Dr. Kantarjian receives Karnofsky Memorial Award
Hagop M. Kantarjian, M.D.
Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine
About Dr. Kantarjian
Dr. Kantarjian is professor and chair of the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is also the Samsung Distinguished Leukemia Chair in Cancer Medicine. He is also a non-resident fellow in health policy at the Rice University Baker Institute.
Dr. Kantarjian has received several prestigious honors and awards including the 37th Jeffrey A Gottlieb Memorial Award (2012), the John Mendelsohn Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award (2008), the Joseph H. Burchenal Memorial Award (2013),the Charles A. LeMaistre, M.D. Outstanding Achievement Award in Cancer (2014), and America’s Top Doctors, Castle Connolly Medical (2003-present). He was also selected the top Castle Connolly National Physician of the Year Award for Lifetime Achievement (2014) and the ASCO David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award for lifelong contributions to leukemia research and patient care (2023).
Dr. Kantarjian’s research focuses on translational-clinical developmental therapeutics in leukemia. In the past four decades, he has made several contributions that improved prognosis and survival in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (tyrosine kinase inhibitors, e.g. imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib which improved the 10-year survival from 20% to 90%), in acute lymphocytic leukemia (HPER-CVAD regimen and its derivatives which improved cure rates from 20% to 60+%), the discovery of decitabine for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome, and of clofarabine for the treatment of leukemias, among others. His research and collaborations were the basis for the FDA approvals of over 20 drugs in leukemia. He is an author on over 2,000 peer-reviewed publications.
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Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1983 | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, Medical Oncology Subspecialty, Hematology/Oncology |
| 1981 | American University of Beirut, Beirut, LBN, Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine |
| 1979 | American University of Beirut, Beirut, LBN, MD, Medicine |
| 1975 | American University of Beirut, Beirut, LBN, BS, Science |
| 1972 | American University of Beirut, Beirut, LBN, BaccalaureateII |
Board Certifications
| 1990 | American Board of Hematology Certification |
| 1985 | American Board of Medical Oncology Certification |
| 1983 | American Board of Internal Medicine Certification |
Experience & Service
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Department Chair, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1995 - Present
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Associate Vice President for Global Academic Programs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - Present
Endowed Positions
Samsung Distinguished University Chair in Cancer Medicine, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2023 | ASCO 2023 David Karnofsky Memorial Award and Lecture, American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| 2020 | DoCM Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2019 | Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa, American University of Beirut |
| 2015 | 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award, American Lebanese Medical Association |
| 2014 | Giants of Cancer Care Award, OncLive |
| 2014 | Charles A. LeMaistre, M.D. Outstanding Achievement Award in Cancer, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2013 | 2013 Joseph H. Burchenal Memorial Award, American Association for Cancer Research |
| 2012 | 37th Jeffrey A Gottlieb Memorial Award |
| 2010 | Ben Qurrah Award |
| 2009 | Best Doctors in America 2009-2010, Best Doctors |
| 2008 | The Division of Cancer Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center "John Mendelsohn Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award", MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2008 | The Division of Cancer Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center 'Waun Ki Hong Award for Excellence in Team Science", MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2005 | America’s Top Doctors, Southwestern Region Top Hematologist, Castle Connolly Medical |
| 2004 | America’s Top Doctors, Southwestern Region Top Hematologist, Castle Connolly Medical |
| 2003 | America’s Top Doctors, Southwestern Region Top Hematologist, Castle Connolly Medical |
| 1999 | Faculty Achievement Award for Clinical Research, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1998 | Kelcie Margaret Kana Research Chair, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1997 | Outstanding Service to Mankind Award, Leukemia Society of America |
| 1997 | First Emil J Freireich Award for Outstanding Clinical Research, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1989 | Scholar, Leukemia Society of America |
| 1985 | Special Fellow, Leukemia Society of America |
| 1984 | Fellow, Leukemia Society of America |
| 1983 | Fellow Research Award, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1982 | Fellow Research Award, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1979 | Penrose Award |
| 1979 | Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, American University of Beirut Chapter,Beirut, Lebanon |
| 1976 | Lange Award |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Kantarjian HM, Hughes TP, Larson RA, Kim DW, Issaragrisil S, le Coutre P, Etienne G, Boquimpani C, Pasquini R, Clark RE, Dubruille V, Flinn IW, Kyrcz-Krzemien S, Medras E, Zanichelli M, Bendit I, Cacciatore S, Titorenko K, Aimone P, Saglio G, Hochhaus A. Long-term outcomes with frontline nilotinib versus imatinib in newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase: ENESTnd 10-year analysis. Leukemia 35(2):440-453, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33414482.
- Kantarjian H, Jabbour E, Topp MS. Blinatumomab for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. N Engl J Med 376(23):e49, 2017. PMID: 28591537.
- Hochhaus A, Larson RA, Guilhot F, Radich JP, Branford S, Hughes TP, Baccarani M, Deininger MW, Cervantes F, Fujihara S, Ortmann CE, Menssen HD, Kantarjian H, O'Brien SG, Druker BJ, IRIS Investigators. Long-Term Outcomes of Imatinib Treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. N Engl J Med 376(10):917-928, 2017. PMID: 28273028.
- Sasaki K, Jabbour EJ, Ravandi F, Short NJ, Thomas DA, Garcia-Manero G, Daver NG, Kadia TM, Konopleva MY, Jain N, Issa GC, Jeanis V, Moore HG, Garris RS, Pemmaraju N, Cortes JE, O'Brien SM, Kantarjian HM. Hyper-CVAD plus ponatinib versus hyper-CVAD plus dasatinib as frontline therapy for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A propensity score analysis. Cancer 122(23):3650-3656, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27479888.
- Kantarjian HM, Vandendries E, Advani AS. Inotuzumab Ozogamicin for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. N Engl J Med 375(21):2100-2101, 2016. PMID: 27959720.
- Jabbour E, Kantarjian H, Ravandi F, Thomas D, Huang X, Faderl S, Pemmaraju N, Daver N, Garcia-Manero G, Sasaki K, Cortes J, Garris R, Yin CC, Khoury JD, Jorgensen J, Estrov Z, Bohannan Z, Konopleva M, Kadia T, Jain N, DiNardo C, Wierda W, Jeanis V, O'Brien S. Combination of hyper-CVAD with ponatinib as first-line therapy for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a single-centre, phase 2 study. Lancet Oncol 16(15):1547-55, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26432046.
- Kantarjian HM, Thomas XG, Dmoszynska A, Wierzbowska A, Mazur G, Mayer J, Gau JP, Chou WC, Buckstein R, Cermak J, Kuo CY, Oriol A, Ravandi F, Faderl S, Delaunay J, Lysák D, Minden M, Arthur C. Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Phase III Trial of Decitabine Versus Patient Choice, With Physician Advice, of Either Supportive Care or Low-Dose Cytarabine for the Treatment of Older Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia. J Clin Oncol 30(21):2670-2677, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22689805.
- Tong WG, Estrov Z, Wang Y, O'Brien S, Faderl S, Harris DM, Van Pham Q, Hazan-Halevy I, Liu Z, Koch P, Kantarjian H, Keating MJ, Ferrajoli A. The synthetic heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor EC141 induces degradation of Bcr-Abl p190 protein and apoptosis of Ph-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Invest New Drugs 29(6):1206-1212, 2011. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20533075.
- Kantarjian H, O'Brien S. Questions Regarding Frontline Therapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer 116(21):4896-4901, 2010. PMID: 20623787.
- Saglio G, Kim DW, Issaragrisil S, le Coutre P, Etienne G, Lobo C, Pasquini R, Clark RE, Hochhaus A, Hughes TP, Gallagher N, Hoenekopp A, Dong M, Haque A, Larson RA, Kantarjian HM. Nilotinib versus imatinib for newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia. N Engl J Med 362(24):2251-9, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20525993.
- Druker BJ, Sawyers CL, Kantarjian H, Resta DJ, Reese SF, Ford JM, Capdeville R, Talpaz M. Activity of a specific inhibitor of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase in the blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the Philadelphia chromosome. N Engl J Med 344(14):1038-42, 2001. PMID: 11287973.
- Kantarjian HM, O'Brien S, Smith TL, Cortes J, Giles FJ, Beran M, Pierce S, Huh Y, Andreeff M, Koller C, Ha CS, Keating MJ, Murphy S, Freireich EJ. Results of treatment with hyper-CVAD, a dose-intensive regimen, in adult acute lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol 18(3):547-61, 2000. PMID: 10653870.
Book Chapters
- Kantarjian H, Cortes J. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. In: Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. Sixth. Elsevier: Philadelphia, 1836-1849, 2019.
- Kantarjian H, Cortes J. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 20th. McGraw-Hill: New York, New York, 748-757, 2018.
- Jabbour E, Kantarjian H, Cortes J.. Chronoic Myeloid Leukemia. In: Management of Hematologic Malignancies. 1st. Cambridge University Press: New York, 68-80, 2011.
- Faderl S, Garcia-Manero G, Kantarjian H.. Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). In: Management of Hematologic Malignancies. 1st. Cambridge University Press: New York, 103-115, 2011.
Books (edited and written)
- Jabbour E, Kantarjian H, Cortes J, O'Brien S, Faderl S.. Management of Hematologic Malignancies. Ed(s) Susan O'Brien, Julie M. Vose and Hagop Kantarjian. 1st. Cambridge University Press: New York, 2011.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Research Training in Academic Medical Oncology |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Mentor |
| Title: | Full Member Application Affiliated with SWOG |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Randomized study of combined epigenetic therapy |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Cancer Center Support Grant: Hematologic Malignancies Program |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Program Leader |
| Title: | Phase I Studies of Targeted Anti-Cancer Therapies; Clinical Core |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Consultant |
| Title: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center SPORE in Leukemia |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Therapy of AML: Project 4: Clinical Trials in AML |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Project Leader |
| Title: | The Therapy of CML: Project 1: Improving Cytogenetic and Molecular Complete Responses Using High Dose Imatinib Meyslate (Gleevec; ST1571) with or without PEG-Interferon Alpha 2B and GM-CSF |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | The Therapy of CML Core A: Administrative Core |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Program Leader |
| Title: | SPORE in Leukemia Project 1: Epigenetics and Epigenetic Therapy in AML |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Project Leader |
| Title: | SPORE in Leukemia Career Enhancement Program |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Program Leader |
| Title: | SPORE in Leukemia Developmental Research Program |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Program Leader |
Patient Reviews
MD Anderson Leukemia Chairman Hagop Kantarjian, M.D, with a colleague.
Hagop Kantarjian, M.D., with one of his paintings.
Hagop Kantarjian, M.D., chairman of MD Anderson's Leukemia department.