Research Summary

I am a world-renowned Molecular Biologist, and Leader of the Breast Oncology Program and Associate Director Applied Genomics at the HDFCCC. I am the former Head of Diagnostic Oncology of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, and inventor of MammaPrint. My research focuses on personalized medicine, and aims to advance patient management based on knowledge of the genetic makeup of the tumor as well as the genetic makeup of the patient. My laboratory at UCSF has a strong research line investigating human kinases and studies how kinase inhibitors elicit response and resistance. I am the UCSF Precision Medicine Platform convener for cancer. I chair the Biomolecular Committee of the I-SPY 2 trial ensuring CLIA compliant companion diagnostics. I am the Principal Investigator of the Athena Breast Health Network at UCSF, a 150,000-women cohort study evaluating new paradigms to enhance breast health for which I lead the targeted genome testing for 65,000 women for nine breast cancer susceptibility genes and a selection of ~100 known susceptibility Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). I am one of the PIs for the NIH Big Data to Knowledge Center on Genomics, facilitating worldwide standardization of sharing annotated genomics data. My role as chair of the AACR Diagnostic Policy committee and chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Biomarker Development Alliance underscores my lead role in this area.

Research Funding

  • December 3, 2020 - November 30, 2025 - Strategy for combining circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of tumor burden for prediction of response and outcome in neoadjuvant-treated early breast cancer , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA255442
  • September 29, 2014 - August 31, 2021 - Center for Big Data in Translational Genomics , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: U54HG007990
  • August 8, 2012 - July 31, 2017 - Integrative signaling models to decipher complex cancer phenotypes , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: U01CA164720
  • September 23, 2011 - July 31, 2017 - Leukocyte Biomarkers for Predicting Human Breast Cancer Outcomes , Co-Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: U54CA163123

Education

University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, BSc, 1976-80, Biology, Molecular Oncology
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, MSc,1980-84, Experimental Oncology
University of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands, PhD, 1984-89, Medicine, Oncogene Activation and Tumorigenesis

Honors & Awards

  • 2005
    IARC Medal of Honor, Lyon, France
  • 2006
    Van der Scheuren award lecture for European Breast Cancer Research, EBCC5
  • 2007
    ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award for Translational Research in Breast Cancer
  • 2007, 2008
    Breast Cancer Research Fund (BCRF-Pink Ribbon US) grant award
  • 2009
    First Annual Harry and Edith Gladstein Award, Indiana University, School of Medicine
  • 2012
    AACC Outstanding Speaker Award
  • 2014
    Second Prize, European Union Prize for Women Innovators
  • 2015
    European Inventor Award, European Patent Office
  • 2017
    European Cancer Organization (ECCO) Clinical Research Award

Selected Publications

  1. Hiatt RA, Sibley A, Fejerman L, Glantz S, Nguyen T, Pasick R, Palmer N, Perkins A, Potter MB, Somsouk M, Vargas RA, van 't Veer LJ, Ashworth A. The San Francisco Cancer Initiative: A Community Effort To Reduce The Population Burden Of Cancer. Health Aff (Millwood). 2018 01; 37(1):54-61.  View on PubMed
  2. Viale G, de Snoo FA, Slaets L, Bogaerts J, van 't Veer L, Rutgers EJ, Piccart-Gebhart MJ, Stork-Sloots L, Glas A, Russo L, Dell'Orto P, Tryfonidis K, Litière S, Cardoso F, MINDACT investigators. Immunohistochemical versus molecular (BluePrint and MammaPrint) subtyping of breast carcinoma. Outcome results from the EORTC 10041/BIG 3-04 MINDACT trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2018 01; 167(1):123-131.  View on PubMed
  3. Bartelink IH, Prideaux B, Krings G, Wilmes L, Lee PRE, Bo P, Hann B, Coppé JP, Heditsian D, Swigart-Brown L, Jones EF, Magnitsky S, Keizer RJ, de Vries N, Rosing H, Pawlowska N, Thomas S, Dhawan M, Aggarwal R, Munster PN, Esserman LJ, Ruan W, Wu AHB, Yee D, Dartois V, Savic RM, Wolf DM, van 't Veer L. Heterogeneous drug penetrance of veliparib and carboplatin measured in triple negative breast tumors. Breast Cancer Res. 2017 Sep 11; 19(1):107.  View on PubMed
  4. Severson TM, Wolf DM, Yau C, Peeters J, Wehkam D, Schouten PC, Chin SF, Majewski IJ, Michaut M, Bosma A, Pereira B, Bismeijer T, Wessels L, Caldas C, Bernards R, Simon IM, Glas AM, Linn S, van 't Veer L. The BRCA1ness signature is associated significantly with response to PARP inhibitor treatment versus control in the I-SPY 2 randomized neoadjuvant setting. Breast Cancer Res. 2017 Aug 25; 19(1):99.  View on PubMed
  5. van 't Veer LJ, Yau C, Yu NY, Benz CC, Nordenskjöld B, Fornander T, Stål O, Esserman LJ, Lindström LS. Tamoxifen therapy benefit for patients with 70-gene signature high and low risk. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2017 Nov; 166(2):593-601.  View on PubMed
  6. Cardoso F, van't Veer LJ, Bogaerts J, Slaets L, Viale G, Delaloge S, Pierga JY, Brain E, Causeret S, DeLorenzi M, Glas AM, Golfinopoulos V, Goulioti T, Knox S, Matos E, Meulemans B, Neijenhuis PA, Nitz U, Passalacqua R, Ravdin P, Rubio IT, Saghatchian M, Smilde TJ, Sotiriou C, Stork L, Straehle C, Thomas G, Thompson AM, van der Hoeven JM, Vuylsteke P, Bernards R, Tryfonidis K, Rutgers E, Piccart M, MINDACT Investigators. 70-Gene Signature as an Aid to Treatment Decisions in Early-Stage Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016 Aug 25; 375(8):717-29.  View on PubMed
  7. Ruijs MW, Verhoef S, Rookus MA, Pruntel R, van der Hout AH, Hogervorst FB, Kluijt I, Sijmons RH, Aalfs CM, Wagner A, Ausems MG, Hoogerbrugge N, van Asperen CJ, Gomez Garcia EB, Meijers-Heijboer H, Ten Kate LP, Menko FH, van 't Veer LJ. TP53 germline mutation testing in 180 families suspected of Li-Fraumeni syndrome: mutation detection rate and relative frequency of cancers in different familial phenotypes. J Med Genet. 2010 Jun; 47(6):421-8.  View on PubMed
  8. Knauer M, Mook S, Rutgers EJ, Bender RA, Hauptmann M, van de Vijver MJ, Koornstra RH, Bueno-de-Mesquita JM, Linn SC, van 't Veer LJ. The predictive value of the 70-gene signature for adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Apr; 120(3):655-61.  View on PubMed
  9. Broeks A, Braaf LM, Wessels LF, van de Vijver M, De Bruin ML, Stovall M, Russell NS, van Leeuwen FE, Van 't Veer LJ. Radiation-associated breast tumors display a distinct gene expression profile. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010 Feb 01; 76(2):540-7.  View on PubMed
  10. Stephens PJ, McBride DJ, Lin ML, Varela I, Pleasance ED, Simpson JT, Stebbings LA, Leroy C, Edkins S, Mudie LJ, Greenman CD, Jia M, Latimer C, Teague JW, Lau KW, Burton J, Quail MA, Swerdlow H, Churcher C, Natrajan R, Sieuwerts AM, Martens JW, Silver DP, Langerød A, Russnes HE, Foekens JA, Reis-Filho JS, van 't Veer L, Richardson AL, Børresen-Dale AL, Campbell PJ, Futreal PA, Stratton MR. Complex landscapes of somatic rearrangement in human breast cancer genomes. Nature. 2009 Dec 24; 462(7276):1005-10.  View on PubMed
  11. Mook S, Schmidt MK, Weigelt B, Kreike B, Eekhout I, van de Vijver MJ, Glas AM, Floore A, Rutgers EJT, van 't Veer LJ. The 70-gene prognosis signature predicts early metastasis in breast cancer patients between 55 and 70 years of age. Ann Oncol. 2010 Apr; 21(4):717-722.  View on PubMed
  12. Linn SC, Van 't Veer LJ. Clinical relevance of the triple-negative breast cancer concept: genetic basis and clinical utility of the concept. Eur J Cancer. 2009 Sep; 45 Suppl 1:11-26.  View on PubMed
  13. Reyal F, van Vliet MH, Armstrong NJ, Horlings HM, de Visser KE, Kok M, Teschendorff AE, Mook S, van 't Veer L, Caldas C, Salmon RJ, van de Vijver MJ, Wessels LF. A comprehensive analysis of prognostic signatures reveals the high predictive capacity of the proliferation, immune response and RNA splicing modules in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 2008; 10(6):R93.  View on PubMed
  14. Molloy T, van 't Veer LJ. Recent advances in metastasis research. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2008 Feb; 18(1):35-41.  View on PubMed
  15. Broeks A, Braaf LM, Huseinovic A, Schmidt MK, Russell NS, van Leeuwen FE, Hogervorst FB, Van 't Veer LJ. The spectrum of ATM missense variants and their contribution to contralateral breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Jan; 107(2):243-8.  View on PubMed
  16. Broeks A, Braaf LM, Huseinovic A, Nooijen A, Urbanus J, Hogervorst FB, Schmidt MK, Klijn JG, Russell NS, Van Leeuwen FE, Van 't Veer LJ. Identification of women with an increased risk of developing radiation-induced breast cancer: a case only study. Breast Cancer Res. 2007; 9(2):R26.  View on PubMed
  17. Bogaerts J, Cardoso F, Buyse M, Braga S, Loi S, Harrison JA, Bines J, Mook S, Decker N, Ravdin P, Therasse P, Rutgers E, van 't Veer LJ, Piccart M, TRANSBIG consortium. Gene signature evaluation as a prognostic tool: challenges in the design of the MINDACT trial. Nat Clin Pract Oncol. 2006 Oct; 3(10):540-51.  View on PubMed
  18. Rebbeck TR, Friebel T, Wagner T, Lynch HT, Garber JE, Daly MB, Isaacs C, Olopade OI, Neuhausen SL, van 't Veer L, Eeles R, Evans DG, Tomlinson G, Matloff E, Narod SA, Eisen A, Domchek S, Armstrong K, Weber BL, PROSE Study Group. Effect of short-term hormone replacement therapy on breast cancer risk reduction after bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: the PROSE Study Group. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Nov 01; 23(31):7804-10.  View on PubMed
  19. Weigelt B, Peterse JL, van 't Veer LJ. Breast cancer metastasis: markers and models. Nat Rev Cancer. 2005 Aug; 5(8):591-602.  View on PubMed
  20. van 't Veer L. Laura van 't Veer, PhD: bringing tumor gene profiles into the clinic. Interview. JAMA. 2004 Aug 11; 292(6):675.  View on PubMed

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