Interview with Prof. David A. Gewirtz: Exploring Breakthroughs in Cancer Drug Resistance and Treatment

On November 4, 2024, the editorial team of Cancer Drug Resistance sat down with Prof. David A. Gewirtz, a leading scientist in oncology research and an esteemed member of the journal’s Editorial Board. As a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Virginia Commonwealth University, Prof. Gewirtz has dedicated his career to investigating the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that drive tumor responses to antitumor drugs and radiation. His research spans critical areas such as cellular senescence, autophagy, and the mitigation of chemotherapy-induced toxicities, with an emphasis on breast and lung cancer. Prof. Gewirtz was named to Stanford Elsevier Top Scientists List of the world’s best scientists for 2024 in September of this year.

Prof. David A. Gewirtz’s lifelong commitment to oncology research has driven impactful discoveries across multiple areas of cancer therapy, particularly in understanding how cancer cells respond to antitumor drugs and radiation. Inspired by a childhood fascination with science, he eventually focused his postdoctoral studies on cancer, discovering that while treatments can induce cell death, they also cause temporary growth arrest, which can lead to tumor dormancy - a concept that reshaped discussions about the reversibility of senescence in cancer cells. Through his work, Prof. Gewirtz has pioneered research on cellular senescence, autophagy’s dual roles in treatment sensitivity and resistance, and ways to reduce chemotherapy-related toxicities. His collaborations aim to address adverse effects like neuropathy and cognitive dysfunction, and his insights into autophagy have opened new possibilities for developing more effective treatments. He advocates for challenging existing paradigms and encourages young scientists to publish unexpected findings, underscoring the value of curiosity in advancing cancer research.

Full Interview Video [Embedded Auto-Generated Subtitles]

Through this insightful interview, Prof. Gewirtz sheds light on the future of cancer therapies, particularly in understanding and overcoming drug resistance—a cornerstone of his life’s work.

Editor: Louise Pan
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Maggie Zhang
Respectfully Submitted by the Journal Editorial Office of Cancer Drug Resistance