Dr. Shumaker studies various types of cancers, including HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, advanced colorectal cancer, and multifocal epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. She investigates how combining different cancer drugs can enhance treatment responses and stop the progression of difficult-to-treat tumors. For example, she has researched the effectiveness of lapatinib combined with vinorelbine for treating advanced breast cancer and lenalidomide for managing epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. Her work aims to provide insights into better therapeutic strategies for patients who have limited options due to aggressive or recurrent disease.
Key findings
In a study of 44 women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, 41% responded positively to the combination of lapatinib and vinorelbine, with 9% achieving complete remission.
In a case study, a young woman with multifocal epithelioid hemangioendothelioma stabilized after taking lenalidomide for about six years, even as her disease worsened during pregnancy and despite previous treatments.
In a trial comparing treatments for advanced colorectal cancer, patients receiving FOLFOX4 had a 13% response rate compared to 2% for the other treatment and a longer time before disease progression (4.8 months vs. 2.4 months).
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Shumaker study breast cancer?
Yes, she focuses on HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer and evaluates new treatment combinations for it.
What treatments has Dr. Shumaker researched?
She has researched chemotherapy combinations like lapatinib with vinorelbine for breast cancer and lenalidomide for rare tumors.
Is Dr. Shumaker's work relevant to patients with rare tumors?
Yes, her studies on multifocal epithelioid hemangioendothelioma provide crucial insights for patients with this condition.
What is the significance of her findings in colorectal cancer?
Her research indicates that FOLFOX4 is a more effective treatment option than previous therapies for advanced colorectal cancer patients.
Who benefits from Dr. Shumaker's research?
Women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, patients with rare tumors, and those with advanced colorectal cancer benefit from her findings.
Publications in plain English
Phase II study of lapatinib in combination with vinorelbine, as first or second-line therapy in women with HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.
2014
SpringerPlus
Chew HK, Schwartzberg L, Badarinath S, Rubin P, Shumaker G +3 more
Plain English This study looked at the effectiveness of combining two cancer drugs, lapatinib and vinorelbine, to treat women with advanced breast cancer that has high levels of a protein called HER2. Out of 44 patients, 41% showed a positive response to the treatment, with 9% experiencing complete remission. Most patients had a good tolerance to the drugs, with serious side effects being rare.
Who this helps: This benefits women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who need new treatment options.
Lenalidomide stops progression of multifocal epithelioid hemangioendothelioma including intracranial disease.
2010
Journal of neuro-oncology
Sumrall A, Fredericks R, Berthold A, Shumaker G
Plain English This study looks at a rare tumor called epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EH) that can affect various parts of the body. A young woman with this condition experienced cancer spread during her pregnancy and continued to worsen despite multiple treatments, but after about six years of taking lenalidomide, her disease has stabilized. This is important because it shows that lenalidomide can effectively stop the progression of EH, especially in difficult cases where other treatments have failed.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with multifocal epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and their doctors.
Randomized multicenter phase II trial of bolus plus infusional fluorouracil/leucovorin compared with fluorouracil/leucovorin plus oxaliplatin as third-line treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
2004
Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Kemeny N, Garay CA, Gurtler J, Hochster H, Kennedy P +8 more
Plain English This study looked at the effectiveness of two different chemotherapy treatments for patients with advanced colorectal cancer who had already tried other therapies. Researchers compared a treatment called FOLFOX4, which includes oxaliplatin, to a treatment without it called LV5FU2. They found that FOLFOX4 led to a better response rate (13% compared to 2%) and a longer time before the disease progressed (4.8 months vs. 2.4 months), meaning it was more effective in helping patients manage their cancer.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with advanced colorectal cancer who have not responded to earlier treatments.
Plain English This study looked at mice that lack a specific protein called LFA-1 to see how it affects their immune responses. The researchers found that these mice were able to respond normally to certain viral infections but could not reject tumors when they were implanted. This is important because it shows that LFA-1 is crucial for the immune system to fight against tumors, even if it functions well against infections.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors understand immune responses better, especially in developing cancer treatments.
Transfected leukocyte integrin CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1) mediates phorbol ester-activated, homotypic cell:cell adherence in the K562 cell line.
1993
Blood
Hickstein DD, Grunvald E, Shumaker G, Baker DM, Back AL +3 more
Plain English This study focused on a protein called CD11b/CD18 that helps white blood cells stick together. Researchers added this protein to a type of blood cell (K562 cells) from a person with leukemia and found that when they treated these modified cells with a specific substance, the cells formed strong clumps. This finding is important because it can help scientists understand how cells interact during immune responses and may lead to new treatments for blood disorders.
Who this helps: This helps patients with blood disorders and their doctors.
D M Baker D D Hickstein Helen Kent Chew Lee Schwartzberg Suprith Badarinath Peter Rubin James Daugherty Michelle DeSilvio Janine Mahoney Ashley Sumrall
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Publication data from
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Plain-English summaries generated by AI.
Not medical advice.