Overview
As an investigator who focuses clinically on children with high-risk solid tumors, my research interests focus on translating novel therapeutic agents and combinations into early phase clinical trials to improve the outcomes for children with relapsed/refractory solid tumors. I earned a Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) from Emory University and as a senior associate in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, I spent an additional year of focused training in phase I/II trial implementation and 131I-MIBG therapy administration. As an attending physician at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, I serve as lead consultant for relapsed solid tumor patients for our Developmental Therapeutics Program, which is the largest phase I/II referral center in the Southeastern United States. I am also Assistant Director of our 131I-MIBG and Recurrent/Refractory Neuroblastoma Program.
I have played a key role in expanding the portfolio of investigator-initiated phase I/II trials at our institution for children with recurrent brain and solid tumors. I am the Study chair or co-chair of four multi-institutional, investigator-initiated, phase I/II trials which are supported by peer reviewed funding.
- Aflac ST1502 (CHOAnome) (Study chair), Phase 2 trial testing sirolimus in combination with metronomic chemotherapy for patients with relapsed/refractory solid and CNS tumors (NCT02574728)
- Aflac ST1501 (Co-investigator), Phase 1 trial testing the CDK 4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib in patients with newly diagnosed DIPG and relapsed/refractory solid and CNS tumors (NCT02644460)
- Aflac ST1603 (Study co-chair), Phase 1 trial testing nab-paclitaxel in combination with gemcitabine for patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors (NCT03507491)
- AflacST1903 (Study Co-Chair): Sirolimus in combination with metronomic chemotherapy (CHOAnome) as maintenance therapy in children with high-risk solid tumors (NCT02574728)
- NANT 2017-01 (Study chair): A national phase I trial being conducted through the New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy (NANT) consortium testing 131I-MIBG in combination with dinutuximab (NCT03332667)
- Novel therapeutic agents and combinations for patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors
- Planning novel biologic correlates that will enhance our scientific knowledge and aid in planning future trials
- Clinical trials of immunotherapy in combination with other agents including radiation and chemotherapy
Qayed M, Cash T, Tighiouart M, MacDonald TJ, Goldsmith KC, Kean L, Watkins B, Suessmuth Y, Wetmore C, Katzenstein HM. A Phase I Study of Sirolimus in Combination with Metronomic Therapy (CHOAnome) in Children with Recurrent or Refractory Solid and Brain Tumors. Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 2020;67(4):e28134. PMID: 31876107
Cash T, Bettermann EL, Mitchell S, McCracken C, Qayed M, Wolfe D, Alazraki A, Olson TA, Katzenstein HM. Routine Surveillance Imaging is Associated with Improved Post-Relapse Survival in Patients with Ewing Sarcoma. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. Accepted 11/16/19 Jan 2020
Roberts RD, Lizardo MM, Reed DR, Hingorani P, Glover J, Allen-Rhoades W, Fan T, Khanna C, Sweet-Cordero A, Cash T, Bishop MW, Hegde M, Sertil AR, Koelsche C, Mirabello L, Malkin D, Sorensen PH, Meltzer PS, Janeway KA, Gorlick R, Crompton BD. Provocative Questions in Osteosarcoma Basic and Translational Biology: A Report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Cancer. 2019;125(20):3514-3525. PMID: 31355930
Metts J, Clark D, Alazraki A, Wasilewski-Masker K, George B, Olson T, Cash T. Gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel for Pediatric Relapsed/Refractory Sarcomas. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018;65(9):e27246. PMID: 29770997
Private Foundation Funded:
CURE Childhood Cancer
AflacST1501: Phase I Study of Abemaciclib (Cdk 4/6 inhibitor) in Children with Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma and in Recurrent Solid Tumors Including Malignant Brain Tumors
Role: Co-Investigator
PI: Wetmore
CURE Childhood Cancer
A Phase I Study of 131I-MIBG with Dinutuximab for Relapsed/Refractory Neuroblastoma
Role: PI
Cannonball Kids’ cancer (CKc) Foundation
AflacST1502: A Phase II Study of Sirolimus in Combination with Metronomic Chemotherapy in Children with Recurrent and/or Refractory Solid and CNS Tumors
Role: PI
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer
A Multi-Center Phase I Study of Codrituzumab in Pediatric Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Glypican 3 (GPC3) Expressing Extra-Cranial Solid Tumors
Role: Co-Investigator
PI: Ortiz
Contracts:
Celgene
AflacST1603: A Phase 1 Study Using Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane®) in Combination with Gemcitabine for Pediatric Relapsed and Refractory Solid Tumors
Role: Co-PI
Ignyta/Roche
A Phase 1/1b, Open-Label, Dose-Escalation and Expansion Study of Entrectinib (RXDX-101) in Children and Adolescents with Recurrent or Refractory Solid Tumors and Primary CNS Tumors, with or without TRK, ROS1, or ALK Fusions, 1% effort
Role: Site PI
PI: Ignyta/Roche
Institutional:
Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center Institutional Research Funds
NANT 2017-01: A Phase I Study of 131I-MIBG with Dinutuximab for Relapsed/Refractory Neuroblastoma
Role: PI
Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center Institutional Research Funds
AflacST17B1: Immunophenotyping and Cytokine Profiling of Patients Receiving Therapeutic 131I-MIBG for Relapsed/Refractory Neuroblastoma
Role: Co-PI
Peach Bowl LegACy Fund
A Maintenance Protocol of Sirolimus in Combination with Metronomic Chemotherapy in Children with High-Risk Solid Tumors
Role: Co-PI
PI: Sutton