Susan M. Domchek
Leads the world's first centre dedicated to BRCA-related cancers and the trials of PARP inhibitors plus immunotherapy.
Directs the Basser Center; led MEDIOLA (olaparib plus durvalumab) and analyses of PARP-inhibitor resistance and reversion in germline BRCA carriers.
| Title | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Olaparib and durvalumab in patients with germline BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer (MEDIOLA) | Lancet Oncology | 2020 |
Everyone with HER2-negative early breast cancer that meets high-risk criteria should be offered germline BRCA testing, because a positive result now changes treatment: a year of olaparib after chemotherapy reduces relapse and death. It does not apply to low-risk tumours, HER2-positive disease, or somatic-only BRCA mutations.
For women who carry a BRCA mutation, preventive removal of the ovaries and tubes saves lives, and preventive mastectomy almost eliminates breast cancer. These are the strongest prevention effects in oncology, which is why finding carriers before they develop cancer matters so much.