Bernstein Lab
Principal Investigator: Jonine L. Bernstein
Institution: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY)
Primary Subfield: Genetics/Genomics
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
ABSTRACT The risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC) after a first breast cancer diagnosis is well-documented and substantial. Radiation therapy (RT) is an important component of treatment for over half of all women with primary breast cancer yet it is a potent carcinogen and an established risk factor for future CBC. Despite major advances in defining the genetic basis of breast cancer susceptibility, and the identification of multiple risk genes with key roles in the DNA damage response (DDR), the influence of inherited genetics in modifying risk of CBC in the setting of RT, a potent carcinogen, remains poorly understood. This critical knowledge gap has hindered the ability of providers and patients to select tailored treatment plans guided by the rapidly expanding germline and tumor DNA sequencing data available in the clinic. In this proposal, we seek to identify the genetic determinants of radiation-associated breast cancer and develop detailed CBC risk estimation, with the long-term goal of enabling informed therapeutic decisions that balance benefits and risks to optimize outcomes. We leverage the extensive resources of the WECARE Study, a multi-site population-based case-…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R01CA289804-02: The Genetic Epidemiology of Radiation-Associated Contralateral Breast Cancer (2026)
- 1R01CA289804-01A1: The Genetic Epidemiology of Radiation-Associated Contralateral Breast Cancer (2025)
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