Michael Goldberg, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
2014 Kirwin-Hinton Family Scholar
Unraveling the role of ATR in DNA repair and ovarian cancer therapy
The majority of cancer therapies attempt to kill tumor cells using drugs that are often toxic. Many patients relapse because residual cells can establish new drug-resistant tumors. Unlike traditional therapies, the immune system can adapt to the evolving tumor. In fact, immune cell infiltration into tumors is the best known predictor of patient outcomes. Frustratingly, tumors secrete a physical barrier to prevent the penetration of immune cells and other medicines. Accordingly, Dr. Goldberg is developing nanoparticles that break down this obstruction (like a molecular battering ram through a fortress wall) to facilitate immune cell and drug penetration, thereby improving survival outcomes.