Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD
Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD, is a head and neck surgical oncologist with an NIH R01 funded basic/translational immunology laboratory. He is the director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, a Hillman professor of oncology, associate vice chancellor for cancer research, codirector of the Tumor Microenvironment Center, and a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, of Immunology, and of Radiation Oncology.
Articles
Educational Interactions Among Oncologists Remain a Subtle Loss During COVID-19 Pandemic
July 18th 2020Exciting new knowledge and a more exquisite understanding of the role of tumor cell biology and the tumor microenvironment have driven the fields of precision oncology/genomics-based medicine and immuno-oncology/cancer immunotherapy.
COVID-19 Vaccine Response Reminds National Leaders About Importance of Clinical Research
April 25th 2020"This infectious disease would have likely wiped out many communities only decades ago. It is true that our highly connected and peripatetic society may have increased exposures across the world. Yet, we have risen to the occasion and implemented public health screening, testing, and treatment strategies."
Shifting the Focus to Newer Technologies for Immunotherapy Response
December 3rd 2019It is clear that cancer immunotherapy has progressed dramatically over the past 10 years, with over 20 FDA approvals for immune checkpoint receptor inhibitors targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4. However, we are still awaiting the next major advance in these inhibitory receptor targets that yields clinical benefit. In the meantime, additional advances have appeared.
New Insights From Genomic Classification Affecting Choice of Targeted Agents or Immunotherapy
October 10th 2019At the recent <em>20th Annual </em>International Lung Cancer Congress® in Huntington Beach, California, a number of very prominent contributors to the lung cancer translational and clinical field provided updates regarding novel strategies to address unmet needs.
KEYNOTE-048 Leads to First-Line Advances in Monotherapy, Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer
July 17th 2019In his editorial note, Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD, discussed how immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway have drastically changed treatment and improved outcomes across numerous solid tumors over the past 5 years. He discussed data from the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting surrounding treatment options for head and neck cancers.
Intralesional Oncolytic Viruses Harness in situ Immunization for Cutaneous Melanoma
July 8th 2019The ability to activate pattern recognition receptors, carry other genetic “cargo” to modify immunity, and induce lymphocyte infiltration into cancer is an appealing strategy accomplished by intralesional oncolytic viruses. Thus, the concept of combining these novel therapeutics in the preoperative setting to enhance in situ immunization and antitumor activity systemically, as well as to increase R0 complete resection, may be a useful approach to lead to cure, according to Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD.
AACR Meeting Focuses on Advances in Immunotherapy Across Several Cancer Types
May 22nd 2019Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD, co-physician editor-in-chief of <em>Targeted Therapies in Oncology</em>, highlights a series of exciting results presented across various topics, which affect cancer research and treatment, during the 2019 AACR Annual Meeting.
Evolving Standards of Care in Melanoma and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
March 14th 2019Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD, Co-Physician Editor in Chief, <em>Targeted Therapies in Oncology</em>,<em> </em>discusses<em> </em>the<em> </em>evolving<em> </em>role of immunotherapy in melanoma and non–small cell lung cancer, where by it is now the dominant therapeutic approach in these diseases in progressively earlier lines of therapy.
Refinements in the Use of Genomic Rearrangements Signals Exciting Times Ahead
June 11th 2018Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD, Physician Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Targeted Therapies, discusses genomic rearrangements and the allelic fraction of that genomic rearrangement as a major component of an individual’s cancer.
Elucidating Additional Patient Subgroups Enhances Understanding of Cancer Biology
April 29th 2018The physician editor-in-chief of The Journal of Targeted Therapies in Cancer™, found 2 articles particularly interesting in this issue on therapeutic possibilities for patients with recurrent and metastatic epithelial cancers.. These articles show that combinatorial strategies harnessing conventional modalities such as radiation therapy (RT) and immune stimulatory approaches may have additional value for this population of patients.
Elucidating Additional Patient Subgroups Enhances Understanding of Cancer Biology
April 1st 2018<strong>IN THIS ISSUE OF </strong><em>The Journal of Targeted Therapies in Cancer</em>™, 2 articles in particular impressed me as reflective of the evolution and development of therapeutic possibilities for patients with recurrent and metastatic epithelial cancers. Although the 2 may initially seem to have distinct focuses, it is now becoming apparent that combinatorial strategies harnessing conventional modalities such as radiation therapy and immune stimulatory approaches may have additional value for this population of patients.
Abscopal Effect of Radiotherapy: Reality or Urban Legend?
February 20th 2018<strong>IN THIS ISSUE, INVESTIGATORS FROM</strong> Emory Winship Cancer Institute describe their experience with the so-called “abscopal effect,” which describes the ability of locally delivered radiation therapy to trigger distant antitumor effects. R. H. Mole, BM, FRCP, first coined the term abscopal effect as “an action at a distance from the irradiated volume but within the same organism” in 1953.
