Dr. Ben Ho Park: Shaping the Future of Cancer Research Through Circulating Tumor DNA

Dr. Ben Ho Park, Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, stands at the forefront of translational oncology research. Known for his clarity, candor, and deep commitment to advancing cancer care, Dr. Park will bring his expertise to the 2025 Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance Medical Summit in October, where he will present on the groundbreaking role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in early-stage breast cancers, including male breast cancer.

This presentation, titled “Circulating Tumor DNA in Early Stages of Breast Cancer: Breast Friends Don’t Keep Secrets”, reflects a career dedicated to answering one of oncology’s most pressing questions: how can we tell who is truly cured and who remains at risk after treatment?

---

Research Updates from Vanderbilt

Despite funding challenges and staff reductions in academic medicine, Dr. Park emphasizes that his team remains “mission-driven” in advancing cures. He discussed his long-running study launched in 2015, which recently produced pivotal data presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago.

Highlights include:

·        Focus on triple-negative breast cancer (one of the most aggressive subtypes), along with HER2-positive and estrogen receptor-positive cohorts.

·        Integration of evolving therapies: While the study began with three chemotherapy drugs, current standards include four chemotherapies plus immunotherapy—an advance that improves survival but increases toxicities.

·        Precision monitoring: By tracking ctDNA at each treatment phase, researchers can identify patients cured early and spare them from excess toxic therapies, while continuing aggressive treatment for those still harboring microscopic disease.

“Our ability now to de-escalate therapies based upon knowing who really has microscopic cancer cells left—and who doesn’t—is going to be game-changing.”  This approach also paves the way for adaptive trials, where treatment can be switched mid-course if ctDNA signals that a regimen is failing, allowing each patient to become their own “experiment of one.”

Clinical Application and Caution

While ctDNA tests are already commercially available, Dr. Park stresses the importance of measured adoption.  “One has to be very cautious about ordering these tests, informing patients, and making sure providers understand their limitations. We must do more good, and no harm.”

This responsible framing will be central to his October presentation, ensuring clinicians and advocates understand both the promise and current boundaries of the science.

Personal Journey Into Male Breast Cancer Research

Dr. Park’s engagement with male breast cancer dates back nearly two decades. Initially, he encountered male breast cancer patients in second-opinion consults, and later became involved with early grassroots advocacy organizations led by Peggy Miller and Cheri Ambrose.

A pivotal collaboration came from a graduate student’s hypothesis: could loss of the Y chromosome act as a tumor suppressor mechanism leading to male breast cancer? Park’s laboratory pursued this idea, examining tissues and collaborating with VA hospitals and international partners.

Although some early findings were inconclusive—famously, one supposed male breast cancer tissue set from Brazil turned out largely to be female samples—the work contributed to a growing recognition that loss of the Y chromosome is a genuine tumor suppressor event in some cancers, validating the student’s instincts and underscoring the value of persistent inquiry. This pathway exemplifies Dr. Park’s approach: rigorous science driven by curiosity, combined with collaborative partnerships to advance rare cancer research.

Collaborations and Advocacy

Dr. Park continues to emphasize collaboration as key to progress. During his interview, he highlighted potential colleagues for the Alliance to connect with, including Dr. Ana Abramson, a highly visible clinical trialist with strong ties to media and political networks.

He also voiced support for international alliances and advocacy initiatives such as petitions to state legislatures to expand access to ultrasound imaging in male breast cancer—affirming his belief in aligning clinical expertise with grassroots advocacy.

“I would love to sign that. The more the merrier.”

Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Dr. Park envisions a paradigm where ctDNA transforms cancer care at multiple levels:

·        For patients: Shorter, safer, and more personalized journeys through therapy.

·        For researchers: Faster, more efficient trials with meaningful surrogate endpoints.

·        For healthcare systems: Lower costs by avoiding unnecessary treatment while accelerating drug approvals.

Equally, he sees ctDNA as a living feedback tool that keeps providers responsive to each patient’s unique biology, preventing wasted time on ineffective regimens and seizing windows of curability.

---

The October Presentation: ctDNA as a Game-Changer

Dr. Park describes circulating tumor DNA as fragments of cancer-derived genetic material shed into the bloodstream. Harnessing these fragments offers an unprecedented opportunity to determine whether cancer persists in the body after treatment.

“Wouldn’t it be great if someday you could draw a tube of blood and say, guess what—you’re cured? Or conversely, recognize that residual disease remains and intervene earlier? That’s going to be game-changing.”

His talk in October 24-25 will explore how ctDNA monitoring is reshaping clinical research and patient care:

·        For patients: A future where a simple blood test may confirm cure—or identify recurrence before it becomes visible on scans.

·        For clinical trials: By enrolling only those patients not yet cured, trials can become smaller, faster, and less expensive, with earlier answers about therapy effectiveness.

·        For treatment strategy: ctDNA could guide escalation (adding therapy when disease persists) or de-escalation (avoiding unnecessary toxic therapies for those already cured).

This vision represents a seismic shift from the traditional “wait and see” approach that often takes years to decades to confirm outcomes.

Conclusion

As the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance Summit gathers experts from around the world this October, Dr. Ben Ho Park’s session promises to be a cornerstone of the program. His work on circulating tumor DNA not only advances cutting-edge science but also reflects a profound commitment to precision, personalization, and responsibility in oncology.

From his early hypotheses about the Y chromosome to leading transformative clinical trials, Dr. Park exemplifies the integration of curiosity, rigor, and patient-centered vision. His message—balancing optimism with caution—offers hope for a future where blood tests replace uncertainty, where toxic therapies can be minimized, and where every patient, male or female, has the chance for a cure informed by their own molecular signature.

---

 

AFTERMATH: A Diagnostic Perspective

By Robert L. Bard, MD – Sr. Advisory Chair, Cancer Diagnostics, MBCGA

Dr. Ben Park’s presentation on circulating tumor DNA marks a defining moment in our pursuit of precision oncology. His work underscores what many of us in diagnostic medicine have long recognized: cancer cannot be defeated by one modality alone. To cure more patients, we must align molecular intelligence with imaging intelligence—merging the power of genomics with the clarity of advanced visualization.

Liquid biopsy, as Dr. Park so aptly describes, provides an extraordinary lens into residual disease at the molecular level. Yet, it is through the integration with dynamic imaging that we achieve full context. A fragment of tumor DNA in the blood tells us there is disease; Doppler ultrasound, elastography, or MRI helps us pinpoint its presence, track its growth patterns, and, in many cases, predict its biological behavior. Together, these tools shift us from probability to precision.

The current state of cancer research is, in many respects, a renaissance. We are moving beyond blunt instruments of care toward adaptive, patient-specific strategies. Imaging has already evolved from static pictures to real-time physiologic mapping: blood flow quantification, tumor stiffness, immune infiltration signatures. When coupled with molecular assays like ctDNA, these technologies illuminate not only if disease persists, but how it is behaving and how best to intervene.

Dr. Park’s insights remind us of the urgency to shorten timelines. Patients cannot wait decades for statistical endpoints. With ctDNA guiding trial design, and imaging validating tissue response, we can accelerate discoveries, lower costs, and refine therapies before windows of curability close. The synergy between his field and mine is undeniable. Cancer research is entering a new era—one defined not by isolated technologies but by the intelligent convergence of biology and imaging science. That is how cures are made real.

“Cancer research today is not about isolated technologies but about convergence—where biology and imaging unite to deliver precision and possibility.” — Dr. Robert L. Bard