skcc leadership profiles booklet

Leadership Profiles

About the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at JeffersonCancer has affected each of us in some way. We’ve fought and survived cancer, and we’ve

lost loved ones. At the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) at Jefferson, we believe that

every day is one day closer to a cure. With help from our pioneers at Thomas Jefferson

University Hospitals, Abington Hospital – Jefferson Health, Abington-Lansdale Hospital –

Jefferson Health and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Network, we refuse to let cancer win.

Each day brings us closer to a cure because we face it with some of the best and brightest

in the world – distinguished researchers, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists,

surgeons, neurosurgeons, urologists, gastroenterologists and cancer specialists – many

of whom are recognized on prestigious lists like Best Doctors in America®.

As a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center – one of only 69 in the

nation – we are committed to the continued improvement of outcomes for our patients.

We share this commitment with our consortium partners at Drexel University and the

Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, and the vast opportunities we collectively have

for future discoveries in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. We do what we do,

every day, in tandem with the 32 members of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Network.

Through our combined efforts we touch the lives of more than 250,000 cancer patients

annually, with the opportunity for thousands to participate in breakthrough clinical trials.

We are proud that SKCC is recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare

Cancers by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and that our physicians practice at

Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals – ranked by U.S.News & World Report among the

nation’s Best Hospitals for cancer treatment.

For us, it’s local. It’s global. It’s personal. From the generous gift made to our Center by

philanthropist Sidney Kimmel, the pioneering contributions of our physicians and the

commitment from everyday heroes (our donors), we are always one day closer to a

cure for cancer.

Andrew E. Aplin, PhDAssociate Director, Basic Science, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Program Leader, Cancer Cell Biology & Signaling

Professor, Department of Cancer Biology

Cancer Areas of Expertise

Cutaneous Melanoma, Uveal in mutant BRAF

Selected Grants

• R01 CA196278 NIH/NCI: Mutant BRAF-regulated transcription factors in melanoma progression

• R01 CA182635 NIH/NCI: Targeted therapies in mutant BRAF melanoma

• R01 CA160495 NIH/NCI: FOXD3 up-regulation and ERBB3 signaling as an adaptive response to RAF inhibitors

Selected Publications

• Abel EV, Basile KJ, Kugel III CH, Witkiewicz AK, Le K, Amaravadi RK, Karakousis GC, Xu X, Xu W, Schuchter LM, Lee JB, Ertel A, Fortina P, and Aplin AE (2013). Melanoma adapts to RAF/MEK inhibitors through FOXD3-dependent upregulation of ERBB3 by FOXD3. J. Clin. Invest., 123:2155-68.

• Cheng H, Terai M, Kageyama K, Ozaki O, McCue P, Sato T, and Aplin AE (2015). Paracrine effect of NRG1 and HGF drives resistance to MEK inhibitors in metastatic uveal melanoma. Cancer Res., 75:2737-48.

• Basile KJ, Abel EV, Dadpey N, Hartsough EJ, Fortina P, and Aplin AE (2013). In vivo MAPK reporting reveals the heterogeneity in tumoral selection of resistance to RAF inhibitors. Cancer Res., 73:7101-10.

Selected National Leadership Roles

• Charter member, Tumor Microenvironment/TME Study Section (NCI)

• Scientific board member, Melanoma Research Foundation

• Multiple External Advisory Boards/SPORES

Jeffrey L. Benovic, PhDChair, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Associate Director Education, Basic Science, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Thomas Eakins Endowed Professor


Role of G protein signaling in cancer progression and metastasis

Key Clinical or Research Accomplishments

• Identified many of the proteins and the mechanisms involved in regulating G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling with specific emphasis on the role of GPCR kinases and arrestins.

• Currently focused on biasing GPCR signaling in the treatment of various diseases including prostate cancer, uveal melanoma, heart failure and asthma.

Selected Grants

• R01 GM044944-25 NIH/NIGMS: G protein-coupled receptor kinases

• R37 GM047417-22 NIH/NIGMS: Role of arrestins in G protein-coupled receptor regulation

• 1 P01 HL114471-03 NIH/NHLBI: Biased targeting of GPCR signaling in airway disease


• Busillo J M, Armando S, Sengupta R, Meucci O, Bouvier M, and Benovic JL (2010). Site-specific phosphorylation of CXCR4 is dynamically regulated by multiple kinases and results in differential modulation of CXCR4 signaling. J. Biol. Chem. 285: 7805-7817.

• Carr R, Du Y, Quoyer J, Panettieri RA Jr, Janz JM, Bouvier M, Kobilka BK, and Benovic JL (2014). Development and characterization of pepducins as Gs-biased allosteric agonists. J. Biol. Chem. 289: 35668-35684.

• Carr R III, Schilling J, Song J, Carter RL, Du Y, Yoo SM, Traynham CJ, Koch WJ, Cheung JY, Tilley DG, and Benovic JL (2016). b-arrestin-biased signaling through the b

2-adrenergic receptor promotes cardiomyocyte contraction.

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., in press.


• Editorial Board Member, Cell

• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Cell Biology

• Member, NIH Training and Workforce Development Study Section (TWD-A)

Bruno Calabretta, MD, PhDLeader, Molecular Biology and Genetics

Professor, Cancer Biology


Leukemia


• Role of oncogenes in acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemias

• Elucidation of signal transduction pathways required for proliferation and maintenance of hematopoietic cells transformed by the BCR-ABL oncoproteins

Selected Grants

• R01 CA167169 NIH/NCI: Targeting the C/EBPalpha-Gfi-1 pathway in CML stem cells

• RO1 HL127895 NIH: The role of chromatin structure in differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells


• Bellodi C, Lidonnici MR, Hamilton A, Helgason GV, Soliera AR, Ronchetti M, Galavotti S, Young KW, Selmi T, Van Etten RA, Donato N, Hunter A, Dinsdale D, Tirro E, Vigneri P, Nicotera P, Dyer MJ, Holyoake T, Salomoni P, and Calabretta B (2009). Targeting autophagy potentiates imatinib-induced cell death in Philadelphia positive cells including primary CML stem cells. J. Clin.Invest., 119:1109-1123.

• Perrotti D, Cesi V, Trotta R, Guerzoni C, Santilli G, Campbell K, Iervolino A, Condorelli F, Gambacorti- Passerini C, Caligiuri MA, Calabretta B. (2002). BCR-ABL suppresses C/EBPalpha expression through inhibitory action of hnRNP E2. Nat.Genet. 30: 48-58.

• Trotta R, Vignudelli T, Candini O, Intine RV, Pecorari L, Guerzoni C, Santilli G, Byrom MW, Goldoni S, Ford LP, Caligiuri MA, Maraia RJ, Perrotti D, Calabretta B. (2003). BCR/ABL activates mdm2 mRNA translation via the La antigen. Cancer Cell 3: 145-160.


• Grants Reviewer for NCI

• Section Chairman, American Society Hematology

Matthew H. Carabasi, MDSenior Director, Strategic Oncology Partnerships, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Director, Medical Oncology Specialty Network

Professor and Vice Chair of Outreach


Stem cell transplantation; hematologic malignancies

Key Clinical or Research accomplishments

• Successful application of adoptive immunotherapy after Allogeneic stem cell transplantation


• Blood and Marrow Transplant Data and Safety Monitoring Board, NIH

• Histocompatibility, Alternative Donors & Stem Cell Sources Working Group Committee, International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry

• Editorial Board Member, Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Andrew E. Chapman DO, FACPVice Chair for Clinical Operations, Department of Medical Oncology

Director, Division of Regional Cancer Care

Co-Director, Jefferson Senior Adult Oncology Center


Geriatric Oncology, Models of Cancer Care Delivery


• Developed the first Multidisciplinary Geriatric Oncology Evaluation Center in the tri-state area

• Achieved the first level III certification in an NCI Designated Cancer Center in the United States, for Patient Centered Specialty Practice (PCSP) for Jefferson Medical Oncology Associates

Selected Grants

• National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) PCORI Grant for Patient Centered Oncology Care


• Hurria A, Mohile S, Gajra A, Klepin H, Muss H, Chapman A, Feng T, Smith D, Sun CL, De Glas N, Cohen HJ, Katheria V, Doan C, Zavala L, Levi A, Akiba C, Tew WP. (2016). Validation of a prediction tool for chemotherapy toxicity in older adults with cancer. J Clin Oncol., May 16, doi: 10.1200/JCO.2015.65.4327.

• Nightingale G, Hajjar E, Swartz K, Andrel-Sendecki J, Chapman A, (2015). Evaluation of a pharmacist-led medication assessment used to identify prevalence of and associations with polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use among ambulatory senior adults with cancer. J Clin Oncol., 33(13):1453-1459.

• Chapman A, Swartz K, Schoppe J, Arenson C. (2014) Development of a comprehensive multidisciplinary geriatric oncology center, the Thomas Jefferson University experience. J Geriatr Oncol., 5:164-170.


• Site PI, Cancer and Aging Research Group

• Site PI, Patient Centered Oncology Care PCORI Grant (NCQA)

• Physician Lead, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Oncology Care Model (OCM)

Robert Den, MDAssociate Professor, Radiation Oncology, Cancer Biology, and Urology Department of Radiation Oncology


Prostate Cancer, Radiation Oncology


• Using genomics to distinguish which men benefit from adjuvant radiation as opposed to salvage radiation therapy after prostatectomy

Selected Grants

• Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator

• Department of Defense Physician Research Training Award: Impact of RB Tumor Suppressor Pathway on DNA Checkpoints and Therapeutic Response


• Den RB, Yousefi K, Trabulsi EJ, Abdollah F, Choeurng V, Feng FY, Dicker AP, Lallas CD, Gomella LG, Davicioni E, Karnes RJ (2015). Genomic classifier identifies men with adverse pathology after radical prostatectomy who benefit from adjuvant radiation therapy. J Clin Oncol., 33:944-951.

• Thangavel C, Boopathi E, Ciment S, Liu Y, O’Neill R, Sharma A, McMahon SB, Mellert H, Addya S, Ertel A, Birbe R, Fortina P, Dicker AP, Knudsen KE, Den RB, (2014). The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor modulates DNA repair and radioresponsiveness. Clin Cancer Res,. 20:5468-5482.


• Member, NRG Oncology Genitourinary Committee

• Chair, American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology Educational Committee: Genitourinary Section

Adam P Dicker, MD, PhDChair, Department of Radiation Oncology

Professor, Radiation Oncology, Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics


Prostate Cancer, Brain Tumors, Translational Oncology


• Identification and development of parameters for quality assurance and safety in oncology

• Development and validation for quality metrics for prostate brachytherapy and development of autonomous robotic system for image-guided prostate brachytherapy.

• Discovery and validation of biomarkers for locally advanced prostate cancer, with implications for racial disparities between men of European and Africa descent.

• Discovery and Development of targeted therapies in combination with cytotoxic cancer therapy.

Selected Grants

• Prostate Cancer Foundation: CARAVAN: Checkpoint-Radiation-Vaccine neoadjuvant trial for metastatic prostate cancer

• 5 U10 U10CA180868 NIH/RTOG/NRG Oncology: To support leading the translational research activities for the NRG Oncology.

• DOD W81XWH-11-1-0397-PCRP-SIDA, PC100613: Development of a smart needling device for image-guided percutaneous intervention and delivery of therapeutic agents in prostate


• Shi W, Lawrence YR, Choy H, Werner-Wasik M, Andrews DW, Evans JJ, Judy KD, Farrell CJ, Moshel Y, Berger AC, Bar-Ad V, Dicker AP (2014). Vorinostat as a radiosensitizer for brain metastasis: a phase I clinical trial. J Neurooncol. 118:313-319.

• Ohri N, Shen X, Dicker AP, Doyle LA, Harrison AS, Showalter TN (2013). Radiotherapy protocol deviations and clinical outcomes: a meta-analysis of cooperative group clinical trials. J Natl Cancer Inst. 105:387-393.

• Den RB, Feng FY, Showalter TN, Mishra MV, Trabulsi EJ, Lallas CD, Gomella LG, Kelly WK, Birbe RC, McCue PA, Ghadessi M, Davicioni E, Knudsen KE, Dicker AP (2014). A genomic prostate cancer classifier predicts biochemical failure and metastasis in patients following post-operative radiation therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 89:1038-1046.


• Chair, Cancer and Radiation Biology Committee, American Society of Radiation Oncology:

• Member, American Society for Clinical Oncology, a) Value in Cancer Care Task Force, b) Measures Task Force, c) Top 5 Choosing Wisely Committee

• Member, Investigational Drug Steering Committee, National Cancer Institute-Cancer Treatment Evaluation Program (CTEP)

• Member, National Clinical Trial Network Core Correlative Sciences Committee, Network of Assay Labs Task Force, Cancer Treatment Evaluation program (CTEP)

• Co-Chair, NRG Oncology, Translational Science Committee

Christine M. Eischen, PhDProgram Co-Leader, Molecular Biology and Genetics

Professor, Department of Cancer Biology

Special Advisor to the President of Thomas Jefferson University


Lymphoma, Oncogenes, Cellular transformation


• Discovered cell death pathways regulated by the Myc oncogene and critical genes that regulate Myc-induced lymphoma development.

• Identified previously unknown oncogenic mutations in cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

• Discovered a new function of the Mdm2 oncogene and showed that this could be utilized to sensitize chemotherapy resistant cancer cells to DNA damaging agents.

• Identified the first oncogenic miRNA in lung cancer.

Selected Grants

• 5R01 CA148950 NIH/NCI: Regulation of Myc-mediated tumorigenesis

• 5R01 CA181204 NIH/NCI: Novel oncogenic functions of Mdm2 and Mdmx

• 5R01 CA177786 NIH/NCI: Novel mechanisms of oncogenic transformation in lung cancer


• Edmonds MD, Boyd KL, Moyo T, Mitra R, Duszynski R, Arrate MP, Chen X, Zhao Z, Blackwell TS, Andl T, Eischen CM (2016). MicroR-31 initiates lung tumorigenesis and promotes mutant KRas-driven lung cancer. J. Clinical Invest., 126:349-364.

• McGirt LY, Jia P, Baerenwald DA, Duszynski RJ, Dahlman KB, Zic JA, Zwerner JP, Hucks D, Dave U, Zhao Z, Eischen CM (2015). Whole genome sequencing reveals oncogenic mutations in mycosis fungoides. Blood, 126:508-519.

• Adams CM, Hiebert SW, Eischen CM (2016). Myc induces miRNA-mediated apoptosis in response to HDAC inhibition in hematological malignancies. Cancer Res., 76:736-48.


• Past Member, NIH/NCI Subcommittee I study section

• Editorial Board Member, Molecular Cancer Research

Alessandro Fatatis MD, PhDCo-Leader, Prostate Cancer Program

Professor, Pharmacology and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Drexel University College of Medicine


Metastatic dissemination of solid tumors, particularly prostate and breast cancers


• Showed a reduction in bone metastases of 70% by targeting the alpha-receptor for Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGFR α), work used by Eli Lilly to support a successful phase II clinical trial for a PDGFR α antibody, now renamed Olaratumab.

• Provided first evidence that the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 is directly involved in metastases from prostate and breast cancers. Currently pursuing a drug-discovery program focused on small-molecule inhibitors of CX3CR1 and have successfully secured support from the NCI Experimental Therapeutics (NExT) Program to drive these newly generated compounds into clinical development.

• Discovered that interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) is responsible for co-opting the bone stroma to support the survival and growth of cancer cells. Malignant phenotypes that lack this cytokine and are incapable of independently colonizing the skeleton. These results have a high potential for clinical translation, since there are currently several FDA-approved therapeutics interfering with the activity of IL-1β that could be repositioned with an indication for metastatic prostate cancer.

Selected Grants

• BC150659 - Department of Defense (CDMRP): Targeting CX3CR1 to counteract metastatic reseeding and progression

• 1R01 CA202929 NIH/NCI: Role of CX3CR1 in breast cancer metastasis

• Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition: Novel antagonists of CX3CR1 as inhibitors of metastatic dissemination


• Shen F, Zhang Y, Jernigan DL, Feng X, Yan J, Garcia FU, Meucci O, Salvino JM, Fatatis A (2016). Novel small-molecule CX3CR1 antagonist impairs metastatic seeding and colonization of breast cancer cells. Mol Cancer Res., doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-16-0013.

• Liu Q, Russell MR, Shahriari K, Jernigan DL, Lioni MI, Garcia FU, Fatatis A (2013). Interleukin-1β promotes skeletal colonization and progression of metastatic prostate cancer cells with neuroendocrine feature. Cancer Res., 73:3297-3305.

• Russell MR, Liu Q, Fatatis A (2010). Targeting the alpha receptor for Platelet-Derived Growth Factor as a primary or combination therapy in a preclinical model of prostate cancer skeletal metastasis. Clin Cancer Res, 16: 5002-5010.

Neal Flomenberg, MDDeputy Director, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Director, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program

Professor, Department of Medical Oncology


Bone Marrow Transplantation


Dr. Flomenberg’s research focuses on increasing safety in allogeneic transplants, facilitating performance of HLA mismatched transplants, prevention of graft-versus-host-disease, and accelerating immune system recovery after allogeneic transplant. His efforts have produced a novel approach to transplantation which has made half matched transplantation a safe and effective clinical treatment, something the BMT community has been attempting to accomplish for nearly 30 years.


• Flomenberg N, Baxter-Lowe L, Confer D, Fernandez-Vina M, Filipovich A, Horowitz M, Hurley C, Kollman C, Noreen H, Begovich A, Hildebrand W, Petersdorf E, Schmeckpeper B, Trachtenberg E, Williams T, Yunis E, Weisdorf D (2004). Impact of HLA-Class I and Class II high resolution matching on outcomes of unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation. Blood, 104:1923-30.

• Lee SJ, Klein J, Haagenson M, Baxter-Lowe LA, Confer DL, Eapen M, Fernandez-Vina M, Flomenberg N, Horowitz M, Hurley CK, Noreen H, Oudshoorn M, Petersdorf E, Setterholm M, Spellman S, Weisdorf D, Williams TM, and Anasetti C (2007). High Resolution Donor-Recipient HLA Matching Contributes to the Success of Unrelated Donor Marrow Transplantation. Blood, 110:4576-83.

• Grosso D, Carabasi M, Filicko-O’Hara J, Kasner M, Wagner JL, Colombe B, Cornett Farley P, O’Hara W, Flomenberg P, Werner-Wasik M, Brunner J, Mookerjee B, Hyslop T, Weiss M and Flomenberg N (2011). A two-step approach to myeloablative haploidentical stem cell transplantation: a phase I/II trial performed with optimized T-cell dosing. Blood. 118:4732-4739.


• Chairman, National Cancer Institute, Data Safety and Monitoring Board

• Board Member for the Federation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT)

• Member, NCI Leukemia Steering Committee

Leonard G. Gomella, MD, FACSChairman, Department of Urology

Senior Director Clinical Affairs, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Clinical Director, Jefferson Sidney Kimmel Cancer Network

Co-Leader, Prostate Program

The Bernard W. Godwin Professor of Prostate Cancer


Prostate and bladder cancer clinical and translational research,


• First clinical report of circulating prostate cancer cells detected by RT PCR

Selected Grants

• A Phase II, Randomized, Open Label, Parallel Arm Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of rAd-IFN/Syn3 Following Intravesical Administration in Subjects with High Grade, BCG Refractory or Relapsed Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) - Protocol rAd-IFN-CS-002

• A Randomized, Phase 2, Open-Label Study Evaluating DN24-02 As Adjuvant Therapy In Subjects With High Risk Her2+ Urothelial Carcinoma N10-1

• TARP Study: A Randomized Double-Blind Parallel Group Study Comparing Casodex 50mg plus Placebo to Casodex 50mg plus dutasteride 3.5mg Administered for 18 months to Men with Prostate Cancer Who Have Failed First-Line Androgen Deprivation Therapy (Assessed by Rising PSA) Followed by a Two-Year Extension Phase


• Moreno JG, Croce CM, Fischer R, Monne M, Vihko P, Mulholland SG and Gomella LG (1992). Detection of hematogenous micrometastasis in patients with prostate cancer. Cancer Res, 52:6110-6112.

• Gomella LG, Lin J, Hoffman-Censits J, Dugan P, Guiles F, Lallas C, Singh J, McCue P, Showalter T, Valicenti R, Dicker A and Trabulsi E (2010). Enhancing prostate cancer care through the multidisciplinary clinic approach: A 15 year experience. J Oncol Pract, 6:e5-e10.

• Tripathi S, Trabulsi EJ, Gomella L, Kim S, McCue P, Intenzo C, Birbe R, Gandhe A, Kumar P, Thakur M (2016). VPAC1 targeted 64Cu-TP3805 PET imaging of prostate cancer: Preliminary evaluation in man. Urology, 88:111-118.


• President, Society of Urologic Oncology

• Urology Chair, NRG (RTOG)

• Steering Committee member, NCI GU

Gyorgy Hajnóczky, MD, PhDDirector, MitoCare Center

Professor, Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology


Mitochondria, Cell death, Liver carcinogenesis

Selected Grants

• R01-DK051526 NIH/NIDDK: Mechanisms of pulsatile calcium signaling

• R01-GM059419 NIH/NIGMS: Mitochondrial calcium signaling in cell death

• R01 GM102724-01A1 NIH/NIGMS: Molecular Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Ca2+ Transport


• Hajnóczky G, Robb-Gaspers LD, Seitz MB, Thomas AP (1995). Decoding of cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations in the mitochondria. Cell, 82: 415-424

• Csordás G, Renken C, Várnai P, Walter L, Weaver D, Buttle KF, Balla T, Mannella CA and Hajnóczky G (2006). Structural and functional aspects and significance of the physical links between ER and mitochondria. J Cell Biol. 174: 915-921.

• Csordás G, Golenár T, Seifert EL, Kamer KJ, Sancak Y, Perocchi F, Moffat C, Weaver D, de la Fuente Perez S, Bogorad R, Koteliansky V, Adijanto J, Mootha VK, Hajnóczky G (2013). MICU1 controls both the threshold and cooperative activation of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter. Cell Metab., 17:976-987.


• Chair, Bioenergetics Subgroup

• Chair, 2010 FASEB Summer Conference on Calcium and Cell Function

• Elected Chair, First Gordon Conference on Mitochondrial Biology

• NIH Study Section Member (MIST) and ad hoc on several review groups

Joannes Hoek, PhDProfessor, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology


Mitochondrial function, oxidative stress


• Case study on pharmacologic ascorbate as cancer adjuvant in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Selected Grants

• 2R01AA018873 NIH/NIAAA: Ethanol effects on the transcriptional regulatory network in liver regeneration

• 5T32AA007463 NIH/NIAAA: Alcoholic tissue injury


• Rouleau L, Antony AN, Bisetto S, Newberg A, Doria C, Levine M, Monti DA, Hoek JB (2016). Synergistic effects of ascorbate and sorafenib in hepatecellular carcinoma: New insights into ascorbate cytotoxicity. Free Rad Biol Med., 95:308-322.

• Nilakantan H, Kuttippurathu L, Parrish A, Hoek JB, Vadigepalli R (2015). In Vivo Zonal Variation and Liver Cell-Type Specific NF-κB Localization after Chronic Adaptation to Ethanol and following Partial Hepatectomy. PLOS ONE, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140236.

• Zakhari S, & Hoek JB (2015). Alcohol and breast cancer: reconciling epidemiological and molecular data. Adv Exp Med Biol. doi: 10.1007/978- 3-319-09614-8_2.


• Chair, Publications Committee, Society on Alcoholism

• Member, American Society for Biochemisty and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)

• Member, International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism

Jean Hoffman-Censits, MDDirector, Multidisciplinary Gentiourinary Cancer Clinic

Assistant Professor, Medical Oncology


Bladder and upper tract cancers, Prostate Cancer


• High accruer, second author of Phase II atezolizumab in platinum refractory urothelial cancer, led to FDA approval

• Co-Author, accelerated MVAC for neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery, regimen now considered a standard in many cooperative group preoperative studies


• Choi W, Porten S, Kim S, Willis D, Plimack ER, Hoffman-Censits J, Roth B, Cheng T, Tran M, Lee IL, Melquist J, Bondaruk J, Majewski T, Zhang S, Pretzsch S, Baggerly K, Siefker-Radtke A, Czerniak B, Dinney CP, McConkey DJ. (2014). Identification of Distinct Basal and Luminal Subtypes of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer with Different Sensitivities to Frontline Chemotherapy. Cancer Cell. 25:152-165.

• Rosenberg JE, Hoffman-Censits J, Powles T, van der Heijden MS, Balar AV, Necchi A, Dawson N, O’Donnell PH, Balmanoukian A, Loriot Y, Srinivas S, Retz MM, Grivas P, Joseph RW, Galsky MD, Fleming MT, Petrylak DP, Perez-Gracia JL, Burris HA, Castellano D, Canil C, Bellmunt J, Bajorin D, Nickles D, Bourgon R, Frampton GM, Cui N, Mariathasan S, Abidoye O, Fine GD, Dreicer R (2016). Atezolizumab in patients with locally advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have progressed following treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy: a single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial. The Lancet. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00561-4.

• Plimack ER, Hoffman-Censits JH, Viterbo R, Trabulsi EJ, Ross EA, Greenberg RE, Chen DY, Lallas CD, Wong YN, Lin J, Kutikov A, Dotan E, Brennan TA, Palma N, Dulaimi E, Mehrazin R, Boorjian SA, Kelly WK, Uzzo RG, Hudes GR. (2014). Accelerated methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (AMVAC) is safe, effective and efficient neoadjuvant treatment for muscle invasive bladder cancer: Results of a multicenter Phase II study with molecular correlates of response and toxicity. J Clin Oncol. 32:1895-1901.


• GU committee, ECOG core

• Scientific advisory board, BCAN

• Editorial Board Member, Bladder Cancer

Renato V. Iozzo, MDGonzalo E. Aponte Professor and Deputy Chair, Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology

Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology


Tumor Microenvironment, Tumor Angiogenesis, Matrix Biology and Proteoglycans


• Discovery of proteoglycan control of cancer growth, angiogenesis, and autophagy

Selected Grants

• 5RO1 CA039481 NIH/NCI: Altered proteoglycan gene expression and cancer

• RO1 CA47282 NIH/NCI: The biology of perlecan in cancer and angiogenesis

• 5RO1 CA164462 NIH/NCI: Progranulin signaling in bladder cancer


• Bix G, Fu J, Gonzalez E, Macro L, Barker A, Campbell S, Zutter MM, Santoro SA, Kim JK, Höök M, Reed CC, and Iozzo RV (2004) Endorepellin causes endothelial cell disassembly of actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions through alpha2beta1 integrin. J. Cell Biol., 166:97-109.

• Goldoni S, Humphries A, Nyström A, Sattar S, Owens RT, McQuillan DJ, Ireton K, and Iozzo RV (2009). Decorin is a novel antagonistic ligand of the Met receptor. J. Cell Biol., 185:743-754.

• Buraschi S, Neill T, Goyal A, Poluzzi C, Smythies J, Owens RT, Schaefer L, Torres A, Iozzo RV (2013). Decorin causes autophagy in endothelial cells via Peg3. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 110: E2582-E2591.


• Editor-In-Chief, Matrix Biology

• Member of Publication Committee, American Society for Investigative Pathology

William Kevin Kelly, DOAssociate Director, Clinical Research, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Leader, Prostate Cancer Program

Director, Division of Solid Tumor


Prostate Cancer and Genitourinary Malignancies, Early Drug Development, Oncology Clinical trial Design and Implementation

Selected Grants

• Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Challenge Award: Optimizing First Line Treatment for Men with Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer

• PC141416 DOD: Health Disparity in African Americans: A Meta-Analysis of Six Phase III Trials in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Men Treated with Docetaxel

• 5 P30CA056036-14: Translational Research in Cancer/Biology of Prostate Cancer Program Leader (Kelly)


• Kelly WK, Halabi S, Carducci M, George D, Mahoney JF, Stadler WM, Morris M, Kantoff P, Monk P, Kaplan E, Vogelzang N, Small EJ (2012). A randomized double-blind placebo controlled phase III trial comparing docetaxel and prednisone with or without bevacizumab in men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (CALGB 90401). J. Clin. Oncol., 30:1534-1540.

• Kelly WK, O’Connor, Krug, Chiao JH, Heaney M, Curley T, MacGregore B, Tong W, Secrist JP, Schwartz L, Richardson S, Chu E, Olgac S, Marks PA, Scher HI, Richon VM (2005). Phase I study of an oral histone deacetylase inhibitor, suberylanilide hydroxamic acid, in patients with advanced cancer. J Clin Oncol, 23:3923-3931.

• Halabi S, Lin CY, Kelly WK, Fizazi KS, Moul JW, Kaplan EB, Morris MJ, Small EJ (2014). Updated prognostic model for predicting overall survival in first-line chemotherapy for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. J Clin Oncol, 32:671-677.


• Member, National Cancer Institute Prostate Cancer Task Force

• Member, Oncology Drug Advisory Committee for the FDA

• CALGB Chair for Advanced Prostate Cancer

• NRG Genitourinary Committee

• NIH Genitourinary Oncology Intergroup Subcommittee

Karen E. Knudsen, PhDDirector, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Chair and Hilary Koprowski Endowed Professor, Cancer Biology

Professor, Cancer Biology, Urology, Radiation Oncology, and Medical Oncology


Hormone-dependent cancer development and progression; Prevention or treatment for lethal prostate cancers; Molecular mechanisms responsible for prostate cancer therapeutic bypass;

Key Clinical or Research Accomplishments:

• Our studies identifying tumor suppressor and hormone receptor alterations have uncovered new targets for treating advanced disease, and led to the development of innovative, biomarker-driven clinical trials.

• Over 20 years of continuous funding from the NIH/NCI

Selected Grants

• R01 CA159945 NIH/NCI: SWI/SNF dysregulation in development and disease.

• 1 R01 CA176401 NIH/NCI: RB Function in Prostate Cancer Progression.

• R01 CA182569 NIH/NCI: USP22 Function in Advanced Prostate Cancer.

• 5 P30CA056036-16 NIH/NCI: Translational Research in Cancer. The goal of this grant is to support the cancer research activities of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in order to increase the survival and quality of life of cancer patients by translating basic research into new strategies to prevent, diagnose, monitor and cure human cancer.


• Goodwin JF, Schiewer MJ, Dean JL, Schrecengost RS, de Leeuw R Han S, Ma T, Den RB, Dicker AP, Feng FY, and Knudsen KE (2013). A hormone-DNA circuit governs the response to genotoxic insult. Cancer Discov., 3:1254-71.

• Schiewer MJ, Goodwin JF, Han S, Brenner JC, Augello MA, Dean JL, Liu F, Planck JL, Ravindranathan P, Chinnaiyan A, McCue P, Gomella LG, Raj GV, Dicker AP, Brody JR, Pascal JM, Centenera MM, Butler LM, Tilley WD, Feng FY, and Knudsen KE (2012). Dual roles of PARP-1 promote cancer growth and progression. Cancer Discov., 2:1134-1149.

• Comstock CES, Augello MA, PeBenito R, Karch J, Tran TH, Utama FE, Tindall EA, Wang Y, Burd CJ, Groh EM, Hoang HN, Giles GG, Severi G, Hayes VM, Henderson BE, Le Marchand L, Kolonel LN, Haiman CA, Baffa R., Gomella LG., Knudsen ES, Rui H, Henshall SM, Sutherland RL and Knudsen KE (2009). Cyclin D1 splice variants: polymorphism, risk, and isoform specific regulation in prostate cancer. Clin. Cancer Res., 15: 5338-5349.


• NIH/NCI IRG Subcommittee A CCSG review committee

• Member, AACR Science Policy and Governmental Affairs Committee

• Program Committee Member, GU-ASCO Annual Meeting

• Editor-in-Chief, Molecular Cancer Research

• American Association of Cancer Institutes (AACI): Annual Meeting Program Committee

• Advisory Board, SU2C, Prostate Cancer

Lucia R. LanguinoDirector, Genetics, Genomics and Cancer Biology PhD program



Role of Integrins in prostate cancer progression


• Discovered signaling pathways that control cell invasion and metastasis

• Integrin structure-function characterization in cancer cell growth

Selected Grants

• R01 CA109874 NIH/NCI: β1 Integrins and IGF-I Receptor in Prostate Cancer

• R01 CA089720 NIH/NCI: Integrin Signaling Pathways in Prostate Cancer

• P01 CA140043 NIH/NCI: Novel Molecular Therapies of Prostate Cancer


• Fedele C, Singh A, Zerlanko B, Violette SM, Iozzo R, and Languino LR (2015). The αvβ6 integrin is transferred intercellularly via exosomes. J Biol Chem, 290:4545-4551.

• Trerotola M, Ganguly KK, Fazli L, Lu H, Dutta A, Liu Q, De Angelis T, Riddell L Wl, Riobo NA, Gleave ME, Zoudeidi A, Altieri DC, and Languino LR (2015). Trop-2 is up-regulated in invasive prostate cancer and displaces FAK from focal contacts. Oncotarget, 16: 14318-14328.

• Dutta A, Li J, Lu H, Akech J, Pratap J, Wang T, Zerlanko B, FitzGerald TJ, Jiang Z, Birbe R, Wixted J, Violette SM, Stein GS, Lian JB, and Languino LR (2014). Integrin αvβ6 promotes a cancer cell autonomous osteolytic program through upregulation of MMP2. Cancer Res, 74:1598-1608.


• Member, NIH – TPM study section

• Editorial Board Member, Cancer Research

Ubaldo Martinez Outschoorn, MDAssistant Professor, Medical Oncology


Cancer Metabolism, Tumor Microenvironment, Cancer ecosystems


• Discovered that in a subgroup of human cancers, oxidative stress drives metabolic coupling between cancer and stromal cells.

• Loss of Caveolin-1 expression in stromal cells induces metabolic coupling with high oxidative stress, stabilization of HIF-1α, and increased generation of catabolites such as lactate, pyruvate and ketone bodies. These stromal catabolites in turn act as oncometabolites which provide a growth advantage to cancer cells. RAS and NFκB activation in cancer cells drives this multi-compartment metabolism.

Selected Grants

• K08-CA175193 NIH/NCI: Metabolic mechanisms of antiestrogen resistance in breast cancer


• Martinez-Outschoorn UE, Peiris-Pagés M, Pestell RG, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP (2016). Cancer metabolism: a therapeutic perspective. Nat Rev Clin Oncol, doi: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.60.

• Martinez-Outschoorn UE, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP (2015). Caveolae and signaling in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer, 15: 225-237.

• Martinez-Outschoorn UE, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP (2014). Metabolic Asymmetry in Cancer: A “Balancing Act” that promotes tumor growth. Cancer Cell, 26:5-7.


• Editorial Board Member, American Journal of Pathology

• Member, American Society of Hematology

• Volunteer Mentor, American Society of Clinical Oncology Diversity Mentoring Program

Alexander Mazin, PhDProfessor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine


DNA repair and recombination


• Discovery of novel activities of key proteins of homologous recombination RAD51, RAD52, RAD54, BLM, RECQ1

• Development of specific inhibitors of these proteins

Selected Grants

• R01CA188347, NIH/NCI: Small molecule inhibitors as a new approach to study human RAD51 recombinase

• R01GM115927, NIH/NIGMS: RNA-mediated DNA break repair

• The Leukemia and the Lymphoma Society Scholar Award # 1054-09: The function of the Bloom’s syndrome helicase


• Bugreev D V, Mazina OM, and Mazin AV (2006). Rad54 protein promotes branch migration of the Holliday junctions. Nature, 442: 590-593.

• Bugreev DV, Huang F, Mazina OM, Pezza RJ, Voloshin ON, Daniel Camerini-Otero R, and Mazin AV (2014). HOP2-MND1 modulates RAD51 binding to nucleotides and DNA. Nature Commun, 5:4198, doi: 10.1038/ncomms5198.

• Huang F, Goyal N, Sullivan K, Hanamshet K, Patel M, Mazina OM, Wang CX, An WF, Spoonamore J, Metkar S, Emmitte KA, Cocklin S, Skorski T, and Mazin AV (2016). Targeting BRCA1- and BRCA2-deficient cells with RAD52 small molecule inhibitors. Nucleic Acids Res, 44:4189-99.


• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Biological Chemistry

Steven B. McMahon, PhDAssociate Provost, Programmatic Research, Thomas Jefferson University

Vice-Chair, Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College



Molecular Genetics, Transcription, Epigenetics


• Identification of specific biochemical events that are controlled by novel targets of MYC, one of the most widely overexpressed proteins in human cancer.

• Identification of novel epigenetic modifiers of the USP family that are recruited by MYC in order to regulate the transcription of these target genes.

• Essential post-translational modifications that regulate the biological effects of p53 by altering genome recognition and transcriptome dynamics.

Selected Grants

• R01 CA164864 NIH/NCI: Role of BAG1 in suppressing the intrinsic tumor suppressor activity of MYC

• R01 CA141070 NIH/NCI: Role of the mitochondrial RNA polymerase POLRMT in MYC function

• R01 CA182569 NIH/NCI: USP22 function in advanced prostate cancer


• Monteith JM, Mellert HS, Sammons MA, Kuswanto LA, Sykes SM, Resnick-Silverman L, Manfredi JJ, Berger SL, and McMahon SB (2016). A rare DNA contact mutation in cancer confers p53 gain-of-function and tumor cell survival via TNFAIP8 induction. Mol. Oncol., (in press).

• Tutton S, Azzam GA, Stong N, Vladimirova O, Wiedmer A, Monteith JA, Beishline K, Riethman H, McMahon SB, Murphy M, and Lieberman PM (2016). Non-Canonical p53 Binding to Human Subtelomeres Mounts a Protective Transcription and Chromatin Response to Genomic Stress. EMBO J. 18:193-207.

• Sussman R, Stanek T, Esteso P, Gearhart JD, Knudsen KE, and McMahon SB (2013). The epigenetic modifier Ubiquitin Specific Protease 22 (Usp22) regulates embryonic stem cell differentiation via transcriptional repression of Sex determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2). J. Biol. Chem., 288:24234-24246.


• Senior Editor, Molecular Cancer Research

• Cancer Research UK Grant Review Panel

• AIRC - Italian Assoc. for Cancer Research Grant Review Panel

• Associate Editor, American Journal of Pathology

• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Biological Chemistry

Edith P. Mitchell, MD, FACPAssociate Director, Diversity Affairs, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Director, Center to Eliminate Cancer Disparities

Program Leader, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology

Clinical Professor, Medicine and Medical Oncology


Gastrointestional Oncology, Colorectal Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Liver Tumors, Breast Cancer, Health Disparities in Minority Populations

Selected Grants

• Susan G. Komen Foundation: Therapy-relevant Stratification of Breast Cancer Patients: Integrating Pathology and Biomarker Analyses.

• Pharmacia: A Randomized, Multi-Center Phase III Trial of Irinotecan in Combination with Three Different Methods of Administration of Fluoropyrimidine: Infusional 5-FU (FOLFIRI), Bolus 5-FU (Day 1 & 8) and Oral Capecitabine (Day 1-14); with Celecoxib vs. Placebo as First Line Therapy for Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

• Bristol Myers Squibb, ImClone System Inc., Merck: A Phase III Randomized Multicenter Study of Cetuximab, Oxaliplatin, 5-Fluorouracil, and Leucovorin vs. Oxaliplatin, 5-Fluorouracil, and Leucovorin in Patients with Previously Treated Metastatic, EGFR-Positive Colorectal Carcinoma.


• Zhao F, Chang VT, Cleeland C, Cleary JF, Mitchell EP, Wagner LI, Fisch MJ (2014). Determinants of pain severity changes in ambulatory patients with cancer: An analysis from Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial E2Z02. J Clin. Oncol., 32: 312-319.

• Mitchell EP, Piperdi B, Lacouture ME, Shearer H, Iannotti N, Pillai MV, Xu F, Yassine M (2011). The efficacy and safety of panitumumab administered concomitantly with FOLFIRI or irinotecan in second-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: The secondary analysis from STEPP (Skin Toxicity Evaluation Protocol With Panitumumab) by KRAS status. Clin. Colorectal Cancer, 10:333-339.

• Giantonio BJ, Catalano PJ, Meropol NJ, O’Dwyer PJ, Mitchell EP, Alberts SR, Schwartz MA, Benson AB, III (2007). Bevacizumab in combination with oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (FOLFOX4) for previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer: results from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study E3200. J Clin Oncol, 25: 1539-1544.


• Member, National Cancer Institute Moonshot Initiative Blue Ribbon Panel

• President, National Medical Association

• Member, National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Trials and Translational Research Advisory Committee

• Chair, Underserved Populations Committee Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group/ American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG/ACRIN)

• Member, GI Committee ECOG/ACRIN

Daniel A. Monti, MDSenior Vice President and The Ellen and Ron Caplan Director and Professor, Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine and the Brind-Marcus Center of Integrative Medicine


Integrative medicine, including the role of natural molecules and lifestyle on health outcomes, cancer survivorship and the development of novel clinical and research models.


• Has more than tripled the Myrna Brind Center’s clinical and wellness operations

• Created the research division of Integrative Medicine at Jefferson, which has attracted more than $15M in funding

Selected Grants

• 5-RO1-CA111832-02 NIH/NCI: MBAT: A Novel Psychosocial Cancer Intervention

• Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration: Development of a Model Integrative Cancer Quality of Life Program


• Rouleau L, Antony AN, Bisetto S, Newberg A, Doria C, Levine M, Monti DA, Hoek JB (2016). Synergistic effects of ascorbate and sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma: New insights into ascorbate cytotoxicity. Free Radic Biol Med, 95:308-322.

• Monti DA, Newberg AB (2013). Complementary Mind-Body Therapies in Cancer, in Carr BI and Steel J (Eds.), Psychological Aspects of Cancer pp. 347-360. New York: Springer Science.

• Monti DA, Kash KM, Kunkel EJ, Moss A, Mathews M, Brainard G, Anné R, Leiby BE, Pequinot E, Newberg AB (2013). Psychosocial benefits of a novel mindfulness intervention versus standard support in distressed women with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 22:2565-2575.


• Board Examiner, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

• Peer-reviewer for numerous medical journals and study sections at the National Institutes of Health

Stephen C. Peiper, MDAssociate Director, Translational Research, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Peter A. Herbut Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology, Anatomy & Cell Biology


Hematopathology, Genomic Diagnostics


• Molecular cloning of Acute Myeloid Leukemia diagnostic markers: CD13 and CD33

• Collaboration on identification of CCR5 as HIV-1 coreceptor

• Characterization of CXCR4 structure and function

Selected Grants

• R01AI041346 NIAID: Mechanism For Chemokine Receptor Fusogenic Activity

• R01AI041346 NIAID: Molecular Basis Of Chemokine Receptor Fusogenic Activity

• R01ES02086801 NIH/NIEHS: Molecular Mechanism of Arsenic Carcinogenesis


• Navenot JM, Wang Z, Chopin M, Fujii N, Peiper SC (2005). Kisspeptin-10-induced signaling of GPR54 negatively regulates chemotactic responses mediated by CXCR4: a potential mechanism for the metastasis suppressor activity of kisspeptins. Cancer Res, 65:10450-10456.

• Navenot JM, Fujii N, Peiper SC (2009). KiSS1 metastasis suppressor gene product induces suppression of tyrosine kinase receptor signaling to Akt, tumor necrosis factor family ligand expression, and apoptosis. Mol Pharmacol,, 75:1074-1083.

• Mandawat A1, Fiskus W, Buckley KM, Robbins K, Rao R, Balusu R, Navenot JM, Wang ZX, Ustun C, Chong DG, Atadja P, Fujii N, Peiper SC, Bhalla K (2010). Pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat depletes CXCR4 levels and signaling and exerts synergistic antimyeloid activity in combination with CXCR4 antagonists. Blood, 116:5306-5315.


• Research Program Review Division, Subcommittee on Hematology, Veterans Health Administration

• Fogarty International Collaborations Study Section, National Institutes of Health

• Cell Structure and Metastasis Study Section, American Cancer Society

• Personnel Study Section C, American Cancer Society

• Advisory Board for Immunologic Devices, Food and Drug Administration

George C. Prendergast, PhDCo-Leader, Cancer Cell Biology and Signaling Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Professor, President and CEO of Lankenau Institute for Medical Research


Cancer Biology & Pathophysiology, Drug Discovery & Development


• Discovery of Novel Immunomodulatory Molecules (IDO Enzymes)

• Discovery of Novel Cancer Immunotherapy IDO inhibitors)

Selected Grants

• NIH R01 CA109542 NIH/NCI: IDO inhibitors for combinatorial cancer treatment

• NIH R01 CA191191 NIH/NCI: IDO2 targeting in pancreatic cancer

• WW Smith Trust “Translational Projects in Cancer Research”


• Muller AJ, DuHadaway JB, Donover PS, Sutanto-Ward E, and Prendergast GC (2005). Inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, a target of the cancer suppression gene Bin1, potentiates cancer chemotherapy. Nature Med., 11:312-319.

• Kumar S, Jaller D, Patel B, LaLonde JM, DuHadaway JB, Malachowski WP, Prendergast GC and Muller AJ (2008). Structure based development of phenylimidazole-derived inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. J. Med. Chem., 51: 4968-4977.

• Smith C, Chang M-Y, Parker K, Beury D, DuHadaway J, Flick H, Boulden J, Sutanto-Ward E, Soler AP, Laury-Kleintop L, Mandik-Nayak L, Metz R, Ostrand-Rosenberg S, Prendergast GC* and Muller AJ* (2012). IDO is a nodal pathogenic driver of lung cancer development and metastasis. Cancer Discov. 2: 722-735. *Co-senior authors.


• The Havens Chair in Biomedical Research, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research

• 1995 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences Award

• Editor-in-Chief, Cancer Research

Takami Sato, MD, PhDDirector, Melanoma Program

K. Hasumi Professor of Medical Oncology


Uveal Melanoma, Liver-directed treatment


• Immunoembolization of hepatic metastasis.

• Development of patient-derived xenograft models for metastatic uveal melanoma.

Selected Grants

• R21 CA103250 NIH/NCI: Immunoembolization of the hepatic artery with (GM-CSF)

• PA Department of Health: Therapeutic vaccine bridging the gap in racial disparities in colorectal cancer

• PA Department of Health: Health Research Formula Fund ME-01-329: Immunoembolization of the liver tumor


• Sato T, Eschelman DJ, Gonsalves CF, Terai M, Chervoneva I, McCue PA, Shields JA, Shields CL, Yamamoto A, Berd D, Mastrangelo MJ, Sullivan KL (2008). Immunoembolization of malignant liver tumors using granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF, Sargramostim): A novel treatment for uveal melanoma patients with hepatic metastases. J Clin Onc, 26: 5436-5442.

• Terai M, Mu Z, Eschelman DJ, Gonsalves CF, Kageyama K, Chervoneva I, Orloff M, Weight R, Mastrangelo MJ, Cristofanilli M, Sato T (2015). Arterial blood, rather than venous blood, is a better source for circulating melanoma cells. EBioMedicine, 2:1821-1826.

• Ozaki S, Vuyyuru R, Kageyama K, Terai M, Ohara M, Cheng H, Manser T, Mastrangelo MJ, Aplin AE, Sato T (2016). Establishment and characterization of orthotopic mouse models for human uveal melanoma hepatic colonization. Am J Pathol. 186: 43-56.


• Reviewer, National Institute of Health Research (UK)

• Special government employees (CDER, FDA): Ad hoc member, Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee, U.S.

• Member, Scientific Steering Committee, Cure OM, Melanoma Research Foundation

Russell J. Schilder, MDDirector, Early Drug Development Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Program Leader, Gynecologic-Medical Oncology


Gynecologic Medical Oncology


• PI of Multiple Phase I or II cooperative group and investigator initiated trials.

Selected Grants

• 1R01CA193511-01A1 NIH/NCI: NOX4-mediated oxidative stress in ovarian tumor growth and treatment response


• Pathak HB, Zhou Y, Sethi G., Hirst, Schilder RJ, Golemis EA, Godwin AK (2015). A synthetic lethality screen using a focused siRNA library to identify sensitizers to dasatinib therapy for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer. PLOS ONE, 10:e014426.

• Amaravadi RK, Schilder RJ, Martin LP, Graham MA, Weng DE, Adjei AA (2015). A Phase I study of the smac-mimetic birinapant in adults with refractory sold tumors or lymphoma. Mol Cancer Ther. 14:2569-75.

• Martin LP, Sill M, Shahin MS, Powell M, DiSilvestro P, Landrum LM, Gaillard SL, Goodheart MJ, Hoffman J, Schilder RJ (2014). A phase II evaluation of AMG 102 (Rilotumumab) in the treatment of persistent or recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study. Gynecol Oncol., 132:526-530.


• Gynecologic Cancer Steering Committee, NCI

• Chair, Phase I Subcomittee

• Co-Chair, Developmental Therapeutics Committee

• Co-Chair of Gynecologic Oncology Working Group, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group/ACRIN

• Editorial Board Member, Gynecologic Malignancies, ASCO’s Cancer.Net

Matthias J. Schnell, PhDDirector, Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis PhD program, Jefferson College of Biomedical Sciences

Director, Jefferson Vaccine Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology


Vaccine development


• Sequenced the rabies virus, allowing it to be used as an effective vector for designer vaccines.

Selected Grants

• 4R01AI105204 NIH/NIAID: Preclinical characterization of a multivalent killed Filovirus/Rabies vaccine


• Willet M, Kurup D, Papaneri A, Wirblich C, Hooper JW, Kwilas SA, Keshwara R, Hudacek A, Beilfuss S, Rudolph G, Pommerening E, Vos A, Neubert A, Jahrling P, Blaney JE, Johnson RF, Schnell MJ (2015). Preclinical Development of Inactivated Rabies Virus-Based Polyvalent Vaccine Against Rabies and Filoviruses. J. Infect. Dis., 212 Suppl 2:S414-24.

• Kurup D, Wirblich C, Feldmann H, Marzi A, Schnell MJ (2015). Rhabdovirus-based vaccine platforms against henipaviruses. J. Virol., 89:144-154.

• Davis BM, Rall G, and Schnell MJ (2015). Everything you always wanted to know about Rabies Virus (but were afraid to ask). Annu. Rev. Virol., 2:451-471.


• Member of the NIH study section VMD

• Editor, PLOS ONE

• Associate editor, PLOSPATHOGENS

• Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Neurovirology

Edouard Trabulsi MD, FACSAssociate Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Urology


Urologic oncology, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and prostate imaging


• Trabulsi EJ, Valicenti RK, Hanlon AL, Pisansky TM, Sandler HM, Kuban DA, Catton C, Michalski JM, Zelefsky MJ, Kupelian PA, Kestin L, DeWeese TL, and Pollack A. “A Multi-Institutional Matched-Control Analysis of Adjuvant and Salvage Postoperative Radiation Therapy for pT3/4N0 Prostate Cancer.” Urology 72(6): 1298-302, Dec 2008

• Trabulsi EJ, Zola JC, Colon-Herdman A, Heckman JE, Gomella LG, Lallas CD. “Minimally invasive radical prostatectomy: transition from pure laparoscopic to robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.” Arch Esp Urol. 64(8): 823-9, Oct 2011.

• Halpern EJ, Gomella LG, Forsberg F, McCue PA, Trabulsi EJ. “Contrast enhanced transrectal ultrasound for the detection of porstate cancer: a randomized, double-blind trial of dutasteride pretreatment.” J Urol. 2012 Nov; 188(5): 1739-45.


• President elect, MidAtlantic Section, American Urological Association

• Co-Chair, Genitourinary Oncology Early Modality Committee of ECOG-ACRIN

Scott A. Waldman, MDChair, Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics

Program Leader, Gastrointestinal Cancer Program


Colorectal cancer diagnostics, therapeutics, chemoprevention


• Translating novel mechanisms initiating colorectal cancer into chemoprevention

• Translating novel immune-oncology into new vaccines for the secondary prevention of colorectal cancer metastases

• Novel antibody-drug conjugates to treat colorectal cancer metastases

• Novel pathways linking obesity and GI cancer

Selected Grants

• 1R01 CA170533 NIH/NCI: GUCY2C hormone signaling at the intersection of obesity and colorectal cancer

• MCR-0086-NCI Chemoprevention Network NIH/NCI Division of Chemoprevention: Phase I trial of linaclotide to demonstrate colorectal bioactivity in healthy volunteers

• 1R01 CA206026 NIH/NCI: GUCY2C hormone loss translates APC-Beta-catenin mutations into epithelial transformation


• Snook AE, Stafford BJ, Li P, Huang L, Birbe R, Schulz S, Schnell M, Thakur M, Rothstein JL, Eisenlohr LC, and Waldman SA (2008). Cancer mucosal antigen evokes lineage-specific T cell responses opposing tumor metastasis and autoimmunity. J. National Cancer Inst., 100:950-961.

• Lin JE, Colon-Gonzalez F, Blomain E, Kim GW, Aing A, Stoecker B, Rock J, Snook AE, Zhan T, Hyslop M, Tomczak M, Blumberg RS, and Waldman SA (2015). Calories suppress guanylin silencing the GUCY2C tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer in obesity. Can. Res., 76:339-346.

• Gibbons AV, Lin JE, Marszalowicz GP, Li P, Stoecker BA, Kim GW, Blomain ES, Rattan S, Snook AE, Schulz S, and Waldman SA (2013). GUCY2C controls paracrine loops mediating epithelial-mesenchymal cross-talk underlying intestinal desmoplasia. Can. Res., 73:6654-6666.


• American Board of Clinical Pharmacology

• Presidential cycle, American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

• Regent, American College of Clinical Pharmacology

• Member, NCI Subcommittee J (third cycle)

• Editor-In-Chief, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Maria Werner-Wasik MDProfessor, Radiation Oncology


Radiation oncology, Thoracic and Central Nervous System Tumors


• Metabolic Tumor Volume (MTV) is predictive of outcome in patients with Stage III non-small cell lung cancer receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy.

• Salvage Stereotactic Fractionated Radiotherapy (SRT) is Safe and Effective in Progressive High Grade Gliomas.

• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) is Safe and Effective in Patients with medically inoperable Stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

• Incidence and time course of treatment-related esophagitis and pneumonitis have been described in the RTOG cooperative prospective studies.


• Ohri N, Duan F, Machtay M, Gorelick JJ, Snyder BS, Alavi A, Siegel BA, Johnson DW, Bradley JD, DeNittis A, Werner-Wasik M (2015). Pretreatment FDG-PET metrics in stage III non-small cell lung cancer: ACRIN 6668/RTOG 0235. J. Nat. Cancer. Inst., 107(4), doi: 10.1093/jnci/djv004.

• Grills IS, Hope AJ, Guckenberger M, Kestin LL, Werner-Wasik M, Yan D, Sonke JJ, Bissonnette JP, Wilbert J, Xiao Y, Belderbos J (2012). A collaborative analysis of stereotactic lung radiotherapy outcomes for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer using daily online cone-beam computed tomography image-guided radiotherapy. J. Thorac. Oncol., 7:1382-1393.

• Fogh SE, Andrews DW, Glass J, Curran W, Glass C, Champ C, Evans JJ, Hyslop T, Pequignot E, Downes B, Comber E, Maltenfort M, Dicker AP, Werner-Wasik M (2010). Hypofractionated stereotactic radiation therapy: an effective therapy for recurrent high-grade gliomas. J Clin Oncol., 28:3048-53.


• Chair, RTOG Publications Committee

• Co-Chair, NRG Oncology Publications Committee

• Chair, Lung track abstract review panel, ASTRO annual scientific meeting

• Lung Track Chair, Best of ASTRO 2016 Annual Meeting Scientific Committee

Eric Wickstrom, PhDProfessor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology


Oligonucleotide blockade of oncogenic RNAs, radiometal-oligonucleotide PET imaging of oncogenic RNAs


• Pioneered oligonucleotide blockade of MYCC cancer gene mRNA in leukemia cells and transgenic lymphomas

• Pioneered oligonucleotide blockade of HRAS cancer gene mRNA in bladder cancer cells and bladder cancer xenografts

• Pioneered PET imaging of CCND1, HER2, and MYCC cancer gene mRNA in breast cancer xenografts

• Pioneered PET imaging of KRAS2 cancer gene mRNA in pancreatic cancer xenografts and transgenic lung cancers

• Pioneered oligonucleotide blockade of miR-17 cancer microRNA in triple negative breast cancer cells

Selected Grants

• DOD USAMRDC W81XWH-09-1-0577, Three Dimensional Projection Environment for Molecular Design and Surgical Simulation

• 1 R44 CA136306 NIH/NCI: Radiohybridization Imaging of HER2 Oncogene to Detect Breast Cancer

• 1 R01 CA148565 NIH/NCI: PET Imaging of KRAS2 Activation to Guide EGFR Targeting in Cancer Therapy


• Thakur ML, Devadhas D, Zhang K, Pestell RG, Wang C, McCue P, and Wickstrom E (2010). Imaging spontaneous MMTVneu transgenic murine mammary tumors: Targeting metabolic activity versus genetic products. J. Nucl Med., 51:106-111.

• Paudyal B, Zhang K, Chen C-P, Mehta N, Wampole ME, Mitchell EP, Gray BD, Mattis JA, Pak KY, Thakur ML, and Wickstrom E (2013). Determining efficacy of breast cancer therapy by PET imaging of HER2 mRNA. Nucl. Med. Biol., 40:994-999.

• Jin Y-Y, Andrade J, and Wickstrom E (2015). Non-specific blocking of miR-17-5p guide strand in triple negative breast cancer cells by amplifying passenger strand activity. PLOS ONE, 10(12):e0142574.


• Member, NIH Experimental Therapeutics I Study Section

• Editorial Board Member, Bioconjugate Chemistry

• Co-Founder, Bound Therapeutics LLC

Charles J. Yeo, MD, FACSCo-Director, Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center

Co-Leader, Gastrointestinal Cancer Program

Samuel D. Gross Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery


Hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery, pancreatic cancer, unusual pancreatic neoplasms, acute or chronic pancreatitis


• Performed over 1400 Whipple procedures, and cared for over 2200 patients with pancreatic tumors.

• Designed and completed numerous prospective randomized clinical trials with dramatic impact on the field of pancreatic surgery.

• Authored over 520 peer reviewed scientific papers, numerous abstracts, over 110 book chapters, and 22 books or monographs. His H index is over 117, and in 2013 he was recognized as one of the top 400 most highly influential biomedical researchers in the world.

Selected Grants

• 1R01CA191191 NIH/NCI : Targeting IDO2 in pancreatic cancer

• 2P50-CA-62924-04 NCI SPORE Projects 1A,B, 3C,B, 4

• American Association of Cancer Research – PanCAN RAN grant: “Molecular tailored therapy for pancreatic cancer”


• Sohn TA, Yeo CJ, Cameron JL, Koniaris L, Kaushal S, Abrams RA, Sauter PK, Coleman J, Hruban RH, Lillemoe KD (2000). Resected adenocarcinoma of the pancreas-616 patients: results, outcomes, and prognostic indicators. J Gastrointest Surg., 4:567-79.

• Hahn SA, Schutte M, Hoque AT, Moskaluk CA, da Costa LT, Rozenblum E, Weinstein CL, Fischer A, Yeo CJ, Hruban RH, Kern SE (1996). DPC4, a candidate tumor suppressor gene at human chromosome 18q21.1. Science, 271:350-3.

• Yeo CJ, Cameron JL, Sohn TA, Lillemoe KD, Pitt HA, Talamini MA, Hruban RH, Ord SE, Sauter PK, Coleman J, Zahurak ML, Grochow LB, Abrams RA (1997). Six hundred fifty consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomies in the 1990s: pathology, complications, and outcomes. Ann Surg., 226:248-57.


• Trustee to the SSAT Foundation; Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract

• Editor-in-Chief, Case Reports in Pancreatic Cancer

• Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery

• Associate Editor, Advances in Surgery

• Editorial Board, Annals of Surgery, Langenbeck’s Archives of Surgery and Surgery

CS 16-1420

skcc leadership profiles booklet

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