
Sara M. Tolaney MD, MPH
Chief, Division of Breast Oncology; Associate Director, Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers; Senior Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MassachusettsSara Tolaney, MD, MPH is the Chief of the Division of Breast Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and is internationally recognized for her research and education leadership in breast cancer. She also serves as Associate Director of the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers and is a Senior Physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Tolaney received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University and her medical degree from UC San Francisco. She subsequently completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, and fellowships in hematology and medical oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She obtained her Masters in Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health.
Her research focuses on the development of novel therapies in the treatment of breast cancer and developing more effective and less toxic treatment approaches. Her work has demonstrated that a relatively low risk regimen is beneficial in women with early stage node-negative HER2-positive cancers, and this works has been incorporated into national and international guidelines. She has developed several follow-up studies looking at novel approaches to early stage HER2-positive disease and has also played a significant role in development of cdk 4/6 inhibitors, antibody drug conjugates, and immunotherapy in breast cancer. She currently chairs several registration studies in these areas and also leads many investigator-initiated trials. She is the author of over 150 peer-reviewed publications with manuscripts included in many prestigious journals such as the New England Journal, Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and JAMA Oncology.
Disclosures
Dr. Tolaney reports the following:
Consulting or Advisory Role: Novartis, Pfizer, Merck, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Genentech/Roche, Eisai, Sanofi, Bristol Myers Squibb, Seattle Genetics, CytomX Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead, OncXerna, Zymeworks, Zentalis, Blueprint Medicines, Reveal Genomics, ARC Therapeutics, Infinity Therapeutics, Myovant (company bought out), Zetagen, Umoja Biopharma, Artios Pharma, Menarini/Stemline, Aadi Biopharma, Bayer, Incyte Corp, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Natera
Research Funding: Genentech/Roche, Merck, Exelixis, Pfizer, Lilly, Novartis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, AstraZeneca, NanoString Technologies, Gilead, Seattle Genetics, OncoPep, Daiichi Sankyo
Recent Contributions to PracticeUpdate:
- ASCO 2023: Abstract Recommendations From Dr. Sara Tolaney for Breast Cancer
- Outcomes of Palbociclib Rechallenge in Patients With HR+/HER2− Advanced Breast Cancer
- 2022 Top Story in Oncology: Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2-Low Metastatic Breast Cancer—DESTINY-Breast04
- Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Patients With HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer With Brain Metastases
- monarcHER: CDK4/6 Inhibition in Patients With HR+, HER2+ Advanced Breast Cancer
- AMEERA-3: Amcenestrant in Endocrine-Resistant ER+/HER2− Advanced Breast Cancer
- TROPiCS-02: Sacituzumab Govitecan for HR+/HER2− Metastatic Breast Cancer
- MONARCH 3: Overall Survival Results of Abemaciclib Plus Nonsteroidal AI for HR+/HER2− Advanced Breast Cancer
- ESMO 2022: Recommendations From Dr. Sara Tolaney for Breast Cancer
- Fulvestrant or Exemestane Plus Ribociclib After Anti-Estrogen Therapy Plus CDK 4/6 Inhibition for HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer