The Thoracic Oncology service at Washington University focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with thoracic malignancies such as lung cancer.
We are actively engaged in conducting clinical trials to improve the outcomes of patients with lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Each year, more than 10,000 patients are evaluated and treated by our thoracic medical oncology team.
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Referring physicians or patients can call 314-747-1171 to schedule a consultation with one of our Thoracic physicians.
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Thoracic Malignancies
Our team focuses on lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies including:
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Small cell lung cancer
- Carcinoid tumors
- Mesothelioma
- Thymic malignancies
Our Treatment Approach
The diagnostic and treatment decisions are often made by a multidisciplinary team including thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists and radiologists. During our weekly meetings, all the specialties are involved to assure that the patients receive the best treatment possible.
Our outpatient clinics also include the important participation of clinical pharmacologists, the palliative care team, nutritionists and social workers. The treatment options provided by our thoracic team include:
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
Treatment Team
Daniel Morgensztern, MD
Thoracic Medical Oncology Program Director
Research: Thoracic malignancies, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, antibody-drug conjugates and cancer epidemiology.
Maria Quintos Baggstrom, MD
Research: Thoracic oncology, medical education, clinical trial methodology
Salman I. Chaudhry, MD
Research: Thoracic and gastrointestinal malignancies
Haobin Chen, MD, PhD
Research: Development of new therapies for small cell lung cancer, identification of predictive biomarkers and mechanisms of drug resistance.
Ramaswamy Govindan, MD
Research: Cancer genomics, personalized treatment for early stage and locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Brett H. Herzog, MD, PhD
Research: Thoracic malignancies and novel therapeutic strategies targeting the tumor microenvironment
Anjali Rohatgi, MD, PhD
Research: Thoracic malignancies and immunotherapy
Saiama N. Waqar, MD, MBBS, MSCI
Research: Personalized treatment of lung cancer including targeted therapies, immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugates.
Jeffrey P. Ward, MD, PhD
Research: Thoracic malignancies and immunotherapy.
- Amanda Allen (Ward)
- Samantha Conlin (Rohatgi)
- Mary Ellen Flanagan (Morgensztern)
- Hailey Hunter (Waqar, Ward)
- Rachel Sanger (Baggstrom, Govindan)
- Kim Benson (Morgensztern)
- Christy Breckenridge (Baggstrom)
- Lauralea Franklin (Baggstrom, Govindan)
- Monica Freund (Waqar)
- Megan Huniak (Baggstrom, Govindan)
- Jessica Litteken (Herzog)
- Jill Nickless (Morgensztern)
- Madeline Oconnor (Chen)
- Krystal Prater (Waqar)
- Julie Tucker (Chen, Rohatgi)
- Lee Ann Wasson (Chen)
- Lee Ann Wasson (Ward)
- Mikayla Wilson (Rohatgi)
Research and Clinical Trials
Research plays a pivotal role in our thoracic oncology program. We are deeply committed to both basic and clinical trials aimed at assessing innovative and improved treatments for lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. At Washington University, we offer numerous clinical trials that explore new and promising therapies for thoracic malignancies, and our contributions were essential to the development of several drugs that have subsequently gained approval.
Our team of basic researchers concentrates on cancer genomics, various forms of immunotherapy, and the tumor microenvironment. These efforts are at the forefront of providing advanced treatment options for our patients. Most of the research in our group has been focused on:
- Treatment of early stage lung cancer
- Immunotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer
- Targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer
- Immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer
- Novel therapies for small cell lung cancer
Ongoing Clinical Trial Highlights
- Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Chemotherapy in Patients With Relapsed Small Cell Lung Cancer in Combination With Allopurinol and MycoPhenolate (CLAMP Trial) (NCT05049863)
This is a phase I/II study involving the co-administration of irinotecan, allopurinol and mycophenolate in patients with previously treated small cell lung cancer. The study was developed based on our basic research on patients with small cell lung cancer showing that this combination may revert the chemotherapy resistance. - A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Zimberelimab (AB122) in Combination With Domvanalimab (AB154) and Etrumadenant (AB928) in Patients With Previously Treated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NCT04791839)
This is a pilot study developed by our group, evaluating the combination of three immunotherapy modulators in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer. The hypothesis is that patients who had already received an immune checkpoint inhibitor may benefit from the combination of zimberelimab, an antibody against PD1, domvanalimab, and antibody against TIGIT and etrumadenant, an antagonist of the adenosine receptors A2aR and A2bR. - Phase I/II Study Exploring the Safety and Efficacy of Combining APL-101 With Frontline Osimertinib in Patients With EGFR-mutated Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)OsiApl (NCT04743505)
This is a phase I/II study evaluating the combination of the epidermal growth factor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor osimertinib with the MET inhibitor APL-101. The study was developed by our group based on the high incidence of acquired MET alterations as a mechanism of acquired resistance to osimertinib.