Russell K. Pachynski, MD

Russell K. Pachynski, MD

Associate Professor

Address:
Division of Oncology
Mail Stop 8069-0012-05
Washington University
660 South Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110

Room 554B, McDonnell Medical Sciences Building (office)
Room 554, McDonnell Medical Sciences Building (lab)

Admin:
Ebony McGee
ebonyvmcgee@wustl.edu

Clinical Interests
  • Prostate cancer
  • Genitourinary cancers
Research Interests
  • Tumor immunology
  • Leukocyte trafficking
  • Immunotherapy
Research

My lab focuses broadly on the leukocyte migration (or trafficking) in the setting of tumor immunology. More specifically, we aim to better understand the changes that occur during malignant transformation with regard to expression of chemokine and chemoattractant proteins. How these changes then affect the leukocyte trafficking and their presence in the tumor microenvironment, and how they ultimately impact tumor growth and fate is a central question we aim to study. We have been working on a novel leukocyte chemoattractant protein, chemerin. Our analysis of human microarray data has revealed the progressive downregulation of this protein during the malignant transformation in many tumors, including melanoma, breast, and prostate. Human data from our and other groups support the hypothesis that increased levels of chemerin in the tumor microenvironment result in a greater number of leukocytes in the tumors and significantly improved clinical outcomes. We have utilized mouse tumor models to show that forced re-expression of the protein locally within the tumor microenvironment can indeed augment trafficking leukocytes, and result in slowed tumor growth. Our ongoing work will continue to further define the mechanisms by which chemerin mediates its anti-tumor effect, and ultimately we hope to translate this into a first in class immunotherapeutic that could augment leukocyte trafficking to sites of tumor in humans.

Clinically, I focus on prostate and genitourinary cancers with an emphasis on immunotherapy and translational trials. My goal is to bring novel immunotherapies to patients and test combinations of these, in hopes of producing long term remissions or cures with fewer side effects and toxicities than traditional cytotoxic chemotherapies. I will be working closely with other members of CHiiPs (Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs) on translational immunotherapy projects that bring the bench science to bedside, and back again.

Pachynski Lab
Profiles (publications)
WU Physician Bio

Biosketch

Education

  • 2003-1998: MD, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, Madison, WI
  • 1994-1990: BS, Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Post-Graduate Training

  • 2010-2006: Oncology Fellowship, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
  • 2006-2003: Internal Medicine Internship and Residency, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Academic Positions & Employment

  • present-2021: Associate Professor, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2021-2014: Assistant Professor, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2014-2011: Staff Oncologist, Palo Alto VA Hospital, Palo, Alto, C
  • 2014-2009: Instructor, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
  • 2002-2001: HHMI Research Scholar, Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD
  • 1998-1995: Research Associate, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

University & Hospital Appointments & Committees

  • present-2020: NIH Early Career Reviewer (ECR) Program, Cancer Immunopathology and Immunotherapy (CII) Study Section (NCI)
  • present-2019: American Cancer Society “Leukemia, Immunology and Blood Cell Development” Review Committee
  • present-2019: BMS CheckMate 650 Steering Committee
  • present-2018: SITC Fellowship Awards Review Committee
  • present-2017: Prostate Cancer Foundation YIA and Challenge Award Review Committees
  • present-2014: Washington University/Siteman Cancer Center Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee
  • 2022: NIH Cancer Biotherapeutics Development (CBD) SBIR/STTR SEP Study Section (ad hoc)
  • 2014-2012: Stanford Cancer Center Data Safety Monitoring Committee
  • 2014-2012: Developmental Therapeutics Committee – Stanford Cancer Institute
  • 2014-2010: VA VISN-21 Oncology Task Force Committee

Board Certification

  • Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Medical Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine

Honors & Awards

  • 2021: DeNardo Research and Education Foundation Award
  • 2021: Siteman Investment Program Award (basic science)
  • 2020: Skandalaris Center LEAP Award (ctDNA liquid biopsy)
  • 2019: CUREiosity Event – Siteman Rock Docs Honor
  • 2019: Siteman Investment Program Award
  • 2019: Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Research Fund Award
  • 2018: Cares for Cures Grant
  • 2017: Skandalaris Center LEAP Award (chemerin fusion protein)
  • 2016: Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award
  • 2016: Kimmel Scholar Award
  • 2016: Prostate Cancer Foundation Team Challenge Award
  • 2015: Washington University School of Medicine Faculty Diversity Scholar
  • 2014: Ferring Pharmaceuticals Innovation Grant
  • 2013: American Cancer Society Mentored Research Scholar Grant
  • 2013, 2012: Stanford Translational Research & Applied Medicine Program Pilot Award
  • 2010: AACR Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award
  • 2009: ASCO Young Investigator Award
  • 2009: California Breast Cancer Research Program Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
  • 2009: ASCO/AACR Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop Travel Award
  • 2008, 2006: National Lung Cancer Partnership Travel Grant Award
  • 2007: ASCO Fellows Travel Grant Program (Sanofi-Aventis)
  • 2007: NCCN Fellows Recognition Program
  • 2007: AACR Molecular Biology in Clinical Oncology Workshop Travel Award
  • 2002: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Continuing Fellowship Award
  • 2002: AMA Research Seed Grant Award
  • 2002-2001: Temple University Minority Trainee Research Forum – Research Award
  • 2003-1998: University of Wisconsin Medical School Graduate Fellowship
  • 1999: Ohiyesa Foundation Scholarship
  • 1998-1996: UCSF Outstanding Performance Award

Editorial Boards

  • Clinical Genitourinary Cancers
  • Frontiers in Oncology

Professional Societies

  • American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • American Association for Cancer Research
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
  • Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
  • Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer