Giants of Cancer Care® Program Inductees

Breast Cancer

Dennis J. Slamon, MD, PhD

UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

Slamon's research proved a relationship between the gene HER2/neu, which encodes a tyrosine kinase, and a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer.
His research led to the discovery of the monoclonal antibody against HER2, the breast cancer drug trastuzumab (Herceptin), which has been used to treat more than 420,000 women worldwide.
Herceptin has been heralded as a major advance in targeted cancer therapy since it was first introduced; the drug has been included in breast cancer treatment protocols in the United States since receiving FDA approval in 1998.
Slamon's research focuses on developing new treatments for women with breast and ovarian cancers.
In June 2000, President Clinton appointed Slamon to the three-member President's Cancer Panel.
He has won nearly two dozen research awards honoring his scientific endeavors.

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