Sarah Bhatt

Sarah Bhatt has investigated FGFR pathway activation as a clinically relevant mechanism of endocrine therapy resistance in HR+ breast cancer, with particular focus on FGFR1 amplification found in approximately 15-20% of luminal B breast cancers. Her research characterized how FGFR1 amplification correlates with higher-grade luminal B disease, poorer prognosis, and relative resistance to endocrine therapy through FGFR1-mediated activation of PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways that bypass estrogen receptor signaling. She has investigated FGFR inhibitors as therapeutic strategies in FGFR1-amplified HR+ breast cancer, both as monotherapy and in combination with endocrine-based regimens in preclinical models and early clinical trials. Her translational discoveries have identified FGFR1 amplification as a potential predictive biomarker and therapeutic target in endocrine-resistant HR+ metastatic breast cancer.