Jennifer Kwan

Research Synopsis

RESEARCH SYNOPSIS
Dr. Kwan holds the Hold'em for Life Early Career Professorship in Cancer Research at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. With improved outcomes and greater longevity of patients after cancer treatment, there are now 1.5 million Canadians living with or beyond cancer. As a result, side effects of cancer treatment have been a growing concern for many patients and healthcare providers. The aim of Dr. Kwan’s research program is to improve the therapeutic window of cancer treatments by understanding the mechanisms of cancer treatment-related toxicity in normal tissues and identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets to manage and mitigate side effects.

PREVENTING THE MORBIDITY OF SIDE EFFECTS THROUGH EARLY RISK STRATIFICATION WITH LIQUID BIOMARKERS: Currently, pre-treatment counseling on cancer treatment-related side effects is based upon average risk estimates from population-level studies. We are developing methods for personalized patient-level risk stratification using novel circulating biomarkers to direct early risk modification and intervention.

MANAGING SIDE EFFECTS WITH NOVEL THERAPEUTICS: Understanding the natural course of side effects like breast cancer-related lymphedema and the pathologies that occur during their development and progression can provide opportunities for targeted therapeutic approaches that avoid, prevent, or treat challenging conditions. Using next generation sequencing technologies, our research has demonstrated that downregulation of metabolic signaling pathways, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling, in lymphedema-affected tissues promote myofibroblast activation, fibroblast proliferation, and fibrotic protein secretion leading to scar tissue deposition. We are working on therapeutic targeting of aberrant metabolic signaling pathways to mitigate fibrosis, a critical pathology in lymphedema that lacks effective treatment options.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Kwan is a Radiation Oncologist - Clinician Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto.

She graduated from Queen's University with her M.D., followed by residency at the University of Toronto during which time she held the role of Chief Resident of Radiation Oncology. During her residency training, she completed a Ph.D. at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Dr. Fei-Fei Liu through the Institute of Medical Science and the Clinician Investigator Program (CIP), an accredited postgraduate program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. During her Ph.D., she was named a CIHR Vanier Scholar.

Dr. Kwan is a Radiation Oncologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in the Breast Cancer and Adult Radiation Late Effects Clinic (ARLEC) Site Groups. Her clinical work complements her role as a Principal Investigator of her research lab program, where she studies novel biomarkers and therapeutics for the management of side effects from cancer treatments such as radiotherapy, surgery, and systemic therapies. As a Clinician Scientist, Dr. Kwan aims to lead innovative research and translate science from the lab to the clinic to benefit cancer patients. She has received multiple international awards from organizations including the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC).

As a grateful recipient of mentorship and education from those who have trained her, Dr. Kwan supports the education and career development of graduate students, medical students, resident physicians, fellows, and other students at the University of Toronto. She has co-authored a book chapter on career development in academic radiation oncology and has led several mentorship and career exploration programs.