Dr. Hope S. Rugo

When patients arrive at City of Hope’s breast cancer clinic, Dr. Hope S. Rugo, Division Chief of Breast Medical Oncology and Women’s Cancers Program Director, ensures that care begins with unified expertise rather than fragmented visits. She brings together medical oncologists, breast surgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, pharmacists, social‐work specialists, and nurse navigators to review diagnostic mammography, MRI, genomic profiling from core biopsies, cardiometabolic assessments, bone‐density scans, and each individual’s life priorities in a single, coordinated conference. During that same planning session, schedulers arrange initial consultations for fertility preservation, genetic counseling, infusion appointments, and supportive services—such as nutrition or physical therapy—while financial advocates confirm authorizations and outline cost‐sharing options to prevent delays. When Dr. Rugo meets patients face to face, she translates technical terms—such as estrogen‐receptor expression, HER2 status, and oncoplastic reconstruction planning—into clear, patient‐friendly language and provides a printed roadmap that outlines every step from surgery through survivorship. That plan is uploaded to the secure patient portal so every clinician sees identical guidance and communication remains consistent. Follow‐up telemedicine visits timed to laboratory or imaging milestones keep those living outside Duarte, California, engaged without repeated travel. This meticulously aligned approach reduces duplicate testing, shortens time to therapy, and offers patients the confidence of a unified team dedicated to both cancer control and quality of life.

 

Dr. Rugo’s translational research lab lies at the heart of her clinical agenda, turning laboratory discoveries into bedside therapies. Her team studies mechanisms of resistance to hormone therapy in estrogen‐receptor–positive breast cancer and maps tumor‐immune interactions in triple‐negative disease to optimize checkpoint‐inhibitor use. A flagship trial led by Dr. Rugo evaluates a PD-L1 inhibitor combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk HER2-negative cases, tracking circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) and functional MRI as early biomarkers of response. Concurrent studies test bispecific antibodies targeting HER2‐low disease and probe PI3K and CDK4/6 inhibitor synergies in metastatic settings. Blood, tissue, and imaging data collected at each visit feed a living biobank that links genomic variants—such as PIK3CA mutations and BRCA1/2 alterations—to treatment outcomes. Early analyses indicate that a decline in ctDNA at mid-cycle predicts pathologic complete response, information now shared during consent discussions to align expectations and avoid ineffective exposure. By embedding real-time translational insight into routine care, Dr. Rugo tailors therapy to each tumor’s evolving biology, ensuring patients receive regimens most likely to yield durable control with minimal toxicity.

 

Education and outreach extend Dr. Rugo’s impact beyond the walls of City of Hope. As Professor of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, she mentors fellows, residents, and medical students through weekly case conferences that emphasize rigorous evidence appraisal and compassionate communication. She coauthored national consensus guidelines on immunotherapy integration, symptom management, and survivorship care, shaping practice standards across community and academic settings. Public webinars—captioned and translated into Spanish, Mandarin, and Tagalog—cover topics such as genetic testing for BRCA mutations, managing chemotherapy side effects, and navigating fertility concerns during treatment; these remain freely accessible on the City of Hope portal for on-demand review. Through a teleconsultation platform she helped establish, community oncologists can upload imaging and pathology slides for same-day expert feedback, reducing travel burdens for patients in rural areas. Within City of Hope, Dr. Rugo championed a patient-reported outcome dashboard that alerts nurses to rising pain, lymphedema risk, or emotional distress between visits, prompting timely interventions that sustain quality of life. By converting specialized oncologic knowledge into practical tools, she empowers patients and caregivers to participate confidently in every decision shaping their cancer journey.