Laura Kruper, MD

As a breast oncology fellowship-trained surgeon, the focus of my research is improving the delivery of care to breast cancer patients as well as addressing health care disparities. During the research portion of my surgical residency, I received a T32 National Research Service Award grant to pursue a Masters in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE). My background in cancer epidemiology and outcomes research has provided me with the skills to conduct outcomes studies and participate in translational research projects. I have spent my career in academic Cancer Centers, first City of Hope and now Moffitt. I am actively engaged in clinical research and participate in clinical trials. I am particularly interested in the de-escalation of care in the treatment of breast cancer, using immunotherapy and vaccines to decrease breast tumor size in order to reduce toxic chemotherapies or offer less extensive surgeries. My research and clinical focus is de-escalating systemic breast cancer treatment, while bringing new technologies and therapies to breast cancer surgery to minimize toxicities and improve outcomes.

Associations

• Breast Oncology
• Cancer Epidemiology Program

I was an active participant in accruing to the Selene Perimeter Device Trial (Perimeter MCC 21937) and accrued a total of 9 patients in 2024 to the trial. I am the Site Principal Investigator for the Agendia FLEX Registry trial slated to open July 2025. The purpose study is to create a large-scale, population-based database to better understand the biology, treatment and outcomes of breast cancer patients, enrolling patients for whom MammaPrint® and BluePrint™ have been ordered to guide treatment decisions, MammaPrint® is an FDA cleared test used clinically to determine a patient’s risk for distant metastasis and is used to guide treatment decisions. BluePrint™ provides physicians with more information about an individual’s breast cancer’s biology. I will also be the Site PI for I-SPY's DCIS RECAST Study, slated for Fall 2025. This study is to determine whether 6 months of neoadjuvant exposure to novel endocrine therapy for women with ductal cell carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will increase the fraction of patients suitable for long-term active surveillance without surgery. The patients will be randomized to either standard neoendocrine therapies (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors) or novel therapies (endoxifen, elacestrant, testosterone + anastrazole pellet). My research interests include being able to employ large databases (cancer registries, population databases) to answer relevant questions to breast cancer care as therapies and treatments evolve over time. In 2024, I was granted access to the National Cancer Database (NCDB) and obtained the Participant User Files (PUF) with the hope to examine the interplay of de-escalation of specific breast cancer treatments and subsequent escalation of other breast cancer tests and/or therapies. However, 2024 was the first year that NCDB decided they will no longer code for STATA, the one statististical program I know. I am planning on collaborating with one of the sarcoma surgeons who was recently hired who is familiar with using SAS.

Clinical Trial 23426
MammaPrint, BluePrint, and Full-genome Data Linked with Clinical Data to Evaluate New Gene EXpression Profiles: An Adaptable Registry (FLEX Study)
Condition: Breast
Intervention: Not Applicable ()
Status: Open

If you believe you are eligible for one of these trials or studies, please call
813-745-6100 or toll-free 1-800-679-0775.

• Baumrucker C, Aiello P, Harris N, Whiting J, Funaro K, Hoover S, Kiluk J, Kruper L, Mallory M, Khakpour N, Laronga C, Czerniecki BJ, Lee MC, Detz D. Identifying Axillary Metastases in Patients with T3 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. South Med J. 2025 Oct.118(10):687-691. Pubmedid: 41072035.
• Nelson RA, Chlebowski RT, Pan K, Rohan TE, Mortimer J, Wactawski-Wende J, Lane DS, Kruper L. Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT) and long-term breast cancer mortality in the Women's Health Initiative. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2025 Jan.209(1):49-60. Pubmedid: 39254768.
• Jones V, Yin HH, Yuan YC, Wang Y, Li SM, Aljaber D, Sanchez A, Quinones C, Schmolze D, Yuan Y, Mortimer J, Yee L, Kruper L, Jovanovic-Talisman T, Tomsic J, Sanchez N, Chavez T, O'Regan RM, Khan QJ, Davis M, Kalinsky K, Meisel J, Kittles R, Rodriguez-Rodriguez L, Seewaldt V. Gene expression associated with endocrine therapy resistance in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Sci Rep. 2025 Feb.15(1):7220. Pubmedid: 40021703. Pmcid: PMC11871144.
• McGuinness JE, Anderson GL, Mutasa S, Hershman DL, Terry MB, Tehranifar P, Lew DL, Yee M, Brown EA, Kairouz SS, Kuwajerwala N, Bevers TB, Doster JE, Zarwan C, Kruper L, Minasian LM, Ford L, Arun B, Neuhouser ML, Goodman GE, Brown PH, Ha R, Crew KD. Effects of vitamin D supplementation on a deep learning-based mammographic evaluation in SWOG S0812. JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2024 Jul.8(4). Pubmedid: 38814817. Pmcid: PMC11216724.
• Detz D, Hanssen D, Whiting J, Sun W, Czerniecki B, Hoover S, Khakpour N, Kiluk J, Laronga C, Mallory M, Lee MC, Kruper L. Retrieval of the Clipped Axillary Lymph Node and Its Impact on Treatment Decisions. Cancers (Basel). 2024 Aug.16(17). Pubmedid: 39272859. Pmcid: PMC11393888.
• Pan K, Nelson RA, Chlebowski RT, Piela R, Mullooly M, Simon MS, Rohan TE, Wactawski-Wende J, Manson JE, Mortimer JE, Lane D, Kruper L. Ductal carcinoma in situ and cause-specific mortality among younger and older postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2024 Aug.207(1):65-79. Pubmedid: 38730133.
• Jones VC, Chlebowski RT, Pan K, Kruper L, Mortimer J, Nassir R, Nelson RA. African Ancestry and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in the Women's Health Initiative. Am Surg. 2022 Jul.88(7):1722-1724. Pubmedid: 32909446. Pmcid: PMC8976497.
• Egelston CA, Guo W, Tan J, Avalos C, Simons DL, Lim MH, Huang YJ, Nelson MS, Chowdhury A, Schmolze DB, Yim JH, Kruper L, Melstrom L, Margolin K, Mortimer JE, Yuan Y, Waisman JR, Lee PP. Tumor-infiltrating exhausted CD8+ T cells dictate reduced survival in premenopausal estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. JCI Insight. 2022 Feb.7(3). Pubmedid: 35132960. Pmcid: PMC8855819.
• Gonzalez L, Sun C, Loscalzo M, Clark K, Kruper L, Mortimer J, Jones V. A Cross-Sectional Study of Distress Levels in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer: The Impact of Race, Ethnicity, and Language Preference. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Feb.29(2):981-988. Pubmedid: 34585296.
• Yuan Y, Lee JS, Yost SE, Li SM, Frankel PH, Ruel C, Schmolze D, Robinson K, Tang A, Martinez N, Stewart D, Waisman J, Kruper L, Jones V, Menicucci A, Uygun S, Yoder E, van der Baan B, Yim JH, Yeon C, Somlo G, Mortimer J. Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Carboplatin and Nab-Paclitaxel in Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Oncologist. 2021 Mar.26(3):e382-e393. Pubmedid: 33098195. Pmcid: PMC7930424.
• Bosserman LD, Cianfrocca M, Yuh B, Yeon C, Chen H, Sentovich S, Polverini A, Zachariah F, Deaville D, Lee AB, Sedrak MS, King E, Gray S, Morse D, Glaser S, Bhatt G, Adeimy C, Tan T, Chao J, Nam A, Paz IB, Kruper L, Rao P, Sokolov K, Kulkarni P, Salgia R, Yamzon J, Johnson D. Integrating Academic and Community Cancer Care and Research through Multidisciplinary Oncology Pathways for Value-Based Care: A Review and the City of Hope Experience. J Clin Med. 2021 Jan.10(2). Pubmedid: 33430334. Pmcid: PMC7825796.
• Mortimer JE, Kruper L, Jung J, Wong L, Cooper J, Stewart D, Chung S, Yu KW, Dadwal S, Yuan Y. Characterization of infections and hypogammaglobulinemia treated with the combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2020 Mar.85(3):501-507. Pubmedid: 31641845. Pmcid: PMC7036067.
• Mortimer JE, Kruper L, Cianfrocca M, Lavasani S, Liu S, Tank-Patel N, Sedrak M, Smith W, Stewart D, Waisman J, Yeon C, Wang T, Yuan Y. Use of HER2-Directed Therapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer and How Community Physicians Collaborate to Improve Care. J Clin Med. 2020 Jun.9(6). Pubmedid: 32599960. Pmcid: PMC7355741.
• Nelson RA, Bostanci Z, Jones V, Mortimer J, Polverini A, Taylor L, Yee L, Yim JH, Kruper L. Insurance Status Predicts Survival in Women with Breast Cancer: Results of Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program in California. Ann Surg Oncol. 2020 Jul.27(7):2177-2187. Pubmedid: 31965375. Pmcid: PMC8838883.
• Zhang C, Yue C, Herrmann A, Song J, Egelston C, Wang T, Zhang Z, Li W, Lee H, Aftabizadeh M, Li YJ, Lee PP, Forman S, Somlo G, Chu P, Kruper L, Mortimer J, Hoon DSB, Huang W, Priceman S, Yu H. STAT3 Activation-Induced Fatty Acid Oxidation in CD8+ T Effector Cells Is Critical for Obesity-Promoted Breast Tumor Growth. Cell Metab. 2020 Jan.31(1):148-161.e5. Pubmedid: 31761565. Pmcid: PMC6949402.
• Egelston CA, Avalos C, Tu TY, Rosario A, Wang R, Solomon S, Srinivasan G, Nelson MS, Huang Y, Lim MH, Simons DL, He TF, Yim JH, Kruper L, Mortimer J, Yost S, Guo W, Ruel C, Frankel PH, Yuan Y, Lee PP. Resident memory CD8+ T cells within cancer islands mediate survival in breast cancer patients. JCI Insight. 2019 Oct.4(19). Pubmedid: 31465302. Pmcid: PMC6795408.
• Crew KD, Anderson GL, Hershman DL, Terry MB, Tehranifar P, Lew DL, Yee M, Brown EA, Kairouz SS, Kuwajerwala N, Bevers T, Doster JE, Zarwan C, Kruper L, Minasian LM, Ford L, Arun B, Neuhouser M, Goodman GE, Brown PH. Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Biomarker Modulation Study of Vitamin D Supplementation in Premenopausal Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer (SWOG S0812). Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2019 Jul.12(7):481-490. Pubmedid: 31138522. Pmcid: PMC6609474.
• Petrossian K, Kanaya N, Lo C, Hsu PY, Nguyen D, Yang L, Yang L, Warden C, Wu X, Pillai R, Bernal L, Huang CS, Kruper L, Yuan Y, Somlo G, Mortimer J, Chen S. ERα-mediated cell cycle progression is an important requisite for CDK4/6 inhibitor response in HR+ breast cancer. Oncotarget. 2018 Jun.9(45):27736-27751. Pubmedid: 29963233. Pmcid: PMC6021239.
• Dumitra S, Jones V, Rodriguez J, Bitz C, Polamero E, Loscalzo M, Kruper L, Warner SG. Disparities in managing emotions when facing a diagnosis of breast cancer: Results of screening program of couples distress. Surgery. 2018 Jan. Pubmedid: 29370926.
• Hsu PY, Wu VS, Kanaya N, Petrossian K, Hsu HK, Nguyen D, Schmolze D, Kai M, Liu CY, Lu H, Chu P, Vito CA, Kruper L, Mortimer J, Chen S. Dual mTOR Kinase Inhibitor MLN0128 Sensitizes HR+/HER2+ Breast Cancer Patient-Derived Xenografts to Trastuzumab or Fulvestrant. Clin Cancer Res. 2018 Jan.24(2):395-406. Pubmedid: 29079660. Pmcid: PMC8820221.
• Kanaya N, Somlo G, Wu J, Frankel P, Kai M, Liu X, Wu SV, Nguyen D, Chan N, Hsieh MY, Kirschenbaum M, Kruper L, Vito C, Badie B, Yim JH, Yuan Y, Hurria A, Peiguo C, Mortimer J, Chen S. Characterization of patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDXs) as models for estrogen receptor positive (ER+HER2- and ER+HER2+) breast cancers. J Steroid Biochem -. 2017 Jun.170:65-74. Pubmedid: 27154416. Pmcid: PMC5094906.
• Kauffmann RM, Goldstein L, Marcinkowski E, Somlo G, Yuan Y, Ituarte PH, Kruper L, Taylor L, Vito C. Predictors of Antiestrogen Recommendation in Women With Estrogen Receptor-Positive Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. J Natl Compr Canc Ne. 2016 Sep.14(9):1081-1090. Pubmedid: 27587621. Pmcid: PMC9206878.
• Polverini AC, Nelson RA, Marcinkowski E, Jones VC, Lai L, Mortimer JE, Taylor L, Vito C, Yim J, Kruper L. Time to Treatment: Measuring Quality Breast Cancer Care. Ann Surg Oncol. 2016 Oct.23(10):3392-3402. Pubmedid: 27503492.
• Kauffmann R, Bitz C, Clark K, Loscalzo M, Kruper L, Vito C. Addressing psychosocial needs of partners of breast cancer patients: a pilot program using social workers to improve communication and psychosocial support. Support Care Cancer. 2016 Jan.24(1):61-65. Pubmedid: 25917451.
• Lee M, Reinertsen E, McClure E, Liu S, Kruper L, Tanna N, Brian Boyd J, Granzow JW. Surgeon motivations behind the timing of breast reconstruction in patients requiring postmastectomy radiation therapy. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2015 Nov.68(11):1536-1542. Pubmedid: 26277336. Pmcid: PMC4659387.
• Bitz C, Clark K, Vito C, Kruper L, Ituarte PH, Loscalzo M. Partners' clinic: an innovative gender strengths-based intervention for breast cancer patients and their partners immediately prior to initiating care with their treating physician. Psychooncology. 2015 Mar.24(3):355-358. Pubmedid: 24924215.
• Merchant SJ, Goldstein L, Kruper LL. Patterns and Trends in Immediate Postmastectomy Reconstruction in California: Complications and Unscheduled Readmissions. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Jul.136(1):10e-19e. Pubmedid: 26111325.
• Shinde AM, Zhai J, Yu KW, Frankel P, Yim JH, Luu T, Kruper L, Vito C, Shaw S, Vora NL, Kirschenbaum M, Somlo G. Pathologic complete response rates in triple-negative, HER2-positive, and hormone receptor-positive breast cancers after anthracycline-free neoadjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel with or without trastuzumab. Breast. 2015 Feb.24(1):18-23. Pubmedid: 25467313. Pmcid: PMC4596816.
• Patel SK, Wong AL, Wong FL, Breen EC, Hurria A, Smith M, Kinjo C, Paz IB, Kruper L, Somlo G, Mortimer JE, Palomares MR, Irwin MR, Bhatia S. Inflammatory Biomarkers, Comorbidity, and Neurocognition in Women With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015 Aug.107(8). Pubmedid: 26101331. Pmcid: PMC4609551.
• Kruper L, Kauffmann RM, Smith DD, Nelson RA. Survival analysis of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: a question of selection bias. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 Oct.21(11):3448-3456. Pubmedid: 25047478.
• Miller M, Ottesen RA, Niland JC, Kruper L, Chen SL, Vito C. Tumor response ratio predicts overall survival in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 Oct.21(10):3317-3323. Pubmedid: 25059788.
• Arrington AK, Goldstein L, Kruper L, Vito C, Yim J, Chen SL. Life expectancy after curative-intent treatment of breast cancer: impact on long-term follow-up care. Am Surg. 2014 Jun.80(6):604-609. Pubmedid: 24887800.
• Mortimer J, Jung J, Yuan Y, Kruper L, Stewart D, Chung S, Yu KW, Mendelsohn M, D'Apuzzo M, Tegtmeier B, Dadwal S. Skin/nail infections with the addition of pertuzumab to trastuzumab-based chemotherapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2014 Dec.148(3):563-570. Pubmedid: 25385180. Pmcid: PMC4243002.
• Arrington AK, Kruper L, Vito C, Yim J, Kim J, Chen SL. Rural and urban disparities in the evolution of sentinel lymph node utilization in breast cancer. Am J Surg. 2013 Nov.206(5):674-681. Pubmedid: 24035212.
• Kruper L, Xu XX, Henderson K, Bernstein L, Chen SL. Utilization of mastectomy and reconstruction in the outpatient setting. Ann Surg Oncol. 2013 Mar.20(3):828-835. Pubmedid: 22990647. Pmcid: PMC3819218.
• Priceman SJ, Kujawski M, Shen S, Cherryholmes GA, Lee H, Zhang C, Kruper L, Mortimer J, Jove R, Riggs AD, Yu H. Regulation of adipose tissue T cell subsets by Stat3 is crucial for diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Aug.110(32):13079-13084. Pubmedid: 23878227. Pmcid: PMC3740863.
• Pal SK, Dehaven M, Nelson RA, Onami S, Hsu J, Waliany S, Kruper L, Mortimer J. Impact of modern chemotherapy on the survival of women presenting with de novo metastatic breast cancer. BMC Cancer. 2012 Sep.12:435. Pubmedid: 23020297. Pmcid: PMC3526502.
• Oxner CR, Vora L, Yim J, Kruper L, Ellenhorn JD. Magnetic resonance imaging-guided breast biopsy in lesions not visualized by mammogram or ultrasound. Am Surg. 2012 Oct.78(10):1087-1090. Pubmedid: 23025947.
• Kounalakis N, Pezner R, Staud CL, Kruper L. Partial breast irradiation in a patient with bilateral breast cancers and CREST syndrome. Brachytherapy. 2012 Feb.10(6):486-490. Pubmedid: 21349774.
• Kruper L, Xu X, Henderson K, Bernstein L. Disparities in reconstruction rates after mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): patterns of care and factors associated with the use of breast reconstruction for DCIS compared with invasive cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2011 Oct.18(11):3210-3219. Pubmedid: 21863363.
• Wiatrek R, Kruper L. Sentinel lymph node biopsy indications and controversies in breast cancer. Maturitas. 2011 May.69(1):7-10. Pubmedid: 21411254.
• Kruper L, Holt A, Xu XX, Duan L, Henderson K, Bernstein L, Ellenhorn J. Disparities in reconstruction rates after mastectomy: patterns of care and factors associated with the use of breast reconstruction in Southern California. Ann Surg Oncol. 2011 Aug.18(8):2158-2165. Pubmedid: 21308486.
• Pal SK, Lau SK, Kruper L, Nwoye U, Garberoglio C, Gupta RK, Paz B, Vora L, Guzman E, Artinyan A, Somlo G. Papillary carcinoma of the breast: an overview. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Aug.122(3):637-645. Pubmedid: 20524058. Pmcid: PMC3244819.
• Kruper L, Giuliano AE. A randomized clinical trial on sentinel lymph node dissection versus axillary dissection: a matter of technique. Ann Surg. 2008 Feb.247(2):214-216. Pubmedid: 18216524.
• Kruper L, Kurichi JE, Sonnad SS. Methodologic quality of cost-effectiveness analyses of surgical procedures. Ann Surg. 2007 Jan.245(1):147-151. Pubmedid: 17197978. Pmcid: PMC1867951.
• Kruper LL, Spitz FR, Czerniecki BJ, Fraker DL, Blackwood-Chirchir A, Ming ME, Elder DE, Elenitsas R, Guerry D, Gimotty PA. Predicting sentinel node status in AJCC stage I/II primary cutaneous melanoma. Cancer. 2006 Nov.107(10):2436-2445. Pubmedid: 17058288.
• Kruper LL, Low DW, Bucky LP. Immediate pectoralis flap closure following septic arthritis of the manubriosternal joint. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001 Apr.107(4):997-999. Pubmedid: 11252094.