VCCC Alliance Breast Cancer Grand Round

with Dr Aadya Nagpal Malhotra

17 May 2023

Unlocking the secrets of HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastasis

Are you a medical professional, researcher, or just passionate about understanding the complexities of HER2-positive breast cancer? Join Dr Aadya Nagpal Malhotra to explore the world of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and their role in managing brain metastases.

Breast cancer is a devastating disease that affects millions of women worldwide. While treatments like Herceptin have been successful in controlling this systemic disease, resistance to these therapies is common, and brain metastases are still a significant problem.

In this webinar, Dr Nagpal Malhotra will discuss the development and characterisation of a new mouse model of HER2-positive breast cancer that spontaneously spreads to the brain and other organs as observed in patients. She will also share insights into potential new combination therapies for the treatment of TKI-resistant disease.

In this webinar, you will learn:

• The key features of the mouse model, its significance in the study of HER2-positive breast cancer, and its potential applications in the development of new therapies for brain metastases
• How TKIs function in the context of HER2-positive breast cancer, identify common mechanisms of resistance, and discuss potential strategies to overcome these challenges in clinical settings
• Assessing the advantages and disadvantages of using TKIs in various clinical scenarios, particularly for brain metastases, and suggesting potential combination therapies that may enhance the efficacy of TKIs in resistant cases.

Presenter

Dr Aadya Nagpal Malhotra

Dr Aadya Nagpal Malhotra is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Tumour Angiogenesis and Microenvironment Laboratory at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She also holds an honorary appointment at the University of Melbourne in the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology. She completed her PhD in 2022 at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University. Her research interests include understanding the mechanisms of site-specific cancer metastasis and therapy resistance, particularly in the context of breast cancer.

The VCCC Alliance Breast Cancer Grand Round is targeted at a clinical audience and features open discussion about real cases and patients. While these cases are de-identified, the imagery, content and discussion can be graphic. It is not appropriate for consumer participants.