Clifford Hudis, MD

2008-2009 BCRF Project:
Co-Investigator: Andrew Dannenberg, MD, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, NY

Drs. Hudis and Dannenberg are exploring the relationship between the COX enzymes (Cox-1 is present in normal tissue whereas COX-2 is increased in response to injury and abnormal growth) and cancer. They have shown that the prostaglandin products of COX enzymes increase formation of proteins including aromatase (the enzyme that makes estrogen). This female hormone can drive breast cancer formation and growth. Because widely available anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit COX enzymes and therefore may lower estrogen level, this work can explain the potential reduction in breast cancer among regular aspirin uses and expand on the use of this kind of cancer prevention approach.

COX enzymes generate prostaglandin products through a series of steps that can be blocked with medications. The researchers' ongoing work is aimed at better identifying the targetable components of this system for which there are (or could be) specific drugs that may both prevent and treat breast cancer. In the past year, they have further described the impact of prostaglandin signaling on the BRCA1 gene and, in turn, its impact on aromatase activity and therefore estrogen production. This increased understanding of the roles prostaglandins and BRCA1 should help to identify better and safer methods of treating and preventing breast cancer.

Mid-year Progress Report:
Since their last report, the researchers have further described the impact of prostaglandin signaling on the activity of the breast cancer gene (BRCA1) and, in turn, its impact on aromatase activity and therefore estrogen production. Moreover, they have new evidence connecting COX-1, the target of aspirin, BRCA1 and aromatase. This increased understanding of the roles of prostaglandins and BRCA1 should help to identify better and safer methods of treating and preventing breast cancer.

Bio:
Dr. Hudis is Chief of the Breast Cancer Medicine Service and Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He is also a Professor of Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. In 2007, Dr. Hudis was appointed as chairman of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee. He is co-leader of the Breast Disease Management Team at MSKCC, co-Chair of the Breast Committee of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), and the incoming Treasurer of ASCO. His research interests include chemotherapy development, hormone therapy, novel targeted therapeutics, and supportive care. A particular focus has been the integration of newer agents into the treatment plan for patients with early stage disease and translational research focused on targeted therapies.