Christopher Alvarez-Breckenridge, MD, PhD, MD, PhD, BS, BA
Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Surgery
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Faculty Member, Division of Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Faculty, Department of Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2013 | The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, US, MD |
| 2005 | The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, US, Biology, BS |
| 2005 | The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, US, Classics, BA |
Postgraduate Training
| 2020-2021 | Clinical Fellowship, Neurosurgical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2013-2020 | Clinical Residency, Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2020 | Texas Medical License |
| 2019 | Massachusetts Medical License |
| 2017 | American Board of Neurological Surgery Primary Exam |
| 2014 | USMLE, Part 3 |
| 2012 | USMLE, Part 2 |
| 2007 | USMLE, Part 1 |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
Member, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 2022 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, MD Anderson Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Wellness Officer, Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Vice-Chair, Spine Research and Development Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Clinical Trial Protocol Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, I-Pass Handoff Taskforce, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2021
Editorial Activities
Editorial Board, The Oncologist, 2023 - Present
Associate Editor, Nature Precision Oncology, 2023 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2022 | Physician-Scientist Program, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2022 | Arthur and Sandra Irving Cancer Immunology Symposium Promising Young Scientist, Massachusetts General Hospital |
| 2022 | Cancer Center Support Grant New Faculty Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2022 | American Brain Tumor Association Young Investigator Award, American Association of Neurological Surgeons |
| 2021 | CNS Metastases Award, Society of Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting |
| 2021 | Future Directions in Neuro-Oncology-First Place, Society of Neuro-Oncology |
| 2020 | The Oncologist Young Investigator Award, Honorable Mention |
| 2019 | Journal of Neuro-Oncology Award, American Association of Neurological Surgeons |
| 2018 | Neurosurgery Research Award, Massachusetts General Hospital |
| 2013 | Leadership and Academic Achievement Scholarship, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2013 | Medical Scientist Training Program Award, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2012 | Academic Achievement Scholarship, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2012 | Landacre Honor Society Inductee, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2011 | 6th International Meeting on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics Travel Award |
| 2010 | Comprehensive Cancer Center Research Day-Poster Session Winner, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2010 | Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award, American Association for Cancer Research |
| 2009 - 2010 | American Physician Scientists Association Travel Award, ASCI/AAP Joint Meeting |
| 2009 | Travel Award, OSU Medical Scientist Training Program |
| 2009 | Neuroscience Research Day-Poster Session Winner, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2007 - 2008 | University Fellowship Award, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2005 | Ohio State University Leadership Awards, The Ohio State University |
| 2004 | Board of Trustees Student Recognition Award, The Ohio State University |
| 2004 - 2005 | Thomas J. Bardos Undergraduate Education Award, American Association for Cancer Research |
| 2003 - 2005 | Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, The Ohio State University |
| 2001 | Admission to the Ohio State University Medical School, Early Admission Pathway Program |
| 2001 | Early Admission Pathway Program, The Ohio State University Medical School |
| 2001 | Office of Minority Affairs Distinguished Merit Scholarship |
| 2000 | National Hispanic Scholar Distinguished Merit Scholarship |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2021. T cell receptor and single-cell RNA sequencing of melanoma brain metastases reveal distinct tumor microenvironmental elements and biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Conference. MD Anderson Brain Tumor Program Seminar Series. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2020. Laser interstitial therapy and the evolving field of metastatic spine disease. Conference. Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurosurgery Educational Seminar, US.
- 2019. Neurosurgery, immunotherapy, and genomics—novel insights into CNS metastatic disease. Conference. Massachusetts General Hospital Neurosurgery Grand Rounds, US.
- 2004. The role of PTEN in lipid signaling. Conference. OSU Human Cancer Genetics Seminar Series, US.
National Presentations
- 2022. Image Guidance for Resection of Spinal Tumors. Invited. XL Latin American Congress of Neurosurgery, US.
- 2022. Microenvironmental correlates of immune checkpoint inhibitor response in human melanoma brain metastases revealed by T cell receptor and single-cell RNA sequencing. Oral Presentation. Invited. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, US.
- 2021. Genomic and transcriptomic correlates of immunotherapy response within the tumor microenvironment of leptomeningeal metastases. Plenary Presentation. Invited. Society of Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting CNS Metastases Award for rated abstract, US.
- 2021. T cell receptor and single-cell RNA sequencing of melanoma brain metastases reveal distinct tumor microenvironmental elements and biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Oral Presentation. Invited. Melanoma Research Foundation Brain Metastases Summit, US.
- 2019. Evidence of CNS Response to Pembrolizumab for Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis at a Single Cell Resolution. Oral Presentation. Invited. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, US.
- 2018. Evidence of CNS response to pembrolizumab for leptomeningeal carcinomatosis at a single cell resolution. Oral Presentation. Invited. American Academy of Neurological Surgery Annual Meeting, US.
- 2018. Evidence of CNS response to Pembrolizumab for Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis at a single cell resolution. Oral Presentation. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting, US.
- 2018. Divergent clonal evolution of melanoma brain metastases during treatment with immunotherapy. Oral Presentation. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting, US.
- 2018. Divergent clonal evolution of melanoma brain metastases in response to immunotherapy. Oral Presentation. Invited. Congress of Neurologic Surgeons Annual Meeting, US.
- 2016. Craniotomy for Intracranial Melanoma Metastases Offers a Bridge Towards Enhancing Efficacy of Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. Oral Presentation. Invited. Tumor Section Satellite Symposium, US.
- 2011. NKp30 and NKp46 natural cytotoxicity receptors represent a novel target mediating antiviral NK activation during virotherapy for glioblastoma, Poster Presentation. Invited. American Society for Clinical Investigation/Association of American Physicians Joint Meeting, US.
- 2010. Oncolytic viral therapy for glioblastoma is attenuated following robust natural killer cell activation/Poster Presentation. Invited. Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Research Day, US.
- 2010. Oncolytic viral therapy for glioblastoma induces robust natural killer cell activation/Poster Pesentation. Invited. 101st Annual American Association for Cancer Research Meeting, US.
- 2010. Oncolytic viral therapy for glioblastoma is attenuated following robust natural killer cell activation/Oral Presentation. Invited. Ohio State University Hayes Graduate Research Forum, US.
- 2009. Circumventing the obstacle of NK cell activation following OV therapy for glioblastoma Poster Presentation. Invited. Ohio State University Neuroscience Research Day, US.
- 2009. Oncolytic Viral Therapy for Glioblastoma Induces Robust NK Activation//Oral Presentation. Invited. Keystone MSTP Student Conference, US.
- 2008. Oncolytic Virus Therapy of Glioma Sensitizes Glioma Cells to Cilengitide Treatment Oral/Abstract Session. Invited. Annual American Society of Gene Therapy Meeting, US.
- 2008. Intraoperative Radiotherapy Plus External Beam Radiotherapy versus External Beam Radiotherapy Alone for Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Extremity: A Case Control Study/Poster Discussion. Invited. Annual American Association for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology, US.
- 2005. Tumor suppressor gene, PTEN, regulates activity of Phospholipase C (PLC) and Phospholipase D (PLD)/Poster Presentation. Invited. Annual American Association for Cancer Research Meeting, US.
- 2004. PTEN regulates PLD in unstimulated MCF-7 cells-Poster Presentation. Invited. Annual American Association for Cancer Research Meeting, US.
- 2004. Cowden syndrome susceptibility gene, PTEN, regulates phospholipase-C (PLC) and phospholipaseD (PLD)/Poster Presentation. Invited. Annual American Society of Human Genetics Meeting, US.
- 2003. Role of PTEN in lipid signaling in breast cancer/Poster Presentation. Invited. Annual American Society of Human Genetics Meeting, US.
International Presentations
- 2011. NKp30 and NKp46 natural cytotoxicity receptors represent a novel target mediating antiviral NK activation during virotherapy for glioblastoma. Oral Presentation. Invited. 6th International Meeting on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics, US.
- 2010. Antiviral NK response limits efficacy of oncolytic viral therapy for glioblastoma/Oral Presentation. Invited. 10th International Congress of Neuroimmunology, US.
- 2009. Circumventing the obstacle of NK cell activation following OV therapy for glioblastoma/Poster Presentation. Invited. International Meeting on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics, US.
Formal Peers
- 2022. Topic in molecular medicine. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. T cell receptor and single-cell RNA sequencing of melanoma brain metastases reveal distinct tumor microenvironmental elements and biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
- 2008. Improving Trustee Orientation—The Student Trustee/Invited. Invited, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2022 - 2024 |
| Title: | Immunological determinants of oncolytic adenovirus induced efficacy for melanoma brain metastases Neurosurgery Research Career Development Award |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NINDS |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2017 - 2018 |
| Title: | Elucidating the mechanisms of treatment response to immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NINDS |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2016 - 2018 |
| Title: | Characterization of tumor and immune cell clonal evolution in response to immune checkpoint blockade for metastatic CNS disease |
| Funding Source: | American Brain Tumor Association |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2016 - 2017 |
| Title: | Genomic characterization of melanoma's metastatic genetic drivers to the brain and predictors of response to immune checkpoint blockade |
| Funding Source: | AANS/CNS Joint Section on Tumors |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2010 - 2012 |
| Title: | Deciphering and circumventing the natural killer response to oncolytic viral therapy |
| Funding Source: | American Medical Association Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2010 - 2012 |
| Title: | Deciphering and circumventing the natural killer response to oncolytic viral therapy |
| Funding Source: | NIH CTSA TL1 |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | TL 1RR025753 |
| Title: | Immunological determinants of oncolytic adenovirus induced efficacy for melanoma brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Deciphering the interplay between tumor treating fields, the bone microenvironment, and immune modulation as a novel treatment approach for spinal metastases |
| Funding Source: | Kleberg Innovator Investigator Award |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Uncovering alterations in spatial cellular networks in response to immunotherapy for melanoma brain metastases, MD Anderson Institutional Research Grant Program |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson Institutional Research Grant Program |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Title: | Investigating the effects of whole-genome doubling on chordoma recurrence and genome organization, Chordoma Foundation |
| Funding Source: | Chordoma Foundation |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Title: | Uncovering alterations in spatial cellular networks in response to immunotherapy for melanoma brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson Cancer Center SPORE in Melanoma Developmental Research Program |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Title: | Illuminating the bone metastasis immunological niche |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), High Impact/High-Risk Research Award, 10/12/2021 |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Title: | Utilizing integrated genomic and single cell sequencing approaches to target chordoma’s immunotherapeutic vulnerabilities |
| Funding Source: | Chordoma Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | The Bone Metastasis Immunological Niche: Unraveling Its Complexity and Role in Therapy Response and Resistance |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense Kidney Cancer Research Program |
| Role: | Collaborator |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Goethe, E, de Almeida, R, Call-Orellana, F, Mikula, AL, Clarke, MJ, Merrell, KW, Rose, PS, Karim, SM, Linzey, JR, Szerlip, N, Amini, B, Beckham, TH, Ghia, AJ, Li, J, Tom, MC, McAleer, MF, Perni, S, Wang, C, Yeboa, DN, Price, A, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Rhines, LD, Tatsui, CE, North, RY. Sacral fracture risk after stereotactic spinal radiosurgery. Journal of neurosurgery. Spine 43(3):305-312, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40540799.
- Tom MC, Komatineni S, Wang C, de Almeida RAA, Ghia AJ, Beckham TH, Perni S, McAleer MF, Swanson T, Yeboa DN, De BS, Rooney MK, Bishop AJ, Reddy JP, Yang Y, Ludmir EB, Zhang S, Amini B, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, North RY, Rhines LD, Li J, Tatsui CE. Spinal laser interstitial thermal therapy and radiotherapy for thoracic metastatic epidural spinal cord compression. J Neurooncol, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39325339.
- Maksimovic S, Boscolo NC, La Posta L, Barrios S, Moussa MJ, Gentile E, Pesquera PI, Li W, Chen J, Gomez JA, Basi A, Burks JK, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Gao J, Campbell MT, Dondossola E. Antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors have differential efficacy in clear cell renal cell carcinoma in bone. Cancer Res Commun, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39248577.
- Mikula AL, Rhines LD, Patel SS, Pennington Z, Karim SM, Morris JM, Tappa K, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, North RY, Tatsui CE, Rose PS, Clarke MJ, Bird JE. Utility of 3D-Printed Models in the Surgical Planning for Primary Spine Tumors: A Survey of International Spinal Oncology Experts. Global Spine J:21925682241278323, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39166967.
- Beckham TH, Rooney MK, Cifter G, Bernard V, McAleer MF, De BS, Tom MC, Perni S, Wang C, Swanson T, Tatsui CE, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, North R, Rhines LD, Tang C, Logothetis C, Amini B, Li J, Yeboa DN, Ghia AJ. Stereotactic radiosurgery for prostate cancer spine metastases: local control and fracture risk using a simultaneous integrated boost approach. J Neurosurg Spine:1-9, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38875722.
- Wang C, Rooney MK, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Beckham TH, Chung C, De BS, Ghia AJ, Grosshans D, Majd NK, McAleer MF, McGovern SL, North RY, Paulino AC, Perni S, Reddy JP, Rhines LD, Swanson TA, Tatsui CE, Tom MC, Yeboa DN, Li J. Outcomes and Pattern of Care for Spinal Myxopapillary Ependymoma in the Modern Era-A Population-Based Observational Study. Cancers (Basel) 16(11), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38893133.
- Ledbetter D, de Almeida RAA, Wu X, Naveh A, Patel CB, Gonzalez Q, Beckham TH, North R, Rhines L, Li J, Ghia A, Aten D, Tatsui C, Alvarez-Breckenridge C. Tumor treating fields suppress tumor cell growth and neurologic decline in models of spinal metastases. JCI Insight 9(9), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38512420.
- de Almeida RAA, Ghia AJ, Amini B, Wang C, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Li J, Rhines LD, Tom MC, North RY, Beckham TH, Tatsui CE. Quantification of MRI Artifacts in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polyetheretherketone Thoracolumbar Pedicle Screw Constructs prior to Spinal Stereotactic Radiosurgery. Pract Radiat Oncol 14(2):103-111, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37914081.
- Shanker MD, Cavazos AP, Li J, Beckham TH, Yeboa DN, Wang C, McAleer MF, Briere TM, Amini B, Tatsui CE, North RY, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Cezayirli PC, Rhines LD, Ghia AJ, Bishop AJ. Definitive single fraction spine stereotactic radiosurgery for metastatic sarcoma: Simultaneous integrated boost is associated with high tumor control and low vertebral fracture risk. Radiother Oncol 193:110-119. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38311030.
- Nayyar N, de Sauvage MA, Chuprin J, Sullivan EM, Singh M, Torrini C, Zhang BS, Bandyopadhyay S, Daniels KA, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Dahal A, Brehm MA, Brastianos PK. CDK4/6 Inhibition Sensitizes Intracranial Tumors to PD-1 Blockade in Preclinical Models of Brain Metastasis. Clin Cancer Res 30(2):420-435, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37611074.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Anderson KG, Correia AL, Demehri S, Dinh HQ, Dixon KO, Dunn GP, Evgin L, Goc J, Good Z, Hacohen N, Han P, Hanc P, Hickey J, Kersten K, Liu BC, Buque A, Miao Y', Milner JJ, Pritykin Y, Pucci F, Scharping NE, Sudmeier L, Wang Y, Wieland A, Williams MM. Lessons for the Next Generation of Scientists from the Second Annual Arthur and Sandra Irving Cancer Immunology Symposium. Cancer Immunol Res 11(12):1571-1577, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37906619.
- Mikula AL, Pennington Z, Lakomkin N, Prablek M, Amini B, Karim SM, Patel SS, Lubelski D, Sciubba DM, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, North RY, Tatsui CE, Bydon M, Fogelson JL, Elder BD, Krauss WE, Bird JE, Rose PS, Clarke MJ, Rhines LD. Risk factors for sacral fracture following en bloc chordoma resection. J Neurosurg Spine 39(5):611-617, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37060308.
- Wu X, Alvarez-Breckenridge C. Moving the Pendulum for Glioblastoma Treatment: One Injection at a Time. Oncologist 28(8):651-653, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37130338.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge C, de Almeida R, Haider A, Muir M, Bird J, North R, Rhines L, Tatsui C. Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polyetheretherketone Spinal Implants for Treatment of Spinal Tumors: Perceived Advantages and Limitations, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge C, de Almeida R, Haider A, Muir M, Bird J, North R, Rhines L, Tatsui C. Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polyetheretherketone Spinal Implants for Treatment of Spinal Tumors: Perceived Advantages and Limitations. Neurospine 20(1):317-326, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37016879.
- Fomchenko EI, Bayley JC, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Rhines LD, Tatsui CE. Metastases and the Evolving Role of Molecular Targeted Therapy, Chemotherapy, and Immunotherapy, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Bishop AJ, Amini B, Lin H, Raza SM, Patel S, Grosshans DR, Ghia A, Farooqi A, Guadagnolo BA, Mitra D, Akdemir KC, Lazar AJ, Wang WL, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Bird J, Rhines LD, Somaiah N, Conley AP. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Have Clinical Activity in Patients With Recurrent Chordoma. J Immunother 45(8):374-378, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35943386.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Markson SC, Stocking JH, Nayyar N, Lastrapes M, Strickland MR, Kim AE, de Sauvage M, Dahal A, Larson JM, Mora JL, Navia AW, Klein RH, Kuter BM, Gill CM, Bertalan M, Shaw B, Kaplan A, Subramanian M, Jain A, Kumar S, Danish H, White M, Shahid O, Pauken KE, Miller BC, Frederick DT, Hebert C, Shaw M, Martinez-Lage M, Frosch M, Wang N, Gerstner E, Nahed BV, Curry WT, Carter B, Cahill DP, Boland GM, Izar B, Davies MA, Sharpe AH, Suvà ML, Sullivan RJ, Brastianos PK, Carter SL. Microenvironmental Landscape of Human Melanoma Brain Metastases in Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition. Cancer Immunol Res 10(8):996-1012, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35706413.
- Bahouth SM, Yeboa DN, Ghia AJ, Tatsui CE, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Beckham TH, Bishio AJ, Li J, McAleer MF, North RY, Rhines LD, Swanson TA, Chenyang W, Amini B. Multidisciplinary management of spinal metastases. What the radiologist needs to know. Br J Radiol. 2022 Jul 20:20220266. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20220266, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Nguyen TT, Shin DH, Sohoni S, Singh SK, Rivera-Molina Y, Jiang H, Fan X, Gumin J, Lang FF, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Godoy-Vitorino F, Zhu L, Zheng WJ, Zhai L, Ladomersky E, Lauing KL, Alonso MM, Wainwright DA, Gomez-Manzano C, Fueyo J. Reshaping the tumor microenvironment with oncolytic viruses, positive regulation of the immune synapse, and blockade of the immunosuppressive oncometabolic circuitry. J Immunother Cancer. 2022 Jul;10(7):e004935. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004935, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Markson S, Stocking J, Nayyar N, Lastrapes M, Strickland MR, Kim AE, Md S, Dahal A, Larson JM, Mora JL, Navia AW, Kuter BM, Gill CM, Bertalan MS, Shaw B, Kaplan A, Subramanian M, Jain A, Kumar S, White M, Shahid O, Pauken KE, Miller BC, Izar B, Davies M, Frederick DT, Boland GM, Herbert C, Shaw M, Martinez-Lage M, Frosch MP, Wang N, Gerstner ER, Nahed BV, Curry WT, Carter BS, Cahill DP, Sharpe A, Suvà ML, Sullivan RJ, Brastianos PK, Carter SL. Microenvironmental correlates of immune checkpoint inhibitor response in human melanoma brain metastases revealed by T cell receptor and single-cell RNA sequencing. Cancer Immunology Research canimm.CIR-21-0870-E.2021. doi: 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-21-0870. 6/2022, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Cahill DP, Brastianos PK. Trabectedin for recurrent WHO grade 2 or 3 meningiomas-paving the road for new opportunities. Neuro Oncol 24(5):doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noac017, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35100424.
- Strickland MR, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Gainor J, Brastianos P. Tumor Microenvironment of Brain Metastases: Towards Unlocking Anti-Tumor Immunity. Cancer Discovery 2; 12(5):1199-1216. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-0976, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Remon J, Piña Y, Nieblas-Bedolla E, Forsyth P, Hendriks L, Brastianos PK. Emerging Systemic Treatment Perspectives on Brain Metastases: Moving Toward a Better Outlook for Patients. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 42:1-19. doi: 10.1200/EDBK_352320, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Brastianos PK, Strickland MR, Lee EQ, Wang N, Cohen JV, Chukwueke U, Forst D, Eichler A, Overmoyer B, Lin NU, Chen W, Bardia A, Juric D, Dagogo-Jack I, White MD, Dietrich J, Nayyar N, Kim A, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Mahar M, Mora J, Nahed BV, Jones PS, Shih HA, Gerstner ER, Giobbie-Hurder A, Carter SL, Oh K, Cahill DP, Sullivan RJ. Phase II Study of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab in Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis. Nature Communications 12(1):5954, 10/2021, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Prakadan SM, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Markson SC, Kim AE, Klein RH, Nayyar N, Navia AW, Kuter BM, Kolb KE, Bihun I, Mora JL, Bertalan MS, Shaw B, White M, Kaplan A, Stocking JH, Wadsworth MH, Lee EQ, Chukwueke U, Wang N, Subramanian M, Rotem D, Cahill DP, Adalsteinsson VA, Miller JW, Sullivan RJ, Carter SL, Brastianos PK, contributed equally SAA. Genomic and transcriptomic correlates of immunotherapy response within the tumor microenvironment of leptomeningeal metastases. Nat Commun 12(1):5955, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34642316.
- White M, Klein R, Shaw B, Kim A, Subramanian M, Mora J, Giobbie-Hurder A, Nagabhushan D, Jain A, Singh M, Kuter B, Nayyar N, Bertalan M, Stocking J, Markson S, Lastrapes M, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Cahill D, Gydush G, Rhoades J, Rotem D, Adalsteinsson V, Mahar M, Kaplan A, Oh K, Sullivan R, Gerstner E, Carter S, Brastianos P. Sensitive Detection of Leptomeningeal Disease using Cell-Free DNA from Cerebrospinal Fluid. JAMA Netw, Open 4(8), 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Liu D, Lin JR, Robitschek EJ, Kasumova GG, Heyde A, Shi A, Kraya A, Zhang G, Moll T, Frederick DT, Chen YA, Wang S, Schapiro D, Ho LL, Bi K, Sahu A, Mei S, Miao B, Sharova T, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Stocking JH, Kim T, Fadden R, Lawrence D, Hoang MP, Cahill DP, Malehmir M, Nowak MA, Brastianos PK, Lian CG, Ruppin E, Izar B, Herlyn M, Van Allen EM, Nathanson K, Flaherty KT, Sullivan RJ, Kellis M, Sorger PK, Boland GM. Evolution of delayed resistance to immunotherapy in a melanoma responder. Nature Medicine. e-Pub 2021.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Muir M, Rhines L, contributed equally TCA. The Use of Skin Staples as Fiducial Markers to Confirm Intraoperative Spinal Navigation Registration and Accuracy. Operative Neurosurgery:opab132, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Passer JZ, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Rhines L, DeMonte F, Tatsui C, contributed equally RSA. Surgical Management of Skull Base and Spine Chordomas. Curr Treat Options Oncol 22(5):40, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Starkweather CK, Choi BD, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Brastianos PK, Oh K, Wang N, Shih H, Nahed BV. Initial Approach to the Patient with Multiple Newly Diagnosed Brain Metastases. Neurosurg Clin N Am 31(4):505-513, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Fatima N, Massaad E, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Berry Candelario JE, Hadzipasic M, Shankar GM, Shin JH. Does Obesity Correlate with Postoperative Complications After Elective Posterior Cervical Spine Fusion?. World Neurosurgery 141:E231-E238, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Brastianos PK, Lee EQ, Cohen JV, Tolaney SM, Lin NU, Wang N, Chukwueke U, White MD, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Krop I, Keeley M, Bertalan M, Shaw B, Goss N, Subramanian M, Nayak L, Dietrich J, Forst D, Nahed BV, Batchelor TT, Shih HA, Gerstner ER, Moy B, Lawrence D, Giobbie-Hurder A, Carter SL, Oh K, Cahill DP, Sullivan RJ. Single-arm, open-label phase 2 trial of pembrolizumab in patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Nature Medicine 26(8):1280-1284, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Massaad E, Hadzipasic M, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Kiapour A, Fatima N, Schwab JH, Saylor P, Oh K, Schoenfeld AJ, Shankar GM, Shin JH. Predicting tumor-specific survival in patients with spinal metastatic renal cell carcinoma: which scoring system is most accurate?. J Neurosurg Spine 5:1-11, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Shih DJH, Nayyar N, Bihun I, Dagogo-Jack I, Gill CM, Aquilanti E, Bertalan M, Kaplan A, D'Andrea MR, Chukwueke U, Ippen FM, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Camarda ND, Lastrapes M, McCabe D, Kuter B, Kaufman B, Strickland MR, Martinez-Gutierrez JC, Nagabhushan D, De Sauvage M, White MD, Castro BA, Hoang K, Kaneb A, Batchelor ED, Paek SH, Park SH, Martinez-Lage M, Berghoff AS, Merrill P, Gerstner ER, Batchelor TT, Frosch MP, Frazier RP, Borger DR, Iafrate AJ, Johnson BE, Santagata S, Preusser M, Cahill DP, Carter SL, Brastianos PK. Genomic characterization of human brain metastases identifies drivers of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Nature Genetics 52(4):371-377, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Massaad E, Fatima N, Hadzipasic M, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Shankar G, Shin JH. Predictive Analytics in Spine Oncology Research: First Steps, Limitations, and Future Directions. Neurospine 16(4):669-677, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Nahed BV. In Reply: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines on the Role of Surgery in the Management of Adults With Metastatic Brain Tumors. Neurosurgery 85(3):E618, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Ippen FM, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Kuter B, Fink AL, Bihun IV, Penson T, Schmidt SP, Wojtkiewicz GR, Ning J, Martinez-Lage M, Cahill DP, Wakimoto H, Brastianos PK. The Dual PI3K/mTOR Pathway Inhibitor GDC-0084 Achieves Antitumor Activity in PIK3CA-Mutant Breast Cancer Brain Metastases. Clin Cancer Res 25(11):3374-3383, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Giobbie-Hurder A, Gill CM, Bertalan M, Nayyar N, Lawrence DP, Flaherty KT, Shih HA, Oh K, Batchelor TT, Cahill DP, Sullivan R, Brastianos PK. Upfront Surgical Resection of Melanoma Brain Metastases Provides a Bridge Toward Immunotherapy-Mediated Systemic Control. Oncologist 24(5):671-679, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Nahed BV, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Brastianos PK, Shih H, Sloan A, Ammirati M, Kuo J, Ryken TC, Kalkanis SN, Olson JJ. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on the Role of Surgery in the Management of Adults With Metastatic Brain Tumors. Neurosurgery 84(3):E152-E155, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Bolyard CM, Meisen WH, Banasavadi-Siddegowda Y, Hardcastle J, Yoo JY, Wohleb ES, Wojton J, Yu JG, Dubin S, Khosla M, Xu B, Smith JG, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Pow-Anpongkul P, Pichiorri F, Zhang J, Old M, Zhu D, Van Meir EG, Godbout J, Caligiuri MA, Yu J, Kaur B. BAI1 orchestrates macrophage inflammatory response to HSV infection—implications for oncolytic viral therapy. Clin Cancer Res 23(7):1809-1819, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Miller JJ, Nayyar N, Gill CM, Kaneb A, D’Andrea M, Le LP, Lee J, Cheng J, Zheng Z, Butler WE, Multani P, Maneval EC, Paek SH, Toyota BD, Dias-Santagata D, Santagata S, Romero J, Shaw AT, Farago AF, Yip S, Cahill DP, Batchelor TT, Iafrate AJ, Brastianos PK. Clinical and radiographic response following targeting of BCAN-NTRK1 fusion in glioneuronal tumor. Nature Precision Oncology 1(1):5, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Brastianos P. SMO mutant olfactory groove meningiomas-the next in line for targeted therapy. Neuro Oncology 19(3):305-306, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Attiah MA, Zachariah M, Gummadavelli A, Yang J, Codd PJ. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for POEMS syndrome. J Clin Neuroscience 22(10):1672-1674, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Choi BD, Suryadevara CM, Chiocca EA. Potentiating oncolytic viral therapy through an understanding of the initial immune responses to oncolytic viral infection. Oncoimmunology 4((6) E1008339), 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Suryadevara CM, Gedeon PC, Sanchez-Perez L, Verla T, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Choi BD, Fecci PE, Sampson JH. Are BiTEs the "missing link" in cancer therapy?. Oncoimmunology 4(6):E1008339, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Han J, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Wang QE, Yu J. TGF-β signaling and its targeting for glioma treatment. Am J Cancer Res 5(3):945-955, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Price RL, Song J, Bingmer K, Kim TH, Yi JY, Nowicki MO, Mo X, Hollon T, Murnan E, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Fernandez S, Kaur B, Rivera A, Oglesbee M, Cook C, Chiocca EA, Kwon CH. Cytomegalovirus contributes to glioblastoma in the context of tumor suppressor mutations. Cancer Research 73(11):3441-3450, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- He S, Chu J, Wu LC, Mao H, Peng Y, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Hughes T, Wei M, Zhang J, Yuan S, Sandhu S, Vasu S, Jr BD, Hofmeister CC, He X, Ghoshal K, Devine SM, Caligiuri MA, Yu J. MicroRNAs activate natural killer cells through Toll-like receptor signaling. Blood 121(23):4663-4671, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Yu J, Caligiuri M, Chiocca EA. Uncovering a novel mechanism whereby NK cells interfere with glioblastoma virotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2(4):E23658, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Yu J, Price R, Pradarelli J, Mao H, Wei M, Wang Y, Nowicki MO, Hardcastle J, Wojton J, Fernandez S, Kaur B, Lawler S, Mandelboim O, Vivier E, Moretta A, Caligiuri M, Chiocca EA. NK cells impede glioblastoma virotherapy through NKp30 and NKp46 natural cytotoxicity receptors. Nature Medicine 18(12):1827-1834, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Yoo JY, Pradarelli J, Hasely A, Wojton J, Kaka A, Bratasz A, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Yu JG, Powell K, Mazar AP, Teknos TN, Old M, Glorioso JC, Chiocca EA, Kaur B. Copper chelation enhances anti-tumor efficacy and systemic delivery of oncolytic HSV. Clinical Cancer Research 18(18):4931-4941, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Yu J, Price R, Wei M, Wang Y, Nowicki MO, Ha YP, Bergin S, Hwang C, Fernandez SA, Kaur B, Caligiuri MA, Chiocca EA. The histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid lessens NK cell action against oncolytic virus-infected glioblastoma cells by inhibition of STAT5/T-BET signaling and generation of gamma interferon. Recognized as Journal of Virology Spotlight Feature 86(8):4566-4577, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Yu J, Kaur B, Caligiuri MA, Chiocca EA. Deciphering the Multifaceted Relationship between Oncolytic Viruses and Natural Killer Cells. Adv Virol 2012:702839, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22312364.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Chiocca EA. A viral strategy to ambush tumors. Nature Medicine 17(7):784-785, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Yu J, Mitsui T, Wei M, Mao H, Butchar JP, Shah MV, Zhang J, Mishra A, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Liu X, Liu S, Yokohama A, Trotta R, Marcucci G, Jr BD, Jr LT, Tridandapani S, Caligiuri MA. NKp46 identifies an NKT cell subset susceptible to leukemic transformation in mouse and human. J Clin Invest 121(4):1456-1470, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge C. Making the Best Use of Student Trustees. Trusteeship 18(4):28-32, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Kaur B, Chiocca EA. Pharmacologic and chemical adjuvants in tumor virotherapy. Chem Rev 09(7):3125-3140, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Haseley A, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Chaudhury AR, Kaur B. Advances in oncolytic virus therapy for glioma. Recent Pat CNS Drug Discov 4(1):1-13, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Waite KA, Eng C. PTEN Regulates Phospholipase D and Phospholipase C. Hum Mol Genet 16(10):1157-1163, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
Review Articles
- Bahouth SM, Yeboa DN, Ghia AJ, Tatsui CE, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Beckham TH, Bishop AJ, Li J, McAleer MF, North RY, Rhines LD, Swanson TA, Chenyang W, Amini B. Advances in the management of spinal metastases: what the radiologist needs to know. Br J Radiol 96(1141):20220267, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 35946551.
- Bahouth SM, Yeboa DN, Ghia AJ, Tatsui CE, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Beckham TH, Bishio AJ, Li J, McAleer MF, North RY, Rhines LD, Swanson TA, Chenyang W, Amini B. Multidisciplinary management of spinal metastases: what the radiologist needs to know. Br J Radiol 95(1138):20220266, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35856792.
- Strickland MR, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Gainor JF, Brastianos PK. Tumor Immune Microenvironment of Brain Metastases: Toward Unlocking Antitumor Immunity. Cancer Discov 12(5):1199-1216, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35394521.
Editorials
- Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Brastianos P, Cahill D. Thrombosis, brain metastasis formation, and the perivascular metastatic niche-novel insights from the tumor microvascular circulation. Neuro Oncol, 2024. PMID: 39207022.
Abstracts
- Rubino, F, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Akdemir, KC, Conley, AP, Bishop, AJ, Wang, WL, Lazar, A, Rhines, LD, DeMonte, F, Raza, SM. Prognostic molecular biomarkers in chordomas. Frontiers in Oncology 12, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36248987.
Book Chapters
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, LoPresti M, Tatsui C. Updates on laser interstitial therapy for metastatic tumors of the spine. In: Image-Guided Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery, 2nd edition, 2021.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified March 31, 2026