Christopher Alvarez-Breckenridge, MD, PhD, BS, BA
Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Surgery
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Faculty Member, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Regular Faculty Member, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2013 | The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, US, Integrated Biomedical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), MD/PhD |
| 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, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2013-2020 | Clinical Residency, Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2026 | DEA License |
| 2025 | Georgia Composite Medical Board |
| 2025 | Washington State Department of Health |
| 2025 | Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2025 | Alabama Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2025 | Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure |
| 2025 | Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2025 | Arizona Board of Medical Examiners |
| 2025 | Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure |
| 2024 | American Board of Neurological Surgery Oral Examination |
| 2021 | Florida Board of Medicine |
| 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
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Neurosurgery Representative, Caroline Ross Lectureship Selections Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Neurosurgery Representative, Brain Tumor Center Tissue Oversight Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Co-Director, Spinal Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SSRS) Tumor Board, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Neurosurgery Representative, Credentials Committee of the Medical Staff, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Neurosurgery Representative, MD Anderson Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - 2024
Neurosurgery Representative, Clinical Trial Protocol Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Neurosurgery Wellness Officer, Division of Surgery Wellness Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2024
Vice-Chair, Spine Research and Development Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2023
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 Partner Journals Precision Oncology, 2023 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2026 - Present | NIH Early Career Reviewer Program, National Institutes of Health, Center for Scientific Review |
| 2025 - Present | MD Anderson OncoPitch, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2025 - Present | Willie Tichenor Fellowship in Sarcoma Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2023 - Present | Career Development Award for Cancer Research, American Association for Cancer Research-Novocure |
| 2023 - Present | Introduction to Clinical Trial Design and Protocol Development Workshop Scholar, Society for Neuro-Oncology |
| 2022 - Present | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Early Clinical Investigator Award, Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas |
| 2022 | Physician-Scientist Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2022 | Arthur and Sandra Irving Cancer Immunology Symposium Promising Young Scientist, Massachusetts General Hospital |
| 2022 | American Brain Tumor Association Young Investigator Award, American Association of Neurological Surgeons |
| 2022 | Cancer Center Support Grant New Faculty Award, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2021 | Future Directions in Neuro-Oncology-First Place, Society for Neuro-Oncology |
| 2021 | CNS Metastases Award, Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting |
| 2020 | Young Investigator Award, Honorable Mention, The Oncologist |
| 2019 | Journal of Neuro-Oncology Award, American Association of Neurological Surgeons |
| 2018 | Neurosurgery Research Award, Massachusetts General Hospital |
| 2013 | Medical Scientist Training Program Award, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2013 | Leadership and Academic Achievement Scholarship, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2012 | Landacre Honor Society Inductee, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2012 | Academic Achievement Scholarship, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2011 | 6th International Meeting on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics Travel Award, International Conference on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics |
| 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 | Neuroscience Research Day-Poster Session Winner, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2009 | Medical Scientist Training Program Travel Award, 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 - 2005 | Thomas J. Bardos Undergraduate Education Award, American Association for Cancer Research |
| 2004 | Board of Trustees Student Recognition Award, The Ohio State University |
| 2003 - 2005 | Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation |
| 2001 | Office of Minority Affairs Distinguished Merit Scholarship, The Ohio State University |
| 2001 | The Ohio State University College of Medicine Early Admission Pathway Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine |
| 2000 - Present | National Merit Commended Scholar, National Merit Scholarship Program |
| 2000 - Present | National Hispanic Scholar, National Hispanic Recognition Program |
| 2000 | National Hispanic Scholar Distinguished Merit Scholarship, The Ohio State University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2026. Leveraging oncolytic adenoviral therapy as an immunomodulatory strategy for chordoma. Invited. SPORE Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. The Oncolytic Adenovirus RGDOX Sensitizes the Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Murine Melanoma Brain Metastases Models. Invited. MD Anderson Cancer Neuroscience Program Scientific Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Leveraging Immunotherapeutic Strategies for Chordoma, Department of Neurosurgery Grand Rounds. Invited. MD Anderson Department of Neurosurgery Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Reversing Immunotherapy Resistant of Melanoma Brain Metastases through the Combinatorial Approach of Oncolytic Adenoviral Therapy and Immune Checkpoint Inhibition. Invited. Andrew M. McDougall Brain Metastasis Clinic & Research Program 2024 Brain Metastasis Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, 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. MD Anderson Brain Tumor Program Seminar Series. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2020. Laser interstitial therapy and the evolving field of metastatic spine disease. Invited. Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurosurgery Educational Seminar. Boston, Massachusetts, US.
- 2019. Neurosurgery, immunotherapy, and genomics—novel insights into CNS metastatic disease. Invited. Massachusetts General Hospital Neurosurgery Grand Rounds. Boston, Massachusetts, US.
- 2010. Oncolytic viral therapy for glioblastoma is attenuated following robust natural killer cell activation/Oral Presentation. Invited. The Ohio State University Hayes Graduate Research Forum. Columbus, Ohio, US.
- 2010. Oncolytic viral therapy for glioblastoma is attenuated following robust natural killer cell activation. Poster. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Research Day.
- 2009. Circumventing the obstacle of NK cell activation following OV therapy for glioblastoma Poster Presentation. Invited. The Ohio State University Neuroscience Research Day. Columbus, Ohio, US.
- 2004. The role of PTEN in lipid signaling. Invited. The Ohio State University Human Cancer Genetics Seminar Series. Columbus, Ohio, US.
National Presentations
- 2026. A phase 2 trial of cetuximab for patients with locally advanced/metastatic chordoma. Poster. American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Alexandria, Virginia, US.
- 2026. Leveraging polymeric mMESH for sustained chemotherapeutic deployment against spinal metastases. Poster. American Society of Clinical Oncology/Society of Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting 2026. Boston, Massachusetts, US.
- 2026. Oncolytic Adenovirus RGDOX Induces Systemic CD8⁺ T Cell–Mediated Immunity Across Intracranial Melanoma Metastases: Rationale for a Phase I Trial. Invited. American Society of Clinical Oncology/Society of Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting 2026. Boston, Massachusetts, US.
- 2025. The oncolytic adenovirus Delta-24-RGD achieves antitumor polarization of the chordoma tumor microenvironment in human and murine models of chordoma. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2025. Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score Does Not Predict Future Vertebral Compression Fractures. Poster. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting. Rolling Meadows, Illinois, US.
- 2025. An Artificial Intelligence Solution to Missed Metastatic Pathologic Vertebral Compression Fractures on CT Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis. Poster. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting.
- 2025. Carbon Fiber versus Titanium Implants. Invited. AANS/CNS Joint Tumor Section Symposium.
- 2025. Spinal Cord Ependymomas: Surgical Techniques, Instrumentation Needs, and Outcomes– A Single Center Experience. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2025. Spinal myxopapillary ependymomas: the role of surgery and radiation therapy. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2025. Uncovering alternative innate immunity pathways in glioma viroimmunotherapy. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2025. Identifying patients and specific vertebrae at risk for metastatic vertebral fractures remains a clinical challenge: a subgroup analysis of current practices. Poster. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting. Schaumburg, Illinois, US.
- 2025. The oncolytic adenovirus RGDOX sensitizes the anti-tumor efficacy of immune checkpoint blockades in murine melanoma brain metastases models. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2025. Ruxolitinib enhances viroimmunotherapy of gliomas: targeting JAK-guided immunosuppressive pathways. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2025. T cell receptor diversity is a predictor of therapy response in patients with gliomas treated with Delta-24-RGD. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2025. Preprocessing Filters Improve Performance of CT-Biomarker-based Prediction of Metastatic Vertebral Body Compression Fractures. Poster. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting. Rolling Meadows, Illinois, US.
- 2025. Leveraging Carbon Fiber Implants in Spinal Oncology. Invited. 5th Annual Multimodal Treatment of Spinal Tumors.
- 2025. Predicting Time to Fracture for Metastatic Vertebral Compression Fractures Using CT-Biomarkers. Poster. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting. Rolling Meadows, Illinois, US.
- 2025. Tumor Treating Fields suppress tumor growth and improve neurologic outcomes in spinal metastasis models—highlighting a translational strategy for patients with radiation refractory spinal metastases. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2025. Predicting Metastatic Vertebral Compression Fractures From Clinical Profiles Alone. Poster. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting. Rolling Meadows, Illinois, US.
- 2024. Oncolytic adenoviral infection of chordoma achieves treatment efficacy through immunogenic cell death and tumor microenvironment alteration. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2024. Spinal Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy as a Minimally Invasive Treatment Approach for Spinal Metastases. Invited. 5th Annual Multidisciplinary CNS Metastases Update. Madison, Wisconsin, US.
- 2024. CT Radiomics Predict New or Progression of Compression Fracture in Tumor Infiltrated Thoracolumbar Vertebrae. Invited. Annual NeuroSpine Conference.
- 2024. CT Radiomics Predict New or Progression of Compression Fracture in Tumor Infiltrated Thoracolumbar Vertebrae. Poster. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting.
- 2024. Oncolytic adenoviral infection synergizes with immune checkpoint inhibition to mediate intracranial tumor control in disparate models of melanoma brain metastases. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2024. Oncolytic Adenoviral Infection of Chordoma Achieves Treatment Efficacy Through Immunogenic Cell Death and Tumor Microenvironment Alteration. Invited. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting. Schaumburg, Illinois, US.
- 2023. Oncolytic adenoviral therapy demonstrates efficacy in murine models of melanoma brain metastases. Poster. CPRIT Innovations in Cancer Prevention and Research Conference VI.
- 2022. Microenvironmental correlates of immune checkpoint inhibitor response in human melanoma brain metastases revealed by T cell receptor and single-cell RNA sequencing. Invited. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, US.
- 2022. Exploring Targetable Vulnerabilities for Patients with Brain Metastases. Invited. Tri-Omic Summit, US.
- 2022. Examination of the tumor microenvironment of gliomas treated with viroimmunotherapy reveals the production of oncometabolites leading to improved therapeutic strategies. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2021. Phase II study of ipilimumab and niovolumab in leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2021. Genomic and transcriptomic correlates of immunotherapy response within the tumor microenvironment of leptomeningeal metastases. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2021. Sensitive detection of leptomeningeal disease using cell-free DNA from cerebrospinal fluid. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 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. Melanoma Research Foundation Brain Metastases Summit. Washington, District of Columbia, US.
- 2020. Single cell sequencing of melanoma brain metastases unveils heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment in response to immune checkpoint blockade. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2019. Evidence of CNS Response to Pembrolizumab for Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis at a Single Cell Resolution. Invited. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting. Rolling Meadows, Illinois, US.
- 2019. Genomic characterization of human brain metastases identifies novel drivers of lung adenocarcinoma progression. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2018. Evidence of CNS response to pembrolizumab for leptomeningeal carcinomatosis at a single cell resolution. Invited. American Academy of Neurological Surgery Annual Meeting.
- 2018. Evidence of CNS response to pembrolizumab for leptomeningeal carcinomatosis at a single cell resolution. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2018. The dual PI3K/mTOR-pathway inhibitor GDC-0084 achieves antitumor activity in breast cancer brain metastases in vitro and in vivo. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2018. Evidence of CNS response to Pembrolizumab for Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis at a single cell resolution. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting, US.
- 2018. Divergent clonal evolution of melanoma brain metastases in response to immunotherapy. Invited. Congress of Neurologic Surgeons Annual Meeting.
- 2018. Divergent clonal evolution of melanoma brain metastases during treatment with immunotherapy. Invited. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2017. The role of surgical resection of melanoma brain metastases in the immunotherapy era. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2016. Identification of novel NTRK fusion in glioneuronal tumors and radiographic response following therapy with NTRK inhibitor. Poster. Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2016. Craniotomy for Intracranial Melanoma Metastases Offers a Bridge Towards Enhancing Efficacy of Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. Invited. AANS/CNS Joint Tumor Section Symposium.
- 2013. VSTAT120 reduces the innate inflammatory response to infection and enhances oncolytic viral therapy for glioblastoma. Poster. Society of Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2011. NKp30 and NKp46 natural cytotoxicity receptors represent a novel target mediating antiviral NK activation during virotherapy for glioblastoma. Poster. American Society for Clinical Investigation/Association of American Physicians Joint Meeting.
- 2010. Oncolytic viral therapy for glioblastoma induces robust natural killer cell activation. Poster. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US.
- 2009. Oncolytic Viral Therapy for Glioblastoma Induces Robust NK Activation. Invited. Keystone MSTP Student Conference.
- 2008. Intraoperative Radiotherapy Plus External Beam Radiotherapy versus External Beam Radiotherapy Alone for Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Extremity: A Case Control Study. Invited. Annual American Association for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology Annual Meeting.
- 2008. Improving Trustee Orientation—The Student Trustee. Invited. Association of Governing Boards National Conference. Washington, District of Columbia, US.
- 2008. Oncolytic Virus Therapy of Glioma Sensitizes Glioma Cells to Cilengitide Treatment. Invited. Annual American Society of Gene Therapy Meeting. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US.
- 2005. Tumor suppressor gene, PTEN, regulates activity of Phospholipase C (PLC) and Phospholipase D (PLD). Poster. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US.
- 2004. Cowden syndrome susceptibility gene, PTEN, regulates phospholipase-C (PLC) and phospholipaseD (PLD). Invited. American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting. Bethesda, Maryland, US.
- 2004. PTEN regulates PLD in unstimulated MCF-7 cells. Poster. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US.
- 2003. Role of PTEN in lipid signaling in breast cancer. Poster. American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting. Bethesda, Maryland, US.
International Presentations
- 2025. Brain Metastatic Disease–Current Challenges. Invited. IX Neuro-Oncology Conference. Santiago, CL.
- 2025. Tumor Treating Fields in the Treatment of Spinal Metastasis. Invited. 2025 International Novocure Users Meeting.
- 2024. Tumor Treating Fields—A Novel Approach for Spinal Metastases. Invited. Annual World Congress Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics.
- 2022. Image Guidance for Resection of Spinal Tumors. Invited. XL Latin American Congress of Neurosurgery Conference.
- 2011. NKp30 and NKp46 natural cytotoxicity receptors represent a novel target mediating antiviral NK activation during virotherapy for glioblastoma. Invited. International Meeting on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics.
- 2010. Antiviral NK response limits efficacy of oncolytic viral therapy for glioblastoma. Invited. International Congress of Neuroimmunology.
- 2009. Circumventing the obstacle of NK cell activation following OV therapy for glioblastoma. Poster. International Meeting on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics.
Formal Peers
- 2026. Emerging Treatments for Brain Metastases. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Journey of a Neurosurgeon/Scientist.
- 2022. Topic in molecular medicine. Invited.
- 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.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | Dissecting and Reversing Immune Exclusion Mechanisms in Chordoma |
| Funding Source: | Northwestern University |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | Targeting the immunotherapeutic vulnerabilities of chordoma using an oncolytic adenoviral based strategy |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2026 - 2027 |
| Title: | Leveraging oncolytic adenoviral therapy as a histology-agnostic immunotherapeutic strategy for brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | Leveraging the immunotherapeutic potential of oncolytic adenoviral therapy against chordoma |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense Rare Research Program |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | A Spine-Directed Polymeric μMESH Platform for Sustained Local Chemotherapy in Spinal Metastases |
| Funding Source: | North American Spine Society |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | Decoding and Breaking the Bone Metastatic Nice in Therapy Resistance Across GU Malignancies |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | Establishing cross-institutional generalizability of PathFRAX, an AI-driven software for predicting metastatic spinal fractures |
| Funding Source: | UT Real Health AI |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | Reprogramming tumor microenvironmental circuitry in brain and spinal metastases through mesenchymal stem cell-based oncolytic adenoviral therapy |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2026 - Present |
| Title: | Therapeutic Strategies for Brain Metastasis (Project 3 of P01) |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - 2028 |
| Title: | Engineered T cells targeting Brachyury as the novel immunotherapeutic approach for chordoma |
| Funding Source: | Chordoma Foundation/Cancer Research Institute |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2025 - 2026 |
| Title: | Making VCF History: developing and implementing AI-driven software to predict metastatic vertebral compression fractures for triage to preventative care |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - 2026 |
| Title: | Leveraging oncolytic adenoviral therapy as an immunotherapeutic strategy for chordoma |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Engineered T cells targeting Brachyury combined with Oncolytic virus treatment as novel therapeutic strategy for chordoma |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Leveraging polymeric micromesh for the sustained deployment of chemo-immunotherapies against glioma |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Integrating CT-Derived Biomarkers and Machine Learning for Predictive Modeling of High-Risk Vertebral Compression Fractures |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Integrating CT-Derived Biomarkers and Machine Learning for Predictive Modeling of High-Risk Vertebral Compression Fractures |
| Funding Source: | National Science Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Development of Brachyury-specific Memory T cells for Treatment of Chordoma and other Solid Tumors |
| Funding Source: | American Cancer Society |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Virotherapy and PD-1+LAG-3 blockade for melanoma brain metastases, Melanoma Research Foundation Breakthrough Consortium |
| Funding Source: | Melanoma Research Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Leveraging polymeric microMESH for sustained chemotherapeutic deployment against spinal metastases |
| Funding Source: | Andrew Sabin Family Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Harnessing the immunogenic capacity of oncolytic adenoviral infection to synergize with PD-1+LAG-3 blockade for melanoma brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Targeting the immunotherapeutic vulnerabilities of chordoma using an oncolytic adenoviral based strategy |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Engineered T cells targeting Brachyury combined with Oncolytic virus treatment as novel therapeutic strategy for chordoma |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2025 - Present |
| Title: | Targeting the immunotherapeutic vulnerabilities of chordoma using an oncolytic adenoviral based strategy |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2024 - 2025 |
| Title: | Exploring the pre-clinical utility of oncolytic adenoviral therapy for chordoma |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2024 - Present |
| Title: | Targeting the immunotherapeutic vulnerabilities of chordoma using an oncolytic adenoviral based strategy |
| Funding Source: | Chordoma Foundation/Cancer Research Institute |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2024 - Present |
| Title: | Harnessing the immunogenic capacity of oncolytic adenoviral infection to synergize with PD-1+LAG-3 blockade for melanoma brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2024 - Present |
| Title: | Delta-24-RGD as an oncolytic viral immunotherapeutic strategy against chordoma |
| Funding Source: | Chordoma Foundation/Cancer Research Institute |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2026 |
| Title: | Tumor treating field modulation of metastatic bone tumor microenvironment |
| Funding Source: | AACR-Novocure |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2025 |
| Title: | Investigating the effects of whole-genome doubling on chordoma recurrence and genome organization |
| Funding Source: | Chordoma Foundation |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | Reversing immunotherapy resistance of melanoma brain metastases through the combinatorial approach of oncolytic viral therapy and immune checkpoint inhibition |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2023 - Present |
| Title: | Deciphering the interplay between tumor treating fields, the bone microenvironment, and immune modulation as a novel treatment approach for spinal metastases |
| Funding Source: | Robert J Kleberg Jr and Helen C Kleberg Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | Immunological determinants of oncolytic adenovirus induced efficacy for melanoma brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | RP220544 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2027 |
| Title: | The Bone Metastasis Immunological Niche: Unraveling Its Complexity and Role in Therapy Response and Resistance |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Date: | 2022 - 2025 |
| Title: | Utilizing integrated genomic and single cell sequencing approaches to target chordoma's immunotherapeutic vulnerabilities |
| Funding Source: | Chordoma Foundation/Cancer Research Institute |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - 2023 |
| Title: | Immunological determinants of oncolytic adenovirus induced efficacy for melanoma brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NINDS |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2022 - Present |
| Title: | Uncovering alterations in spatial cellular networks in response to immunotherapy for melanoma brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2022 - Present |
| Title: | Uncovering alterations in spatial cellular networks in response to immunotherapy for melanoma brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2021 - Present |
| Title: | Illuminating the bone metastasis immunological niche |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2021 - Present |
| Title: | Elucidating the functional consequences of genomic alterations in chordoma genomes |
| Funding Source: | Deparment of Defense |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2021 - Present |
| Title: | Immunological determinants of oncolytic adenovirus induced efficacy for melanoma brain metastases |
| Funding Source: | Andrew Sabin Family Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2017 - 2019 |
| 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: | Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation |
| 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 |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | TL 1RR025753 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Jonathan SV, Chen JW, Wu K, Flores AR, Ghia AJ, Kimchi G, North RY, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Rhines LD, Tatsui CE. Spinal laser interstitial thermal therapy for treatment of chordoma: single-center experience and literature review. J Neurooncol 179(2), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42661107.
- Call-Orellana, F, Zuluaga-Garcia, JP, de Almeida, R, Beck, A, Beckham, TH, Ghia, AJ, Li, J, Tom, MC, McAleer, MF, Perni, S, Wang, C, Yeboa, DN, Cross, KA, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Kimchi, G, Rhines, LD, Tatsui, CE, North, RY. Applicability of RECIST1.1, MDACC and SPINO Tumor Response Criteria After Adjuvant Stereotactic Spinal Radiosurgery in Surgically Treated Spinal Metastases. Medicina (Lithuania) 62(7), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42512796.
- Uhelski, ML, Schaub, MK, Espinosa, F, Heles, M, Cortes, N, Li, Y, Tatsui, CE, Rhines, LD, North, RY, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Funk, GA, Horton, P, Cervantes, AM, Lesnak, JB, Curatolo, M, Dussor, G, Price, TJ, Dougherty, PM. Suzetrigine (VX-548) exhibits activity-dependent effects on human dorsal root ganglion neurons with differential pain etiology. Pain Publish Ahead of Print, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41800743.
- Wu X, Ledbetter D, Tsai J, Singh S, Gumin J, Fan X, Gillard AG, Shin DH, Jiang H, Zhao B, Ingram D, Akdemir K, Conley AP, Lazar AJ, Raza S, North R, Tatsui C, Lang FF, Wang W, Rhines LD, Gomez-Manzano C, Fueyo J, Alvarez-Breckenridge, MD, PhD C. Oncolytic Adenoviral Infection of Chordoma Achieves Treatment Efficacy Associated with Immunologic Response and Tumor Microenvironmental Alteration. Neuro Oncol 28(6):1458-1473, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41795831.
- Haisraely O, Tom MC, Perni S, Kudchadker R, Prajapati S, Zlateva Y, Weinberg JS, Yeboa DN, Li J, Ferguson SD, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Patel CB, Ene CI, Prabhu S, Beckham TH. Cs-131 Collagen Tile Brachytherapy for Recurrent Glioblastoma: Treatment Outcomes and Toxicity: Treatment Outcomes and Toxicity. Pract Radiat Oncol 16(2):e101-e107, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41360286.
- Kimchi, G, Tatsui, CE, Ramirez-Ferrer, E, de Almeida, R, Call-Orellana, F, Zuluaga-Garcia, JP, North, RY, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, McCutcheon, IE, Rhines, LD. Surgical outcomes of occipitocervical fusion for metastatic disease at the craniocervical junction: 24 years of experience at a tertiary cancer referral center. J Neurosurg Spine 44(5):740-747, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41719546.
- Andrade-Almeida, RA, Guimaraes, AB, de Gouveia, GV, Call-Orellana, F, Ramirez-Ferrer, E, Kimchi, G, Zuluaga-Garcia, JP, North, RY, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Rhines, LD, Tatsui, CE. Outcomes of percutaneous pedicle screw stabilization for metastatic spine disease: a 10-year experience. J Neurosurg Spine 44(5):731-739, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41650459.
- Ramirez-Ferrer, E, McCutcheon, IE, Kimchi, G, Amini, B, Andrade-Almeida, RA, Call-Orellana, F, Zuluaga-Garcia, JP, North, RY, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Weinberg, J, Rhines, LD, Tatsui, CE. Intraoperative Ultrasound Imaging Features Guiding Surgical Strategy in Spinal Cord Ependymoma Resection. Neurosurg Pract 7(1), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41550981.
- Deva, A, Rypinski, T, Sudhir Pillai, P, Soni, B, Sarwar, O, Milhorn, A, Jones, AK, Tatsui, CE, Rhines, LD, North, RY, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Bird, JE, Siewerdsen, JH. Statistical Surgical Process Modeling: Analysis of Workflow and Performance of Emerging Technologies in Image-Guided Spine Surgery. Ann Biomed Eng 53(12):3435-3455, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41023347.
- Flores, A, Nitturi, V, Kavoussi, A, Feygin, M, de Almeida, R, Ramirez-Ferrer, E, Anand, A, Nouri, S, Allam, AK, Ricciardelli, A, Reyes, G, Reddy, S, Rampalli, I, Rhines, LD, Tatsui, CE, North, RY, Ghia, AJ, Siewerdsen, JH, Ropper, AE, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C. Generalizable model to predict new or progressing compression fractures in tumor-infiltrated thoracolumbar vertebrae in an all-comer population. J Neurosurg Spine 43(3):273-282, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40540805.
- Yeboa, DN, Li, J, Lin, R, Prabhu, SS, Beckham, TH, Woodhouse, KD, Swanson, T, Weinberg, J, Wang, X, Chi, X, Ejezie, CL, Suki, D, Wang, C, Ene, CI, McCutcheon, IE, McGovern, SL, McAleer, MF, Tom, MC, Ghia, AJ, Perni, S, Jiang, W, De, BS, Chung, C, Kim, BY, O'Brien, BJ, Huse, J, Wefel, JS, Court, LE, Tawbi, H, Janku, F, Guha-Thakurta, N, Debnam, JM, Johnson, JM, Taslicay, CA, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Raza, SM, Heimberger, AB, DeMonte, F, North, RY, Briere, TM, de Groot, JF, Sawaya, RE, Grosshans, DR, Lang Jr, FF, Rao, G, Ferguson, SD. Therapy, Safety, and Logistics of Preoperative vs Postoperative Stereotactic Radiation Therapy: A Preliminary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol 11(8):890-899, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40531511.
- 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: a multi-institution, retrospective analysis. J Neurosurg Spine 43(3):305-312, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40540799.
- Andrade-Almeida, RA, Call-Orellana, F, Zuluaga-Garcia, JP, Ramirez-Ferrer, E, Kimchi, G, De, BS, Guimaraes, AB, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Li, J, Ghia, AJ, Rhines, LD, Tom, MC, Wang, C, Beckham, TH, Amini, B, North, RY, Tatsui, CE. Local Control After Adjuvant Radiosurgery for Spinal Metastasis Treated With Decompression and Posterior Segmental Stabilization: A Comparison Between Carbon Fiber/Polyetheretherketone-Based and Metallic Implants. Adv Radiat Oncol 10(7), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40548160.
- 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 15(4):21925682241278323, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39166967.
- Ferrer, ER, Kimchi, G, Tom, MC, Chakravarthy, VB, Amini, B, de Almeida, R, Zuluaga-Garcia, JP, Call-Orellana, F, North, RY, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Rhines, LD, Tatsui, CE. Intraoperative ultrasound imaging features in high-grade metastatic spinal cord compression treated with separation surgery. Neurosurg Focus 58(5), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40311208.
- Lawson NM, Ye L, Cho CY, Zhao B, Mitchell T, Martin-Barrio I, Beernaert B, Gupta A, Banu M, Lissanu Y, Shaffer S, Tawbi H, Li J, Gule-Monroe MK, Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Huse JT, Murphy MB, Yin F, Lang FF, Parkes EE, Weinberg JS, Akdemir KC. Recurrent ERBB2 alterations are associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma brain metastases. medRxiv, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40061311.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, North, RY, Tatsui, CE, Kumar, N, Lo, SF, Mohammed, K, Reynolds, JJ, Lazary, A, Laufer, I, Verlaan, JJ, Gokaslan, ZL, Luzzati, A, Cecchinato, R, Shin, JH, Hornicek, FJ, Disch, AC, Goodwin, ML, Goodwin, R, Sahgal, A, Gasbarrini, A, Boriani, S. Role of Posterior Carbon Fiber Implants in Spine Tumor Surgery. Global Spine J 15(1_suppl):157S-165S, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39801115.
- 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 170(2):289-296, 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 4(10):2621-2637, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39248577.
- 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 41(3):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.
- 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, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38311030.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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, 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. Neurospine, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36597635.
- 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.
- Upadhyay R, Khose S, Pokhylevych H, Paulino AC, McAleer MF, Ghia A, Li J, Yeboa DN, Loghin M, Harrison R, O'Brien B, Kamiya-Matsuoka C, De Groot J, Puduvalli VK, Tatsui C, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Prabhu S, Rhines L, Zaky W, Lin F, Weinberg JS, Fuller G, Sandberg DI, Johnson JM, McGovern SL. Patterns of failure after radiation therapy in primary spinal high-grade gliomas: A single institutional analysis. Neurooncol Adv, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36128585.
- 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.
- 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. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35902132.
- 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, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35522917.
- 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. Nat Commun, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34642329.
- 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.
- 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. Oper Neurosurg, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34038952.
- 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. PMID: 34369989.
- 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. Nat Med, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33941922.
- 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. PMID: 32434032.
- 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. Nat Med 26(8):1280-1284, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32483359.
- 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. PMID: 32502990.
- 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 Genet 52(4):371-377, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32203465.
- 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. PMID: 31905455.
- 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. PMID: 30796030.
- 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. PMID: 30796152.
- 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. PMID: 30629227.
- 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. PMID: 27852701.
- 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. NPJ Precis Oncol 1(1):5, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29872694.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Attiah MA, Zachariah M, Gummadavelli A, Yang J, Codd PJ. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for POEMS syndrome. J Clin Neurosci 22(10):1672-1674, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26077937.
- 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. PMID: 23580661.
- 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 Res 73(11):3441-3450, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23729642.
- 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. PMID: 23734319.
- 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. Nat Med 18(12):1827-1834, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 23178246.
- 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. Clin Cancer Res 18(18):4931-4941, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22753591.
- 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. J Virol 86(8):4566-4577, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22318143.
- 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. PMID: 21364281.
- 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. PMID: 19149710.
- 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. PMID: 17405772.
Review Articles
- Gomez-Manzano, C, Shin, DH, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Gillard, A, Morad, G, Puduvalli, VK, Alonso, MM, Lang Jr, FF, Fueyo-Margareto, J. Diverse origin and nature of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Journal for immunotherapy of cancer 14(7), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42463282.
- Kimchi, G, Varela, S, Zuluaga-Garcia, JP, Call-Orellana, F, Ramirez-Ferrer, E, de Almeida, R, Gubbiotti, M, Glitza, IC, Bishop, AJ, Grant, JD, North, RY, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, Rhines, LD, Tatsui, CE. Primary Intramedullary Spinal Melanocytomas: Case Report and Review of Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management. J Clin Med 14(22), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41303082.
- 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.
- Karz A, Dimitrova M, Kleffman K, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Atkins MB, Boire A, Bosenberg M, Brastianos P, Cahill DP, Chen Q, Ferguson S, Forsyth P, Glitza Oliva IC, Goldberg SB, Holmen SL, Knisely JPS, Merlino G, Nguyen DX, Pacold ME, Perez-Guijarro E, Smalley KSM, Tawbi HA, Wen PY, Davies MA, Kluger HM, Mehnert JM, Hernando E. Melanoma central nervous system metastases: An update to approaches, challenges, and opportunities. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35912544.
- 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.
- 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. PMID: 33743089.
- 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. PMID: 32921347.
- 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. Curr Opin Virol 4((6) E1008339), 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25846988.
- 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. PMID: 26155413.
- 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. PMID: 26045979.
- 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 C, Kaur B, Chiocca EA. Pharmacologic and chemical adjuvants in tumor virotherapy. Chem Rev 09(7):3125-3140, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19462957.
Other Articles
- Al Farii, H, Gattu, N, Yeung, CM, Alvarez-Breckenridge, C, North, RY, Tatsui, CE, Rhines, LD, Lewis, VO, Bird, JE, Patel, SS The kiva system versus balloon kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fracture: a meta-analysis of randomized control trials. N Am Spine Soc J 24, 2025. PMID: 41498048.
- 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: A systematic review and identification of clinically usable biomarker panels. Frontiers in Oncology 12, 2022. PMID: 36248987.
- 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 2nd, Lee EQ, Chukwueke U, Wang N, Subramanian M, Rotem D, Cahill DP, Adalsteinsson VA, Miller JW, Sullivan RJ, Carter SL, Brastianos PK, Shalek AK Author Correction: Genomic and transcriptomic correlates of immunotherapy response within the tumor microenvironment of leptomeningeal metastases. Nat Commun 12(1):7007, 2021. PMID: 34824235.
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 26(11):2100-2101, 2024. PMID: 39207022.
- Wu X, Alvarez-Breckenridge C. Moving the Pendulum for Glioblastoma Treatment: One Injection at a Time. Oncologist 28(8):651-653, 2023. PMID: 37130338.
- 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. PMID: 35100424.
- 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. PMID: 31418034.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Brastianos P. SMO mutant olfactory groove meningiomas-the next in line for targeted therapy. Neuro Oncol 19(3):305-306, 2017. PMID: 28391317.
- Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, Chiocca EA. A viral strategy to ambush tumors. Nat Med 17(7):784-785, 2011. PMID: 21738155.
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 September 14, 2026