-2008 BCRF Project:
Made possible by generous support from Play For P.I.N.K

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) and lapatinib represent a paradigm shift in the treatment of breast cancer, from nonspecific chemotherapy (particularly in estrogen receptor-negative tumors) to a more rational and targeted therapy. However, in the future it will be important to differentiate what therapy (or combination of therapies) would be optimal for each patient with HER2-positive breast cancer. Dr. Esteva's proposed studies will provide important information related to this gap in knowledge. Importantly, the researchers will know at the completion of these studies whether a panel of molecular markers can predict which patients with HER2-positive breast cancer will be most likely to benefit from trastuzumab-based therapy. Future studies will aim to develop a clinically useful test that would differentially predict response to trastuzumab, lapatinib or other novel HER2- targeted agents for breast cancer.