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David Sidransky, MD
DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified) )| Communities: Oral Cavity and Pharynx Cancer , Esophagus Cancer , Thyroid Cancer , Larynx Cancer , Lung Cancer , Bladder and Urinary Cancer | Answers: 8 |
| Member Since: Jul. 2012 |
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Professional Statement
Dr. Sidransky is a renowned oncologist and research scientist. Dr. Sidransky is deeply engaged in the development of tumorgraft mouse-avatar technology as a tool for both personalizing cancer treatment and translation oncology. Dr. Sidransky was named and profiled by TIME magazine in 2001 as one of the top physicians and scientists in America, recognized for his work with early detection of cancer. Since 1994, Dr. Sidransky has been the Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Research Division at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Professor of Oncology, Otolaryngology, Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Urology, Genetics, and Pathology at John Hopkins University and Hospital. Dr. Sidransky is one of the most highly cited researchers in clinical and medical journals in the world, in the field of oncology during the past decade, with over 300 peer-reviewed publications. He has contributed more than 40 cancer reviews and chapters. Dr. Sidransky is a founder of a number of biotechnology companies and holds numerous biotechnology patents. He has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and was, until the merger with Eli Lilly, a director of ImClone Systems, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing oncology care. He is the chairman of Tamir and Champions Oncology and also serves on the board of Rosetta Genomics. He is serving and has served on scientific advisory boards of MedImmune, Roche, Amgen and Veridex, LLC (a Johnson & Johnson diagnostic company), among others. Dr. Sidransky served as Director (2005-2008) of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). He was the chairperson of AACR International Conferences (2006 and 2007) on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutics.
In his laboratory at Johns Hopkins: "We elucidate the molecular genetic changes that drive the progression of various types of cancer. We concentrate on identifying new genetic changes in smoking-associated tumors including lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and bladder cancer. We also investigate the molecular epidemiology of smoking-induced cancers and the link between tobacco smoke and mutations of critical oncogenes. Two recent discoveries are now driving our basic research—p63, a p53 family member, is commonly amplified in SCC and drives cancer progression. We know that WT p53 binds to p63 and degrades p63. Moreover, p63 binds to B56/PP2A, resulting in upregulation of b-catenin and downstream signaling. We also recently discovered BRAF mutations in 70 percent of thyroid tumors. We are identifying downstream signaling mechanisms for BRAF and are working with new BRAF inhibitors for targeted molecular therapy."
In his laboratory at Johns Hopkins: "We elucidate the molecular genetic changes that drive the progression of various types of cancer. We concentrate on identifying new genetic changes in smoking-associated tumors including lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and bladder cancer. We also investigate the molecular epidemiology of smoking-induced cancers and the link between tobacco smoke and mutations of critical oncogenes. Two recent discoveries are now driving our basic research—p63, a p53 family member, is commonly amplified in SCC and drives cancer progression. We know that WT p53 binds to p63 and degrades p63. Moreover, p63 binds to B56/PP2A, resulting in upregulation of b-catenin and downstream signaling. We also recently discovered BRAF mutations in 70 percent of thyroid tumors. We are identifying downstream signaling mechanisms for BRAF and are working with new BRAF inhibitors for targeted molecular therapy."
Professional Info
Credential: MD
Primary specialty: Oncology - Hematology/Oncology
Medical school: Baylor College of Medicine
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Fellowship: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Hospital affiliation: Johns Hopkins Hospital
Practice address:
1800 Orleans St.
Baltimore, Maryland
21287
Practice phone number: 410-502-5153
DavidSidranskyMD Activities
Tumorgrafts are tested in a CLIA approved laboratory. The current generation of turmograft testing does not require additional FDA approval.
New answer by DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified))
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8 months ago
DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) asked the question
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8 months ago
Tumorgrafts work for both the primary tumor and metastases. Grafts from primary tumors have been used to predict the likely best therapy in metastatic sites as well, with excellent responses.
New answer by DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified))
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8 months ago
DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) asked the question
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8 months ago
Would you share an example of tumorgrafts having an impact on the treatment decisions for a patient?
In 2006, we saw a 60 year male with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He underwent extensive abdominal surgery to take out a cancer of the pancreas, but the cancer recurred 12 months after surgery. The patient was treated with the standard of care anticancer drug Gemcitabine for four months until the cancer began to grow, despite treatment.
We tested the anticancer drug Mitomycin C — which is rarely used to treat pancreatic cancer – on his tumorgraft. This treatment showed a significant response in the tumorgraft.
The patient received three cycles of Mitomycin C. His blood tumor marker (used to measure the tumor in the blood) was previously 98,000 and based on TumorGraft directed treatments was reduced to under 100. After 22 months he was treated with two additional cycles of Mitomycin C and three cycles of Cisplatin. His cancer remained in remission for five years. The average survival of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer is approximately six to eight months.
Not every patient will see similar results. This patient was fortunate in that (a) there were drugs available to combat his disease and (b) these drugs were identified as impactful by his tumorgraft.
We tested the anticancer drug Mitomycin C — which is rarely used to treat pancreatic cancer – on his tumorgraft. This treatment showed a significant response in the tumorgraft.
The patient received three cycles of Mitomycin C. His blood tumor marker (used to measure the tumor in the blood) was previously 98,000 and based on TumorGraft directed treatments was reduced to under 100. After 22 months he was treated with two additional cycles of Mitomycin C and three cycles of Cisplatin. His cancer remained in remission for five years. The average survival of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer is approximately six to eight months.
Not every patient will see similar results. This patient was fortunate in that (a) there were drugs available to combat his disease and (b) these drugs were identified as impactful by his tumorgraft.
New answer by DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified))
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8 months ago
Would you share an example of tumorgrafts having an impact on the treatment decisions for a patient?
DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) asked the question
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8 months ago
Tumorgrafting has been used most extensively on solid tumors. Leukemias and lymphomas have not generally been used and are not currently taken for grafting and testing.
New answer by DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified))
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8 months ago
DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) asked the question
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8 months ago
The quality of research done on tumorgrafts is outstanding and has been published in many peer reviewed journals. There is abundant information from many academic centers that tumorgrafts accurately reflect the important molecular changes in the patient’s own tumor and response to therapy. Champions (http://championsoncology.com) has published additional information on the accuracy and benefit of actually using tumorgrafts to help guide therapy for patients.
New answer by DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified))
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8 months ago
DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) asked the question
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8 months ago
Tumorgrafts can help predict which therapy is the best from those tested for the individual patient. Tumorgrafts have been used to treat mostly metastatic tumors but an increasingly growing number of patients graft their tumor when it is first removed and localized so the graft is ready for testing if the tumor recurs or metastasizes.
New answer by DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified))
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8 months ago
DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) asked the question
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8 months ago
Tumorgrafts can help at almost every point in the treatment process, but the earlier the better. Tumorgrafts generally take about 2-5 months to grow and expand. At this stage, testing can begin, and will generally take an addition 30 days. The earlier in the cancer diagnosis that the tissue is implanted, the earlier the results can be used to personalize therapy.
New answer by DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified))
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8 months ago
DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) asked the question
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8 months ago
Every patient’s cancer is unique. Two patients with the same type of cancer will often respond differently to the same treatment. Tumorgrafts are pieces of living tumor tissue from a specific patient that are implanted (or grafted) into a mouse. Once the patients tumor (graft) begins to grow in the mice, it can be expanded in additional mice and tested against different cancer drugs. The graft can be used to personalize cancer therapy by finding the drug or combination of drugs that works best to shrink the tumor in the mouse. This information can then be used by the treating physician to personalize the patient’s cancer care.
New answer by DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified))
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8 months ago
DavidSidranskyMD (Physician - Oncology - Hematology/Oncology (Verified)) asked the question
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8 months ago
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