Bruce G. Haffty, MD

2008-2009 BCRF Project:
The p53 Binding Protein, 53BP1, is commonly expressed in breast cancers. Loss of expression of this protein may be associated with more aggressive behavior of cancers. Dr. Haffty and colleagues have found in a sample of 500 patients with early stage breast cancers, that lack expression of 53BP1 correlates strongly with triple negative breast cancers, and also correlates strongly with distant metastasis among the triple negative cancers. They have also conducted studies looking at variations in the gene that codes for 53BP1, and find that these variants correlate with age of onset of disease, race, and development of bilateral breast cancers. Basic science experiments to help understand the biological and molecular basis of these findings are underway.

Bio:
Bruce G. Haffty is currently Professor and Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Associate Director, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. His medical school training was at Yale School of Medicine, followed by an internship in internal medicine, residency and chief residency in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital. Since completion of residency, Dr. Haffty spent the majority of his academic career at Yale School of Medicine, Department of Therapeutic Radiology, where he was a Professor of Therapeutic Radiology, served as residency program director from 1992 through 2004, Vice Chairman and Clinical Director from 2002-2005. He moved to the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and The Cancer Institute of New Jersey in 2005.

Dr. Haffty's clinical areas of expertise include breast cancer and head and neck cancer. He has had numerous research grants and conducts clinical and translational research in his chosen areas of expertise. He has published over 180 peer-reviewed articles, 25 book chapters, and numerous editorials and letters. He has been listed as one of the country’s top physicians by Best Doctors in America, Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping and America's Top Doctors.

In addition to a busy clinical practice, Dr. Haffty has served on numerous national committees related to research and education in radiation oncology, serves on the Editorial Board of numerous Medical Journals, and has mentored many medical students, trainees and junior faculty in conducting clinical and translational research. He is currently an Associate Editor of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, serves on the Executive Committee of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (ASTRO Representative), Chairman of the Residency Review Committee in Radiation Oncology, Trustee to the American Board of Radiology and Assistant Executive Director of the ABR, and President-Elect of the American Radium Society.