Vered Stearns, M.D.

Phone: (410) 955-8964

Titles

Associate Professor of Oncology

Schools/Degrees

M.D., Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, NJ

Training

Resident, Internal Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center
Fellowship, Medical Oncology, Georgetown University and the Lombardi Cancer Center
Fellowship, translational breast cancer research, Lombardi Cancer Center

Clinical Interests

Dr. Stearns evaluates and treats men and women with breast cancer of all stages. She has special interest in women with primary tumors for which treatment with preoperative chemotherapy may be appropriate. Dr. Stearns is also interested in evaluating and counseling women with or without history of breast cancer who suffer menopausal symptoms and desire a non-hormonal intervention.

Research Summary

Novel agents are generally reserved for patients with advanced malignancies or for whom effective treatments are not available, but this may not be the best testing strategy. In early breast cancer, effective therapies are available. However, many women still suffer recurrences and die of their disease, emphasizing the need for new treatments. To test the effectiveness of new therapies in the adjuvant setting, thousands of participants and many years of follow-up are required. Dr. Stearns’s long-term research goal is to establish a clinical model to evaluate sensitivity or resistance to standard and novel anticancer therapies utilizing surrogate markers as endpoints in early breast cancer. Evaluation of baseline and change in surrogate markers of response (such as novel breast imaging and tissue and serum molecular markers) in women who receive preoperative therapy for their breast cancer will allow for clinical trials that require fewer participants and shorter follow-up compared with standard adjuvant trials.

Dr. Stearns is conducting clinical trials in patients with primary breast cancer who receive standard chemotherapy and utilizing novel breast imaging and tissue and serum surrogate markers to evaluate sensitivity or resistance to the treatment. At the same time, animal models are ongoing in which collaborators combine promising novel agents with standard chemotherapy. Effective combinations in the animal models will be studied in the future in the preoperative setting. In another investigation, Dr. Stearns will examine the effects of the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole on surrogate markers that may influence risk of breast cancer (e.g., breast density, circulating estrogens) and the effectiveness of the drug. This work will set the stage for evaluation of novel agents that may prevent breast cancer. The long-term goal of the investigations is not only to improve outcomes of breast cancer patients, but also to set the stage for individualized therapies for breast cancer.  

Dr. Stearns is dedicated not only to improving current treatment for breast cancer, but also for enhancing the quality of life of women who survived their disease. Dr. Stearns has conducted several trials evaluating the role of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in controlling hot flashes and improving quality of life of women who suffer these symptoms.

Current work focuses on studies that utilize novel brain imaging to assess the pathophysiology of hot flashes and possible mechanism of action of effective therapies. In collaboration with colleagues at Indiana University and several other academic centers through the NIH-funded Pharmacogenetics Network, Dr. Stearns is also evaluating the role of polymorphism in cytochrome 450 enzymes on drug metabolism and effects on menopausal symptoms and quality of life of women who receive tamoxifen and other antiestrogens.

 

Journal Citations

Bao, T., Prowell, T. & Stearns, V. (2006). Chemoprevention of breast cancer: tamoxifen, raloxifene, and beyond. Am J Ther 13, 337-48.

 

Borges, S., Desta, Z., Li, L., Skaar, T. C., Ward, B. A., Nguyen, A., Jin, Y., Storniolo, A. M., Nikoloff, D. M., Wu, L., Hillman, G., Hayes, D. F., Stearns, V. & Flockhart, D. A. (2006). Quantitative effect of CYP2D6 genotype and inhibitors on tamoxifen metabolism: implication for optimization of breast cancer treatment. Clin Pharmacol Ther 80, 61-74.

 

Briest, S., and Stearns, V. (2008). Adjuvant aromatase inhibitors and emerging quality-of-life considerations. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 8, 1-4.

 

Briest, S., and V. Stearns. 2007. Chemotherapeutic Strategies for advanced breast cancer. Oncology (Williston Park) 21:1325-35; discussion 1338, 1340.

 

Elkins, G., J. Marcus, V. Stearns, and M. Hasan Rajab. 2007. Pilot evaluation of hypnosis for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. Psychooncology 16:487-92.

 

Hayes, D.F., Stearns, V., Rae, J., and Flockhart, D. (2008). A model citizen? Is tamoxifen more effective than aromatase inhibitors if we pick the right patients? J Natl Cancer Inst 100, 610-613.

 

Henry, N. L., J. T. Giles, D. Ang, M. Mohan, D. Dadabhoy, J. Robarge, J. Hayden, S. Lemler, K. Shahverdi, P. Powers, L. Li, D. Flockhart, V. Stearns, D. F. Hayes, A. M. Storniolo, and D. J. Clauw. 2007. Prospective characterization of musculoskeletal symptoms in early stage breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors. Breast Cancer Res Treat.

Henry, N.L., Giles, J.T., and Stearns, V. (2008). Aromatase inhibitor-associated musculoskeletal symptoms: etiology and strategies for management. Oncology (Williston Park) 22, 1401-1408; discussion 1416, 1424, 1426.

 

Henry, N.L., Giles, J.T., Ang, D., Mohan, M., Dadabhoy, D., Robarge, J., Hayden, J., Lemler, S., Shahverdi, K., Powers, P., Li, L., Flockhart, D., Stearns, V., Hayes, D.F., Storniolo, A.M., and Clauw, D.J. (2008). Prospective characterization of musculoskeletal symptoms in early stage breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors. Breast Cancer Res Treat 111, 365-372.

 

Henry, N.L., Stearns, V., Flockhart, D.A., Hayes, D.F., and Riba, M. (2008). Drug interactions and pharmacogenomics in the treatment of breast cancer and depression. Am J Psychiatry 165, 1251-1255.

 

Hickey, M., Saunders, C., Partridge, A., Santoro, N., Joffe, H., and Stearns, V. (2008). Practical clinical guidelines for assessing and managing menopausal symptoms after breast cancer. Ann Oncol 19, 1669-1680.

 

Jacene, H. A., Ishimori, T., Engles, J. M., Leboulleux, S., Stearns, V. & Wahl, R. L. (2006). Effects of pegfilgrastim on normal biodistribution of 18F-FDG: preclinical and clinical studies. J Nucl Med 47, 950-6.

 

Jacene, H. A., Stearns, V. & Wahl, R. L. (2006). Lymphadenopathy resulting from acute hepatitis C infection mimicking metastatic breast carcinoma on FDG PET/CT. Clin Nucl Med 31, 379-81.

 

Jin, Y., Desta, Z., Stearns, V., Ward, B., Ho, H., Lee, K. H., Skaar, T., Storniolo, A. M., Li, L., Araba, A., Blanchard, R., Nguyen, A., Ullmer, L., Hayden, J., Lemler, S., Weinshilboum, R. M., Rae, J. M., Hayes, D. F. & Flockhart, D. A. (2005). CYP2D6 genotype, antidepressant use, and tamoxifen metabolism during adjuvant breast cancer treatment. J Natl Cancer Inst 97, 30-9.

 

Jin, Y., Hayes, D.F., Li, L., Robarge, J.D., Skaar, T.C., Philips, S., Nguyen, A., Schott, A., Hayden, J., Lemler, S., Storniolo, A.M., Flockhart, D.A., and Stearns, V. (2008). Estrogen receptor genotypes influence hot flash prevalence and composite score before and after tamoxifen therapy. J Clin Oncol 26, 5849-5854.

 

Kaufmann, M., G. von Minckwitz, H. D. Bear, A. Buzdar, P. McGale, H. Bonnefoi, M. Colleoni, C. Denkert, W. Eiermann, R. Jackesz, A. Makris, W. Miller, J. Y. Pierga, V. Semiglazov, A. Schneeweiss, R. Souchon, V. Stearns, M. Untch, and S. Loibl. 2007. Recommendations from an international expert panel on the use of neoadjuvant (primary) systemic treatment of operable breast cancer: new perspectives 2006. Ann Oncol 18:1927-34.
 
Kaufmann, M., Hortobagyi, G. N., Goldhirsch, A., Scholl, S., Makris, A., Valagussa, P., Blohmer, J. U., Eiermann, W., Jackesz, R., Jonat, W., Lebeau, A., Loibl, S., Miller, W., Seeber, S., Semiglazov, V., Smith, R., Souchon, R., Stearns, V., Untch, M. & von Minckwitz, G. (2006). Recommendations from an international expert panel on the use of neoadjuvant (primary) systemic treatment of operable breast cancer: an update. J Clin Oncol 24, 1940-9.

 

Ntukidem, N.I., Nguyen, A.T., Stearns, V., Rehman, M., Schott, A., Skaar, T., Jin, Y., Blanche, P., Li, L., Lemler, S., Hayden, J., Krauss, R.M., Desta, Z., Flockhart, D.A., and Hayes, D.F. (2008). Estrogen receptor genotypes, menopausal status, and the lipid effects of tamoxifen. Clin Pharmacol Ther 83, 702-710.

 

Ouwerkerk, R., M. A. Jacobs, K. J. Macura, A. C. Wolff, V. Stearns, S. D. Mezban, N. F. Khouri, D. A. Bluemke, and P. A. Bottomley. 2007. Elevated tissue sodium concentration in malignant breast lesions detected with non-invasive 23Na MRI. Breast Cancer Res Treat 106:151-60.

 

Prowell, T. M. & Stearns, V. (2006). Disease-free survival was greater with letrozole than tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer. ACP J Club 145, 11.
 
Prowell, T. M., and V. Stearns. 2007. Extended adjuvant therapy for breast cancer--How much is enough? J Natl Cancer Inst 99:1825-7.
 
Prowell, T. M., Stearns, V. & Trock, B. (2006). Lipophilic statins merit additional study for breast cancer chemoprevention. J Clin Oncol 24, 2128-9; author reply 2129.

 

Rae, J. M., Goetz, M. P., Hayes, D. F., Ingle, J. N., Li, L., Storniolo, A. M., Stearns, V. & Flockhart, D. A. (2005). CYP2D6 genotype and tamoxifen response. Breast Cancer Res 7, E6.

 

Snyder, C.F., Garrett-Mayer, E., Brahmer, J.R., Carducci, M.A., Pili, R., Stearns, V., Wolff, A.C., Dy, S.M., and Wu, A.W. (2008). Symptoms, supportive care needs, and function in cancer patients: how are they related? Qual Life Res 17, 665-677.

 

Stearns, V. (2006). More choices, more questions: weighing the options for treating hot flashes. J Support Oncol 4, 323-5.
 
Stearns, V. (2006). Raloxifene and tamoxifen had similar efficacy for preventing invasive breast cancer in women at increased risk. ACP J Club 145, 72.
 
Stearns, V. (2006). Serotonergic agents as an alternative to hormonal therapy for the treatment of menopausal vasomotor symptoms. Treat Endocrinol 5, 83-7.

 

Stearns, V. (2008). A diet low in fat and high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber following breast cancer treatment did not reduce new breast cancer events. ACP J Club 148, 8.

 

Stearns, V. 2007. Clinical update: new treatments for hot flushes. Lancet 369:2062-4.
 
Stearns, V. 2008. A diet low in fat and high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber following breast cancer treatment did not reduce new breast cancer events. ACP J Club 148:8.

 

Stearns, V., and Rae, J.M. (2008). Pharmacogenetics and breast cancer endocrine therapy: CYP2D6 as a predictive factor for tamoxifen metabolism and drug response? Expert Rev Mol Med 10, e34.

 

Stearns, V., Q. Zhou, and N. E. Davidson. 2007. Epigenetic regulation as a new target for breast cancer therapy. Cancer Invest 25:659-65.
 
Stearns, V., Schneider, B., Henry, N. L., Hayes, D. F. & Flockhart, D. A. (2006). Breast cancer treatment and ovarian failure: risk factors and emerging genetic determinants. Nat Rev Cancer 6, 886-93.
 
Stearns, V., Slack, R., Greep, N., Henry-Tilman, R., Osborne, M., Bunnell, C., Ullmer, L., Gallagher, A., Cullen, J., Gehan, E., Hayes, D. F. & Isaacs, C. (2005). Paroxetine is an effective treatment for hot flashes: results from a prospective randomized clinical trial. J Clin Oncol 23, 6919-30.

 

Stebbing, J., V. Stearns, and N. E. Davidson. 2007. Role of CYP2D6 testing in selection of endocrine therapy for breast cancer. Pharmacogenomics 8:1-3.

 

Wolff, A. C., Jones, R. J., Davidson, N. E., Jeter, S. C. & Stearns, V. (2006). Myeloid toxicity in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with pegfilgrastim support. J Clin Oncol 24, 2392-4; author reply 2394-5.

 

Zellars, R.C., Stearns, V., Frassica, D., Asrari, F., Tsangaris, T., Myers, L., DiPasquale, S., Lange, J., Jacobs, L., Emens, L.A., Armstrong, D., Fetting, J., Garrett-Mayer, E., Davidson, N.E. and Wolff, A.C. (2009). Feasibility Trial of Partial Breast Irradiation with Concurrent Dose-Dense Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide in Early Stage Breast Cancer. J Clin Onc 27, 2816-2822.

 

Jin, Y., Desta, Z., [co-first authors], Stearns, V., Ward, B., Skaar, T., Storniolo, A. M., et al. 2005. Association between CYP2D6 genotype, antidepressants, and tamoxifen metabolism during adjuvant breast cancer treatment. J. Natl. Cancer I. 97:30-39.

 

Rae, J. M., Goetz, M. P., Hayes, D. F., Ingle, J. N., Li, L., Storniolo, A. M., et al. 2005. CYP206 genotype and tamoxifen response. Breast Cancer Res. 7:E6.

 

Schott, A. F., Rae, J. M., Griffith, K. A., Hayes, D. F., Stearns, V., & Baker, L. H. 2005. Combination vinorelbine and capecitabine for metastatic breast cancer using a non-body surface area dosing scheme. Cancer Chemoth. Pharm. [Nov. Epub ahead of print].

 

Stearns, V. 2004. Management of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors and men with prostate cancer. Curr. Oncol. Rep. 6:285-290.

 

Stearns, V., Beebe, K. L., Iyengar, M., & Dube, E. 2003. Paroxetine controlled release in the treatment of menopausal hot flashes. J. Amer. Med. Assoc. 289:2827-2834.

 

Stearns, V., Coop, C., Singh, B., Trock, B., Pennanen, M., Gallagher, A., et al. 2004. A pilot clinical trial of perillyl alcohol (POH) in breast neoplasia administration during the period between diagnostic biopsy and definitive surgery. Clin. Cancer Res. 10:7583-7591.

 

Stearns, V., Davidson, N. E., & Flockhart, D. 2004. Pharmacogenetics in the treatment of breast cancer. Pharmacogenomics J. 4:143-153.

 

Stearns, V., Gallagher, A., Freedman, M., Singh, B., Kleer, C., Haddad, B., et al. 2004. A pilot study to establish a clinical model to perform Phase II studies of breast cancer chemopreventive agents in women at high risk using biomarkers as surrogate endpoints for activity. Clin. Cancer Res. 10:8332-8340.

 

Stearns, V., Johnson, M. D., Rae, J. M., Morocho, A., Novielli, A., Bhargava, P., et al. 2003. Active tamoxifen metabolite plasma concentrations after coadministration of tamoxifen and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine. J. Natl. Cancer I. 95:1758-1764.

 

Stearns, V., Slack, M. S., Greep, N., Henry-Tillman, R., Osborne, M., Bunnell, C., et al. 2005. Paroxetine is an effective treatment for hot flashes: results from a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Reviews

Elkins, G., Marcus, J., Palamara, L., & Stearns, V. 2004. Can hypnosis reduce hot flashes in breast cancer survivors?: a literature review. Am. J. Clin. Hypn. 47:29-42.

Book Chapters

Stearns, V. 2005. Predictive value of c-erbB-2 for endocrine therapy and chemotherapy in breast cancer. In Gasparini, & Hayes (Eds.), Biomarkers in breast cancer (pp. 129-157). NJ: Humana Press.