UCSF breast surgeon Laura J. Esserman, M.D., M.B.A. (pictured left), and medical oncologist Hope S. Rugo, M.D. are featured on PBS’ “Need to Know” series as pioneers in breast cancer research. Dr. Esserman discussed the I-SPY 2 TRIAL in which pharmaceutical companies collaboratively bring multiple experimental therapies to the marketplace, allowing numerous combinations novel agents to be tested in clinical trials iteratively. Specific drug combinations are personalized to the molecular characteristics of each patient’s tumor using sophisticated biomarker assays. Dr. Rugo is leading a study to improve the quality of life in chemotherapy patients through a new treatment that cools the scalp and prevents or minimizes hair loss.
Potential Breakthroughs in Breast Cancer Research
I-SPY 2 TRIAL: Neoadjuvant and Personalized Adaptive Novel Agents to Treat Breast Cancer