Dominique Stoppa

Dominique STOPPA-LYONET
Head of the Genetics Department of Institut Curie-Paris
Professor of Genetics, Paris Descartes University
Participating to the INSERM Unit U830, Marc-Henri Stern team leader
Dominique is a Doctor of Medicine and former intern in the
hospitals of Paris since 1982. In 1990 she specialized her MD in
oncology, and received her PhD in Genetic Science at the
University of Paris.
Her main field of interests are:
• Study of genetic predispositions to cancers, especially to breast and ovarian cancers
and to retinoblastoma.
Genetic counselling - almost 1,600 consultations per year by the Genetics
Department. Psychological and medical management of high-risk patients is
coordinated with various Institut Curie teams.
•
Laboratory activity: Analysis of the BRCA1, BRCA2 (predisposition to breast and
ovarian cancers) and RB1 (retinoblastoma) genes. Almost 100 molecular diagnoses
are performed annually (search for germline mutations).
•
Various fields of research work: (1) optimization of molecular analysis (detection of
large rearrangements of the BRCA1/2 genes; (2) clinical characteristics of breast
cancers related to a BRCA1/2 mutations (prognosis, response to treatment), (3)
factors modifying the tumour risk in women with a BRCA1/2 mutation; (4) study of
the risk of breast cancer in women heterozygous for an ATM gene mutation, (5)
search for new predisposing genes. Research is conducted in collaboration with
various Institut Curie or external teams.
•
Ethical questions linked to genetic tests. She was personally involved with the Curie
Institute in the opposition to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 patents obtained by Myriad
Genetics to the European Patent Office. This action has lead to the revocation of the
BRCA1 patents. She has coordinated in 2007 a report on the place of prenatal
diagnosis (PND) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in hereditary cancers
at the demand of the French National Cancer Institute and the Biomedicine Agency
(http://www.e-cancer.fr; http://www.agence-biomedecine.fr). She has coordinated a
report from the National Consultative Ethics Committee on the ethical aspects of
PND and PGD (http://www.ccne-ethique.fr/docs/Avis_107.pdf).
Her research awards include:
• René Fauvert Prize, awarded by the Fond d'étude et de recherche du corps médical
des hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Hospital Medical Research Fund, 1990
Ligue contre le Cancer des Yvelines Prize, Yvelines Cancer League, 1999
Académie Nationale de Chirurgie Prize, French Academy of Surgery, 2002
• Esthe Lauder, Marie-Claire Prize – le mois du cancer du sein, 2005
• Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, July 14, 2006
• Henry et Mary-Jeanne Mitjaville Prize, Académie de Médecine, 2007