Mesothelioma Specialists

Mesothelioma Specialists

Many forms of cancer exist, and since and mesothelioma is a unique and rare disease, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, we believe it is important to seek out a specialist in the field so they will be able to provide the highest quality of care and the most current treatment options available. What follows is a list of the nation’s top physicians, surgeons and oncologists specializing in the treatment of mesothelioma.

Nicholas J. Vogelzang

M.D Chair and Medical Director Developmental Therapeutics
and Co-Chair GU Committee US Oncology Research c/o Comprehensive Cancer Centers of NV
3730 S. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89169
Office: 888.680.6376
Email: nvogelzang@mdmeso.com
Dr. Vogelzang, father of attorney Nicholas Vogelzang, first became interested in mesothelioma while working in Minnesota when he cared for two sisters with the disease and published a paper on the geographic distribution of the disease in a state with limited asbestos exposure. Building on that interest, he saw many mesothelioma patients at the University of Chicago and began to lead the mesothelioma research programs of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), a national cancer research organization. For over 15 years, his leadership resulted in more than 20 papers on various chemotherapy regimens and the CALGB prognostic system for meso. At the University of Chicago, he teamed up with radiologists to develop new CT techniques for measuring and tracking the responses of mesothelioma to chemotherapy. In 1998, he was asked by Eli Lilly Inc. to consult on a new drug pemetrexed (Alimta) which had shown promise in treating mesothelioma in an early European study. This led to his leadership on the largest mesothelioma phase III trial ever conducted, which compared the chemotherapy agent cisplatin to cisplatin plus pemetrexed (Alimta). That trial, published in 2003, showed that the 2 drug regimen improved the survival and quality of life of mesothelioma patients. That regimen is now the standard treatment for mesothelioma patients worldwide. Dr Vogelzang continues to be actively involved in mesothelioma patient care and research. He is the current Chairman of the Board of the Mesothelioma Foundation. In 2009, he joined Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada as a practicing medical oncologist. Dr. Vogelzang has published over 100 articles on mesothelioma, edited a book and has spoken hundreds of times throughout the world to push toward the eradication of mesothelioma. He has brought that fight and determination with him to Nevada. Patients can schedule appointments with him at his office in Las Vegas at 702-952-3400. http://www.mdmeso.com

Hedy Lee Kindler, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine
Medical Director, Gastrointestinal Oncology
Director, Mesothelioma Program
Hedy Lee Kindler, MD, is an internationally recognized cancer expert who specializes in the medical treatment of pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and malignant mesothelioma (a type of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure). Her research focuses on the investigation of novel agents for the treatment of these cancers, and she designs and leads many innovative clinical trials for patients with these diseases.
Dr. Kindler is an associate editor of Lung Cancer and has published numerous journal articles, review articles, book chapters, and abstracts. A popular speaker, she has been invited to lecture at hundreds of scientific meetings around the world.
Dr. Kindler is the immediate past-president of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. She is an active member of several committees and boards, including the Science Advisory Board of the Mesothelioma Foundation, the NCI Pancreatic Cancer Task Force, and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.
Repeatedly listed in Best Doctors in America, America’s Top Doctors for Cancer, and Top Doctors in Chicago, Dr. Kindler was recently awarded the Selikoff Lifetime Achievement Award by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

David J. Sugarbaker, MD

Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery
Dr. Sugarbaker is board certified in Thoracic Surgery and Surgery. He attended Wheaton College and Cornell University Medical School. He completed his Surgery residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Cardiothoracic training at the Toronto General Hospital as Chief Resident in Thoracic Surgery and Chief Resident in Cardiac Surgery. His specific interests are in general thoracic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, lung volume reduction surgery, esophageal cancer, mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancer, and video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS).
Dr. Sugarbaker has been actively involved in the development of several programs. These include The Division of Thoracic Surgery 1988-present, the Brigham Lung Transplant Program, The Thoracic Oncology Program at the DFCI/BWH 1995-present, Surgical Services at the DFCI 1996-present, the Lung Volume Reduction Program at BWH 1996-present. In addition he has been active in the development of new minimally invasive surgical procedures and actively involved in the areas of therapy of thoracic malignancy.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma has been a central focus of Dr. Sugarbaker’s clinical and laboratory research. A trimodality therapeutic approach based on extrapleural pneumonectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation was developed and examined in a consecutive series of patients. Analysis of this series has revealed improved overall survival with acceptable morbidity and operative mortality, and has elucidated new prognostic variables in this disease. These include cell type, nodal status and resectablity, which have formed the foundation of a new staging system currently in use, which was presented to the American Surgical Association in 1996.
Laboratory investigation in mesothelioma has entailed the banking of frozen samples of more than 100 mesotheliomas that are currently the focus of research examining molecular markers in this disease. One important project seeks a definitive answer as to the potential role of Simian Virus 40 exposure (e.g. via contaminated polio vaccine) in mesothelioma through collaborative involvement with the NIH SV-40 working group.
As Chair of the Surgery Committee of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), it has been possible for Dr. Sugarbaker to play a leadership role in developing the clinical investigation of the role of surgery in cancer therapy trials, with the support of NCI U10 funding. This effort has supported the clinical investigation of new therapies in thoracic, GI and breast malignancies. These prospective clinical investigations have led to further NCI U10 support to examine the efficacy of new innovative minimally invasive thoracic surgery techniques in the staging and treatment of thoracic malignancy.
Concurrent laboratory work has focused on prognostic factors in stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Although surgery alone is standard therapy in this group of patients, 30-40% of them will succumb to recurrent disease. Identification of molecular and pathologic prognostic markers indicating metastatic potential in resected stage I tumors will facilitate selection of patients for adjuvant therapy. The evaluation of markers in our laboratory has led to the publication of a molecular substaging system for stage I non-small cell lung cancer. The prognostic significance of markers currently under study utilizes specimens from our respiratory tissue bank.
The establishment of the respiratory tissue bank in 1991 has led to the development of new methodologies for tissue processing and storage. This activity has led to extremely fruitful collaborative research projects. Prominent among these is “A gene expression approach to Adenocarcinoma classification”, a funded response to the NCI Director’s Challenge involving investigators at the Whitehead Institute, DFCI, MGH and BWH. Others have focused on the role of cell cycle regulatory pathways (Rb, cyclin D1, p16), matrix metalloproteinases (stromelysin-3), adhesion/motility proteins (paxillin, gelsolin), retinoid receptors and macrophage stimulating protein in the pathogenesis and metastasis of lung cancer. The bank has also supported large-scale gene discovery and expression profiling work in malignant pleural mesothelioma. “Evaluation of assays for detection of Simian Virus 40 DNA in Mesotheliomas”, a multicenter study by the International SV40 Working Group organized by the Viral Epidemiology Branch of the NCI, utilized specimens from the bank in a careful investigation of this sensitive public health issue.
Recently, the scope of the bank has been expanded. The BWH Tissue and Blood Repository now serves a broader role as an institutional core facility for specimen procurement and distribution in a wide array of malignancies as well as benign and neo-plastic tissues, blood, cells and nucleic acids. Dr. Sugarbaker serves as co-director and operations chair.
Dr Sugarbaker is Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Richard E. Wilson Professor of Surgical Oncology at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Harvey Pass

Director, Division of Thoracic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center Chief, Thoracic Oncology, New York University Langone Medical Center Chairman, Scientific Advisory Board, Mesothelioma Applied Research Fund (MARF) New York University Medical Center

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530 First Avenue,
Suite 9V
New York, New York 10016
Office: (212) 731-5414
Email: Harvey.pass@med.nyu.edu
Dr. Harvey I. Pass received his M.D. from Duke University Medical School in 1973 and completed his Surgical residency at Duke in 1975. Dr. Pass acted as Chief Surgeon at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Division of Surgery, from 1977-1980. He then went on act as Chief Resident while completing his Senior Residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Pass completed his 3-year Senior Fellowship in the Thoracic Oncology Surgical Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). He was appointed Head of Thoracic Oncology for the National Cancer Institute in 1986, and in 1991 was awarded the National Institutes of Health’s prestigious Directors Award for his contributions to thoracic oncology. In 1996, Dr. Pass began creating the thoracic oncology program at Karmanos Cancer Institute of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and was awarded Detroit’s Top Doctors award in both 2004 and 2005. In 1998, Dr. Pass helped found the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF).
In 2005, Dr. Pass joined The New York University School of Medicine, Division of Thoracic Surgery as it’s first Director. Today, Dr. Pass serves as a member of the Lung Cancer Alliance Board and acts as Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. In addition, Dr. Pass has been awarded Castle Connolly’s America’s Top Doctors award for the last five years. For additional information on Dr. Pass, as well as information on New York University’s Langone Medical Center, visit www.med.nyu.edu/clinicians/passh01.html.
For additional information and resources for mesothelioma victims and their families, please visit our patients & family page.

Believe in a Cure:
Offering hope to mesothelioma patients and their families.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (formerly known as MARF) is the national non-profit foundation dedicated to ending the suffering caused by mesothelioma by funding mesothelioma research, educating patients, and by advocating for federal mesothelioma funding.
Founded by David J. Sugarbaker, MD, the International Mesothelioma Program encompasses a clinical program, a research program and a support program. The clinical focus is on developing treatment strategies which can significantly extend the life of their patients. Their research focus involves a collaboration of basic, translational, and clinical research scientists whose aim is to understand the causative factors in the development of the disease and to translate these findings into improved therapy.
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM), is widely regarded among the world’s top centers for scientific and medical training. Mt. Sinai’s reputation has been built upon its dedication to compassionate patient care and continuing scientific research through a large number of clinical trials.
Schedule an appointment with our mesothelioma lawyers if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Please call (312) 466-1669