Road to a Cure - drug resistance

Sarat Chandarlapaty, MD, Ph.D., is a leading Physician Scientist in Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program (HOPP) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Once again, in this episode wee explore key concepts regarding drug resistance, clinical trials, and the possibility of a cure. Listen to how a brilliant scientist breaks down complex concepts into smaller questions to solve the problems related to cancer. The goal of his research is to investigate the mechanisms and consequences of activation of growth factors and hormonal signaling pathways in breast cancer and to translate those findings toward the development of more effective and durable treatments for disease. A major focus of his lab is to characterize the significance of alterations present in breast tumors that have progressed on targeted therapy. This involves studies designed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance and to identify new molecular targets that may inform novel therapeutic approaches. This has helped to elucidate both immediate and delayed adaptations that promote resistance to standard treatments.

Estrogen Receptor and Growth Factor Resistance:

 Alterations in PTEN and ESR1 promote clinical resistance to alpelisib plus aromatase inhibitors. Razavi P, Dickler MN, Shah PD,et al. (2020). Nat Cancer, Apr;1(4):382-393.

Toronto Workshop on Late Recurrence in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: Part 1: Late Recurrence: Current Understanding, Clinical Considerations.

Toronto Workshop on Late Recurrence in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: Part 2: Approaches to Predict and Identify Late Recurrence, Research Directions.  

Cyclin E mRNA: Assessing Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK) Activation State to Elucidate Breast Cancer Resistance to CDK4/6 Inhibitors.   

Structural underpinnings of oestrogen receptor mutations in endocrine therapy resistance. 

PI3Kinase Inhibitor

Targeting the PI3-kinase pathway in triple-negative breast cancer.

PI3Kinase Inhibition in Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer.

Liquid Biopsy

What is liquid biopsy?

Liquid biopsy enters the clinic - implementation issues and future challenges.

Aurora Project:

AURORA US is part of a larger initiative funded by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to find solutions to breast cancer metastasis.
AURORA EU Metastatic Breast Cancer Research Findings 2021

 Funding of Research for Metastatic Breast Cancer:

 Cancer Couch Foundation

Meet the Guest of this Episode

Sarat Chandarlapaty, MD, Ph.D

Associte Professor of Medicine
Laboratory Head -
Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program (HOPP)
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Member, Scientific Advisory Board -
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Major Funding Recipient
the Cancer Couch Foundation