James N. Ingle, MD

Tamoxifen remains one of the most important drugs for the treatment of breast cancer and recent information indicates that a patient’s genetic make-up is related to tamoxifen’s metabolism (called pharmacogenetics) and the amount of benefit a patient receives. The Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered that the different metabolites of tamoxifen have different effects on the estrogen receptor, explaining the impact of CYP2D6 genotype on clinical outcomes seen in women treated with tamoxifen. This knowledge provides the basis for developing true personalized endocrine therapy of breast cancer.

Bio:
Dr. Ingle is Professor of Oncology and Foust Professor in Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He has been chair of the Mayo Breast Cancer Clinical Trials Committee since 1982 and is the leader of breast cancer research in the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center serving as Program Co-Leader of the Women's Cancer Program. Dr. Ingle is the Director of the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence. He was chair of the Breast Committee of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group for 22 years, assuming the position of senior advisor to that committee in 1999.

His primary interests are in clinical trials of new therapeutic approaches in breast cancer, with an emphasis on endocrine therapy, and translational research. Other active research involves the study of the biology of endocrine sensitivity, genes and pathways related to breast cancer, and immunotherapy. He has over 200 peer-reviewed publications. He has served on numerous national and international bodies such as the NIH (1990) and St. Gallen (2003, 2005) Consensus Conference Panels on early breast cancer.