Olufunmilayo (Funmi) I. Olopade, MB, BS, FACP

Breast cancer is a major global health problem and a leading cause of death among women of all ethnic and racial backgrounds. With an estimated 1.15 million new cases diagnosed worldwide per year, there is an urgent need to develop a global strategy to reduce the burden of breast cancer. As a unique practice model, Dr. Olopade's group has established the first collaborative team of investigators qualified to conduct breast cancer clinical trials in Nigeria, the most populous country in sub-Saharan African with a population of 140 million. They are now expanding these studies to other African nations. Thanks to BCRF, they are on the path of transforming breast cancer care in Africa.

In a separate project based in Chicago, Dr. Olopade's studies address some of the most important questions in breast cancer. Why is breast cancer not one disease? Why do young women get breast cancer and what are the similarities between breast cancer in young women with BRCA1 mutations and breast cancer among young women in the general population without a family history? How should we screen for these highly proliferative tumors that may not be detectable by routine mammography? Why are they more aggressive than other breast tumors? Why are women of African ancestry more likely to develop ER negative, HER2 negative (basal-like/triple negative) breast cancers? Most importantly, how can we best achieve the promise of individualized therapies? Dr. Olopade's approach has been family based and her group has amassed resources.

Mid-year Progress Report:
In the Nigeria project, as a unique practice model, Dr. Olopade has established the first collaborative team of investigators qualified to conduct breast cancer clinical trials in Nigeria, the most populous country in sub-Saharan African with a population of 140 million. Thanks to BCRF, they are on the path of transforming breast cancer care in Africa. The infrastructure is evolving and the investigators are using this study to learn how to conduct trials. They have had two audits and both sites are performing satisfactorily. Unfortunately, more than 80% of patients screened have metastatic disease. In 2009, they will modify the protocol to allow enrollment of patients with low burden metastatic disease.

Her studies address some of the most important questions in breast cancer. Why is breast cancer not one disease? Why do young women get breast cancer and what are the similarities between breast cancer in young women with BRCA1 mutations and breast cancer among young women in the general population without a family history? How should we screen for these highly proliferative tumors that may not be detectable by routine mammography? Why are they more aggressive than other breast tumors? Why are women of African ancestry more likely to develop ER negative, HER2 negative (basal-like/triple negative) breast cancers? Most importantly, how can we best achieve the promise of individualized therapies? In search for these answers, Dr. Olopade and colleagues are specifically investigating the role of the protein c-Myc in the expression of BRCA1 in highly aggressive breast cancer tumors. Their ultimate goal is to use this knowledge to develop more effective diagnostic tools and treatment therapies for all types of breast cancers.

Bio:
Funmi Olopade directs a multidisciplinary clinical and laboratory research program in cancer genetics at the University of Chicago Medical Center. This program helps speed the transfer of basic research in cancer genetics to the benefit of people. Dr. Olopade combines extensive family studies with genetic testing to develop strategies for prevention and/or early detection in patients at high risk for cancer.

In October, 2008, in recognition of her work Dr. Olopade was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States.

Dr. Olopade is an international leader in the field of clinical cancer genetics, a field that seeks to identify and understand the various genes that contribute to cancer susceptibility, how these genes interact with one another and how they are affected by environmental factors. Her current laboratory research is focused on tumor suppressor genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 that predispose to breast and ovarian cancers. As a hematologist/oncologist, Dr. Olopade specializes in the treatment of aggressive breast cancer that disproportionately affects young women.

Dr. Olopade received her medical degree with distinction from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and served as a medical officer at the Nigerian Navy Hospital. She came to the United States as a resident in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital, Chicago, where she was named Chief Medical Resident. She did her Hematology/Oncology Fellowship training at the University of Chicago and was appointed to the faculty in 1991. A former James S. McDonnell Foundation Scholar, Dr. Olopade currently is a Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist.

Dr. Olopade is a member of many professional societies including the American Association for Cancer Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, American College of Physicians and the American Society of Breast Diseases. She serves on the Steering Committee of the NCI Cooperative Family Registry for Breast Cancer Studies and the Advisory Committee of the Cancer Genetics Network. Dr. Olopade is a member of the NCI Board of Scientific Counselors.