Dr. Fiona Malcomson, PhD, PGDip, MRes, BSc (Hons) Malcomson
- Project Title: Personalizing weight-loss support after breast cancer
- Research Type: Breast Cancer
- Primary Researcher: Dr. Vered Stearns
- Institution: Johns Hopkins University
- Funding Type: Regular Grant
- Awarded: 2019
- Status: Completed
“If these results translate to patients, the clinical impact could be transformative”
-Dr Vered Sterns
Project Description:
Main Summary of Findings:
In the Adaptive Nutrition and Exercise Weight Loss Study (A-NEW), 72% of breast cancer survivors had not achieved at least 5% weight loss after two months of behavioral support alone. These women continued to receive behavioral support and were offered the FDA-approved medication naltrexone/bupropion. By six months, 42% had achieved at least 5% weight loss. Reaching this target was associated with better physical function and less pain. The medication group also showed improvements in blood sugar control and triglyceride levels.
What AICR Funding Enabled:
AICR support helped develop and deliver the A-NEW Study, generating published clinical evidence on a personalized approach to weight management after breast cancer. The work supported early-career researcher Dr Jennifer Sheng, helped underpin a four-year American Cancer Society Clinician Scientist Development Grant and attracted additional funding. The research program is now investigating why people respond differently to weight-loss treatments and exploring GLP-1 medications in women receiving endocrine therapy.
Why This Matters:
Lifestyle support alone may not enable every breast cancer survivor to achieve meaningful weight loss. This research could help women in the US receive additional, personalized support based on their early response. Although the A-NEW study did not test a GLP-1 weight-loss drug, it addresses a rapidly evolving clinical question about how anti-obesity medications may fit into cancer survivorship care.
Related AICR Articles and Stories:
List of Publications:
- 1. Sheng JY and Stearns V. Innovating and expanding weight loss strategies for breast cancer survivor Oncotarget. 2021 Mar 16;12(6):521-524. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.27898
- 2. Sheng JY et a Weight Loss Responses to Pharmacotherapy in Breast Cancer Survivors: Results from the Adaptive Nutrition and Exercise Weight loss (A-NEW) Study. Clinical cancer research: an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 2026. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-26-0270
