About

Teresa Helsten is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSD, specializing in the care and treatment of breast cancer patients. Her clinical practice includes providing neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and metastatic treatments, such as endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. She actively enrolls patients in clinical trials and is involved in designing and implementing translational research projects focused on breast cancer, with particular interest in FGFR inhibitors. Her research primarily concentrates on clinical trials aimed at delivering cutting-edge care to her patients. She is a co-investigator of the I-SPY 2 study, a groundbreaking trial in breast cancer treatment, and runs several clinical trials at UCSD, including cooperative group and investigator-initiated studies. Dr. Helsten's educational background includes a BS in Chemistry from MIT and an MD from UC Davis. She completed her residency and chief residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, followed by an oncology fellowship at UC San Diego Medical Center. Her work emphasizes integrating clinical care with translational research to advance breast cancer treatment.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Oncology
• Family medicine
• Nursing

Selected publications

• Abemaciclib in combination with therapies for patients with metastatic breast cancer: a phase 1b study

  Frontiers in Oncology · 2025-03-12 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background: The oral, selective, and potent small molecule cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) abemaciclib has demonstrated efficacy in advanced breast cancer and high-risk early breast cancer. This Phase 1b study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of abemaciclib in combination with endocrine therapies (Parts A-D), exemestane + everolimus (Part E), or fulvestrant + LY3023414 (a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor; Part G) in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC), or trastuzumab (Part F), or trastuzumab + pertuzumab (Part H) in patients with HER2-positive (HER2+) MBC. Patients and methods: This study enrolled women aged ≥18 years old with either HR+, HER2- (Parts E and G), or HER2+ (Parts F and H) MBC. Additional requirements included measurable disease or non-measurable but evaluable bone disease (Parts E and F), or measurable disease (Parts G and H), an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1, and no prior treatment with CDK4/6i (Parts E, F, and H). Adverse events were graded, and tumor response was assessed. Results: Nineteen patients in Part E received abemaciclib (150 mg, n=15; 200 mg, n=4) with exemestane + everolimus, 24 patients in Part F received abemaciclib (150 mg, n=18; 200 mg, n=6) with trastuzumab, 12 patients in Part G received 150 mg abemaciclib with fulvestrant + LY3023414 (100 mg, n=7; 150 mg, n=5), and four patients in Part H received abemaciclib (100 mg) with trastuzumab + pertuzumab (with prophylactic loperamide). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were diarrhea, fatigue, neutropenia, and nausea. Grade ≥3 TEAEs were reported in 16, 18, 10, and 4 patients in Parts E-H, respectively. Abemaciclib had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of the combination study drugs. The objective response rates for patients with measurable disease were 46.2%, 10.0%, 66.7%, and 25.0% in Parts E-H, respectively. A recommended Phase 2 dose was not established for Parts E, G, and H at the dose levels evaluated, and was determined to be 150 mg Q12H in Part F. Conclusions: Overall, our results demonstrate safety profiles consistent with those previously established for abemaciclib and provide preliminary data for these combination therapies in the treatment of HR+, HER2- or HER2+ MBC.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Figure S2 from Relevance of Platinum-free Interval and <i>BRCA</i> Reversion Mutations for Veliparib Monotherapy after Progression on Carboplatin/Paclitaxel for g<i>BRCA</i> Advanced Breast Cancer (BROCADE3 Crossover)

  2024-10-10

  preprintOpen access

  <p>CONSORT diagram</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Data from Relevance of Platinum-free Interval and <i>BRCA</i> Reversion Mutations for Veliparib Monotherapy after Progression on Carboplatin/Paclitaxel for g<i>BRCA</i> Advanced Breast Cancer (BROCADE3 Crossover)

  2024-10-10

  preprintOpen access

  <div>AbstractPurpose:<p>Safety, efficacy, and exploratory biomarker analyses were evaluated in patients with advanced HER2-negative germline breast cancer susceptibility gene (g<i>BRCA</i>)-associated breast cancer enrolled in the BROCADE3 trial who received crossover veliparib monotherapy after disease progression on placebo plus carboplatin/paclitaxel.</p>Patients and Methods:<p>Eligible patients (<i>N</i> = 513) were randomized 2:1 to veliparib plus carboplatin/paclitaxel or placebo plus carboplatin/paclitaxel; patients had variable platinum-free intervals (PFI) at progression. In the placebo arm, patients were eligible to receive crossover veliparib monotherapy (300–400 mg twice daily continuous). Antitumor activity and adverse events were assessed during crossover veliparib treatment. <i>BRCA</i> reversion mutations at crossover were analyzed retrospectively using next-generation sequencing on plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).</p>Results:<p>Seventy-five patients in the placebo plus carboplatin/paclitaxel arm received ≥1 dose of crossover veliparib postprogression (mean treatment duration: 154 days). Eight of 50 (16%) patients with measurable disease had a RECIST v1.1 response. Activity was greater in patients with PFI ≥180 days compared with <180 days [responses in 23.1% (3/13) vs. 13.5% (5/37) of patients]. <i>BRCA</i> reversion mutations that restored protein function were detected in ctDNA from 4 of 28 patients tested, and the mean duration of crossover veliparib monotherapy was <1 month in these 4 patients versus 7.49 months in patients lacking reversion mutations. The most frequent adverse events were nausea (61%), vomiting (29%), and fatigue (24%).</p>Conclusions:<p>Crossover veliparib monotherapy demonstrated limited antitumor activity in patients who experienced disease progression on placebo plus carboplatin/paclitaxel. PFI appeared to affect veliparib activity. <i>BRCA</i> reversion mutations may promote cross-resistance and limit veliparib activity following progression on platinum.</p></div>

  PublisherDOI

• Correction: a phase 1b study of zilovertamab in combination with paclitaxel for locally advanced/unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer

  Breast Cancer Research · 2024-03-13 · 2 citations

  erratumOpen access

  Author(s): Shatsky, Rebecca A; Batra-Sharma, Hemali; Helsten, Teresa; Schwab, Richard B; Pittman, Emily I; Pu, Minya; Weihe, Elizabeth; Ghia, Emanuela M; Rassenti, Laura Z; Molinolo, Alfredo; Cabrera, Betty; Breitmeyer, James B; Widhopf II, George F; Messer, Karen; Jamieson, Catriona; Kipps, Thomas J; Parker, Barbara A

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Figure S4 from Relevance of Platinum-free Interval and <i>BRCA</i> Reversion Mutations for Veliparib Monotherapy after Progression on Carboplatin/Paclitaxel for g<i>BRCA</i> Advanced Breast Cancer (BROCADE3 Crossover)

  2024-10-10

  preprintOpen access

  <p>Molecular characteristics of BRCA reversion mutations</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Figure S3 from Relevance of Platinum-free Interval and <i>BRCA</i> Reversion Mutations for Veliparib Monotherapy after Progression on Carboplatin/Paclitaxel for g<i>BRCA</i> Advanced Breast Cancer (BROCADE3 Crossover)

  2024-10-10

  preprintOpen access

  <p>PFS KM curves</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Figure S1 from Relevance of Platinum-free Interval and <i>BRCA</i> Reversion Mutations for Veliparib Monotherapy after Progression on Carboplatin/Paclitaxel for g<i>BRCA</i> Advanced Breast Cancer (BROCADE3 Crossover)

  2024-10-10

  preprintOpen access

  <p>BROCADE3 study design</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Supplementary Figure Legends from Relevance of Platinum-free Interval and <i>BRCA</i> Reversion Mutations for Veliparib Monotherapy after Progression on Carboplatin/Paclitaxel for g<i>BRCA</i> Advanced Breast Cancer (BROCADE3 Crossover)

  2024-10-10

  preprintOpen access

  <p>Supplementary Figure Legends for Fig. S1-S4</p>

  PublisherDOI

• AI-Generated Draft Replies Integrated Into Health Records and Physicians’ Electronic Communication

  JAMA Network Open · 2024 · 124 citations

  • Medicine
  • Family medicine
  • Nursing

  Importance: Timely tests are warranted to assess the association between generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) use and physicians' work efforts. Objective: To investigate the association between GenAI-drafted replies for patient messages and physician time spent on answering messages and the length of replies. Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized waiting list quality improvement (QI) study from June to August 2023 in an academic health system. Primary care physicians were randomized to an immediate activation group and a delayed activation group. Data were analyzed from August to November 2023. Exposure: Access to GenAI-drafted replies for patient messages. Main Outcomes and Measures: Time spent (1) reading messages, (2) replying to messages, (3) length of replies, and (4) physician likelihood to recommend GenAI drafts. The a priori hypothesis was that GenAI drafts would be associated with less physician time spent reading and replying to messages. A mixed-effects model was used. Results: Fifty-two physicians participated in this QI study, with 25 randomized to the immediate activation group and 27 randomized to the delayed activation group. A contemporary control group included 70 physicians. There were 18 female participants (72.0%) in the immediate group and 17 female participants (63.0%) in the delayed group; the median age range was 35-44 years in the immediate group and 45-54 years in the delayed group. The median (IQR) time spent reading messages in the immediate group was 26 (11-69) seconds at baseline, 31 (15-70) seconds 3 weeks after entry to the intervention, and 31 (14-70) seconds 6 weeks after entry. The delayed group's median (IQR) read time was 25 (10-67) seconds at baseline, 29 (11-77) seconds during the 3-week waiting period, and 32 (15-72) seconds 3 weeks after entry to the intervention. The contemporary control group's median (IQR) read times were 21 (9-54), 22 (9-63), and 23 (9-60) seconds in corresponding periods. The estimated association of GenAI was a 21.8% increase in read time (95% CI, 5.2% to 41.0%; P = .008), a -5.9% change in reply time (95% CI, -16.6% to 6.2%; P = .33), and a 17.9% increase in reply length (95% CI, 10.1% to 26.2%; P < .001). Participants recognized GenAI's value and suggested areas for improvement. Conclusions and Relevance: In this QI study, GenAI-drafted replies were associated with significantly increased read time, no change in reply time, significantly increased reply length, and some perceived benefits. Rigorous empirical tests are necessary to further examine GenAI's performance. Future studies should examine patient experience and compare multiple GenAIs, including those with medical training.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A phase 1b study of zilovertamab in combination with paclitaxel for locally advanced/unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer

  Breast Cancer Research · 2024-02-26 · 14 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Background Zilovertamab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting ROR1, an onco-embryonic antigen expressed by malignant cells of a variety of solid tumors, including breast cancer. A prior phase 1 study showed that zilovertamab was well tolerated and effective in inhibiting ROR1-signaling, which leads to activation of ERK1/2 , NF-κB , and NRF2 target genes. This phase 1b study evaluated the safety and tolerability of zilovertamab with paclitaxel in patients with advanced breast cancer. Patients and methods Eligible patients had locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic HER2 − breast cancer with Eastern Cooperative Group performance status of 0–2 and without prior taxane therapy in the advanced setting. Study treatment included 600 mg of zilovertamab administered intravenously (IV) on Days 1 and 15 of Cycle 1 and then Day 1 of each 28-day cycle along with paclitaxel weekly at 80 mg/m 2 IV. Results Study patients had received a median of 4 prior therapies (endocrine therapy + chemotherapy) for locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic disease. No patient discontinued therapy due to toxicity ascribed to zilovertamab. Adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of paclitaxel. Of 16 patients, 6 (38%) had a partial response, and 6/16 (38%) patients had stable disease as best tumor response. Conclusion The combination of zilovertamab and paclitaxel was safe and well tolerated in heavily pre-treated advanced breast cancer patients. Further evaluation of ROR1 targeting in breast cancer patients with zilovertamab is warranted. Trial Registration : NCT02776917. Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on 05/17/2016.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Angela DeMichele

  University of Pennsylvania

  720 shared

• Christina Yau

  University of California, San Francisco

  718 shared

• Claudine Isaacs

  718 shared

• Rita Nanda

  University of Chicago

  715 shared

• Douglas Yee

  Masonic Cancer Center

  715 shared

• Ruby Singhrao

  University of California, San Francisco

  712 shared

• Lajos Pusztai

  711 shared

• Richard B. Schwab

  711 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Molecular Biology

  University of California, San Diego

  1994

• M.S., Molecular Biology

  University of California, San Diego

  1989

• B.S., Biology

  University of California, San Diego

  1986