Dr Priya Iyer

Dr. Priya Iyer is a Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai, India. She completed her MBBS at B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, and pursued her MD in Radiation Oncology at the Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute. With over a decade of experience in oncology, Dr. Iyer specializes in breast and paediatric cancers, focusing on developing cost-effective treatment modalities suitable for resource-limited settings.

Her clinical expertise includes the use of neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy (NACCRT) for locally advanced breast cancers. She has contributed to the development of protocols that integrate NACCRT with targeted therapies, aiming to improve operability and survival outcomes.

Dr. Iyer is currently pursuing a PhD in tumor immunogenomics, with a focus on triple-negative breast cancer. Her research explores the translational potential of immunogenomic insights to enhance the efficacy of radiation and immunotherapy treatments.

In addition to her clinical and research endeavours, Dr. Iyer is actively involved in medical education across India. She has mentored numerous students and participates in various national teaching programs, contributing to the advancement of oncology education and practice.

Research

1. MD Thesis: Effect of Chemo-Radiation on IGF1 and IGF2 levels in Carcinoma Cervix stage IIIB.

2. Concurrent neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy with paclitaxel in locally advanced breast cancer a prospective study. Status: Completed. (CTRI/2021/02/031320)

3. Neoadjuvant Concurrent chemo-radiation with paclitaxel and trastuzumab versus Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab followed by sequential radiation in locally advanced Her 2 neu positive breast cancers- a phase 2 randomized controlled trial. Status: Ongoing (CTRI/2021/02/031588)

4. Loco-regional Radiation therapy (RT) versus No RT of the Primary in Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC): A Phase III Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Status: Ongoing (CTRI/2022/06/043551)

5. Establishment of Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing program to evaluate the feasibility of ctDNA dynamics as a routine test for prediction of therapeutic outcome in metastatic breast cancers treated with systemic therapy followed by radiation therapy. Status: Ongoing (CTRI/2023/06/054412)

6. Evaluating the role of addition of low-dose nivolumab and concurrent radiation in patients with triple negative breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT): a phase 2 Randomized controlled trial (RCT). Status; Ongoing (CTRI/2024/02/062372)

7. Intrinsic subtyping using high throughput quantitative gene expression profiling and SERS based approach to predict pathological complete response in triple-negative breast cancer patients (TNBC). Status: Ongoing

Awards and Achievements

• Recipient of the Best Proffered paper award at the National AROICON conference held at Kolkata on November 2025.

• Recipient of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) grant of Rupees 1.3 crore (157385 USD) as Principal Investigator for the research project titled ‘Evaluating the role of addition of low-dose nivolumab and concurrent radiation in patients with triple negative breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT): a phase 2 Randomized controlled trial (RCT)’ on 21.08.2023.

• Received ICMR Grant of 80 lakhs as Co-Principal Investigator for the research project titled “Intrinsic subtyping using high throughput quantitative gene expression profiling and SERS based approach to predict pathological complete response in triple-negative breast cancer patients (TNBC)” on October 2024.

• Reviewer for National Cancer Grid project proposals.

• Award for excellence in Medical Practice by Alliance Club International, Chennai, March 2019.

• Distinction in Pediatrics in the University Exam.

• Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation scholarship and National Merit Scholarship for securing the third rank in the district during Higher Secondary examination.