Nataly Torrejon Guzman, MD

Developing new therapies for advanced HER2-positive breast cancer

Impact

The HER2 receptor is overexpressed in 15-20 percent of breast cancer cells. This subtype of breast cancer can be treated with agents that target the HER2 receptor, however, cancer can evade attack from HER2-targeted treatments. Therefore, new therapeutic options are needed to overcome HER2-targeted treatment resistance. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T) are a therapeutic strategy that uses the patient’s own immune cells to target and kill cancer cells. These cells are collected from the blood of patients and re-engineered in the laboratory to kill breast cancer by targeting specific receptors. CAR-T therapy has not been successful in breast cancer as it has in other cancers, largely due to the biological complexity of cells surrounding the tumor (called the tumor microenvironment).

What’s next

For her Conquer Cancer research supported by BCRF, Dr. Torrejon has designed a CAR-T cell that can kill breast cancer cells by targeting the HER2 receptor and cells in the tumor microenvironment. These CAR-T cells are effective in the laboratory, and she will extend her work by conducting a study to determine safety and efficacy in patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer.