Titles and Affiliations
Fellow, Hematology and Oncology
Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation
Research Area
Identifying new targeted treatments for triple-negative breast cancer
Impact
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer with limited treatment options and poorer outcomes, especially if it spreads. For Dr. Shah’s Conquer Cancer research, she is exploring a protein called estrogen receptor beta (ERß), a lesser-known version of the estrogen receptor. Erß is sometimes present in TNBC tumors even though they are negative for the usual estrogen receptor. Laboratory studies have shown that Erß can block the cancer-promoting activity of mutated p53 gene, potentially slowing tumor growth, especially when combined with the drug tamoxifen, a hormone therapy drug that blocks the effects of estrogen.
What’s Next
Dr. Shah will use advanced imaging and genetic tools to study patient tumor samples to evaluate if the presence of ERß improves outcomes in tumors that harbor a p53 mutation. She and her team will further explore how ERß-positive cancer cells interact with nearby immune cells in the tumor environment. If results are promising, they plan to launch a clinical trial testing tamoxifen with chemotherapy in patients with TNBC whose tumors have these features, aiming to pave the way for more effective therapies.
Biography
Zunairah Shah, MD is a Hematology/Oncology fellow at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and a former Chief Resident at Weiss Memorial Hospital. She received her medical degree from Rawalpindi Medical University in Pakistan. She focuses on breast cancer, biomarker development, and novel therapeutics. She received a Merit Award and will present her research as a Rapid Oral Presentation at ASCO 2025 for her work in metastatic breast cancer. Dr. Shah aspires to lead clinical investigations in breast oncology.
