Dr. Pamela Goodwin

Our research focuses on the contribution of patient-related factors (also known as host factors) in breast cancer. Obesity has been a unifying theme of this work. Early in my career, we showed that obesity was associated with an increased risk of recurrence in women with early-stage breast cancer, and we identified insulin (which can act as a breast cancer growth factor) as a possible mediator of this effect. This discovery led to studies of interventions, including weight loss and the diabetes drug metformin, which could potentially lower insulin levels and improve breast cancer outcomes. In an international study, we found that metformin does not improve outcomes in common types of breast cancer, but it led to lower risk of recurrence and death in women with HER2 positive breast cancer. Early data suggest weight loss may be beneficial; definitive trials are ongoing.

Related work has explored the contributions of Vitamin D and psychological factors to breast cancer outcomes.

We are currently exploring host factors related to the risk of late recurrence in hormone receptor positive breast cancer. In initial results we have found that the presence of circulating tumour cells is strongly associated with an increased risk of recurrence.