Titles and Affiliations
Chair, Department of Breast Medical Oncology
Colin Powell Chair for Cancer Research
Research Area
Testing whether the medication tirzepatide can reduce inflammation and ease the side effects that lead women to stop taking life-saving hormone therapy for breast cancer.
Impact
Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer is the most common form of the disease, and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are highly effective at lowering the chance it will return. But AIs often cause side effects—joint pain, hot flashes, fatigue, poor sleep, and reduced physical function—that tend to occur together and can significantly disrupt daily life. These side effects are the leading reason women stop taking AIs early, which can reduce the treatment’s life-saving benefit. Dr. Giordano is testing whether tirzepatide (dual GIP/GLP‑1 receptor agonist), an FDA-approved medication that affects biological pathways involved in inflammation, metabolism, body weight, and temperature regulation, can reduce these side effects and help more women stay on treatment.
What’s Next
Dr. Giordano is leading a six-month pilot study enrolling women with early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who are experiencing moderate to severe side effects from an aromatase inhibitor. Participants will receive tirzepatide and provide blood samples to measure markers of inflammation, along with patient reports on joint pain, physical function, hot flashes, fatigue, sleep quality, and overall quality of life. The team will also track changes in body weight, body composition, and physical activity which often accompany AI-related side effects to better understand how these biological changes relate to symptom improvement. Because AI-related side effects are often addressed one at a time with medications that are rarely used in practice, this study’s approach of targeting shared underlying causes—inflammation and excess weight—could improve multiple symptoms at once. The findings will help identify which patients are most likely to benefit from tirzepatide and provide essential data to support a future randomized clinical trial, with the ultimate goal of helping more women remain on treatment and improving long-term survivorship and quality of life.
Biography
Sharon Giordano, MD MPH is an internationally recognized breast medical oncologist and physician-scientist at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she serves as Chair of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Professor of Medicine, and the Colin Powell Chair for Cancer Research. Her research focuses on improving the quality and equity of breast cancer care, with particular expertise in breast cancer outcomes and male breast cancer. Her work has established the world’s largest clinical and genomic dataset for male breast cancer, advancing research and informing treatment guidelines. A nationally recognized leader in oncology, Dr. Giordano has held numerous leadership roles with ASCO and the NCCN and has authored more than 350 scientific publications. She is also an award-winning mentor, recognized for her outstanding contributions to education, mentorship, and cancer care.
