Alexander Fleming Institute Buenos Aires, Argentina
Clinical Oncology Fellow
Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation
Predicting response to immunotherapy in patients with triple-negative breast cancer.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer that often occurs at a younger age and has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body. Currently, the standard of treatment for this subtype includes chemotherapy and immunotherapy before surgery. Up to 60 percent of patients who receive this treatment will not have any remaining tumor after surgery and tend to live longer without disease. However, not all patients benefit equally from treatment, and there is an urgent need to be able predict which patients are most likely to benefit.
For her Conquer Cancer research supported by BCRF, Dr. Narvaez is evaluating key immunological biomarkers from tissue biopsies, assessing individual prognostic value, and combining these to create a prognostic score. She aims for this prognostic score to help predict response to immunotherapy before surgery in patients with TNBC.
Dana Narvaez, MD is an Argentine oncologist-in-training and researcher with a specialized focus on breast cancer. She graduated as a medical doctor from the National University of Litoral in Santa Fe and subsequently completed a specialization in Internal Medicine. Currently, she is concluding her residency in Clinical Oncology at the Alexander Fleming Institute in Buenos Aires, where she actively engages in research projects focused on breast cancer.
Her dedication and ongoing work in the field have earned her several awards, including the ESMO Breast Cancer Preceptorship Travel Grant and the Breast and Lung Cancer Preceptorship for Latin American Physicians Scholarship at Winship Cancer Center, Emory University. She has presented posters at renowned international conferences, such as the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, and has published articles in leading scientific journals. In 2024, her commitment to Argentine oncology led to her selection as a member of the Young Committee of the Argentine Association of Clinical Oncology.
With the support of the Young Investigator Award, Dr. Narvaez aims to develop a research project on immunological biomarkers in triple-negative breast cancer. In the short term, she seeks to enhance her skills and gain further experience in clinical research to apply this knowledge locally. In the long term, her goal is to make a positive impact by improving the quality and scope of clinical research in her country and through collaborations with neighboring Latin American countries.
2024
The Hirschhorn Award in Honor of Susan B. Hirschhorn and in Memory of Her Mother, Ellen S. Hirschhorn
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