Faculty Appointments
Patient Care Setting
Cancer
Biography
When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, he or she is faced with a lot of questions and uncertainty of what the future holds. My philosophy is to provide as much information as possible so that patients can make the best decisions for themselves and their families and so that together we can face any fears or worries head on.
I chose this field because my hope is to make the lives of cancer patients better – whether it is through direct patient care or my research, which focuses on pancreatobiliary cancers, as well as weight loss and muscle wasting related to cancer.
In addition to being passionate about cancer care, I have many interests outside of work that I enjoy sharing with my patients such as sports, travel and music.
Conditions I Treat
- Esophageal cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Anal cancer
Credentials
Specialties
- Internal Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine
- Medical Oncology - American Board of Internal Medicine
Education
2009
MD | SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
Post-doctoral Training & Residency
07/01/2016 - 6/30/2019
Research in Research at University of Rochester Medical Center
07/01/2013 - 06/30/2015
Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at University of Rochester Medical Center
06/25/2010 - 06/24/2012
Residency in Internal Medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center
06/25/2009 - 06/24/2010
Internship in Internal Medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center
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Awards
2019 - 2021
CTSI KL2 Career Development Award
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center
2017 - 2018
Department of Medicine Research Pilot Grant Award
2016 - 2019
NIH R25 Fellowship Training Program in Cancer Control
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center
2015 - 2018
Wilmot Foundation for Cancer Research Fellowship Award
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Clinical Trials
An Open-label Phase 1 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of SX-682 in Combination With Nivolumab as a Maintenance Therapy in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Lead Researcher: Richard F Dunne
The main purpose of this research study is to determine the maximum tolerable dose (MTD) of SX-682 in combination with nivolumab in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who have completed at least 16 weeks of first line chemotherapy treatment without evidence of disease progression.
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A Phase III Trial of Perioperative Versus Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
Lead Researcher: Richard F Dunne
This phase III trial compares perioperative chemotherapy (given before and after surgery) versus adjuvant chemotherapy (given after surgery) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer that can be removed by surgery (removable/resectable). Chemotherapy drugs, such as fluorouracil, irinotecan, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving chemotherapy before and after surgery (perioperatively) may work better in treating patients with pancreatic cancer compared to giving chemotherapy after surgery (adjuvantly).
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Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Explore the Anti-Androgen, Ketoconazole, for Treating Patients With an Ongoing Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Inhibitor-Induced Rash
Lead Researcher: Richard F Dunne
This early phase I trial studies the side effects of ketoconazole and how well it works in treating participants with ongoing EGFR inhibitor-induced rash. Ketoconazole may reduce the symptoms related to EGFR inhibitor therapy and improve EGFR inhibitor-induced rash.
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UGIM-16011: Evaluating the Effects of a 12 Week Home-based Exercise Intervention on Physical Performance in patients with Cancer of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract with Pre-cachexia or Cachexia: A Pilot Study
Lead Researcher: Richard F Dunne
We would also like to find out if this exercise intervention improves physical performance, day-to-day function, quality of life, and how the exercise may affect markers of inflammation in the blood over time.
Cancer cachexia is a complex condition that can result in weight loss, muscle weakness, and/or tiredness, and may affect your normal daily activities and quality of life. Cachexia is common in patients with upper gastrointestinal tract cancers (esophageal, stomach, bile duct or liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer). There is little information on how these symptoms may develop or change as cachexia progresses, or how exercise may help improve these symptoms. Currently more information is needed on how physical performance and quality of life is affected by cachexia. There are no drugs approved for cachexia so understanding cachexia and its effect on the body may guide the development of interventions to help other patients with cancer cachexia.
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Publications
Journal Articles
4/28/2022
Garcia-Aguilar J, Patil S, Gollub MJ, Kim JK, Yuval JB, Thompson HM, Verheij FS, Omer DM, Lee M, Dunne RF, Marcet J, Cataldo P, Polite B, Herzig DO, Liska D, Oommen S, Friel CM, Ternent C, Coveler AL, Hunt S, Gregory A, Varma MG, Bello BL, Carmichael JC, Krauss J, Gleisner A, Paty PB, Weiser MR, Nash GM, Pappou E, Guillem JG, Temple L, Wei IH, Widmar M, Lin S, Segal NH, Cercek A, Yaeger R, Smith JJ, Goodman KA, Wu AJ, Saltz LB. "Organ Preservation in Patients With Rectal Adenocarcinoma Treated With Total Neoadjuvant Therapy." Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.. 2022 Apr 28; :JCO2200032. Epub 2022 Apr 28.
3/1/2022
Jensen-Battaglia M, Lei L, Xu H, Kehoe L, Patil A, Loh KP, Ramsdale E, Magnuson A, Kleckner AS, Wildes TM, Lin PJ, Mustian KM, Giri G, Whitehead M, Bearden J, Burnette BL, Geer J, Mohile SG, Dunne RF. "Association of Oncologist-Patient Communication With Functional Status and Physical Performance in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial." JAMA network open.. 2022 Mar 1; 5(3):e223039. Epub 2022 Mar 01.
2/26/2022
Garcia JM, Dunne RF, Santiago K, Martin L, Birnbaum MJ, Crawford J, Hendifar AE, Kochanczyk M, Moravek C, Piccinin D, Picozzi V, Roeland EJ, Selig WKD, Zimmers TA. "Addressing unmet needs for people with cancer cachexia: recommendations from a multistakeholder workshop." Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle.. 2022 Feb 26; Epub 2022 Feb 26.
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