Meet Catherine Akay, M.D.
Catherine L. Akay, M.D.
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2003 | Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA, MD, Medicine |
| 1999 | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA, BA, Neuroscience |
Postgraduate Training
| 2010-2011 | Clinical Fellowship, Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2005-2007 | Research Fellowship, Perineural invasion and mechanisms of tumor cell metastasis, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
| 2004-2010 | Clinical Residency, General Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
| 2003-2004 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX |
Board Certifications
| 2011 | American Board of Surgery |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2012 - 2019
Clinical Specialist, Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2011
Honors & Awards
| 2018 | Houstonia Top Doctors |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Park KU, Kyrish K, Terrell JA, Akay CL, Bedrosian I, Black DM, Caudle AS, Checka C, Feig BW, Hunt K, Hwang RF, Kuerer HM, Lucci A, Meric-Bernstam F, Refinetti AP, Reyna C, Ross MI, Teshome M, Thompson AM, DeSnyder SM. Opioid Prescriptions After Breast Cancer Surgery: Perception and Reality. Journal of Clinical Oncology 36(15_suppl):e18799-e18799, 2018.
- DeSnyder SM, Mittendorf EA, Le-Petross C, Krishnamurthy S, Whitman GJ, Ueno NT, Woodward WA, Kuerer HM, Akay CL, Babiera GV, Yang W, Lucci A. Prospective Feasibility Trial of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in the Setting of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Clin Breast Cancer, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28755879.
- Akay CL, Albarracin C, Torstenson T, Bassett R, Mittendorf EA, Yi M, Kuerer HM, Babiera GV, Bedrosian I, Hunt KK, Hwang RF. Factors impacting the accuracy of intra-operative evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer. Breast J. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28608612.
- Xiang DB, Wei B, Abraham SC, Huo L, Albarracin CT, Zhang H, Babiera G, Caudle AS, Akay CL, Rao P, Zhao YJ, Lu X, Wu Y. Molecular cytogenetic characterization of mammary neuroendocrine carcinoma. Hum Pathol 45(9):1951-6, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25074542.
- Takiar V, Akay CL, Stauder MC, Tereffe W, Alvarez R, Hoffman K, Perkins G, Strom E, Buchholz T, Ueno N, Babiera G, Woodward W. Predictors of Durable No Evidence of Disease Status in de novo Metastatic Inflammatory Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Post-Mastectomy Radiation. Springerplus. e-Pub 2014.
- Akay CL, Ueno NT, Chisholm GB, Hortobagyi GN, Woodward WA, Alvarez RH, Bedrosian I, Kuerer HM, Hunt KK, Huo L, Babiera GV. Primary tumor resection as a component of multimodality treatment may improve local control and survival in patients with stage IV inflammatory breast cancer. Cancer 120(9):1319-28. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24510381.
- Akay CL, Meric-Bernstam F, Hunt KK, Grubbs EG, Bedrosian I, Tucker SL, Kuerer HM, Hoffman KE, Babiera GV, Strom EA, Buchholz TA, Mittendorf EA. Evaluation of the MD Anderson Prognostic Index for local-regional recurrence after breast conserving therapy in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Ann Surg Oncol 19(3):901-7, 2012. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21861223.
- Albo D, Akay CL, Marshall CL, Wilks JA, Verstovsek G, Liu H, Agarwal N, Berger DH, Ayala GE. Neurogenesis in colorectal cancer is a marker of aggressive tumor behavior and poor outcomes. Cancer 117(21):4834-45, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21480205.
- Liebig C, Ayala G, Wilks J, Verstovsek G, Liu H, Agarwal N, Berger DH, Albo D. Perineural invasion is an independent predictor of outcome in colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol 27(31):5131-7, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19738119.
- Liebig C, Wilks JA, Feig BW, Wang TN, Wilson M, Herdman AV, Albo D. The role of angiocidin in sarcomas. Cancer 115(22):5251-62, 2009. PMID: 19634159.
- Wilks JA, Liebig C, Tasleem SH, Haderxhanaj K, Lee L, Farrow B, Awad S, Berger D, Albo D. Rectal cancer patients benefit from implementation of a dedicated colorectal cancer center in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Am J Surg 198(1):100-4, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19268899.
- Liebig C, Agarwal N, Ayala GE, Verstovsek G, Tuszynski GP, Albo D. Angiocidin inhibitory peptides decrease tumor burden in a murine colon cancer model. J Surg Res 142(2):320-6, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17719063.
Other Articles
- Liebig C, Ayala G, Wilks JA, Berger DH, Albo D Perineural invasion in cancer: a review of the literature. Cancer 115(15):3379-91, 2009. PMID: 19484787.
Abstracts
- Marshall CL, Orcutt ST, Ayala GE, Balentive CJ, Robinson CN, Akay CL, Beer Dh, Albo D. Stage II Colorectal Cancer Patients with Perineural Invasion Benefit from Adjuvant Chemotheraphy. Annals of Surgical Oncology 18(s76), 2011.
- Wilks JA, Agarwal N, Liebig C, Shen X, etal. Angiocidin siRNA Inhibits Colon Cancer Growth in Vivo. Journal of Surgical Research 151(2):196-7, 2009.
- Wilks JA, Liebig C, Agarawal N, etal. Thrombospondin-1, through Angiocidin, Up-regulates Gelatinase Expression in Colon Cancer Cells. Journal of Surgical Research 151(2):197-8, 2009.
- Wilks JA, Liebig C, Tasleem SH, Haderxhanaj K, etal. A Dedicated Colorectal Cancer Center in a A Medical Center Provides Higher Quality of Care of Colorectal Cancer Patients. Journal of Surgical Research 151(2):238, 2009.
- Agarwal N Liebig C, Wilks J, Albo D.. Silencing Angiocidin Expression Reduces Tumorigenicity of Colon Cancer Cells. Journal of Surgical Research 144(2):237-8, 2008.
- Agarawal N, Liebig C, Wilks JA, Tusznski JP, etal. Structural Anaylsis and Cellular Distribution of Angiocidin in Cancer Cells. Journal of Surgical Research 144(2):306-7, 2008.
- Wilks JA, Liebig C, Haderxhanaj K, Saad M, Berger D, etal. Improvements in Colon Cancer Health Care Delivery with Implementation of a Dedicated Colorectal Cancer Center. Journal of the American College of Surgeons 207(3s):80-1, 2008.
- Liebig CA, Wilks JA, Agarwal N, Verstovsek G, etal. Neurogenesis in Colorectal Cancer. Journal of Surgical Research 144(2):220-1, 2008.
- Liebig CA, Wilks JA, Agarwal N, Verstovsek G, etal. Angiocidin: An Independent Prognostic Factor of Outcome in Colon Cancer. Journal of Surgical Research 144(2):220-221, 2008.
- Liebig C, Agarwal N, Ayala G, Verstovsek G, etal. Inhibition of Angiocidin by Two Novel Peptides Decreases Tumor Burden in an Orthotopic Nude Mouse Model. Journal of Surgical Research 137(2):183, 2007.
- Agarwal N, Liebig C, Tuszynski GP, etal. Role of Angiocidin in Gelatinase Expression and Tumor Cell Invasion in Colon Cancer. Journal of Surgical Research 137(2):223-4, 2007.
- Agarwal N, Liebig C, Tuszynski GP, Bharadway U, Albo D.. Fibroblasts Up-regulate Gelatinase Activity and Promote Tumor Cell Invasion in Colon Cancer Through Angiocidin. Journal of Surgical Research 137(2):222, 2007.
- Liebig C, Ayala G, Agarwal N, Verstovsek G, Berger DH, Albo D.. Perineural Invasion is a Significant Prognostic Indicator in Colorectal Cancer. Annals of Surgical Oncology 14(2s):103, 2007.
Book Chapters
- Akay CL, Meric-Bernstam F. Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer. In: Surgery. JP Publishing, 2013.
- Akay CL, Kuerer HM, Hwang RF. Sential Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer: MD Anderson Cancer Center Approach. In: Advanced Therapy of Breast Diseases. Singletary, Robb and Hortobagyi, 2011.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 11, 2024