Researcher Spotlight: Christine Ryan, MD

DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE

Upfront treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) typically involves an aggressive approach to treatment that offers the best chance of a durable and lasting response. Dr. Ryan is investigating a new first-line treatment regimen for MCL that combines novel targeted agents with traditional chemotherapy. “Our goal is that this approach will lead to longer initial disease control for patients with MCL and, therefore, improved outcomes,” she explains.

Dr. Ryan – currently an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School – was drawn to the field of hematologic oncology early in her career. “My first exposure to medicine was through shadowing a physician caring for patients with hematologic malignancies, and, thus, I was drawn to the fields of medicine and oncology simultaneously,” she recalls. During her time as a medical student at Stanford University, she had the opportunity to work on a study investigating the use of ibrutinib in patients with CLL, which sparked her excitement for lymphoma research. “Seeing how a novel targeted therapy transformed outcomes for patients who otherwise had very limited treatment options was incredibly inspiring,” she says.

Dr. Ryan’s interest in lymphoma became personal when her grandmother was diagnosed with MCL. She notes that her grandmother’s journey with lymphoma continues to fuel her passion for MCL research and serves as a driving factor for her dedication to the field. “Having experienced firsthand the emotional roller coaster of the cancer journey, I am motivated to be an oncologist who helps my patients through both their day-to-day struggles and the long-term journey of fighting lymphoma,” she says. “My goal is for patients’ lives to not be defined by their cancer or the challenges of treatment; thus, I aspire to lead clinical trials and research studies that will make this goal possible.”

Dr. Ryan was also a 2023 Scholar through the Lymphoma Scientific Research Mentoring Program.