Jacqueline F. Bromberg, MD, PhD

Education

MD, University of North Carolina School of Medicine; PhD, University of North Carolina, Department of Genetics

Residencies

Internal Medicine - Barnes Hospital

Fellowships

Medical Oncology/Hematology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

Internal Medicine; Medical Oncology I became interested in oncology because of the exciting advances happening in the field. I wanted to study how cancers develop, metastasize (spread), and become resistant to treatment. As a cancer biologist, I’m proud to say that my research is now contributing to that body of work.

I am a physician-scientist with 25 years of clinical expertise treating patients with breast malignancies as well as a cancer biologist with a long-standing interest in inflammation and how it regulates cancer growth and resistance to therapies. We have investigated the nature of the cross-talk between cancer cells and the “host” which led to our discovery that both tumor and host-derived factors including small bubble-like vesicles called “exosomes” can regulate metastasis by "educating" normal tissue and tumors resulting in profound phenotypes including redirecting and enhancing sites of metastatic spread. Conversely, exosomes from certain immune cells including platelets and T-cells can restrain cancer growth. The unique contents of these exosomes and the mechanisms by which they prevent cancer growth is presently not known.  By comparing the contents of exosomes that restrain versus promote cancer growth, we hope to identify molecules that can mediate these remarkable effects.  We hope to understand how these particles mediate these anti-cancer immune effects and translate these findings to novel therapies for breast cancers resistant to treatment.