Michael W. Becker, M.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Appointment: (585) 275-5823

Administrative: (585) 275-4099

Fax: (585) 276-2596

A member of the University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group

An Accountable Health Partner

Accepting New Patients

Locations

James P. Wilmot Cancer Center
601 Elmwood Ave
Rochester, NY 14642

Faculty Appointments

Professor - Department of Medicine , Hematology/Oncology (SMD)
Dean's Professorship - Department of Medicine , Hematology/Oncology (SMD)
Professor - Cancer Center - Joint

Patient Care Settings

Cancer, Hospital Medicine

Biography

Our adult blood and marrow transplantation/leukemia service uses a team-based approach to care for our patients. I work with a great lineup of physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, patient care technicians and administrative assistants. Together, we achieve excellence for our patients.

I am a scientist by heart and a physician by training. During my residency, I cared for young patients with cancer, including acute leukemia, and their stories led to my area of focus. My research interests are bone marrow cancers and blood and marrow stem cell transplantation. My clinical practice is the direct application to this research. My goal is to be able to apply what I learn in the lab to the care of my patients in our clinic.

Conditions I Treat

- Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation
- Acute leukemia
- Chronic leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bone Marrow Failure
- Myeloproliferative disorders
- Myeloma

Research

The Becker lab studies malignant stem cell populations in myeloid neoplasms. By combining the power of cell sorting, qPCR based gene expression analysis and advanced normal and cancer stem cell models, we are now able to characterize the contribution of normal somatic tissue stem cells to the development of cancers, including Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and MDS. Our lab uses model systems and gene expression analysis to compare normal stem cells with their malignant counterparts with the goal of an improved understanding of the origins of cancer stem cells and to identify novel targets for therapy. We have employed a unique flow cytometry platform and analysis approach to differentiate normal and malignant stem cell and progenitor populations in patients undergoing treatment for AML and MDS. This platform allows us to assess the impact of therapy on malignant stem cell populations and their gene signatures in patients undergoing treatment of their disease. In addition, we are interested in the role of the microenvironment in supporting malignant stem cell populations.

Credentials

Education

1996
MD | University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

07/01/1999 - 06/30/2002
Fellowship in Hematology & Oncology at University of Michigan Medical Center

07/01/1997 - 06/30/1999
Residency in Internal Medicine at University of Michigan Medical Center

06/24/1996 - 06/23/1997
Internship in Internal Medicine at University of Michigan Medical Center

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Awards

1999
Internal Medicine Research Award
Sponsor: University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

1995
AOA (Junior class initiate)

Clinical Trials

A Program for Monitoring Minimal Residual Disease Following Treatment of Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia or High Grade Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Lead Researcher: Michael W Becker MD

This study is being performed to develop assays to determine the impact of the therapy patients receive for treatment of AML or MDS and to determine if these tests can identify those patients who are at a greater risk for having their disease relapse.

View Study Details

Publications

Journal Articles

12/20/2021
Loh KP, Sanapala C, Janelsins M, Klepin HD, Schnall R, Culakova E, Sohn MB, Vertino P, Susiarjo M, Jensen-Battaglia M, Becker MW, Liesveld J, Mendler JH, Huselton E, Lin PJ, Mustian K. "Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial of a mobile health exercise intervention for older patients with myeloid neoplasms (GO-EXCAP 2)." Journal of geriatric oncology.. 2021 Dec 20; Epub 2021 Dec 20.

9/15/2021
Locastro M, Baran A, Liesveld JL, Huselton EJ, Becker MW, O'Dwyer KM, Aljitawi OS, Baumgart M, Snyder E, Kluger B, Loh KP, Mendler JH. "Portable Medical Orders and End of Life Measures in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes." Blood advances.. 2021 Sep 15; Epub 2021 Sep 15.

9/2021
Rapaport F, Neelamraju Y, Baslan T, Hassane D, Gruszczynska A, Robert de Massy M, Farnoud N, Haddox S, Lee T, Medina-Martinez J, Sheridan C, Thurmond A, Becker M, Bekiranov S, Carroll M, Moses Murdock H, Valk PJM, Bullinger L, D'Andrea R, Lowe SW, Neuberg D, Levine RL, Melnick A, Garrett-Bakelman FE. "Genomic and evolutionary portraits of disease relapse in acute myeloid leukemia." Leukemia.. 2021 Sep; 35(9):2688-2692. Epub 2021 Feb 12.

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