How did your interest in science develop?
Growing up, science was always my favorite subject in school. My favorite teacher in high school was my Anatomy and Physiology and AP Biology teacher, who fostered my interest in biology. Although I majored in biology in college, I was one of only a few students in my major who was not also pre-med. At that time, I did not know what I wanted to do with my biology degree, but I did know that I was not interested in medical school. I had limited opportunities to do scientific research at my college, so I took a job as a research assistant in a lab in Boston after I graduated from college. I was fortunate to work for a fantastic mentor who encouraged me to pursue a PhD degree.
What led you to work on cancer-related research topics?
I started my research career working in a cell biology lab studying immune cell adhesion and then continued this research as a PhD graduate student. I became interested in cancer because of the similarities between the processes necessary for recruitment of immune cells to sites of infection (namely, immune cell adhesion and migration) and the process of metastasis, in which cancer cells travel from a primary tumor to distant organs. As a postdoctoral fellow, I switched to studying tumor cell adhesion and its importance in metastasis, and I have continued as a basic cancer researcher throughout my independent research career.
What are the main cancer-related projects you are currently working on?
Cells throughout the body have proteins known as growth factors that convey a variety of information to cells, such as whether the cell should grow and/or divide. Growth factors carry out these functions by activating growth factor receptors. My lab is interested in how signaling pathways initiated by growth factor receptors drive the progression of breast cancer. We study how receptor regulation and function are altered in tumor cells to overcome the body’s normal control mechanisms and facilitate metastasis. Our research has focused on the insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and their mechanisms of action (that is, how they produce their effects). Signaling from these receptors is associated with poor outcomes in breast cancer, especially in the context of obesity when the activity of these receptors is increased (upregulated). These receptors have also been implicated in tumor drug resistance (the ability of cells in a tumor to become resistant to cancer treatments), including resistance to phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)-targeted inhibitors and hormonal therapy. Unfortunately, adverse metabolic side effects limit the ability to aggressively target these receptors for cancer therapy. Our research aims to discover how to selectively inhibit the activity of the IR and IGF-1R in tumors, without interfering with their roles in normal metabolism, with the goal of improving therapy response and breast cancer outcomes. We are excited by recent studies from our lab that support the feasibility of this approach!
How has the cancer field changed or progressed over time?
I have been working in the cancer field for 25 years, and it has been exciting to see how the pace of new discoveries has increased in recent years, leading to new treatments for cancer patients. In particular, the development of targeted therapies that provide an improved quality of life for patients and the use of immunotherapy are examples of successful developments since I started as a cancer researcher. Seeing how basic science research has contributed to the development of these novel treatments provides encouragement for our continued efforts to understand the fundamental mechanisms of cancer.
What is the most enjoyable part of your job as a researcher?
What I most enjoy about being a researcher is continual learning. Every new discovery in the lab opens a new door and reveals a new question that begs to be answered. I get to spend my days exploring new ideas and expanding my knowledge. The added bonus is the hope that our work may someday lead to a new or improved treatment that will benefit breast cancer patients and improve their quality of life and the outcomes of their disease.
Why do you feel it is important for patients with cancer to take part in medical research?
Cancer researchers develop ideas for novel cancer therapies from their basic research. We can test these ideas in our labs and model the potential efficacy of a new drug. But to learn if a new treatment approach is safe and improves outcomes in comparison with currently approved therapies, we need patients to collaborate with us and participate in medical research.
What would you tell someone who has just learned that he/she has a cancer diagnosis?
There is more hope today for survival with cancer than there was yesterday, and that hope will grow tomorrow as research continues to illuminate how to personalize and effectively treat each individual patient.
What is your message to potential donors?
Research is expensive and obtaining funding for our labs takes time — time that could be spent focused on developing new ideas and moving our research forward. By supporting cancer research, donors can enhance the rate of discovery and participate in developing the next generation of cancer treatments.
About Leslie Shaw
Leslie M Shaw, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Molecular, Cell & Cancer Biology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Shaw earned a PhD from Harvard University and received postdoctoral training at Beth Israel Deaconess/Harvard Medical School.
