Faculty Appointments
Patient Care Setting
Cancer
Biography
As the Director of the Clinical Trials Office for Wilmot Cancer Institute, I oversee our state-of-the-art clinical trials while also educating my patients about their disease so they are as informed as possible. This enables my patients to participate in the process of making the best treatment decisions.
Individual patients drew me into the field of hematology/oncology. I am driven by the desire to develop better, less toxic treatments for our lymphoma and leukemia patients. I also have an amazing team working with me that is focused on communicating with and educating our patients, helping them in every aspect of their lives.
If I were to recommend one thing to patients, it would be to ask about clinical trials. While a clinical trial may not be appropriate in every circumstance, all patients should learn about these important options.
Conditions I Treat
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Professional Background
Paul M. Barr, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Clinical Trials Office for the Wilmot Cancer Institute.
Dr. Barr received his medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University. His postgraduate training included an internship, residency and chief residency at Case Western Reserve University. He subsequently completed a hematology and oncology fellowship at Case Western and now holds subspecialty certification in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology.
He is a member of the lymphoma committee in the Southwest Oncology Group and serves as principal investigator on several local and national clinical trial treatment protocols for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
His research interests focus on the development of novel therapeutics for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma. He has received a NIH funded K12 award during his training for his work with the organic amine Methoxyamine to improve the effect of fludarabine for CLL patients. Most recently, he was awarded a Clinical Research award from the Lymphoma Research Foundation based o his work developing combination therapies targeting molecules within the B cell receptor pathway for CLL and lymphoma patients.
Research
Paul M. Barr, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Clinical Trials Office for the Wilmot Cancer Institute.
Dr. Barr received his medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University. His postgraduate training included an internship, residency and chief residency at Case Western Reserve University. He subsequently completed a hematology and oncology fellowship at Case Western and now holds subspecialty certification in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology.
He is a member of the lymphoma committee in the Southwest Oncology Group and serves as principal investigator on several local and national clinical trial treatment protocols for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
His research interests focus on the development of novel therapeutics for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma. He has received a NIH funded K12 award during his training for his work with the organic amine Methoxyamine to improve the effect of fludarabine for CLL patients. Most recently, he was awarded a Clinical Research award from the Lymphoma Research Foundation based o his work developing combination therapies targeting molecules within the B cell receptor pathway for CLL and lymphoma patients.
Credentials
Specialties
- Hematology - American Board of Internal Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Oncology - American Board of Internal Medicine
Education
2000
MD | Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Post-doctoral Training & Residency
07/01/2004 - 06/30/2007
Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at University Hospitals of Cleveland
07/01/2001 - 06/30/2003
Residency in Internal Medicine at University Hospitals of Cleveland
07/01/2000 - 06/30/2001
Internship in Internal Medicine at University Hospitals of Cleveland
VIEW ALL expand_more
Awards
2012 - 2015
Lymphoma Research Foundation Clinical Investigator
2011 - 2014
NIH Loan Repayment Program Award Recipient
Sponsor: NIH
2011 - 2014
Wilmot Cancer Research Fellowship
2009
American Society of Hematology Clinical Research Training Institute
2008
NIH/NCI K12 Paul Calabresi Scholar
Sponsor: NIH
Location: University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve
2006 - 2007
John W. Harris, MD Hematology Scholar Award
Location: Case Western Reserve University
2003 - 2004
Chief Medical Resident
Location: Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals
1996
Department of Zoology Honors Program
1995
Howard Hughes Summer Scholars Program
1995
Miami MED Premedical Honorary
VIEW ALL expand_more
Clinical Trials
Randomized, Phase III Study of Early Intervention With Venetoclax and Obinutuzumab Versus Delayed Therapy With Venetoclax and Obinutuzumab in Newly Diagnosed Asymptomatic High-Risk Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL): EVOLVE CLL/SLL Study
Lead Researcher: Paul M Barr
This phase III trial compares early treatment with venetoclax and obinutuzumab versus delayed treatment with venetoclax and obinutuzumab in patients with newly diagnosed high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma. Venetoclax is in a class of medications called B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitors. It may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking Bcl-2, a protein needed for cancer cell survival. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as obinutuzumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Starting treatment with the venetoclax and obinutuzumab early (before patients have symptoms) may have better outcomes for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma compared to starting treatment with the venetoclax and obinutuzumab after patients show symptoms.
View Study Details
A Phase 1 Dose-Escalation and Cohort-Expansion Study of VLS-101 in Subjects with Hematological Malignancies
Lead Researcher: Paul M Barr
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and efficacy of zilovertamab vedotin given intravenously (IV) across a range of dose levels in participants with previously treated hematological cancers including acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Burkitt lymphoma (BL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma/Waldenström macroglobulinemia (LPL/WM), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), Richter transformation lymphoma (RTL), and T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
View Study Details
EA4151 ~ Phase III Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Followed by Maintenance Rituximab vs. Maintenance Rituximab Alone for Patients with Mantle Cell Lymphoma In Minimal Residual Disease-Negative First Complete Remission
Lead Researcher: Paul M Barr
This randomized phase III trial studies rituximab after stem cell transplant and to see how well it works compared with rituximab alone in treating patients with in minimal residual disease-negative mantle cell lymphoma in first complete remission. Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Giving chemotherapy before a stem cell transplant helps kill any cancer cells that are in the body and helps make room in the patient's bone marrow for new blood-forming cells (stem cells) to grow. After treatment, stem cells are collected from the patient's blood and stored. More chemotherapy is then given to prepare the bone marrow for the stem cell transplant. The stem cells are then returned to the patient to replace the blood-forming cells that were destroyed by the chemotherapy. Giving rituximab with or without stem cell transplant may work better in treating patients with mantle cell lymphoma.
View Study Details
Publications
Journal Articles
4/15/2022
Shanafelt TD, Wang XV, Hanson CA, Paietta EM, O'Brien S, Barrientos JC, Jelinek DF, Braggio E, Leis JF, Zhang CC, Coutre SE, Barr PM, Cashen AF, Mato AR, Singh AK, Mullane MP, Little RF, Erba HP, Stone RM, Litzow MR, Tallman MS, Kay NE. "Long-term Outcomes for Ibrutinib-Rituximab and Chemoimmunotherapy in CLL: Updated Results of the E1912 Trial." Blood.. 2022 Apr 15; Epub 2022 Apr 15.
4/4/2022
Barr PM, Owen C, Robak T, Tedeschi A, Bairey O, Burger JA, Hillmen P, Coutre SE, Dearden C, Grosicki S, McCarthy H, Li JY, Offner F, Moreno C, Zhou C, Hsu E, Szoke A, Kipps TJ, Ghia P. "Up to 8 Years Follow-up From RESONATE-2: First-Line Ibrutinib Treatment for Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia." Blood advances.. 2022 Apr 4; Epub 2022 Apr 04.
2/28/2022
Siddiqi T, Coutre S, McKinney M, Barr PM, Rogers K, Mokatrin A, Valentino R, Szoke A, Deshpande S, Zhu A, Arango-Hisijara I, Osei-Bonsu K, Wang M, O'Brien S. "Characterization of low-grade arthralgia, myalgia, and musculoskeletal pain with ibrutinib therapy: pooled analysis of clinical trials in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma." Leukemia & lymphoma.. 2022 Feb 28; :1-9. Epub 2022 Feb 28.
Books & Chapters
2019
Book Title: How I treat early relapsing follicular lymphoma
Author List: Casulo C, Barr PM
Published By: Blood 2019
2019
Book Title: Augmenting Indolent Lymphoma Treatment Options with the Combination of Lenalidomide and Rituximab.
Author List: Barr PM
Published By: J Clin Oncology 2019
2018
Book Title: COUNTERPOINT: Can Chemotherapy Be Eliminated in the Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma?
Author List: Barr PM
Published By: Oncology 2018
VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS