Page 10 - Revista FRONTAL Edição Especial iMed 12.0

KEYNOTE LECTURE

MICHAEL H. SHEPARD PHD

DEVELOPING WEAPONS TO SNIPE CANCER

AUTHOR
SARA SERRA

and Dr. Axel Ullrich. Following Dr. antibodies to serve that purpose.
Ullrich’s characterization of the HER2 Dr. Shepard and colleagues at
protooncogene, Dr. Shepard collaborated Genentech (Dr. Slamon and Dr. Ullrich)
with Dr. Ullrich and Dr. Slamon to explore then invented Herceptin, the first
possible links to breast cancer. Some monoclonal antibody that blocks a
of his colleagues discovered that HER2 cancer-causing protein, and developed it
overexpression in breast cancer predicts into a life-saving therapy for women with
shorter survival. However, this discovery breast cancer. The innovation reduces the
could be considered unspecific because, as risk of recurrence and extends survival
we know, a lot of proteins are overexpressed time for patients with metastatic as well
in cancer cells and correlate with shorter as early-stage disease.
survival. Therefore, the remaining question As a result of this research that lead to
was: Is the overexpression of HER2 a the discovery of Herceptin, Dr. Shepard,
significant driver in tumor progression and together with Dr. Slamon and Dr. Ullrich,
how does this work? was honored the 2007 Warren Alpert
While trying to answer this question, Prize by Harvard Medical School and the
Dr. Shepard’s colleague, Dr. Ullrich and 2019 Lasker DeBakey Clinical Medical
postdoctoral fellow Robert Hudziak Research Award.
engineered mouse connective-tissue This approach - in which a therapy
cells grown in laboratory culture dishes would fixate on molecules that reside
to produce extra HER2 protein. The specifically in cancer cells - held great
supplemental HER2 caused the cells to appeal. Such a targeted strategy might
keep dividing under conditions in which avoid many of the harsh side effects
they’d usually stop, a sign of transformation associated with chemotherapy while
to a cancerous state. striking the source of the affliction.
Following this research, Dr. Shepard Through his research, Dr. Shepard
and Dr. Ullrich discovered how HER2 has made seminal contributions to
Michael H. Shepard, PhD is an can cause resistance to immune cell gene therapy of cancer, to tumor
American cancer researcher. He holds killing of tumor cells: overexpression of suppressor gene targeted small molecule
a bachelor's degree from the University HER2 makes cells resistant to killing by therapeutics, and to drugs which
of California, Davis, and his PhD. from macrophages, which are the first line of target the tumor extracellular matrix.
Indiana University. defense against cancer. He continues his work, now expanding
Dr. Shepard was a Damon Runyon If excessive quantities of HER2 cause successful treatment paradigms used in
Cancer Research Foundation Fellow at runaway growth and protection from cancer to approach inflammatory and
Indiana University. His introduction to the body’s defense system, suppressing autoimmune diseases and consults for
biotechnology came when he joined receptor function might reverse these biopharma companies on how to develop
Genentech in 1980. Following Genentech, aberrant behaviors. The part of the meaningful biomarkers that will speed
he has been a Founder or Principal in protein that resides outside the cell was drug development.
several biotech companies. These include especially alluring because it was likely Education is another of Dr. Shepard’s
Canji, Inc., NewBiotics, Receptor Biologix, to be accessible to a drug. To block HER2 passions. He gives lectures meant to
and Halozyme. stimulation, the researchers wanted to teach, stimulate, excite and give hope to
Dr. Shepard was awarded a Lasker develop a compound that would bind to interested scientists and students, and to
Clinical Research award in 2019, which this exposed portion and impede incoming cancer patients who need to more about
he shared with Dr. Dennis Slamon signals. They investigated monoclonal how the disease works.

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