Dr. Patricia S. Steeg is a preeminent cancer biologist whose pioneering work has fundamentally transformed our understanding of metastatic disease mechanisms. She currently serves as co-director of the Office of Translational Resources and associate director of the Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute, where she has established a distinguished career spanning several decades. With an extensive background in molecular pharmacology and a specialized focus on women's cancers, Dr. Steeg has built one of the most influential research programs in metastasis biology. Her leadership extends beyond laboratory science, having served as Woman Scientist Advisor at the NCI from 1993 to 1994 where she spearheaded a comprehensive review of NCI salaries by gender to advance equity in scientific careers.
Dr. Steeg's landmark 1988 discovery of the first metastasis suppressor gene, nm23 (NME), revolutionized the field of cancer biology by establishing an entirely new paradigm for understanding metastatic progression. Her innovative research demonstrated that the NME gene is commonly downregulated in cells with increased metastatic potential, providing critical mechanistic insights into why certain cancers spread more aggressively than others. Through subsequent groundbreaking work, she successfully cloned the NME family of genes and characterized their biological and enzymatic activities by reintroducing NME into metastatic tumor cells, thereby establishing the foundation for an entire field devoted to metastasis suppressor gene research. This seminal work has catalyzed extensive global research efforts seeking to develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting the metastatic process, which remains the primary cause of cancer mortality.
Beyond her foundational discoveries, Dr. Steeg has made substantial contributions through her clinical-translational program dedicated to investigating brain metastases of breast cancer, addressing one of oncology's most challenging clinical problems. Her current research focuses on elucidating the composition and function of the blood-tumor barrier in metastasis while identifying critical signaling pathways and molecular targets that mediate brain metastasis. In recognition of her extraordinary scientific achievements and commitment to advancing women in science, she received the prestigious 2020 AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Memorial Lectureship, which honors scientists who have made meritorious contributions while furthering gender equity in research. Dr. Steeg continues to lead innovative translational research that bridges basic molecular discoveries with clinical applications, maintaining her position at the forefront of efforts to develop effective interventions against metastatic breast cancer progression.
