Dr. Polley’s primary research involves the design, conduct, and analysis of all phases of cancer clinical trials. She is the Head of the Statistics Division and Senior Statistician of the Brain Tumor Committee for NRG Oncology, a National Cancer Institute sponsored member of the national clinical trials network group. Previously, she served as the Director of the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core of the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE). Dr. Polley had served on many scientific governing or advisory bodies including the National Cancer Institute Steering Committees (breast, lymphoma, head and neck cancer, and pediatric and adolescent solid tumor), the Scientific Program Committee of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meetings, and the US Veterans Affairs (VA) Oncology A Study Section. Dr. Polley’s methodological interests include early-phase clinical trial designs, biomarker reproducibility, innovative group sequential methods for biomarker validation, prognostic and predictive modeling, design and analysis of biomarker-based clinical trials, and design and monitoring of late phase clinical trials.
Columbia University
New York, New York
PhD - Biostatistics
2006
Columbia University
New York, New York
MS - Biostatistics
2001
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
MA - Statistics
1999
On the Quest of Risk Stratification in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.
On the Quest of Risk Stratification in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2022 03 08; 114(3):345-346.
PMID: 33787921
Leveraging external data in the design and analysis of clinical trials in neuro-oncology.
Leveraging external data in the design and analysis of clinical trials in neuro-oncology. Lancet Oncol. 2021 10; 22(10):e456-e465.
PMID: 34592195
A clinical calculator to predict disease outcomes in women with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer treated with first-line endocrine therapy.
A clinical calculator to predict disease outcomes in women with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer treated with first-line endocrine therapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2021 Aug; 189(1):15-23.
PMID: 34218359
Assessment of Ki67 in Breast Cancer: Updated Recommendations From the International Ki67 in Breast Cancer Working Group.
Assessment of Ki67 in Breast Cancer: Updated Recommendations From the International Ki67 in Breast Cancer Working Group. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 07 01; 113(7):808-819.
PMID: 33369635
Characteristics and Spatially Defined Immune (micro)landscapes of Early-stage PD-L1-positive Triple-negative Breast Cancer.
Characteristics and Spatially Defined Immune (micro)landscapes of Early-stage PD-L1-positive Triple-negative Breast Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2021 10 15; 27(20):5628-5637.
PMID: 34108182
On the Quest of Risk Stratification in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.
Polley MC. On the Quest of Risk Stratification in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 Mar 31.
PMID: 33787921
Statistical Considerations in the Evaluation of Continuous Biomarkers.
Statistical Considerations in the Evaluation of Continuous Biomarkers. J Nucl Med. 2021 05 10; 62(5):605-611.
PMID: 33579807
A clinical calculator to predict disease outcomes in women with triple-negative breast cancer.
A clinical calculator to predict disease outcomes in women with triple-negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2021 Feb; 185(3):557-566.
PMID: 33389409
Assessment of Ki67 in Breast Cancer: Updated Recommendations from the International Ki67 in Breast Cancer Working Group.
Nielsen TO, Leung SCY, Rimm DL, Dodson A, Acs B, Badve S, Denkert C, Ellis MJ, Fineberg S, Flowers M, Kreipe HH, Laenkholm AV, Pan H, Penault-Llorca FM, Polley MY, Salgado R, Smith IE, Sugie T, Bartlett JMS, McShane LM, Dowsett M, Hayes DF. Assessment of Ki67 in Breast Cancer: Updated Recommendations from the International Ki67 in Breast Cancer Working Group. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2020 Dec 28.
PMID: 33369635
Survival, Pathologic Response, and Genomics in CALGB 40601 (Alliance), a Neoadjuvant Phase III Trial of Paclitaxel-Trastuzumab With or Without Lapatinib in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.
Survival, Pathologic Response, and Genomics in CALGB 40601 (Alliance), a Neoadjuvant Phase III Trial of Paclitaxel-Trastuzumab With or Without Lapatinib in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2020 12 10; 38(35):4184-4193.
PMID: 33095682
Appointee - Special Government Employee (SGE) member, Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)
US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
2021 - 2025
Breast Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence - Developmental Research Program Award
Mayo Clinic
2018
The Fraternal Order of Eagles Cancer Research Award
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
2017
Distinguished Achievement Award
Kelly Government Solutions, National Cancer Institute
2012
Award for Excellence in Clinical Research
The American Brain Tumor Association
2009
REAC Pilot Research Award in Basic and Clinical/Translational Sciences
University of California San Francisco
2009
Travel Award - Biostatistics Workshop
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
2008
The Joseph L. Fleiss Memorial Prize in Biostatistics for an Outstanding Dissertation
Columbia University
2006
Merck & Co., Inc. Fellowship
Columbia University
2001 - 2004