SUMMARY
The research focus of Matthew P. Goetz, M.D., is on estrogen receptor positive breast cancer and developing novel therapeutics for endocrine-resistant breast cancer. His laboratory and clinical research are funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Focus areas
Dr. Goetz's work focuses on the laboratory, translational and clinical research of new endocrine approaches for breast cancer that is both estrogen receptor (ER) positive and HER2 negative, which is also known as ER+/HER2- breast cancer.
A major research area is advancing novel endocrine therapy drugs, including selective estrogen receptor modulators such as lasofoxifene and (Z)-endoxifen. Dr. Goetz also studies drugs that target resistance to endocrine therapy. These include CDK4/6 inhibitors such as abemaciclib and palbociclib, and the CDK 4/6 degrader PROTAC called BTX-9341.
CDK4/6 inhibitors are a class of targeted therapies that block cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6, which are enzymes that drive cell division. BTX-9341 is a first-in-class investigational proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) designed to selectively destroy and remove CDK4 and CDK6 proteins rather than just inhibiting them.
In addition, Dr. Goetz's laboratory and clinical work led to the development of the drug endoxifen. Ongoing work in this area includes understanding the mechanism of action of endoxifen through its ability to target protein kinase C. This research is funded through project 2 of the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer SPORE.
Dr. Goetz also collaborated with Mayo Clinic colleague Matthew J. Schellenberg, Ph.D., to synthesize and patent a series of endoxifen PROTACs that work through a novel mechanism of action to dually target both ER and GSPT1. Work is ongoing to move these molecules to the clinic for treatment.
A long-standing focus of Dr. Goetz's research has been the study of biomarkers that predict how individual patients are likely to respond to endocrine-based therapies. Many of these biomarkers are now used in standard clinical practice.
Significance to patient care
As a practicing oncologist, Dr. Goetz is dedicated to finding better treatments for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, which is the most common subtype of breast cancer. He investigates why people might respond differently to targeted treatment in the hope of improving outcomes for everyone.
Professional highlights
- Mayo Clinic:
- Deputy Director, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2024-present.
- Erivan K. Haub Family Professor of Cancer Research Honoring Richard F. Emslander, M.D, 2020-present.
- Research Career Impetus Award, 2026-2030.
- Co-leader, Women's Cancer Program, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2014-2024.
- Chair, Breast Cancer Disease-Oriented Group, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2012-2023.
- Member, Executive Committee, Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group, 2020-present.
- Member, Executive Committee, Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium, 2017-present.