Description of Research Expertise

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
1. Defining Mechanisms and Reducing Toxicity from Normal Tissue Damage Caused by Ionizing Radiation: These projects center on modeling the physical patterns of dose deposition by x-rays, gamma rays and charged particles and determining the mechanism(s) that lead to normal tissue toxicity. From a greater understanding of these mechanisms, these projects seek to identify and formulate potential radiation protectors and mitigators for use in human medicine.

2. Cellular Signaling and PDT cytotoxicity: This project is focused on defining the molecular mechanism by which PDT-initiated growth factor and anti-oxidant signaling leads to decreased PDT-mediated cytotoxicity in human cancer cells and tumors.

3. Clinical trials of RT and PDT: These projects involve using insights gained from pre-clinical studies to design early phase interventional trials for patients with cancers that are difficult to treat using current standard modalities.

Selected Publications

Cramer Gwendolyn, Lewis Robert, Gymarty Ashley, Hagan Sarah, Mickler Michela, Evans Sydney, Punekar Salman R, Shuman Lee, Simone Charles B, Hahn Stephen M, Busch Theresa M, Fraker Douglass, Cengel Keith A: Preclinical Evaluation of Cetuximab and Benzoporphyrin Derivative-Mediated Intraperitoneal Photodynamic Therapy in a Canine Model. Photochemistry and photobiology : 2020.

Cramer Gwendolyn M, Sandell Meo Julia, Finlay Jarod C, Zhu Timothy C, Busch Theresa M, Cengel Keith A: In vivo Spectroscopic Evaluation of the Intraperitoneal Cavity in Canines. Photochemistry and photobiology : 2020.

Dupre Pamela J, Ong Yi Hong, Friedberg Joseph, Singhal Sunil, Carter Shirron, Simone Charles B, Finlay Jarod C, Zhu Timothy C, Cengel Keith A, Busch Theresa M: Light Fluence Rate and Tissue Oxygenation (S O ) Distributions Within the Thoracic Cavity of Patients Receiving Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Photochemistry and photobiology : 2020.

Kim Michele M, Zhu Timothy C, Ong Yi Hong, Finlay Jarod C, Dimofte Andreea, Singhal Sunil, Glatstein Eli, Cengel Keith A: Infrared navigation system for light dosimetry during pleural photodynamic therapy. Physics in medicine and biology : 2020.

Diffenderfer Eric S, Verginadis Ioannis I, Kim Michele M, Shoniyozov Khayrullo, Velalopoulou Anastasia, Goia Denisa, Putt Mary, Hagan Sarah, Avery Stephen, Teo Kevin, Zou Wei, Lin Alexander, Swisher-McClure Samuel, Koch Cameron, Kennedy Ann R, Minn Andy, Maity Amit, Busch Theresa M, Dong Lei, Koumenis Costas, Metz James, Cengel Keith A: Design, Implementation, and in Vivo Validation of a Novel Proton FLASH Radiation Therapy System. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics 106 (2): 440-448,2020.

Ong Yi Hong, Dimofte Andreaa, Kim Michele M, Finlay Jarod C, Sheng Tianqi, Singhal Sunil, Cengel Keith A, Yodh Arjun G, Busch Theresa M, Zhu Timothy C: Reactive Oxygen Species Explicit Dosimetry for Photofrin-mediated Pleural Photodynamic Therapy. Photochemistry and photobiology : 2019.

Friedberg Joseph S, Simone Charles B, Culligan Melissa J, Putt Mary E, Barsky Andrew R, Katz Sharyn, Cengel Keith A: Posterior Intercostal Lymph Nodes Double Recurrence and Death Risk in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. The Annals of thoracic surgery : 2019.

Grewal Amardeep S, Min Eun Jeong, Long Qi, Grewal Sharonjit K, Jain Varsha, Levin William P, Cengel Keith A, Swisher-McClure Samuel, Aggarwal Charu, Bauml Joshua M, Singh Aditi, Ciunci Christine, Cohen Roger B, Langer Corey, Feigenberg Steven J, Berman Abigail T: Early Tumor and Nodal Response in Patients with Locally-advanced NSCLC Predict for Oncologic Outcomes in Patients Treated with Concurrent Proton Therapy and Chemotherapy: Tumor Regression Predicts Outcomes in LA-NSCLC. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics 106 (2): 358-368,2019.

Zhu Timothy C, Ong Yihong, Kim Michele M, Liang Xing, Finlay Jarod C, Dimofte Andreea, Simone Nd Charles B, Friedberg Joseph S, Busch Theresa M, Glatstein Eli, Cengel Keith A: Evaluation of Light Fluence Distribution Using an IR Navigation System for HPPH-mediated Pleural Photodynamic Therapy (pPDT). Photochemistry and photobiology : 2019.

Chinniah Chimbu, Aguarin Louise, Cheng Phillip, Decesaris Cristina, Cutillo Alicia, Berman Abigail T, Frick Melissa, Doucette Abigail, Cengel Keith A, Levin William, Hahn Stephen, Dorsey Jay F, Simone Charles B, Kao Gary D: Early Detection of Recurrence in Patients With Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer via Circulating Tumor Cell Analysis. Clinical lung cancer 20 (5): 384-390.e2,2019.

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Academic Contact Information

Smilow Center for Translational Research, Room 8-136
Univ of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
3400 Civic Center Blvd, Bldg 421
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215) 898-1035
Patient appointments: 800-789-7366