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
Education
2000
MD | Northeast Ohio Medical University
Post-doctoral Training & Residency
07/01/2004 - 06/30/2007
Fellowship in Hematology & Oncology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center
07/01/2001 - 06/30/2003
Residency in Internal Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center
07/01/2000 - 06/30/2001
Internship in Internal Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center
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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
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Clinical Trials
S1608:Testing two new targeted drug combinations against standard chemotherapy for early relapsing or refractory follicular lymphoma
Lead Researcher: Paul M Barr
This phase II trial studies how well obinutuzumab with or without umbralisib, lenalidomide, or combination chemotherapy work in treating patients with grade I-IIIa follicular lymphoma that has come back (relapsed) or does not respond to treatment (refractory). Immunotherapy with obinutuzumab, may induce changes in body's immune system and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Umbralisib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Biological therapies, such as lenalidomide, use substances made from living organisms that may stimulate or suppress the immune system in different ways and stop cancer cells from growing. Chemotherapy drugs, such as cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and bendamustine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. It is not yet known whether giving obinutuzumab with or without umbralisib, lenalidomide, or combination chemotherapy will work better in treating patients with grade I-IIIa follicular lymphoma.
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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,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.
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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.
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Publications
Journal Articles
1/30/2023
Ryan CE, Brander DM, Barr PM, Tyekucheva S, Hackett LR, Collins MC, Fernandes SM, Ren Y, Zhou Y, McDonough MM, Walker HA, McEwan MR, Abramson JS, Jacobsen ED, LaCasce AS, Fisher DC, Brown JR, Davids MS. "A phase 1b study of ibrutinib in combination with obinutuzumab in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia." Leukemia.. 2023 Jan 30; Epub 2023 Jan 30.
1/23/2023
Wallace DS, Zent CS, Baran AM, Reagan PM, Casulo C, Rice G, Friedberg JW, Barr PM. "Acalabrutinib and High-Frequency Low-Dose Subcutaneous Rituximab for Initial Therapy of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia." Blood advances.. 2023 Jan 23; Epub 2023 Jan 23.
1/13/2023
Woyach JA, Barr PM, Kipps TJ, Barrientos JC, Ahn IE, Ghia P, Girardi V, Hsu E, Jermain M, Burger JA. "Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma Receiving Ibrutinib for ?5 Years in the RESONATE-2 Study." Cancers.. 2023 Jan 13; 15(2)Epub 2023 Jan 13.
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
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