Dr. Larry Norton is a world-renowned medical oncologist and pioneering leader in breast cancer research and treatment. He currently serves as Senior Vice President in the Office of the Hospital President and Medical Director of the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Norton also holds the distinguished position of Norna S. Sarofim Chair of Clinical Oncology and is a Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. Since joining Memorial Sloan Kettering in 1988, he has built one of the nation's premier breast cancer programs and founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in 1993, where he continues to serve as Scientific Director.
Dr. Norton's groundbreaking contribution to oncology is the co-invention of the Norton-Simon Model of cancer growth, which revolutionized the understanding of tumor dynamics and treatment response. This paradigm-shifting model proposed that the rate of tumor shrinkage is proportional to the rate of tumor growth, directly challenging established theories and leading to the development of dose-dense chemotherapy regimens. His clinical trials demonstrated the superiority of sequential and dose-dense chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, fundamentally changing treatment standards worldwide. Dr. Norton has also been instrumental in the development of several effective cancer therapeutics including paclitaxel and trastuzumab, which have saved countless lives. His more recent work on the self-seeding concept of cancer metastasis has opened new avenues for understanding tumor progression and recurrence.
As a visionary leader, Dr. Norton served as President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology from 2001 to 2002 and was appointed by President Clinton to the National Cancer Advisory Board. He has authored over 470 scientific publications and 110 book chapters, establishing himself as one of the most influential voices in modern oncology. Currently, Dr. Norton serves as Principal Investigator of an NCI Program Project Grant in Models of Human Breast Cancer, driving translational research that bridges laboratory discoveries with clinical applications. His ongoing work continues to optimize cancer treatment through sophisticated mathematical modeling and the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for breast cancer patients. Through his leadership, research, and advocacy, Dr. Norton remains at the forefront of efforts to eradicate breast cancer and improve patient outcomes globally.
