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Abenaa M. Brewster, M.D., M.H.S.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Associate Professor (Tenured), Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Associate Professor (Tenured), Department of Epidemiology, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

Dr. Abenaa Brewster received her M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School in 1995 and received a Masters degree in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She has been an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Clinical Cancer Prevention and Epidemiology at MDACC since 2002.   Dr. Brewster has expertise using methods of molecular epidemiology to investigate factors that determine risk for breast cancer and survival. Her interest is also in understanding how life style factors affect a woman’s risk and survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer. She has ASCO and NIH grant support to investigate oxidative DNA markers and insulin resistance genes as they related to obesity and breast cancer prognosis. She has participated as a facilitator in the Evidence Based Workshop and has experience in teaching methods of evidence based medicine.

Office Address

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
P. O. Box 301439
Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention
Unit Number: 1360
Houston, TX 77230-1439
Room Number: CPB6.3528
Phone: (713) 745-4928
Fax: (713) 563-5746
Email: abrewster@mdanderson.org

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

2001 Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene & Public Health, Baltimore, MD, Master of Health Science, Cancer Epidemiology
1995 Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, MD, Medicine
1990 Stanford University, Stanford, CA, BS, Chemistry

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 4/2002-8/2009
Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 4/2002-8/2009

Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities

Faculty Senate Representative, Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 9/2006-present

Other Appointments/Responsibilities

Attending Physician, Breast Medical Oncology Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 4/2002-present

Institutional Committee Activities

Member, Health Services Research Chair Search Committee, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 9/2010-present
Member, Faculty Welfare Committee, 2009-present
Member, Advisory Committee for the Patient-reported Outcomes, Survey & Population Research (PROSPR) Shared Resource, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2009-present
Member, Clinical Effectiveness Subcommittee, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 9/2007-present
Member, Cancer Prevention Center Scientific Committee, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 6/2006-present
Member, Infection Control Committee, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 5/2006-present

Professional Memberships

American Association for Cancer Research
Member, Scientific Review Committee, 7/2010-present
Active Member, 2000-present
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Member, Cancer Education Committee on the Cancer Prevention/Epidemiology, 6/2010-present
Member, Scientific Committee, 2007-present
Associate Member, 1999-present
Breast Tissue Oversight Committee
Member, 2009-present
Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation
Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation’s Army of Women Scientific Advisory Committee, 9/2010-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Martinez ME, Cruz GI, Brewster AM, Bondy ML, Thompson P. What can we Learn about Disease Etiology from Case-Case Analyses? Lessons from Breast Cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. e-Pub 9/2010. PMID: 20870734.
2. Brewster AM, Patterson SL, Forman MR, Hughes-Halbert C, Limburg PJ, Ondrey FG, Paskett ED, Wetter DW, Hawk ET. Conference Report: Eighth Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research. Cancer Prev Res (Phila Pa) 3(8):1044-8, 8/2010. e-Pub 7/2010. PMID: 20663980.
3. Han CH, Lu J, Wei Q, Bondy ML, Brewster AM, Yu TK, Buchholz TA, Arun BK, Wang LE. The functional promoter polymorphism (-842G>C) in the PIN1 gene is associated with decreased risk of breast cancer in non-Hispanic white women 55 years and younger. Breast Cancer Res Treat. e-Pub 12/2009. PMID: 20033770.
4. Litton JK, Gonzalez-Angulo AM, Warneke CL, Buzdar AU, Kau SW, Bondy M, Mahabir S, Hortobagyi GN, Brewster AM. Relationship between obesity and pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy among women with operable breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 26(25):4072-7, 9/2008. PMID: 18757321.
5. Brewster AM, Hortobagyi G, Broglio K, Kau S, Santa-Maria C, Arun B, Booser D, Valero V, Bondy M, Esteva F. Residual Risk of Breast Recurrence 5 years after adjuvant therapy. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 100(16):1179-1183, 8/2008. PMID: 18695137.
6. Brewster AM, Do KA, Thompson PA, Hahn KM, Sahin AA, Cao Y, Stewart MM, Murray JL, Hortobagyi GN, Bondy ML. The relationship between epidemiological risk factors and breast cancer recurrence. J Clin Oncol 25(28):4438-4444, 10/2007. PMID: 17785707.
7. Brewster AM, Lee JJ, Clayman GL, Clifford JL, Reyes MJ, Zhou X, Sabichi AL, Strom SS, Collins R, Meyers CA, Lippman SM. Randomized trial of adjuvant 13-cis-retinoic acid and interferon alfa for patients with aggressive skin squamous cell carcinoma. Editorial J Clin Oncol., 25:15(15):1974-8, 5/2007. PMID: 17513803.
8. Brewster AM, Jorgensen TJ, Ruczinski I, Huang HY, Hoffman S, Thuita L, Newschaffer C, Lunn RM, Bell D, Helzlsouer KJ. Polymorphisms of the DNA repair genes XPD (Lys751Gln) and XRCC1 (Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp): relationship to breast cancer risk and familial predisposition to breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 95(1):73-80, 2006. PMID: 16319991.
9. Brewster AM, Christo DK, Lai H, Helzlsouer K. Breast carcinoma chemoprevention in the community setting. Estimating risks and benefits. Cancer 103(6):1147-53, 3/2005. PMID: 15674856.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: DNA Damage in the normal mammary gland:an early molecular marker of breast cancer risk
Funding Source: Avon Foundation
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator: Isabelle Bedrosian
Duration: 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2011
 
Title: Ethnic differences in the mutational status of the PI3K pathway and breast cancer outcome
Funding Source: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Disparities Career Catalyst award
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 8/3/2009 - 8/2/2012
 
Title: DNA Damage as a Biomarker of Risk of Breast Cancer
Funding Source: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Isabelle Bedrosian
Duration: 8/1/2009 - 1/30/2012
 
Title: Activation of the AKT and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTor) signaling pathway in breast cancer by serum levels of C-peptide and insulin growth factor-1
Funding Source: Institutional Research Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 4/1/2008 - 3/31/2010
 
Title: Comparative Study of Breast Cancers and Their Risk Factors Among Mexican Women in Mexico and the U.S
Funding Source: NCI
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Melissa Bondy
Duration: 8/1/2007 - 9/1/2010

Last updated: 11/11/2010