Dr. Donald Kufe is a distinguished physician-scientist and world-renowned leader in molecular oncology with a career spanning over four decades at the forefront of cancer research. He currently holds the position of Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and is recognized as a Distinguished Physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he has maintained his primary academic affiliation since joining the staff in 1979. Dr. Kufe received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1970, followed by specialized training in medical oncology through a clinical fellowship at Dana-Farber. Throughout his illustrious career, he has held numerous leadership positions including Chief of the Division of Cancer Pharmacology, Deputy Director of the Dana-Farber Cancer Center, Director of the Harvard Phase I Oncology Group, and leader of the Experimental Therapeutics Program, establishing himself as a pivotal figure in shaping cancer research and treatment paradigms.
Dr. Kufe's most seminal contribution to cancer biology was the identification and characterization of the DF3/MUC1 protein in the 1980s, which he discovered is aberrantly overexpressed in approximately 90% of human breast cancers and numerous other carcinomas. His laboratory's subsequent cloning of the MUC1 gene revealed its unique physical structure comprising 20 amino acid tandem repeats, fundamentally advancing the understanding of this important biomarker. Most significantly, Dr. Kufe's research established that MUC1 is a heterodimeric complex with the transmembrane MUC1-C subunit functioning as a potent oncoprotein that drives cancer progression through multiple mechanisms including inducing loss of cell polarity, activating receptor tyrosine kinases at the cell membrane, and transducing oncogenic signals to the nucleus. This groundbreaking work has catalyzed an entirely new field of research focused on targeting MUC1-C as a druggable target in cancer treatment, with numerous therapeutic approaches now in development based on his laboratory's discovery that small molecules directed against the MUC1-C cytoplasmic domain can suppress drug resistance and overcome immune evasion in cancer cells.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Dr. Kufe has profoundly influenced the broader cancer research community through his editorial leadership as co-editor of the authoritative Cancer Medicine textbook, now in multiple editions and serving as a standard reference for oncologists worldwide. He has played significant roles in national cancer research initiatives including membership on the NCI Investigational Drug Steering Committee and previous service on the Cancer Moonshot Initiative's Immuno-Oncology Translational Network Steering Committee, helping to shape the strategic direction of federal cancer research funding. As Co-Principal Investigator of the Harvard/National Cancer Institute ETCTN UM1 Early Phase Trials Agreement, he continues to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical applications, driving forward innovative therapeutic approaches. Dr. Kufe's laboratory remains at the forefront of translating basic science discoveries into clinical applications, with ongoing research focused on developing novel targeted therapies against the MUC1-C oncoprotein and exploring its role in tumor immunology, positioning his work to continue making transformative contributions to cancer treatment for years to come.
