Dr. Steffi Oesterreich

Biography

Steffi Oesterreich is the Shear Family Foundation Chair in Breast Cancer Research and a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology at the University of Pittsburgh. As Co-Leader of the Cancer Biology Program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Co-Director of the Women's Cancer Research Center at Magee Women's Research Institute & UPMC, she plays a pivotal role in advancing breast cancer research. Her laboratory focuses on understanding the development and progression of breast cancer with the aim of improving clinical management and patient outcomes. The team studies estrogen receptor-positive tumor cells that develop resistance to endocrine therapy, conducting genetic and epigenetic analyses using cell line and animal models, as well as clinical samples. Key research efforts include characterizing hotspot mutations in the estrogen receptor and the mechanisms of resistance in ER-mutant disease, particularly in invasive lobular breast cancer. This subtype represents a significant and increasing portion of breast cancer cases, yet molecular studies have been limited. Through collaboration with experts in bioinformatics, medical oncology, and pathology, Dr. Oesterreich’s research seeks to identify effective therapies that can enhance patient outcomes in breast cancer care.

Research Interests