PROFESSOR SHERENE LOI
Professor, University of Melbourne
Consultant Medical Oncologist, Breast Unit
Breast Stream Lead, Parkville Cancer Clinical Trials Unit (PCCTU)
Head, Translational Breast Cancer Genomics and Therapeutics Lab
National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia Endowed Chair
ABSTRACT
Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer, especially in certain subtypes, are associated with improved patient survival. Among TILs, tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) are noteworthy. Research using a mouse model demonstrated that TRM like T cells expanded after treatment with T cell checkpoint inhibitors, exhibiting increased cytotoxicity and protection against secondary tumor growth. These findings suggest the importance of CD8+ TRM cells in breast cancer surveillance and response to T cell immunotherapy,emphasizing the need for further investigation into their development and regulation for effective treatment . We will discuss the updates, challenges and limitations associated with immunotherapy in Breast Cancer, including resistance mechanisms and strategies to overcome them. The presentation aims to provide clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals with a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of immunotherapy for Breast Cancer and its potential implications for patient care and outcomes.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Professor Loi is a Medical Oncologist specialized in breast cancer treatment as well as a clinician scientist (group leader) with expertise in genomics, immunology and drug development at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. She is recognised internationally as a leading clinician scientist whose work has led to new insights into the breast cancer immunology field as well as leading international clinical trials in breast cancer immunotherapy.
To date, she has published over 330 peer-reviewed research articles with a lifetime H-index of >115. Her recent work has been highly influential: she has been ranked in the top 1% of highly cited researchers globally by the Web of Science since 2018. She Co-Chairs the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) based in Bern, Switzerland, one of the largest global academic breast cancer trial cooperative groups. She is a current holder of the Inaugural National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) of Australia Endowed Chair and in 2021 received one the Prime Ministers’ Awards for Science.
