Blessie E. Nelson, M.B.B.S., D.M.R.T.
Department of General Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of General Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor (Joint appointment), Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2011 | Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, IN, DMRT |
| 2008 | Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, NP, MBBS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2022-2023 | Research Fellowship, Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2021-2022 | Research Fellowship, Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2020-2021 | Clinical Fellowship, Medical Oncology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas |
| 2019-2020 | Clinical Fellowship, Medical Oncology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas |
| 2016-2019 | Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland |
| 2009-2011 | Clinical Residency, Radiation Oncology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore |
| 2008-2009 | Clinical Residency, Radiology Trainee, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore |
| 2007-2008 | Clinical Internship, Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa |
Board Certifications
| 2023 | Diplomate in Medical Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine |
| 2019 | Diplomate in Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine |
Experience & Service
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Endowed Chief Fellow in Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Fellowship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2022 - 2023
DEI Officer, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2021 - 2023
Chief Fellow in Medical Oncology Fellowship Program, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2020 - 2021
Member-Transfusion Committee, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 2020 - 2021
Antibiotic Stewardship Committee Officer, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, 2016 - 2019
Chief Resident, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, 2009 - 2011
Demonstrator, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, 2008 - 2009
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Editorial Board, 2024 - Present
Member, IRB Review Committee, 2024 - Present
Member, Diversity Taskforce Working Group, 2023 - Present
Co-Activity Director & Facilitator, Journal Club-Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, 2022 - 2023
Member, Program Evaluation Committee-Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, 2022 - 2023
Co-Activity Director, Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Grand Rounds, 2022 - 2023
Member, GME Diversity and Disparities Subcommittee, 2022 - 2023
Chief Fellow, Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, 2022 - 2023
Patient Safety Officer, Institutional Patient Safety Committee, 2021 - 2023
Member, Transfusion Comittee Member, 2020 - 2021
Chief Fellow, Fellow, Department of Hematology and Oncology, 2020 - 2021
Member, Medical Oncology Fellowship Program Committee, 2020 - 2021
Member, Patient Safety Quality Improvement Resident Council, 2017 - 2019
Member, Antibiotic Stewardship Committee, 2016 - 2019
Organizer/Member, Annual Meeting at Association of Radiation Oncologists of India, 2010 - 2010
Honors & Awards
| 2024 | The Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Career Development Award |
| 2024 | Gateway for Cancer Research Award: Enhancing Inclusivity: Community-Focused Decentralization of Avapritinib Phase 2 Basket Study for Improved Access and Community Engagement |
| 2023 | The Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Career Development Award |
| 2023 | The Robert G. Cox Memorial Endowed Merit Award in Molecularly Targeted Developmental Therapeutics by Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| 2023 | Endowed Fellow for IBC Foundation for Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Fellowship, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer, Houston, TX, USA |
| 2022 | The Robert G. Cox Memorial Endowed Merit Award in Molecularly Targeted Developmental Therapeutics by Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation: ASCO Annual Meeting, American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| 2022 | Endowed Fellow for IBC Foundation for Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Fellowship, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer, Houston, TX, USA |
| 2021 | Chief Fellow Award, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology,University of Texas Medical Branch |
| 2021 | Nominated for Fellow of the Year, Department of Graduate Medical Education, University of Texas Medical Branch |
| 2021 | Endowed Fellow for IBC Foundation for Investigational Cancer Therapeutics Fellowship, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer, Houston, TX, USA |
| 2021 | Outstanding Fellow Award in UTMB Medical Oncology Fellowship Program, University of Texas Medical Branch |
| 2019 | Outstanding Academic Resident in 2019, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Maryland |
| 2016 | Outstanding Academic Resident, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Maryland |
| 2016 | Ambulatory Doctor of the Month in July, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Maryland |
| 2011 | First in Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Radiation Therapy, CMC |
| 2005 | Gold medalist for first rank in second phase of MBBS University exam, MBBS University,Nepal, India |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Silva DJ, Nelson BE, Rodon-Ahnert J. Decentralized Clinical Trials in Early Drug Development - A Framework proposal. Journal of Immunotherapy and Precision Oncology 2024, 2024. PMID: None.
- Nardo, Gouda M, Nelson BE, Barretto C, Subbiah: V. Strategies for Mitigating Selective RET inhibitor Related Adverse Events in Patients with RET-altered Cancers. Cell Reports Medicine 2024, 2024. PMID: None.
- Nelson E, Roszik J, Nardo M, Noia Barretto CM, Ahmed J, Campbell E, Johnson AM, Piha-Paul SA, Glitza I, Weathers S, Cabanillas M, Javle M, Meric-Bernstam F, Subbiah V. RAF-inhibitor Re-challenge Therapy in BRAF Aberrated Pan-Cancers: RE-RAFFLE study: Molecular Cancer 2024. Molecular Cancer, 2024. PMID: None.
- Nelson BE, Tsimberidou AM, Fu X, Fu S, Subbiah V, Sood AK, Rodon J, Karp DD, Blumenschein G, Kopetz S, Pant S, Piha-Paul SA. A Phase I Trial of Bevacizumab and Temsirolimus in Combination With Valproic Acid in Advanced Solid Tumors. Oncologist 28(12):e1100-e1292, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37311055.
- Nardo M, Yilmaz B, Nelson BE, Torres HA, Wang LS, Granwehr BP, Song J, Dalla Pria HRF, Trinh VA, Glitza Oliva IC, Patel SP, Tannir NM, Kaseb AO, Altan M, Lee SS, Miller E, Zhang H, Stephen BA, Naing A. Safety and Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Cancer and Viral Hepatitis: The MD Anderson Cancer Center Experience. Oncologist 28(8):714-721, 2023. PMID: 36952233.
- Gouda MA, Nelson BE, Buschhorn L, Wahida A, Subbiah V. Tumor-Agnostic Precision Medicine from the AACR GENIE Database: Clinical Implications. Clin Cancer Res 29(15):2753-2760, 2023. PMID: 37061987.
- Nelson BE, Saleem S, Damodaran S, Somaiah N, Piha-Paul S, Moore JA, Yilmaz B, Ogbonna D, Karp DD, Dumbrava E, Tsimberidou AM, Hong DS, Rodon Ahnert J, Milton DR, Zheng X, Booser DJ, Ibrahim NK, Conley AP, Bhosale P, Rojas Hernandez CM, Tripathy D, Naing A, Meric-Bernstam F. Phase 1b study of combined selinexor and eribulin for the treatment of advanced solid tumors and triple-negative breast cancer. Cancer 129(14):2201-2213, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37016732.
- Nelson BE, Reddy NK, Huse JT, Amini B, Nardo M, Gouda M, Weathers SP, Subbiah V. Histological transformation to gliosarcoma with combined BRAF/MEK inhibition in BRAF V600E mutated glioblastoma. NPJ Precis Oncol 7(1):47, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37231247.
- Nelson BE, Roszik J, Janku F, Hong DS, Kato S, Naing A, Piha-Paul S, Fu S, Tsimberidou A, Cabanillas M, Busaidy NL, Javle M, Byers LA, Heymach JV, Meric-Bernstam F, Subbiah V. BRAF v600E-mutant cancers treated with vemurafenib alone or in combination with everolimus, sorafenib, or crizotinib or with paclitaxel and carboplatin (VEM-PLUS) study. NPJ Precis Oncol 7(1):19, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36801912.
- Nelson E, Adashek JJ, Sheth AA, Subbiah V. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics: Abscopal Effect: Identifying Biomarkers and Histologies for Success. AACR, 2023. PMID: None.
- Greiner B, Tipton S, Nelson B, Hartwell M. Cancer screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of public interest trends. Curr Probl Cancer 46(1):100766, 2022. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34304883.
- Nelson E, Adashek JJ, Lin SH, Subbiah V. Wiley: Cancer Medicine: On Target Methods to Induce Abscopal Phenomenon for Off-Target Effects: From Happenstance to Happenings. Cancer Med. 2022, 2022. PMID: None.
- Greiner B, Lee M, Nelson B, Hartwell M. The pink elephant in the room: Declining public interest in breast cancer and the impact of marketing efforts. J Cancer Policy 28:100287, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 35559903.
Other Articles
- Nelson BE, Meric-Bernstam F Leveraging TROP2 Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Solid Tumors. Annu Rev Med 75:31-48, 2024. PMID: 37758237.
- Nardo, M, Gouda, MA, Nelson, BE, Barreto, CN, Slade, JH, Poullard, A, Zafereo, M, Hu, MI, Cabanillas, ME, Subbiah, V Strategies for mitigating adverse events related to selective RET inhibitors in patients with RET-altered cancers. Cell Reports Medicine 4(12), 2023. PMID: 38118420.
- Nelson BE, Adashek JJ, Sheth AA, Subbiah V Predicting the Abscopal Effect: Associated Tumor Histologic Subtypes and Biomarkers. Mol Cancer Ther 22(6):706-716, 2023. PMID: 37259805.
- Nelson BE, Adashek JJ, Lin SH, Subbiah V The abscopal effect in patients with cancer receiving immunotherapy. Med 4(4):233-244, 2023. PMID: 36893753.
- Nelson BE, Adashek JJ, Lin SH, Subbiah V On target methods to induce abscopal phenomenon for Off-Target effects: From happenstance to happenings. Cancer Med 12(6):6451-6465, 2023. PMID: 36411943.
- Nelson BE, Ejezie CL, Stephen BA, Nardo M, Campbell E, Gong J, Hong DS, Fu S, Yap TA, Murphy MB, Piha-Paul S, Daver NG, Rojas-Hernandez CM, Naing A Spectrum of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Anemias: Results From a Single Center, Early-Phase Clinical Trials Case Series Experience. J Hematol 11(3):113-120, 2022. PMID: 35837373.
- Nelson E, Hong A, Iqbal F, Jana B A unique case of hemolytic‐uremic syndrome secondary to enteropathogenic E Coli. Clin Case Rep, 2022. PMID: None.
- Nelson BE, Hong A, Okereke I, Markowitz A, Willis M, Muthukumarana PV, Nawgiri R Non-neoplastic inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung after immunotherapy for melanoma: A diagnostic pitfall on fine needle aspiration biopsy of lung. Diagn Cytopathol 49(10):1150-1154, 2021. PMID: 34331523.
- Nelson E, Hong A, Iqbal F, Nawgiri R, Okereke I, Markowitz A Non-neoplastic inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung after immunotherapy for melanoma: A diagnostic pitfall on fine needle aspiration biopsy of lung. Diagn Cytopathol. None, 2021. PMID: None.
- Nelson BE, Tipton S, Venkatesan R Early Onset Neutropenia due to Rituximab Therapy in Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report. J Hematol 10(3):136-138, 2021. PMID: 34267851.
- Cordova J, Nelson B, Brizendine AM, Iqbal F, Venkatesan R CD5+ Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma With Leukemic Transformation: A Rare Case With Central Nervous System Involvement, Treated With R-CHOP and Intrathecal Methotrexate/Cytarabine. Cureus 13(6):e15838, 2021. PMID: 34327076.
- Nelson BE, Hong A, Dekmezian M, Jana B Standard-dose rituximab as effective therapy for treating malignancy related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a geriatric female. None, 2021. PMID: None.
- Cordova, Nelson BE, Brizendine A, Pacheco D, Willis M, Markowitz A Breast cancer-associated paraneoplastic stiff person syndrome: anastrozole monotherapy insufficient for symptom improvement. F1000Research, 2021. PMID: None.
- Nelson E, Brizendine A, Gietzen R, Venkatesan R Treating invasive pleomorphic lobular carcinoma with dual HER-2 targeted therapy, are we one step closer to a cure. None, 2021. PMID: None.
- Nelson B, Warfield D, Mejia CV, Walker JP Rare presentation of growing teratoma syndrome in patient with remote history of testicular cancer resection. J Surg Case Rep 2021(1):rjaa600, 2021. PMID: 33542815.
- Nelson E, Warfield D, Mejia C, Walker JP Growing Teratoma Syndrome masquerading as an abdominal mass. J Surg Case Rep, 2021. PMID: None.
- Nelson BE, Hong A, Dekmezian M, Jana B Standard-Dose Rituximab as Effective Therapy for Treating Malignancy-Related Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in the Eldery: A Case Report. Case Rep Oncol 14(2):1066-1070, 2021. PMID: 34326743.
- Nelson BE, Hong A, Jana B Elucidation of Novel Molecular Targets for Therapeutic Strategies in Urothelial Carcinoma: A Literature Review. Front Oncol 11:705294, 2021. PMID: 34422659.
- Nelson BE, Hong A, Iqbal F, Jana B A unique case of hemolytic-uremic syndrome secondary to enteropathogenic E Coli. Clin Case Rep 8(12):2625-2628, 2020. PMID: 33363792.
- Nelson B, Brizendine AM, Gietzen R, Venkatesan R Case of HER2neu+ Invasive Pleomorphic Lobular Carcinoma With Response to Conventional Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Viable Option for an Exceedingly Rare Breast Cancer Type. Cureus 12(10):e11108, 2020. PMID: 33240704.
- Nelson B, Hong A, Iqbal F, Venkatesan R An Advanced AIDS Patient With CD4 <20 and Plasmablastic Lymphoma Achieving Complete Response With the V-EPOCH Regimen. Cureus 12(6):e8641, 2020. PMID: 32685310.
Abstracts
- Nelson E, Roszik J, Noia Barreto CM, Nardo M, Ahmed J, Campbell E, Johnson A, Piha-Paul SA, Glitza IC, Weathers SS, Cabanillas ME, Javle MM, Meric-Bernstam F, Subbiah V. RAF-inhibitor rechallenge therapy in BRAF aberrated pan-cancers: RE-RAFFLE study: The Robert G. Cox Memorial Endowed Merit Award in Molecularly Targeted Developmental Therapeutics by Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation. None, 2023. PMID: None.
Book Chapters
- Nelson BE, Rondon-Ahnert J. Handbook of Targeted Cancer Therapy and Immunotherapy: Breast Cancer, 1st edition. In: Handbook of Targeted Cancer Therapy and Immunotherapy: Breast Cancer. 1. Wolters Kluwer, None, 2022.
- Nelson BE. Intern/Resident Survival Guide for Internal Medicine Residency Program 2018. In: None. None. None, None, 2016.
Letters to the Editor
- Nelson, BE, Roszik, J, Ahmed, J, Barretto, CN, Nardo, M, Campbell, E, Johnson, A, Piha-Paul, SA, Glitza, IC, Weathers, S, Cabanillas, ME, Javle, M, Meric-Bernstam, F, Subbiah, V. RAF inhibitor re-challenge therapy in BRAF-aberrant pan-cancers. Molecular cancer 23, 2024.
- Nelson, BE, Subbiah, V. Predicting the Abscopal Phenomenon-Reply. Molecular cancer therapeutics 23: 250, 2024.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Enhancing Inclusivity: Community-Focused Decentralization of Avapritinib Phase 2 Basket Study for Improved Access And Community Engagement |
| Funding Source: | GATEWAY FOR CANCER RESEARCH |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | The Robert G. Cox Memorial Endowed Merit Award in Molecularly Targeted Developmental Therapeutics by Conquer Cancer® |
| Funding Source: | ASCO Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified October 28, 2024