This month, Hoosier Cancer Research Network highlights Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and Mylin Torres, MD, professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine. Currently, Dr. Torres serves as co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at Winship Cancer Institute while also serving as a radiation oncologist at the cancer center.

She is a member of HCRN’s Breast Cancer Clinical Trial Working Group and sponsor-investigator of HCRN BRE19-433, a multi-institutional Phase II study to evaluate efficacy and safety of TAlazoparib, Radiotherapy and Atezolizumab in gBRCA 1/2 negative Patients with PD-L1+ Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TARA).

The purpose of this clinical trial is to examine the good and bad effects of combining talazoparib, radiation and atezolizumab. Study participants have metastatic triple negative breast cancer that is PD-L1 positive and lack the three common breast cancer receptors: estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2. Researchers want to identify other receptors to block so their cancer does not grow.

“This study is a natural extension of Emory’s longstanding breast cancer research program focused on identifying patients who may be responsive to targeted treatment to reduce toxicities and improve quality of life, while enhancing our knowledge of mechanisms underlying inflammation and the immune response to cancer treatments,” she said.

Dr. Torres’ expertise is in the interpretation of biomarkers and genomic assays as they relate to cancer outcomes behavioral symptoms, including fatigue and depression, in breast cancer patients. She has a strong interest in translating many of the benchside observations to the clinic and has participated in conducting many clinical trials in breast cancer aimed at understanding biomarkers of treatment-related toxicities, evaluating therapeutic interventions for ameliorating such toxicities, and conducting multi-institutional trials to determine the safety and efficacy of new treatments to enhance cancer control in metastatic breast cancer patients.

During her residency at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Torres received extensive training in radiotherapy. She has contributed to several published research studies assessing and evaluating ways to minimize radiotherapy side effects. She was recruited to the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine to lead the breast radiation oncology clinical and research program. Since her arrival, Dr. Torres has treated many breast cancer patients and developed an integrated program of multi-disciplinary research dedicated to understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying cancer therapy-related toxicities and developing interventions for antagonizing these pathways.

Educational Background:

• Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine
• Residency: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Radiation Oncology
• Research Fellowship: Hokkaido University, Japan

Three facts about Dr. Torres:

• She has a nine-year-old daughter and six-year-old son who are active in athletics. Her family travels to track meets for their daughter and soccer games for their son.
• She played tennis growing up and was ranked as high as 2nd in the United States.
• She loves trying new foods.

About Hoosier Cancer Research Network

Hoosier Cancer Research Network (formerly known as Hoosier Oncology Group) conducts innovative cancer research in collaboration with academic and community physicians and scientists across the United States. The organization provides comprehensive clinical trial management and support, from conception through publication. Created in 1984 as a program of the Walther Cancer Institute, Hoosier Cancer Research Network became an independent nonprofit clinical research organization in 2007. Since its founding, Hoosier Cancer Research Network has conducted more than 230 trials in a variety of cancer types and supportive care, resulting in more than 350 publications. More than 9,000 subjects have participated in Hoosier Cancer Research Network clinical trials.