Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have rapidly emerged as a highly effective strategy in the treatment of cancers of different histologies, including metastatic breast cancer. The use of engineered monoclonal antibodies that target a tumour-associated antigen and are linked to a cytotoxic payload offers the opportunity for more precise delivery of chemotherapy.
With the use of trastuzumab deruxtecan, sacituzumab govitecan and other ADCs becoming increasingly more common in our clinical practice, several gaps in our knowledge are raised – including the mechanisms behind development of cross-resistance, and the most optimal sequencing of treatments to provide maximal benefit to our patients.
Prof Loi is a medical oncologist specialised in breast cancer treatment as well as a clinician scientist (group leader) with expertise in genomics, immunology and drug development. She is recognised internationally as a leading clinician scientist whose work has led to new insights into the breast cancer immunology field as well as leading international clinical trials in breast cancer immunotherapy.
To date, she has published over 285 peer-reviewed research articles with a lifetime H-index of more than 100. Her recent work has been highly influential: she is ranked in the top 1% of highly cited researchers globally by the Web of Science. She Co-Chairs the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) based in Bern, Switzerland, one of the largest global academic breast cancer trial cooperative groups.
She is a current holder of the Inaugural National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) of Australia Endowed Chair. In 2021, Professor Loi received the Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year in the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, and the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences’ Jian Zhou Medal. In 2022 she was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in recognition of her remarkable leadership and excellence in her field.
Dr Michelle Li is a medical oncologist with a strong interest in breast cancer, clinical trials and access to equitable healthcare. She is a recipient of the 2025 Breast Cancer Trials Clinical Fellowship, which will fund her research into identifying mechanisms and biomarkers of resistance to antibody-drug conjugates in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
