Breast cancer researcher is helping change lives
Dr. Jenny Chang hopes Houston Methodist work will help double patients’ odds of responding to treatment
Roberta Schwartz was 27 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. By the time she moved to Houston in 2001 — five months pregnant — she had already been in remission for four years.
That’s when she met Dr. Jenny Chang, director of the Houston Methodist Cancer Center and Emily Herrmann Presidential Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research. As Houston Methodist Hospital’s executive vice president, Schwartz works alongside Chang. But perhaps more importantly, Chang is also her doctor.
“She’s an incredible doctor,” Schwartz said. “She’s passionate, and she’s kind. But she’s not one to pretend.”
Chang is straightforward — and her determination is what makes her excel in all endeavors, Schwartz explained.
“That’s what she’s like in every aspect, as a doctor, as faculty and in research,” Schwartz said. “You just can’t stop her. She’s a complete triple threat.”
Schwartz’s diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer has long been a focus of Chang’s research. The term refers to breast cancers that test negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors, as well as excess HER2 protein. These cancers tend to grow and spread faster and usually have limited treatment options. But Chang is undeterred by a difficult diagnosis.
“I grew up with ‘Agatha Christie,’ ” Chang said. “I love detective movies. This is like a mystery to solve.”
Her breakthroughs have advanced research in several areas.
On Dec. 15, a research team led by Chang published a study in the journal Science Translational Medicine, describing how a combination of chemotherapy and a drug typically used to treat cardiac failure is able to regress tumor growth of triple-negative breast cancer and prevent the cancer from spreading.
“This is an effective way of cutting short drug development and getting it into patients as quickly as possible,” Chang said in a statement from the hospital. “This process has taken us less than five years and saved billions of dollars, giving us the opportunity to provide this new therapy faster for our patients.”
Chang and her team found variants in a gene called RPL39. Through a combination of chemotherapy and the cardiac drug — L-NMMA, which was developed at Houston Methodist — Chang’s team was able to drastically improve patient outcomes. While patients with cancers resistant to chemotherapy typically have a 25 to 30 percent chance of responding to drugs targeting their immune system, those treated with LNMMA showed a response rate of 50 percent.
Her research team is now planning multinational phase three trials to evaluate the efficacy of L-NMMA in more patients. If these trials are successful, then they will file for U.S. Food & Drug Administration approval of the drug.
And Chang has plans to take her treatment even further, thanks to a recent $25 million gift from Dr. Mary and Ron Neal to expand the hospital system’s cancer center.
The new Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center
In recognition of the couple’s commitment and generosity, the facility will be renamed the Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center.
The hospital system plans to raise an additional $12 million in matching funds to advance the center’s research and related programs.
“The Neals are very generous,” Chang said. “They believe in our research and what we are doing.”
She explained that the gift will make possible the expansion of the cancer center’s impact within the Greater Houston community. She is especially interested in changing the landscape of health care deserts, making cancer screening available for all.
“It shouldn’t matter where you live; you should have access to health care,” Chang said. “There’s a need — and it’s huge in Houston to get out in the community.”
This new funding will make that possible.
“The gift also enables us to recruit the best talent out there,” Chang said. “We’re going to push the frontiers of research.”
The funding will allow Houston Methodist to establish three endowed chairs, fellowship training and expand the depth of clinical trials, while supporting ongoing cancer innovation within the Center for Drug Repositioning and Development.
Dr. Mary Neal is a retired obstetrician-gynecologist and has known Chang for years.
Neal and her husband recalled
that Chang invited them to tour the cancer center a few years ago and showed them a collection of tissue samples that the hospital had acquired.
“This was an incredibly valuable tool,” Ron Neal said. “She could have kept it for her research team, but she’s more interested in helping all people solve the problems.”
Chang shared the resource with other research teams.
“That attitude tells you all you need to know,” Ron Neal said. “We decided that a leader like that is someone we could get behind.”
The couple had been brainstorming ways to support Houston Methodist.
“We are impressed with the quality of care; it’s incredible,” Mary Neal said. “You’re never just a diagnosis at Methodist.”*
The Neals also wanted to champion the city in general.
“We love Houston and the community here, the history of philanthropy,” Ron Neal said. “There are countless examples of women and men who have taken the opportunity to help improve the city for all of its citizens. We saw this a chance to be a link in the chain, the fabric of Houston.”
Do more to help more
Originally from Singapore, Chang earned her medical degree from Cambridge University, then completed a fellowship in medical oncology at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute for Cancer Research.
She also received a research doctorate from the University of London.
Chang knew from age 12 that
she wanted to work in medicine — and where she wanted to focus her attention. Several members of her family had been diagnosed with cancer.
At the time, there was only one treatment.
“It was chemo, chemo, chemo,” Chang recalled. “Now it’s much better.”
After completing her studies, she moved to Houston.
“And I’ve never left since,” Chang said.
She explained that the U.S. was a land of opportunity — especially for breast cancer research.
“You have all the resources, the technology,” she said. “We’re still the innovators here.”
And she was drawn to the vision of Houston Methodist.
“It has not only the research but also the aspect of caring,” Chang explained. “Houston Methodist is mission-driven and faith-based. It’s all about making a difference for the community.”
Chang has dedicated her research to identifying treatments for triple-negative breast cancer. While immunotherapy drugs have shown effectiveness in these patients, the response rate remains low, she explained.
Her research team is testing the tumor microenvironment to find ways to improve the response rate. She is also investigating why breast cancer stem cells survive chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapy.
She recalled that while working at Ben Taub, she witnessed women coming in for chemo treatments.
“It would work for a while, but then the cancer would regrow in an aggressive way — often more aggressively,” Chang said. “That was before we understood genes.”
Her investigation has narrowed 700 potential genetic markers down to two. Along the way, she has authored several publications, lead international presentations, earned grants to evaluate novel biologic agents and received patents on new technological advances.
“It’s been my journey for the past 10 years,” Chang said. “Ultimately it looks promising.”
She remains optimistic about the future — especially with the advancements now made possible through the Neal’s funding.
“We’re just learning so much more than we ever thought possible 10 years ago,” Chang said.
“That’s what I wake up for,” she said. “There’s such a huge need out there, and that keeps me up at night. That also motivates me to work a little harder and a little more. I want to be able to help more people.”