Dukagjin M. Blakaj, M.D., Ph.D.
H&N/CNS Radiation Oncology
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center –
Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute 460 W. 10th Avenue D252N, Columbus, OH 43210 Phone: (614) 366-2729 Fax: (614) 293-4044 [email protected]
____________________________________________________________________________
Education
M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, NY 2000-2008
Ph.D., Biochemistry Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY,
NY 2000-2008
M.S., Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, NY 2002-2003
M.A., Chemistry, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 1999-2000
B.A., Chemistry and Molecular Biology & Biophysics, Wesleyan
University, Middletown, CT 1995-1999
Board Certification
The American Board of Radiology 5/2014-Present
Current Position
Assistant Professor, H&N/CNS Radiation Oncology Director, Adult & Pediatric CNS Radiation Oncology Fellowship Lead, Head and Neck Radiation Oncology Lead, Spine Radiation Oncology Lead, Development for Radiation Oncology Department The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute Columbus, OH 2013-Present 2017-Present 2015-Present 2015-Present 2015-Present
Residency & Training
Internship in Internal Medicine, Mount Saini Beth Israel Medical Center NYC 2008-2009
Residency in Radiation Oncology, Montefiore-Einstein CCC 2009-2013
Post-Doctoral Research – HPV epidemiology, molecular
markers for radio-resistance and Therapeutic Vaccine
Development. 2011-2012
Gamma Knife Training Certificate, The Cleveland Clinic,
Cleveland, OH 6/2016
Appointments & Committees
NRG Head & Neck Oncology H&N Cancer (HNC) Core Committee Member 6/2016-6/2021
Inter. Society of IntraOp. Radiation Therapy (ISIORT) Board Member – Clinical Trials Chair 2018 Meeting 6/2016-6/2019
NCI Previously Untreated, Locally Advanced (PULA) Disease
Task Force Member 4/2016-4/2019
The Ohio State University – Claiming Resilience Grand Rounds
CME Committee 8/2017-8/2019
The Ohio State University – Medical Documentation Steering
Committee 7/2018-Present
Oral Oncology Journal Reviewer 6/2017-Present
Head and Neck Cancer Journal Reviewer 6/2017-Present
ASTRO – Promoting Science through Research and Training
Committee 7/2017-7/2018
Dutch Cancer Society (KWF Kankerbestrijding) Grant Reviewer 3/2016-3/2018
The Ohio State University Medical School Academic Program
Committee LSI Part 3 – Radiation Oncology Representative 1/2017-12/2017
Clinical Trials Ongoing/Complete
Institutional PI: NRG-HN002 A Randomized Phase II Trial for Patients with P16 Positive, Non-Smoking Associated, Locoregionally Advanced Oropharyngeal Cancer 2017-Present
Institutional PI: Pharma Sponsored Study – Merck
A Phase I/ II Study of chemo radiation plus the Anti-PD-1
Antibody, Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) for Locally
Advanced Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma 2017-Present
Institutional PI: RTOG-1216
Randomized Phase II/III Trial of Surgery and
Postoperative Radiation Delivered with Concurrent
Cisplatin Versus Docetaxel Versus Docetaxel and
Cetuximab for High-Risk Squamous Cell Cancer of The
Head And Neck 2017-Present
Institutional PI: NRG-HN003
A Phase I and Expansion Cohort Study of Adjuvant
Cisplatin, Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy, and MK-
3475 (Pembrolizumab) in High-Risk Head and Neck
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) 2016-Present
Institutional PI: Galera Mucositis Trial – Complete
A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-
Controlled, Multi-Center, Trial of the Effects of
Intravenous GC4419 on the Incidence and Duration of
Severe Oral Mucositis (OM) in Patients Receiving Post-
Operative or Definitive Therapy with Single-Agent
Cisplatin plus IMRT for Locally Advanced, Non-
Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity 2016-Present
or Oropharynx
Institutional PI: NRG-HN001
Randomized Phase II and Phase III Studies of
Individualized Treatment for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Based on Biomarker Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). 2014-Present
Clinical Trials – In Development
PI: Phase I study in the recurrent/persistent H&N Setting – birinapant (SMAC mimetic) in collaboration with the NCI in recurrent H&N patients that are not surgical candidates LOI Submitted
PI: Phase II study – Metastatic patients with spine disease
requiring surgery/SRT with immune therapy and SRT LOI Submitted
PI: Phase I study in the recurrent/persistent H&N Setting –
surgical patients with IORT and immune therapy LOI Submitted
Co-PI: Phase I study for H&N patients with exercise
intervention for body composition analysis with exercise science LOI Submitted
Translational Research Ongoing
PI: Understanding Molecular signatures of high vs. low grade olfactory neuroblastoma – 40 tissue samples that are currently being acquired and expression profiling and miRNA comparisons between low and high grade disease. 2017-Present
PI: Assessing Molecular Mechanism of Treatment Resistance in
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients – currently
focusing on 57 match paired tissues of Larynx patients that
required salvage laryngectomy. 2016-Present
Funding
Co-PI Hiral Shah and Dukagjin Blakaj – Randomized, Multi-institutional Pilot Study of Nivolumab and Radiation Therapy versus Nivolumab and Ipilimumab as Adjuvant Therapy for Merkel Cell Carcinoma Bristol-Myer Squibb Research and Development clinical trial funding $200,000
Departmental research grant award to study molecular
mechanisms of treatment resistance in H&N cancers – 2017 $25,000
Philanthropic Donations for research in molecular mechanisms
of treatment resistance in H&N cancers 2016-2018 >$90,000
Salvage Head and Neck Cancer patients treated with immune
therapy and IORT. IntraOp Company funding for 2018 $75,000
Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Resistance Exercise in
the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer Patients undergoing
Chemoradiation therapy – Pelotonia Grand application
submission for June 2018 for $100,000 submitted 2018
Galera Therapeutics – Mucositis trial institutional PI – 2017-
2018 $93,848
Mentorship
Eric Allan M.D., mentored as a resident and completed a first author publication looking at dental amalgam and local dose increases and augmentation with dental stents. Currently he is an attending physician at St. Luke’s Medical Center Twin Falls ID 2015-2017
Hooman Hamedani M.D., – Mentored as a medical student
and worked on developing a database of H&N cancers for
tissue analysis of molecular mechanisms of treatment
resistance as well as working on dental amalgam project for
which he got a publication as an author. Currently Hooman is a
Radiology resident in Dayton, OH. 2015-2017
Adam Wolfe M.D., Ph.D. is a resident who is currently working
on olfactory neuroblastoma project analysis both clinical and
molecular data from approximately 42 tissue samples. He is
also working on getting cell lines developed for this rare
disease. 2017-Present
Erin Healy M.D. is a resident currently working on spine post-
operative SBRT treatments and local control utilizing
circumferential vertebral body treatments. Manuscript is in
preparation. 2017-Present
Alexander Olausson B.A., is a medical student year 2 with
($3000) Grant support for the summer of 2018 working on a
comprehensive H&N and spine database as well as preparing a
manuscript for the dosimetry and physics of circumferential
treatment of vertebral bodies in the post-operative setting. 2018-Present
Blake Sells, Research Assistant, is an undergraduate at Duke
University who is participating in the Wexner Medical Center
Medical Student Program assisting with Head & Neck
translational research projects at the Arthur G. James Cancer
Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute 2018-Present
Honors & Awards
Key Note Lecturer – “Multidisciplinary approaches to skull base cancers: olfactory neuroblastoma from bedside to bench.” Fourth International Multidisciplinary Medical Congress, Tirana, Albania. 11/2018
August 2018 Physician of the Month – The Ohio State
Comprehensive Cancer Center at the James 8/2018
99th percentile Patient Satisfaction Award – 3 years running
The Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center at the James 2015-2017
Best of ASTRO – Roentgen Society Award.
Research on prostate cancer and the use of a biodegradable
balloon – feasibility and rectal toxicity analysis. 2011
Dean’s Recognition Award – Einstein College of Medicine
Awarded for exceptional academic and clinical performance 2008
International Biophysical Society Student Research
Achievement Award 2006
Rudin Scholar Recipient – Einstein College of Medicine Awarded to senior Einstein students for academic achievement 2006
Distinction of Excellence in Masters’ Thesis – Wesleyan
University 2000
American Chemical Society Analytical Award recipient 1999
American Heart Association Research Fellow – Yale University
Research on Neutrophil Differentiation 1998
Connecticut Scholastic Achievement Grant 3 years 1995-1998
Howard Hughes Research Fellow – 3 years Wesleyan
University Research on DNA replication and repair 1995-1997
Leadership Appointments & Activities
Director, Adult & Pediatric CNS Radiation Oncology Fellowship 2017-Present
Lead H&N Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University
Wexner Medical Center 2015-Present
Lead Spine Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University
Wexner Medical Center 2015-Present
Lead Development Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State
University Wexner Medical Center 2015-Present
Chief Resident, Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Einstein
Cancer Center 2011-2012
Representative, Faculty Senate Student, Albert Einstein
College of Medicine 2005-2007
Continuity Clinic Coordinator, Albert Einstein College of
Medicine
Coordinated, taught, and managed clinic operations 2005-2007
Associate Editor, Einstein Journal of Biology and Medicine 2002-2005
Chair, Physicians for Human Rights, Albert Einstein College of
Medicine Chapter 2000-2002
Member, Social Medicine Course Executive Organizing
Committee, Albert Einstein College of Medicine 2000-2002
Co-Founder & Advisor, Albanian Aid Society of New England
Non-profit organization that promotes educational opportunities 2000-2001
Varsity Men’s Basketball, Wesleyan University 1995-1997
Teaching & Educational Activities
Varian Training Center Faculty, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center 2018-Present
Hem/Onc Fellowship Lecturer, The Ohio State University
Wexner Medical Center Faculty 2018-Present
Mock Oral Boards Faculty examiner, The Ohio State
University Wexner Medical Center 2016-Present
Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology
Fellowship Faculty, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical
Center 2018-Present
Spine Complex and Oncologic Spine Fellowship Faculty,
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center 2015-Present
Medical Student Research Scholarship Competition Reviewer 2018-Present
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Faculty, The Ohio State
University Wexner Medical Center 2017-Present
Medical Student Preceptor, The Ohio State University
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Oncology
Service AMRCC Rotation. “Comprehensive Care of a Cancer
Patient” 2017-Present
Osler Radiation Oncology Board Review Faculty, The Osler
Institute, Louisville, KY 2017-Present
State of the Art Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery: A Hands-
on Course Faculty, Columbus, OH “Radiation Therapy for
Base of Skull Tumors.” Yearly event 2014-Present
DePuy Synthesis Future Leaders Workshop: Management
of Spine Tumors Faculty. Yearly. 2014-Present
Clinical Instructor, The Ohio State University Department of
Radiation Oncology Deliver lectures to radiation oncology
residents and radiation therapy students. Topics H&N/CNS
Oncology and radiobiology 2013-Present
Clinical Instructor, The Ohio State University Department of
Otolaryngology Delivers lectures to ENT Residents. Topics
include H&N special cases in radiation therapy and
papillomavirus related malignancy. 2013-Present
Clinical Instructor, Montefiore Einstein Department of
Radiation Oncology Delivered department-wide lectures on
clinical radiation topics including: head and neck cancer, GU
topics, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, pediatric malignancies and
early stage lung cancer with emphasis on stereotactic
radiotherapy treatment. 2010-2013
Graduate Teaching Assistant – Biochemistry and Biophysics,
Albert Einstein College of Medicine 2003-2006
Graduate Teaching Assistant – Human Anatomy, Albert
Einstein College of Medicine 2001-2004
Teaching Assistant – Undergraduate Biochemistry, Wesleyan
University 1998-1999
Instructor – Introductory Molecular Biology Laboratory Course,
Wesleyan University 1996-1998
Invited Lectures & Presentations
Grand Rounds, University of Utrecht Grand Rounds, Utrecht, Netherlands. “Mechanisms of Resistance in Larynx Cancers: from Bench to Bedside.” Grand Rounds, Marietta Memorial Health Grand Rounds, Marietta, OH. “Molecular Analysis Of Head & Neck Cancers: from Bench to Bedside.” 3/2018 11/2016
Faculty, Radiation Oncology Faculty State of the Art
Endoscopic Skull Base Course, Columbus, OH. “Adjuvant
Radiation Therapy.” 10/2016
Grand Rounds, Ohio State University Department of
Dermatology Melanoma Grand Rounds, Columbus OH. 5/2016
“Stereotactic RT to the spine in melanoma patients.”
Faculty, EndoChicago, Chicago, IL. “Sinonasal Malignancy:
Management Outcomes.” & “Pituitary Non Functional Invasive
Adenomas.” 5/2016
Lecturer, State of the Art Endoscopic Skull Base Course, New
Albany, OH. “Adjuvant Radiation Therapy.” 10/2015
Faculty, DePuy Synthesis Spine Future Leaders Workshop:
Surgical Management of Spine Tumors, New Albany, OH.
“Radiation/Stereotactic Treatment Options-Pre Op/Post OP.” 10/2015
Lecturer, ESTRO, “H&N Cancer HPV16 Variant Analysis, HPV
E2 variations and E2 Protein Disruption as a Radiation
Sensitivity Biomarker.” 2015
Lecturer, ACRO, “Papillomavirus E2 protein as a radiation
biomarker: head and neck Cancer HPV 16 variant analysis
among cancer patients, E2 changes among variants and cell
Line analysis of E2 protein disruption as a correlative for
radiation sensitivity.” 2014
Participant, AANS/ASTRO Stereotactic Radiosurgery course
for Neurosurgery and Radiation Oncology residents 2012
Lecturer, Beth Israel Medical Center Radiation Oncology,
“Papillomavirus E2 protein: From Bench To Bedside.” 2012
Lecturer, Yale Radiation Oncology Department, “HPV E2
protein: The implication for vaccine development and DNA
repair recognition.” 2007
Lecturer, Einstein Cancer Center, “HPV E2 protein: Novel
Transcriptional binding Motif and implications for DNA repair.” 2006
Lecturer, Wesleyan University, Chemistry Department, “Indirect
Readout of DNA Sequence by Papillomavirus E2 Proteins
Depends upon Cation Uptake.” 2005
Publications
P. Wald, J. Grecula, S. Walston, L. Wei, A. Bhatt, V. Diavolitsis, J. Wobb, D. Mitchell, T. Teknos, J. Rocco, M. Old, A. Agarwal, R. Carrau, E. Ozer, D. Blakaj, Intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy for locoregionally persistent or recurrent head and neck cancer 2018 submitted
Linlin Yang, Bhavna Kumar, Changxian Shen, Songzhu Zhao,
Dukagjin Blakaj, Tianyun Li, Mitchell Romito, Theodoros N.
Teknos, Terence M. Williams. LCL161, a SMAC mimetic,
Preferentially Radiosensitizes Human Papillomavirus Negative
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
submitted
Adam R. Wolfe, MD, PhD (1); Dukagjin Blakaj MD, PhD (1);
Patrick Wald, MD (1); Michael Carlson, DMP (1); Kyle Woods,
MS (1); Erin Dziedzic, BS (1); Ann Vidrick, CNP (1); Douglas
Martin, MD (1); Ahmad Shabsigh, MD* (2), John C. Grecula,
MD* (1) The First Case Report of the Use of the da Vinci submitted
Robotic System as an Assistant in Intraoperative High Dose Rate Remote Brachytherapy
D.M. Blakaj, E. Healy, E. Mendel, S. Walston Jr, K. Levine, H.
Mashaly, Z. Zhang, E. Bourekas, R. Raval, J. Palmer, E.
Mendel. “Local control assessment of spine metastases after
post-operative stereotactic radiosurgery following limited versus
extensive spine surgery: circumferential radiation treatment
assessment”. in preparation
Adam Wolfe, Brett Klamer, Jeff Pan, Daniel Prevedello, Aashish
Bhatt, Joshua Palmer, Luciano Prevedello, Paul Wakely,
Marcelo Bonomi, Ricardo Carrau, Dukagjin Blakaj. The Impact
of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy and Elective Nodal Irradiation in
Early Stage/Low Grade versus Advanced Stage/High Grade
Olfactory Neuroblastoma.
in preparation
Dukagjin Blakaj, Amy Custer, Wesley Zoller, Adam Wolfe,
Aashish Bhatt, Shannon Grams, Matthew Old, Stephen Kang,
Amit Agrawal, Enver Ozer, Jessica Wobb, Robert Rupert,
Darrion Mitchell, Claire Verschraegen, James Rocco, Marcelo
Bonomi. A Prospective Analysis of Ototoxicity in Modern
Radiation Therapy Treatments for Head and Neck Squamous
Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) Patients Receiving Concomitant
Chemo-Radiation (CRT) with Weekly or Tri-weekly Cisplatin
(Cis)
in preparation
Organ preservation options for advanced larynx cancers.
Marcelo Bonomi, Adriana Blakaj, Dukagjin Blakaj – Invited
review article for Oral Oncology IF 5
in preparation
Decision making in advanced larynx cancer: an evidenced
based review. Peter Dziegielewski and Dukagjin Blakaj.
Invited review article for Oral Oncology IF 5
in preparation
Treatment options for chemo-radiation induced mucositis: a
review of the literature and ongoing clinical trials. Adriana
Blakaj, Marcelo Bonomi, Dukagjin Blakaj. Invited review
article for Oral Oncology
in preparation
C. Barney, A. Branstetter, A. Yaney, E. Healy, R. Rupert, A.
Neki, S.A. Walston Jr., V.M. Diavolitsis, D.M. Blakaj, J.L.
Wobb, D.L. Mitchell, J.C. Grecula, P. Savvides, A.D. Bhatt.
“Carboplatin-Based Chemoradiation Improves Outcomes
Compared to Cetuximab Bioradiation in Cisplatin Ineligible
Locally Advanced p16 Negative Head and Neck cancer.”
International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics,
Vol. 100, April 1, 2018, Issue 5, pp. 1327-1328.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.12.058
2018
Anayannis, N.V., Schlecht, N.F., Ben-Dayan, M., Smith, R.V., Belbin, T.J., Ow, T.J., Blakaj, D.M., Burk, R.D., Leonard, S.M., Woodman, C.B., Parish, J.L., Prystowsky, M.B. “Association of an intact E2 gene with higher HPV viral load, higher viral oncogene expression, and improved clinical outcome in HPV16 positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.” PLoS ONE, vol 13, no. 2, e0191581, 18 Feb. 2018, pp. 1-18. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191581 2018
Barney, C.L., Walston, S., Zamora, P., Healy, E.H., Nolan, N.,
Diavolitsis, V.M., Neki, A., Rupert, R., Savvides, P., Agrawal, A.,
Old, M., Ozer, E., Carrau, R.L., Kang, S., Rocco, J., Teknos, T.,
Grecula, J.C., Wobb, J.L., Mitchell, D., Blakaj, D.M., Bhatt, A.D.
“Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Cisplatin versus
Cetuximab Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced p16 Positive
Oropharyngeal Carcinoma.” Oral Oncology, Vol. 79, April 2018,
pp. 914. DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2018.02.001. Epub 12
February 2018.
2018
Philips, R., Martin, D., Eskander, A., Schord, J., Brown, N.,
Zhao, S., Brock, G., Kumar, B., Carrau, R., Ozer, E., Agrawal,
A., Kang, S.Y., Rocco, J.W., Schuller, D., Ali, S., Blakaj, D.,
Bhatt, A., Grecula, J., Teknos, T., Diavolitsis, V., Old, M. “Effect
of Adjuvant Radiotherapy Treatment Center Volume on Overall
Survival.” Oral Oncology, vol. 78, 20 Jan. 2018, pp. 46–51.
DOI:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2018.01.004.
2018
Miller, E.D., Blakaj, D.M., Swanson, B.J., Xiao, W., Gillison,
M.L., Wei, L., Bhatt, A.D., Diavolitsis, V.M., Wobb, J.L., Kang,
S.Y., Carrau, R.L., Grecula, J.C. “Sinonasal Adenoid Cystic
Carcinoma: Treatment Outcomes and Association with Human
Papillomavirus.” Head & Neck. DOI: 10.1002/hed.24778. Epub
3 April 2017.
2017
Abi Hachem,R., Beer-Furlan, A., Elkhatib, A., Rangarajan, S.,
Prevedello, D., Blakaj, D., Bhatt, A., Carrau, R. “Modern
Treatment Outcomes in Sinonasal Malignancies.” Current
Otorhinolaryngoogyl Reports. DOI 10.1007/s40136-016-0133-1.
Epub 21 September 2016.
2016
E. Allen, L. L., D. Blakaj* (corresponding author) “Quality of life
improvement implications for head and neck patients with dental
stents: a quantitative analysis of dental amalgam dose effects in
modern treatment.” Journal of Radiation Oncology. Accepted
July 2016
2016
Blakaj DM, Guiou M, Weicker M, Mendel E. “The evolving
treatment paradigm for metastatic spine disease.” World
Neurosurg. Feb 25. pii: S1878-8750(15)00119-9 (2015).
2015
Blakaj DM; Zhang, H; Blakaj, A; Mourad W.F.; Spierer M.; 2013
Kalnicki, S; Guha, C. “Clinical and Molecular Exploration of the Impact of Radiotherapy on Marfan Syndrome Patients.” Practical Radiation Oncology Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages e127-e130, July 2013
Mourad, W.F., Young, R., Kabarriti, R., Blakaj, D.M., Shourbaji,
R.A., Glanzman, J., Patel, S., Ohri, N., Yaparpalvi, R., Beitler,
J.J., Kalnicki, S., Garg, M.K. “25-Year Follow-up of HIV-positive
Patients with Benign Lymphoepithelial Cysts of the Parotid
Glands: A Retrospective Review.” Anticancer Res. 2013 Nov;
33 (11):4927-32.
2013
Mourad, W.F., Shasha, D., Blakaj, D.M., Khorsandi, A.S.,
Shourbaji, R.A., Glanzman, J., Kabarriti, R., Young, R., Patel,
S., Katsoulakis, E., Gámez, M., Woode, R., Lazarus, C., Hu,
K.S., Harrison, L.B. “Comprehensive head and neck
radiotherapy dose-volume constraints do not apply to smaller
volumes.” Anticancer Res. 2013 Oct; 33(10):4483-9.
2013
Mourad, W.F., Hu, K.S., Shourbaji, R.A., Dolan, J., Blakaj,
D.M., Shasha, D., Harrison, L.B. “Exploration of the role of
radiotherapy in the management of early glottic cancer with
complete carotid artery occlusion.” Onkologie. 2013; 36(7-
8):433-5. doi: 10.1159/000353750. Epub 2013 Jul 8.
2013
Mourad WF, Blakaj DM, Kabarriti R, Young R, Shourbaji RA,
Glanzman J, Patel S, Yaparpalvi R, Kalnicki S, Garg MK. “Lack
of adjuvant radiotherapy may increase risk of retropharyngeal
node recurrence in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of
the head and neck after transoral robotic surgery.” Case Rep
Oncol Med. 2013; 2013:727904. doi: 10.1155/2013/727904.
Epub 2013 Jun 13.
2013
Mourad WF, Young BM, Young R, Blakaj DM, Orhi N, Shourbaji
RA, Manolidis S, Gámez M, Kumar M, Khorsandi A, Khan MA,
Shasha D, Blakaj A, Glanzman J, Garg MK, Hu KS, Kalnicki S,
Harrison LB. “Clinical validation and applications for CT-based
atlas for contouring the lower cranial nerves for head and neck
cancer radiation therapy.” Oral Oncol. 2013Sep; 49(9):956-63.
doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.03.449. Epub 2013 Apr 25.
2013
Mourad WF, Hu KS, Shourbaji RA, Ishihara D, Lin W, Kumar M,
Blakaj DM, Harrison LB. “The impact of computed tomography
on early glottic cancer outcomes.” Onkologie. 2013; 36(3):83-6.
doi: 10.1159/000348529. Epub 2013 Feb 21.
2013
E. Gez, S. Cytron, R.B. Yosef, D. London, B.W.Corn, S.Alani,
G.Scarzello, F. DalMoro, G. Sotti, F. Zattoni, I. Koziol, T. Torre,
M. Bassignani, S. Kalnicki, R. Ghavamian, D. Blakaj, M.
Anscher, M sommerauer, D. Jocham, C. Melchert, S.
Huttenlocher, G. Kovacs, M. Garg. “Application of an Interstitial 2013
and Biodegradable Balloon System for Prostate-Rectum Separation during Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy: a Prospective Multi-Center Study.” Radiation Oncology. 2013 Apr 23; 8(1):96. D. Blakaj, M. Garg, Z. Chen, R. Smith, M. Prystowsky, R. Burk, N. Schlecht, C. Guha, S. Kalnicki. “Characterization of Human Papillomavirus 16 Variants in Head-and-Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.” International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, Vol. 84, Nov. 1, 2012, Issue 3, Supplement, pp. S711-S712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2012.07.1904. 2012
W.F. Mourad, D. Hauerstock, R.A. Shourbaji, K.S. Hu, B.
Culliney, W. Lin, Z. Li, D. Blakaj, A. Jacobson, T. Tran, S.
Manolidis, S. Schantz, M. Urken, M. Persky, L.B. Harrison.
“Trimodality Management of Sinonasal Undifferentiated
Carcinoma and Review of the Literature.” Accepted in AJCO –
In Press
2012
D. Blakaj, N. Fernandez-Fuentes N, Z. Chen, R. Hedge, A.
Fiser, RD Burk, M. Brenowitz. “Evolutionary and biophysical
relationships among the papillomavirus E2 proteins.” Front
Biosci. 2009 Jan 1; 14:900-917. PMID: 19273107
2009
S. Roday, M. Sturm, D. Blakaj and V. Schramm, “Detection of
an abasic site in RNA with stem-loop DNA beacons: Application
to an activity assay for Ricin Toxin A-Chain” J Biochem Biophys
Methods. Jan 2008 70:6 (945-953). PMID: 18276012
2008
D. Blakaj, C. Kattamuri, S. Khrapunov, R. Hegde & M.
Brenowitz; “Indirect Readout of DNA Sequence by
Papillomavirus E2 Proteins Depends Upon Net Cation Uptake”
Journal of Molecular Biology, 2006. 358 (1): p.224-240. PMID:
16513133
2006
D.Blakaj & M. Brenowitz; Thermodynamic, phylogenetic and
structural studies of the mechanism of DNA sequence specific
binding by papillomavirus E2 proteins. Yeshiva University
Doctoral Thesis, 2006, 151 pages; 3216820.
2006
D. Blakaj, K. McConnell, D. Beveridge and A. Baranger;
“Molecular Dynamics and Thermodynamics of Protein-RNA
Interactions: Mutation of a Conserved Residue Modifies
Stacking Interactions and Structural Adaptation in the U1A-Stem
Loop 2 RNA Complex.” JACS; 2001. 123 (11): p.2548-2551.
PMID: 11456923. 2001
Selected Abstracts
Safety evaluation of nivolumab (Nivo) concomitant with cetuximab-radiotherapy for intermediate (IR) and high-risk (HR) local-regionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): RTOG 3504. M. Gillison, R.L. Ferris, Q. Zhang, A.D. Colevas, L.K. Mell, C. Kirsch, K.L. Moore, M.T. Truong, C.S. Kong, R. Jordan, D.A. Clump II, J. Ohr, K. He, D. Blakaj, J. Deeken, M. Machtay, W.J. Curran Jr, J. Harris, and Q.T. Le. ASCO and ASTRO Posters. 2018
Adam Wolfe, Brett Klamer, Jeff Pan, Daniel Prevedello,
Aashish Bhatt, Joshua Palmer, Luciano Prevedello, Paul
Wakely, Marcelo Bonomi, Ricardo Carrau, Dukagjin
Blakaj. The Impact of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy and
Elective Nodal Irradiation in Early Stage/Low Grade versus
Advanced Stage/High Grade Olfactory Neuroblastoma.
ASTRO Annual Meeting Program Committee 2018, San
Antonio TX. October 21-24, 2018. Poster. 2018
Dukagjin Blakaj, Amy Custer, Wesley Zoller, Adam Wolfe,
Aashish Bhatt, Shannon Grams, Matthew Old, Stephen
Kang, Amit Agrawal, Enver Ozer, Jessica Wobb, Robert
Rupert, Darrion Mitchell, Claire Verschraegen, James
Rocco, Marcelo Bonomi. A Prospective Analysis of
Ototoxicity in Modern Radiation Therapy Treatments for
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)
Patients Receiving Concomitant Chemo-Radiation (CRT)
with Weekly or Tri-weekly Cisplatin (Cis). ASTRO Annual
Meeting Program Committee 2018, San Antonio TX.
October 21-24, 2018. Poster.
2018
E. Healy, E. Mendel, S.A. Walston Jr., K. Levine, H.
Mashaly, Z. Zhang, E. Bourekas, R. Raval, J.D.
Palmer, D.M. Blakaj. Local control assessment of spine
metastases after post-operative stereotactic radiosurgery
following limited versus extensive spine surgery: a
retrospective review. ASTRO Annual Meeting Program
Committee 2017, San Diego CA. September 24-27, 2017.
Poster.
2018
Erin Healy, MD; Wesley Zoller, CMD; Ashlee Ewing, CMD;
Jacob Eckstein, BS; Stella Ling, MD; Jennifer Sipos, MD;
Virginia Diavolitsis, MD; Jessica Wobb, MD; Darrion
Mitchell, MD, PhD; John Grecula, MD; Eric Miller, MD, PhD;
Dukagjin Blakaj, MD, PhD; and Aashish Bhatt, MD.
Thyroid-optimized and Thyroid-sparing Radiotherapy in Oral
Cavity and Oropharyngeal Carcinoma – Dosimetric
Feasibility and Replanning Study. The American
Association of Medical Dosimetristrists Annual Conference
Committee 2018, Austin, TX. June 17-21, 2018. Abstract.
2018
E. Healy, D. Christ, A. Cetnar, D. DiCostanzo, J.L. Wobb, D.L. Mitchell, J.C. Grecula, A. Bhatt, D. Blakaj. Dosimetric and volumetric effects of induction chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2018, Scottsdale, AZ. February 15-17, 2018. Abstract and Poster. 2018
Benjamin Willen, Erin Healy, Christian Barney, Steve
Walston, Dominic DiCostanzo, Ahmet Ayan, Jessica Wobb,
Darrion Mitchell, John Grecula, D. Blakaj, Aashish Bhatt.
Correlation of salivary gland dose to volume changes noted
during adaptive replanning of head and neck radiation
therapy. ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2018,
Scottsdale, AZ. February 15-17, 2018. Abstract and Poster.
2018
E. Healy, E. Mendel, S. Walston Jr, K. Levine, H. Mashaly,
Z. Zhang, E. Bourekas, R. Raval, J. Palmer, D. Blakaj.
Local control assessment of spine metastases after post-
operative stereotactic radiosurgery following limited versus
extensive spine surgery: a retrospective review. 59th
ASTRO Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. September 24-27,
2017. Abstract and Poster.
2017
D. Blakaj, P. Wald, J. Grecula, S. Walston, L.Wei, A. Bhatt,
V. Diavolitsis, J. Wobb, D. Mitchell, T. Teknos, J. Rocco, M.
Old, A. Agarwal, R. Carrau, E. Ozer; Intraoperative Electron
Beam Radiotherapy for Locoregionally Recurrent Head and
Neck Cancer. (Poster) Abstract # E36-0462, ESTRO
Annual Meeting 2017.
2016
D. Blakaj, S. Walston, Z. Chen, M. Garg, C. Guha, S.
Kalnicki, R.V. Smith, R.D. Burk, N.F. Schlect, B. Kumar, M.
Old, T. Teknos, A. Chakravarti. Head and Neck Cancer
HPV16 variant analysis, HPV E2 variations and E2 protein
disruption as radiation sensitivity biomarker. ESTRO Annual
Meeting 2015.
2015
D. Blakaj, S. Walston, M.Choudary, B. Kumar, K.
Palanichamy, M. Garg, Z. Chen, S. Kalnicki, M. Prystowsky,
R. Smith, R. Burk, N. Schlect, N. Nolan, A. Bhatt, V.
Diavolitsis, J. Grecula, T. Teknos, A. Chakravarti.
Papillomavirus E2 protein as a radiation biomarker: head
and neck cancer HPV 16 variant analysis among cancer
patients, E2 changes among variants and cell line analysis
of E2 protein disruption as a correlative for radiation
sensitivity. 24th Annual Meeting of the American College of
Radiation Oncology (ACRO) 2014, Oral Papers Session
February 27, 2014, Presentation #4.
2014
D. Blakaj, M. Garg, Z. Chen, R. Smith, M. Prystowsky, R.
Burk, N. Schelcht, C. Guha, S. Kalnicki. Characterization of 2012
Human Papillomavirus 16 Variants in Head and Neck Squamous cell Carcinoma. (Poster) Abstract # 1836, ASTRO Annual Meeting 2012.
D. Blakaj, M. Kinon, L. Hong, S. Kalnicki, P. Lasala, M.
Garg. Radiation Necrosis After Radiosurgery: Correlation of
Volume And Dose Parameters In Patients With Metastatic
Brain Lesions. (Poster) Abstract # 1794, ASTRO Annual
Meeting 2012.
2012
D. Blakaj, P. Scripes, W. Skinner, S. Viswanathan, H.
Haynes, Y. Eng, C. Sarta, M. Haigentz, B. Schiff, R. Smith,
C. Guha, S. Kalnicki, M. Garg. Prospective analysis of QOL
in patients undergoing concurrent chemotherapy and
radiation therapy for locally advanced head and neck
cancer. ASCO-H&N Meeting 2012, Abstract #e16058.
2012
D. Blakaj, J. Skinner, A. Smith, H. Haynes, M. Haigentz, B.
Schiff, R. Smith, and S. Kalnicki. Prospective Analysis of
QOL in Patients Undergoing Concurrent Chemotherapy and
Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced head and Neck
Cancer. American Radium Society April 30th 2011.
2011
R. Hannan, J. Shan, S. Gandhi, K. Bernstein, D. Blakaj, C.
Montagna, T. Tong, S. Kalnicki, M.Garg, C. Guha.
TMPRSS2-ERG loci abnormality in Salvage Radiation
Therapy (sRT) refractory prostate cancer patients.
(Poster) ASTRO Annual Meeting 2011 81:2 SUPPL. 1
(S761)
2011
D. Blakaj, J.L. Fox, J. Manzerova, R. Hannan, L. Hong, K.J.
Mehta, S. Kalnicki. Toxicity of hypofractionated adjuvant
radiation after breast-conserving surgery for DCIS. (Poster)
ASCO- Breast Symposium 2011 29:27 SUPPL. 128
2011
D. Blakaj, H. H. Zhang, K. Mehta, B. Clarke, C. Guha, M.
Spierer. Radiation therapy and marfan syndrome: A case
presentation with a clinical and molecular biology
correlation. ASTRO Annual Meeting 2010 78:3 SUPPL. 1
(S666