Kaysia Ludford, M.D., M.S.
Department of General Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor (Joint appointment), Gastrointestinal (GI) Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Gastrointestinal (GI) Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2014 | Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, US, MD |
| 2009 | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, US, Chemistry, M.S |
| 2007 | Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, US, Chemistry, BA |
Postgraduate Training
| 2017-2020 | Clinical Fellowship, Medical Oncology/Hematology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2014-2017 | Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2020 | American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology |
| 2020 | American Board of Internal Medicine, Hematology |
| 2019 | Medical License |
| 2017 | American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
LBJ Medical Oncology Faculty Lead: Patient Education Advisor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2025 - Present
LBJ Faculty Liaison to Department of Radiation Oncology (Harris Health), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2022 - Present
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, General Oncology Chair Search Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Member, Interview Committee for Grant Program Coordinator, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024
Participant, MDACC International Patient Second Opinion Program for GI Malignancies, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Member, Division of Cancer Medicine Division Chief Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - 2022
Member, Hematology Oncology Fellowship Interview Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Founder/Director, LBJ Faculty Consensus Meetings, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Division of Cancer Medicine Faculty Awards Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2020
Contributor, MD Anderson Colorectal Cancer Conference, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Contributor, MD Anderson NET Conference Series, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Contributor, MD Anderson Liver Tumor Conference, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Member, MD Anderson Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Fellows’ Education Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2020
Member, Global Oncology Interest Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2020
Member, MD Anderson Health Disparities Interest Group, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - 2021
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Participant and reviewer, Harris Health-LBJ Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) Committee, Lyndon B Johnson Hospital, 2025 - Present
Co-chair, Breast Multidisciplinary Conference, Lyndon B Johnson Hospital, 2021 - Present
Co-chair, Gastrointestinal Malignancies Tumor Board, Lyndon B Johnson Hospital, 2020 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2024 | Teaching Department of the Year award (General Oncology - LBJ Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2022 - Present | Special Projects Grant Award, Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Cancer Control Program |
| 2022 | MDACC Patient Experience Award: Top1% Provider (with a Perfect Score) for FY 22, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2020 - 2025 | Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) |
| 2016 | Partners’ Center of Expertise Global and Humanitarian Health Award, Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| 2013 | Yale University Lowe Award for International Conference Travel, Yale University School of Medicine |
| 2011 | National Medical Scholars Award, The Infectious Disease Society of America Education and Research Foundation |
| 2011 | Yale University Downs International Health Student Travel Fellowship, Yale University School of Medicine |
| 2010 - 2014 | HB and JS Nicholas Fellowship, Vassar College |
| 2008 | Rackham International Graduate Students Award, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor |
| 2007 | Elected Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society, Vassar College |
| 2007 | Elected Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, Vassar College |
| 2007 | Olive Lammert Prize for Excellence in Chemistry, Vassar College |
| 2007 | Analytic Chemistry Award, American Chemical Society Award |
| 2004 | Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholar, Howard Hughes Medical Institute |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2025. Immunotherapy as a Curative Strategy for MSI-H Colorectal Cancer?. Invited. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Network Gastrointestinal Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Spring 2024 Career Symposium: Genetics and Epigenetics and Immunology Graduate Programs. Panelist. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Key Principles in the Management of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Invited. University of Texas Houston McGovern Medical School Internal Medicine Residency Program. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. 50 Hoops Legends Seminar Series: Reducing Cancer Disparities: Be a Participator Not a Spectator. Panelist. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2024. Colorectal Cancer Awareness for Black/African Americans. Invited. Empowering Our Community: Colorectal Cancer Event Series, US.
National Presentations
- 2024. A randomized study evaluating tailoring of advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) therapy using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA): TACT-D. Poster. ASCO Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2024. Implementation of universal germline testing in underserved patients with young onset gastrointestinal cancer. Poster. ASCO Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2024. Circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker for pathologic response after treatment with neoadjuvant immunotherapy for localized dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer. Poster. ASCO Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2023. Dissecting the relationship between ethnicity and response to checkpoint inhibitors in patients with acral melanoma. Poster. ASCO Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2023. Immunotherapy for localized MSI-H colorectal cancer: Characterizing endoscopic and imaging response. Poster. ASCO Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2022. Prognostic role of systemic inflammatory markers in patients with metastatic MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer receiving immunotherapy. Poster. ASCO Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2022. Clinical outcomes following termination of immunotherapy due to long-term benefit in MSI-H colorectal cancer. Poster. ASCO Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2021. Safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab in mismatch repair deficient localized/locally advanced solid tumors. Poster. ASCO Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2019. Investigating the immuno-biology underlying differential response to immunotherapy in White and non-White patients with metastatic acral melanoma. Poster Presentation. Poster. 12th AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved. San Francisco, CA, US.
- 2019. Phase II trial of nab-paclitaxel (ABI) and ipilimumab (ipi) in patients with treatment naïve metastatic melanoma. Poster Presentation. Poster. ASCO Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2019. Evaluation of complete pathological remission rates in surgically resected MSI-high metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRC). Online Abstract. Poster. ASCO Annual Conference. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2011. Correlation of alcohol use disorders and high-risk sexual behaviors among MSM in Peru: implications for future HIV prevention interventions. Poster Presentation. Poster. 33rd American Medical Association-Student Section Interim Meeting. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2008. Dissecting substrate-mediated conformational changes in the sulfonucleotide reductase catalytic cycle. Poster. National Association of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers Biotech Conference. Indianapolis, IN, US.
- 2006. Use of covalent metal-organic nano-porous network materials in heterogeneous Catalysis. Poster Presentation. Poster. Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Binghamton, NY, US.
International Presentations
- 2025. The Rise in Early-Onset Cancers in Montreal. Poster. 2025 AACR Special Conference. Montreal, CA.
- 2024. Long-Term Survival and Organ Preservation with Pembrolizumab in Localized MSI-H/dMMR Solid Tumors. Invited. European Society For Medical Oncology Congress 2024. Barcelona, ES.
- 2021. Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab in Localized MSI-H/dMMR Solid Tumors. Invited. European Society For Medical Oncology Congress 2021. Paris, FR.
- 2013. Correlation of alcohol use disorders and high-risk sexual behaviors among MSM in Peru: implications for future HIV prevention interventions. Poster Presentation. Poster. 7th International Aids Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention. Kuala Lumpur, MY.
Formal Peers
- 2024. Endurance in Science: Navigating Challenges in STEM. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2022 - Present |
| Title: | Implementation of universal germline testing in underserved patients with young onset colorectal cancer |
| Funding Source: | Alliance NCTN Foundation and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center GI Spore Career Enrichment Program |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | AWD00008192 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2025 |
| Title: | Interplay between ethnicity & biology in response to checkpoint inhibition |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson Cancer Center - Prioritizing Research Innovation & Mentoring Excellence (PRIME) and Americal Association for Cancer Research (AACR) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 2021-0204 |
| Date: | 2019 - 2024 |
| Title: | Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab for Patients with Mismatch Repair Deficient Locally Advanced Solid Cancers |
| Funding Source: | Merck Investigator Studies Program (MSIP) |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| ID: | 2018-1182 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Lapelusa, M, Shah, P, Bhamidipati, D, Kui, N, Bent, AH, Dasari, NV, Huey, RW, Kee, BK, Kopetz, S, Le, PH, Ludford, K, Morelli, MP, Morris, VK, Parseghian, C, Raghav, KS, Willis, JA, Wolff, RA, Zhao, D, Overman, MJ, Serpas Higbie, V. Patterns of progression and survival in patients with mismatch repair deficient/ microsatellite instability- high metastatic colorectal cancer treated with immunotherapy. Oncologist 31(8), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 42475509.
- Lapelusa, M, Qiao, W, Iorgulescu, B, San Lucas, FA, Patel, KP, Bhamidipati, D, Thomas, J, You, YN, Foo, WC, Maru, D, Thirumurthi, S, Morris, VK, Kopetz, S, Overman, MJ, Ludford, K. Long-Term Efficacy of Pembrolizumab and the Clinical Utility of ctDNA in Locally Advanced dMMR/MSI-H Solid Tumors. Nature communications 16(1), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40374594.
- Morris VK, Xiao W, Lin K, Wong CW, Wotman MT, Holliday EB, Huey RW, Noticewala SS, Ludmir EB, Bent AH, Ludford K, Messick C, Koay EJ, Smith G, Konishi T, Bednarski B, Chang GJ, Koong AC, You YN, Das P, Gillison ML. Time dependency for human papillomavirus circulating tumor DNA detection after chemoradiation as a prognostic biomarker for localized anal cancer. Clin Cancer Res 31(12):2399-2405, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39873618.
- Lim, CF, Ludford, K, Tanski, JM. Solvent control of dimensionality in titanium aryloxide coordination polymers prepared from 4,4′-bis(hydroxyphenyl)sulfide. Polyhedron 251, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Lapelusa, M, San Lucas, FA, Iorgulescu, B, Patel, KP, You, YN, Foo, WC, Maru, DM, Kopetz, S, Ludford, K, Morris, VK, Overman, MJ. Circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker for pathologic response after treatment with neoadjuvant immunotherapy for localized dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology 42(16):3612, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Higbie, V, Shah, P, Bent, AH, Dasari, NV, Huey, RW, Johnson, B, Kee, BK, Kopetz, S, Lee, MS, Ludford, K, Morelli, MP, Morris, VK, Parseghian, C, Raghav, KS, Shen, JY, Willis, JA, Wolff, RA, Overman, MJ. Natural history and patterns of progression for dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade. Journal of Clinical Oncology 42(3), 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Simmons K, Thomas JV, Ludford K, Willis JA, Higbie VS, Raghav KPS, Johnson B, Dasari A, Kee BK, Parseghian CM, Lee MS, Le PH, Morelli MP, Shen JP, Bent A, Vilar E, Wolff RA, Kopetz S, Overman MJ, Morris VK. Sustained Disease Control in Immune Checkpoint Blockade Responders with Microsatellite Instability-high Colorectal Cancer after Treatment Termination. Cancer Res Commun 3(12):2510-2517, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 38085001.
- Fox DA, Bhamidipati D, Konishi T, Kaur H, You N, Raghav KPS, Ge PS, Messick C, Johnson B, Morris VK, Thomas JV, Shah P, Bednarski BK, Kopetz S, Chang GJ, Ludford K, Higbie VS, Overman MJ. Endoscopic and imaging outcomes of PD-1 therapy in localised dMMR colorectal cancer. Eur J Cancer 194:113356, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37827065.
- Fa'ak F, Buni M, Falohun A, Lu H, Song J, Johnson DH, Zobniw CM, Trinh VA, Awiwi MO, Tahon NH, Elsayes KM, Ludford K, Montazari EJ, Chernis J, Dimitrova M, Sandigursky S, Sparks JA, Abu-Shawer O, Rahma O, Thanarajasingam U, Zeman AM, Talukder R, Singh N, Chung SH, Grivas P, Daher M, Abudayyeh A, Osman I, Weber J, Tayar JH, Suarez-Almazor ME, Abdel-Wahab N, Diab A. Selective immune suppression using interleukin-6 receptor inhibitors for management of immune-related adverse events. J Immunother Cancer 11(6), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37328287.
- Ludford K, Ho WJ, Thomas JV, Raghav KPS, Murphy MB, Fleming ND, Lee MS, Smaglo BG, You YN, Tillman MM, Kamiya-Matsuoka C, Thirumurthi S, Messick C, Johnson B, Vilar E, Dasari A, Shin S, Hernandez A, Yuan X, Yang H, Foo WC, Qiao W, Maru D, Kopetz S, Overman MJ. Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab in Localized Microsatellite Instability High/Deficient Mismatch Repair Solid Tumors. J Clin Oncol 41(12):JCO2201351, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36623241.
- Ludford K, Cohen R, Svrcek M, Foo WC, Colle R, Parc Y, Thomas JV, Morris VK, Kopetz S, Chang GJ, Overman M, Andre T. Pathological tumor response following immune checkpoint blockade for deficient mismatch repair advanced colorectal cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 113(2):208-211, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32294214.
- Saberian C, Abdel-Wahab N, Abudayyeh A, Rafei H, Joseph J, Rondon G, Whited L, Gruschkus S, Fa'ak F, Daher M, Knape C, Safa H, Shoukier M, Suarez-Almazor ME, Marcotulli M, Ludford K, Gulbis AM, Konopleva M, Ohanian M, Ravandi F, Garcia-Manero G, Oran B, Popat UR, Mehta R, Alousi AM, Daver N, Champlin R, Diab A, Al-Atrash G. Post-transplantation cyclophosphamide reduces the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease in patients with acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndromes who receive immune checkpoint inhibitors after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. J Immunother Cancer 9(2), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33637601.
- Vagenas P, Lama JR, Ludford KT, Gonzales P, Sanchez J, Altice FL. A systematic review of alcohol use and sexual risk-taking in Latin America. Revista Panamericana de Salud Publica/Pan American Journal of Public Health 34(4):267 - 274, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24301738.
- Vagenas P, Ludford KT, Gonzalez P, et al. Being unaware of being HIV-infected is associated with alcohol use disorders and high risk sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men in Peru. AIDS and Behavior:1-8, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Ludford KT, Vagenas P, Lama JR, Peinado J, Gonzalez P, et al. Screening for drug and alcohol use disorders and their association with HIV-related sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men in Peru. PLoS One, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- MacMillan SN, Ludford KT, Tanski JM. Synthesis and optical activity analysis of chiral titanium (IV) sec-butoxide and its group IV analogues. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 19(5):543-458, 2008. e-Pub 2008.
Abstracts
- LaPelusa MB, San Lucas FA, Iorgulescu B, Patel KP, You YN, Foo WC, Maru DM, Scott K, Ludford K, Morris II VK, Overman MJ. Circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker for pathologic response after treatment with neoadjuvant immunotherapy for localized dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology 42(16), 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Ragav KP, Xiao L, Lewis C, Zeller B, Overman MJ, Huey RW, Dasari A, Chang K, Quinn K, Shen JP, Parseghian CM, Willis J, Ludford K, Morriss II VK, Wolff RA, Wang XS, Drubosky L, Kopetz S. A randomized study evaluating tailoring of advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) therapy using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA): TACT-D. Journal of Clinical Oncology 42(17), 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Ludford K, Awad E, Lankford AR, Ma HY, You YN. Implementation of universal germline testing in underserved patients with young onset gastrointestinal cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology 42(16), 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Higbie VS, Shah P, Bent A, Dasari A, Huey R, Johnson B, Kee B, Kopetz S, Sangmin Lee M, Ludford K, Morelli MP, Morris VK, Parseghian C, Raghav K, Shen JP, Willis J, Wolff R, Overman MJ. Natural history and patterns of progression for dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade: A single center retrospective analysis. Journal of Clinical Oncology 42(3), 2024.
- Fox DA, Tsuyoshi K, Kaur H, You N, Raghav KP, Ge PS, Messick C, Johnson B, Morris VK, Thomas JV, Shah P, Bednarski BK, Kopetz S, Chang GJ, Ludford K, Higbie V, Overman M, Bhamidipati D. Immunotherapy for localized MSI-H colorectal cancer: Characterizing endoscopic and imaging response. Journal of Clinical Oncology 41(16), 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Kriedieh FY, Simien R, John I, Rodgers T, Abdel-Wahab R, Diab A, Ludford K. Dissecting the relationship between ethnicity and response to checkpoint inhibitors in patients with acral melanoma. Journal of Clinical Oncology 41(16), 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Bhamidipati D, Raghav KP, Morris KP, Kopetz S, Kee BK, Johnson B, Willis J, Dasari A, Morelli MP, Parseghian CM, Lee MS, Le P, Shen JP, Ludford K, Overman MJ. Prognostic role of systemic inflammatory markers in patients with metastatic MSI-h/dMMR colorectal cancer receiving immunotherapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology 40(16), 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Simmons K, Kee BK, Raghav KP, Johnson BJ, Kopetz S, Willis J, Dasari A, Sanchez EV, Ludford K, Parseghian CM, Lee MS, Le P, Shen JP, Overman MJ, Morris VK. Clinical outcomes following termination of immunotherapy due to long-term benefit in MSI-H colorectal cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology 40(16), 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Ludford K, Raghav KP, Murphy M, Fleming ND, Nelson DA, Lee MS, Smaglo BG, You YN, Tillman MM, Kamiya-Matsouka C, Thirumurthi S, Messick C, Johnson B, Sanchez E, Dasari A, Thomas JV, Foo WC, Qiao W, Kopetz S, Overman MJ. Safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab in mismatch repair deficient localized/locally advanced solid tumors. Journal of Clinical Oncology 39(15), 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Ludford, Johnson DH, Hennegan T, Gruschkus SK, Haymaker CL, Bernatchez C, Jackson N, Hwu P, Diab A. Phase II trial of nab-paclitaxel (ABI) and ipilimumab (ipi) in patients with treatment naïve metastatic melanoma. Journal of Clinical Oncology 37(15), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Ludford, K, Cohen R, Foo WC, Thomas JV, Parc Y, Syrcek M, Kopetz S, Andre T, Overman M. Evaluation of complete pathological remission rates in surgically resected MSI-high metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRC). Journal of Clinical Oncology 37(15), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Ludford K, LaPelusa M, QIAO W, Thomas J, You N, Thirumurthi S, Maru D, Iorgulescu B, Kopetz S, Overman MJ. Long-Term Survival and Organ Preservation with Pembrolizumab in Localized MSI-H/dMMR Solid Tumors 35(2).
- Ludford K, Saberian C, Nabhan S, Bernatchez C, Jackson N, Haymaker C, Hwu P, Diab A. Investigating the immuno-biology underlying differential response to immunotherapy in White and non-White patients with metastatic acral melanoma.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified August 28, 2026