Hospital Research Teams

Laboratory for Innovation in Breast Cancer - LANTERN

Overview

Lior Z. Braunstein
Radiation Oncologist, Program Director

The Laboratory for Innovation in Breast Cancer transforms cutting-edge research into better outcomes for patients. Our multidisciplinary team - radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, biostatisticians, geneticists, and clinical researchers - collaborates to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and patient care. We combine deep clinical expertise with rigorous scientific investigation, conducting both translational research and clinical trials to advance cancer care. This integrated approach allows us to rapidly translate promising findings into novel treatment options for our patients.

Our projects

  1. The HERO trial (NRG BR008): a phase III trial investigating the optimization of radiation therapy in low-risk, HER2 positive breast cancer patients to characterize the benefit of radiotherapy in this population.
  2. We are conducting a phase I trial to identify the maximal tolerated dose of abemaciclib when administered concurrently with palliative radiation therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
  3. We are creating and piloting a large language model (LLM)-based approach to improve the efficiency and scale of clinical trial screening, utilizing a human-in-the-loop model to train AI to accurately screen complex oncology documentation and identify patients eligible for a wide range of clinical trials.
  4. The PRECISION Trial: a phase II study of radiotherapy omission for low-risk, hormone receptor positive breast cancer deemed low-risk by PAM-50.
  5. The ARCHER Trial: a phase II randomized trial for patients with HER2-positive oligometastatic breast cancer, investigating the efficacy of local consolidative therapy to mitigate metastatic progression and improve long term outcomes.

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Publications

Braunstein LZ, Boe L, Mueller B, Obrien DR, Choi I, Cuaron J, Xu A, Bernstein M, McCormick B, Powell SN, Khan AJ. (2025). Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation for Early-Stage Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. Mar;121(4):894-899. [PMID: 39461598].

Roth O’Brien DA, Braunstein LZ. (2025). Personalized approaches to breast radiotherapy: strategies for treatment refinement. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. Jan-Feb;23(1):30-39. [PMID: 39907575].

Loap P, Kirova Y, Braunstein LZ. (2024). Honing Locoregional Therapy for Breast Cancer: Refinement of Surgical and Radiotherapeutic Management. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. Dec;120(5):1199-1204. [PMID: 39550112].

Cederquist GY, Boe LA, Walsh M, Freedman GM, Maxwell KN, Taunk N, Braunstein LZ. (2024). Radiation-Associated Secondary Cancer in Patients With Breast Cancer Harboring TP53 Germline Variants. JAMA Oncol. Nov;10(11):1588-1590. [PMID: 39264591].

O’Brien DR, Boe L, Montagna G, Mueller B, Chino F, Cuaron J, Choi JI, Xu A, Bernstein M, McCormick B, Powell S, Khan AJ, Braunstein LZ. (2024). Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation for HER2-Positive Early-Stage Breast Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. Feb;118(2):468-473. [PMID: 37791937].

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People

Lior Z. Braunstein

Radiation Oncologist, Program Director

Members

Michael Bernstein

Associate Attending (Radiation Oncology)

Gustav Cederquist

Radiation Oncology Resident

Sulov Chalise

Research Scholar (Sloan Kettering Institute)

John Cuaron

Associate Attending (Radiation Oncology)

Alexander Goglia

Radiation Oncology Resident

Emma Hahesy

Clinical Research Coordinator (Radiation Oncology)

Kaitlyn Lapen

Radiation Oncology Resident

Anyi Li

Chief, Associate Attending (Medical Physics)

David Miller

Radiation Oncology Resident

Boris Mueller

Associate Attending (Radiation Oncology)

Revathi Ravella

Radiation Oncology Resident

Jacob Rosenthal

MD-PhD Student

Shoshana Rosenzweig

Radiation Oncology Resident

Diana Roth O'Brien

Assistant Attending (Radiation Oncology)

Alexander Terry

Radiation Oncology Resident

Menglei Zhu

Assistant Attending (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)

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Open Positions

To learn more about available postdoctoral opportunities, please visit our Career Center

Career Opportunities

Our group is consistently looking for highly motivated researchers and trainees who seek to improve how breast cancer is understood is managed. Please email inquiries to BRAUNSTL@mskcc.org.

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