SUMMARY
The research of William G. Breen, M.D., strives to improve outcomes for patients with cancer by increasing the efficacy of radiotherapy using new technologies, particularly for brain tumors. Dr. Breen serves as the primary investigator for multiple clinical trials using various strategies to achieve this goal. Two current clinical trials for patients with glioblastoma are using new imaging strategies. These new strategies target radiotherapy to biologically aggressive tumors that may not be evident on a standard gadolinium-contrast MRI. This concept is being advanced at the national level.
Dr. Breen is the principal investigator of a clinical trial testing a first-in-human ataxia telangiectasia mutated inhibitor with reirradiation for recurrent glioblastoma. He strives to radiosensitize this aggressive tumor and provide more durable control. These clinical trials have translational components in which multiomics data are analyzed to facilitate optimal personalized care. With each of these clinical trials and in future studies, Dr. Breen and colleagues are attempting to harness modern diagnostic and therapeutic advances to improve outcomes that matter most to patients.
Focus areas
- Imaging techniques to better target radiation. Dr. Breen leads efforts integrating amino acid PET, high b-value diffusion MRI and perfusion MRI techniques to allow for more-accurate targeting of tumors. This lowers the radiation dose in healthy tissue.
- Decrease the risk of radiation side effects in the brain. Dr. Breen studies how treatments can impact typical brain function and what methods can be used to mitigate negative impacts. He uses advanced radiation techniques, imaging advances and neurocognitive substructure data to provide safer treatment to patients.
- Improve outcomes for patients with glioblastoma. Dr. Breen and colleagues are developing new imaging and treatment strategies for glioblastoma to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
- Improve outcomes for patients with lymphoma. Dr. Breen and colleagues strive to provide the most effective and safest advanced radiation treatments possible for patients with lymphoma and other hematologic malignancies. These treatments include proton therapy, electrocardiogram-gated cardiac angiograms and adaptive radiotherapy.
Significance to patient care
Brain tumors can be difficult to treat, as they are hard to fully see on imaging, can recur after treatment, and are located in a very important and sensitive organ. Dr. Breen's research aims to improve treatment of brain tumors through several mechanisms. First, advanced imaging techniques using new PET scans and MRI techniques are being studied to better target tumors instead of the brain. Second, a newly developed drug that appears to make brain tumors more sensitive to radiation is being tested in a clinical trial. Third, methods focusing on improving patient quality of life, such as shortening treatment courses and reducing the size of the area being treated, are being studied for efficacy and safety in clinical trials.
Professional highlights
- Associate central nerve system editor, International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics, 2024-present.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic:
- Associate research chair, 2023-present.
- Distinguished Clinical Researcher, 2024.
- Midwest Distinguished Clinical Service Award, 2024.
- Teacher of the Year, 2023.
- Member, Central Nervous System Scientific Committee, American Society for Radiation Oncology, 2023-present.
- Voting member, Appropriate Use Criteria Committee — Brain, American Radium Society, 2023-present.
- Central Nervous System Radiation Oncology Disease Group, Mayo Clinic:
- Co-chair, 2022-present.
- Most Innovative Clinical Trial, 2023.
- Innovation in Aging Award, Mayo Clinic, 2024.