Neil O’Brien, PhD

Neil O'Brien, PhD

Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology

Languages

English

Scientific Interests

Dr. Neil O'Brien's research focuses on the identification of the mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies for cancer. By understanding the molecular alterations responsible for resistance, O'Brien and his colleagues hope to develop novel therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance and improve patient survival.

Highlighted Publications

O'Brien NA, McDonald K, Tong L, von Euw E, Kalous O, Conklin D, Hurvitz SA, di Tomaso E, Schnell C, Linnartz R, Finn RS, Hirawat S, Slamon DJ. Targeting PI3K/mTOR overcomes resistance to HER2-targeted therapy independent of feedback activation of AKT. Clin Cancer Res. 2014 Jul 1;20(13):3507-20. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-13-2769. Epub 2014 May 30.

Cordo Russo RI, Beguelin W, Diaz Flaque MC, Proietti CJ, Venturutti L, Galigniana N, Tkach M, Guzman P, Roa JC, O'Brien NA, Charreau EH, Schillaci R, Elizalde PV. Targeting ErbB-2 nuclear localization and function inhibits breast cancer growth and overcomes trastuzumab resistance. Oncogene. 2014 Sep 1;0. doi: 10.1038/onc.2014.272. [Epub ahead of print]

Wainberg ZA, Anghel A, Rogers AM, Desai AJ, Kalous O, Conklin D, Ayala R, O'Brien NA, Quadt C, Akimov M, Slamon DJ, Finn RS. Inhibition of HSP90 with AUY922 induces synergy in HER2-amplified trastuzumab-resistant breast and gastric cancer. Mol Cancer Ther. 2013 Apr;12(4):509-19. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-12-0507. Epub 2013 Feb 8.

Kalous O, Conklin D, Desai AJ, O'Brien NA, Ginther C, Anderson L, Cohen DJ, Britten CD, Taylor I, Christensen JG, Slamon DJ, Finn RS. Dacomitinib (PF-00299804), an irreversible Pan-HER inhibitor, inhibits proliferation of HER2-amplified breast cancer cell lines resistant to trastuzumab and lapatinib. Mol Cancer Ther. 2012 Sep;11(9):1978-87. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-11-0730. Epub 2012 Jul 3.

O'Brien NA, Browne BC, Chow L, Wang Y, Ginther C, Arboleda J, Duffy MJ, Crown J, O'Donovan N, Slamon DJ. Activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT signaling confers resistance to trastuzumab but not lapatinib. Mol Cancer Ther. 2010 Jun;9(6):1489-502. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-09-1171. Epub 2010 May 25.