Robert F. Gagel, M.D.
Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine Division
About Dr. Gagel
During my 40+ year career, I have worked at the interface between bone and endocrine neoplasia, specifically, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. I have been a leader in the development of strategies to prevent and treat medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC): active in the development of prospective screening studies for hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma, mapping and identifying RET as the causative gene, use of genetic information to direct prophylactic thyroidectomy, studies of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma and studies to define how RET mutations cause MTC, the subject of the current proposal. I have also an active leader in the bone field, being a charter member of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research. I have been actively involved in basic and clinical studies of bone biology, particularly as they relate to bone health effects of cancer treatment. I have worked to define the role of calcitonin in bone biology, including the creation of a calcitonin knockout mouse model that defined a new function for this ancient hormone. My current work focuses on the role of the RET proto-oncogene in the genesis of bone metastasis in medullary thyroid carcinoma. I have also served as Head of Internal Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center from 1995-2014, recruiting more than 125 of the current 185 faculty and redefining the role of Internal Medicine in a Center Center. During this time, I found time to remain engaged in laboratory and clinical pursuits, acquiring skills necessary for completion of this project.
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Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Adjunct Professor, Department of Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1971 | Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA, BA, Arts-Medicine Program-resulting in both degrees being granted in 1971 |
| 1971 | Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA, MD, Medicine |
Postgraduate Training
| 1973-1975 | Fellow in Endocrinology, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA |
| 1972-1973 | Resident in Medicine, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA |
| 1971-1972 | Intern and resident in Internal Medicine, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA |
Board Certifications
| 1977 | Endocrinology and Metabolism |
| 1975 | Internal Medicine |
Experience & Service
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Co-Director, Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Bone Disease Program of Texas, Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2007 - 2012
Division Head, Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2001 - 2014
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Member, External Advisory Board, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2004 - Present
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Liu H, Liu Z, Du J, He J, Lin P, Amini B, Starbuck MW, Novane N, Shah JJ, Davis RE, Hou J, Gagel RF, Yang J. Thymidine phosphorylase exerts complex effects on bone resorption and formation in myeloma. Sci Transl Med 8(353):353ra113, 2016. PMID: 27559096.
- Wells SA, Gosnell JE, Gagel RF, Moley J, Pfister D, Sosa JA, Skinner M, Krebs A, Vasselli J, Schlumberger M. Vandetanib for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic hereditary medullary thyroid cancer. J Clin Oncol 28(5):767-72, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20065189.
- Becklund BR, James BJ, Gagel RF, DeLuca HF. The calcitonin/calcitonin gene related peptide-alpha gene is not required for 1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3)-mediated suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Arch Biochem Biophys 488(2):105-8, 2009. e-Pub 2009. PMID: 19563774.
- Habra MA, Jimenez C, Huang SC, Cote GJ, Murphy WA, Gagel RF, Hoff AO. Expression analysis of fibroblast growth factor-23, matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein, secreted frizzled-related protein-4, and fibroblast growth factor-7: identification of fibroblast growth factor-23 and matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein as major factors involved in tumor-induced osteomalacia. Endocr Pract 14(9):1108-14, 2008. PMID: 19158050.
- Jiménez C, Hu MI, Gagel RF. Management of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 37(2):481-96, 2008. PMID: 18502338.
- Kouvaraki MA, Shapiro SE, Cote GJ, Lee JE, Yao JC, Waguespack SG, Gagel RF, Evans DB, Perrier ND. Management of pancreatic endocrine tumors in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. World J Surg 30(5):643-53, 2006. PMID: 16680581.
- Yip L, Lee JE, Shapiro SE, Waguespack SG, Sherman SI, Hoff AO, Gagel RF, Arens JF, Evans DB. Surgical management of hereditary pheochromocytoma. J Am Coll Surg 198(4):525-34; discussion 534-5, 2004. PMID: 15051000.
- Dackiw AP, Lee JE, Gagel RF, Evans DB. Adrenal cortical carcinoma. World J Surg 25(7):914-26, 2001. PMID: 11572033.
- Kikumori T, Cote GJ, Gagel RF. Promiscuity of pre-mRNA spliceosome-mediated trans splicing: a problem for gene therapy?. Hum Gene Ther 12(11):1429-41, 2001. PMID: 11485634.
- Wohllk N, Becker P, Youlton R, Cote GJ, Gagel RF. [Germline mutations of the ret proto-oncogene in Chilean patients with hereditary and sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma]. Rev Med Chil 129(7):713-8, 2001. PMID: 11552438.
Invited Articles
- Gralow JR, Biermann JS, Farooki A, Fornier MN, Gagel RF, Kumar RN, Shapiro CL, Shields A, Smith MR, Srinivas S, Van Poznak CH. NCCN Task Force Report: Bone Health in Cancer Care. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 7(Supplement 3):S1-S32, 2009. PMID: 19555589.
- Khosla S, Burr D, Cauley J, Dempster DW, Ebeling PR, Felsenberg D, Gagel RF, Gilsanz V, Guise T, Koka S, McCauley LK, McGowan J, McKee MD, Mohla S, Pendrys DG, Raisz LG, Ruggiero SL, Shafer DM, Shum L, Silverman SL, Van Poznak CH, Watts N, Woo SB, Shane E, Shane E. Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw: report of a task force of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. J Bone Miner Res 22:1479-91, 2007. e-Pub 2007.
- Sherman SI, Angelos P, Ball DW, Byrd D, Clark OH, Daniels GH, Dilawari RA, Ehya H, Farrar WB, Gagel RF, Kandeel F, Kloos RT, Kopp P, Lamonica DM, Loree TR, Lydiatt WM, McCaffrey J, Olson JA, Ridge JA, Shah JP, Sisson JC, Tuttle RM, Urist MM, Urist MM. Thyroid carcinoma. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 5, No. 6(6):568-621, 2007. PMID: 17623612.
Other Articles
- Hu MI, Lu H, Gagel RF Cancer therapies and bone health. Curr Rheumatol Rep 12(3):177-85, 2010. PMID: 20437119.
- Ye L, Santarpia L, Gagel RF Targeted Therapy for Endocrine Cancer: The Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Paradigm. Endocr Pract 15(6):1-24, 2009. PMID: 19546050.
Editorials
- Cote GJ, Gagel RF. Lessons learned from the management of a rare genetic cancer. N Engl J Med 349:1566-8, 2003. PMID: 14561800.
Book Chapters
- Jimenez C, Gagel RF. Multiple endocrine neoplasias and autoimmune endocrinopathies. In: Harrison's Endocrinology. 2nd. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc: New York, 367-378, 2010.
- Hwang JP, Cooper SE, Gagel RF. Mechanisms of complications of malignancy. In: Medical Care of Cancer Patients. 1st ed. B.C. Decker, Inc: Shelton, CT, 3-9, 2009.
- Hu MI, Yeung SJ, Gagel RF. Endocrine paraneoplastic syndromes. In: Medical Care of Cancer Patients. 1st. B.C. Decker, Inc: Shelton, CT, 194-204, 2009.
- Gagel RF. Introduction to the Care of the Cancer Patient. In: Medical Care Cancer Patients. 1st. B.C. Decker, Inc: Shelton, CT, 1-2, 2009.
- Yeung SJ, Gagel RF. Endocrine neoplastic syndromes. In: Medical Care of Cancer Patients. 1st. B.C. Decker, Inc: Shelton, CT, 205-208, 2009.
- Yeung SJ, Gagel RF. Pituitary and adrenal complications in cancer patients. In: Medical Care of Cancer Patients. 1st. B.C. Decker, Inc: Shelton, CT, 237-241, 2009.
- Yeung SJ, Escalante C, Gagel RF. Survivorship - A Reversal of Fortune. In: Medical Care of Cancer Patients. 1st. B.C. Decker: Shelton, CT, 753-4, 2009.
- Gagel RF. Endocrine manifestations of tumors: "Ectopic" hormone production. In: Cecil Textbook of Medicine. Chapter 148; 23rd ed. Saunders Elsevier: Philadelphia, pgs. 1349-53, 2008.
- Gagel RF, Marx SJ. Multiple endocrine neoplasia. In: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Saunders: Philadelphia, 1705-46, 2008.
- Defton LJ, Gagel RF. Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma and Calcitonin. In: Cecil Textbook of Medicine. Chapter 267; 23rd ed. Saunders Elsevier: Philadelphia, pgs. 1906-10, 2008.
- Gagel RF, Cote G. Molecular Diagnosis of Bone and Mineral Disorders. In: ASBMR Primer on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism. 7th. ASBMR: Washington, D.C, 193-6, 2008.
- Hu MI, Gagel RF. Calcitonin Gene Family of Peptides. In: Principles of Bone Biology. 3rd. Academic Press Inc: San Diego, CA, 813-36, 2008.
- Gagel RF, Shefelbine S, Hayashi H, Cote G. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. In: Principles of Molecular Medicine. Humana Press: New Jersey, pgs. 393-399, 2006.
- Gagel RF, Cote GJ. Summary of gene disorders of serum mineral metabolism or skeleton formation. In: Primer on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism. 5th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia, pgs. 551-556, 2003.
- Hoff AO, Sherman SI, Gagel RF. Radioiodine treatment in differentiated thyroid malignancy. In: Endocrine Surgery of the Head and Neck. Delmar-Thomson Learning, Inc: Clifton Park, New York, pgs. 201-208, 2003.
Books (edited and written)
- Gagel RF. Medical Care of Cancer Patients. Ed(s) Yeung SJ, Escalante C, Gagel RF. 1st. B.C. Decker Inc: Shelton, CT, 2009.
Letters to the Editor
- Evans DB, Khosla S, Burr D, Cauley J, Dempster DW, Ebeling PR, Felsenberg D, Gagel RF, Gilsanz V, Guise T, Koka S, McCauley LK, McGowan J, McKee MD, Mohla S, Pendrys DG, Raisz LG, Ruggiero SL, Shafer DM, Shum L, Silverman SL, Van Poznak CH, Watts N, Woo SB, Shane E.. Oral bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis: risk factors, prediction of risk using serum CTX testing, prevention, and treatment. ASBMR JOMS, 2008.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center CCOP Research Base |
| Funding Source: | MDA Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) |
| Role: | Program Leader |
| Title: | Advances in Bone Formation and Bone Metastasis (Health Care and Other Facilities) |
| Funding Source: | Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Phase II Trial of Sunitinib (SU11248) in Iodine-131 Refractory, Unresectable Differentiated Thyroid Cancers and Medullary Thyroid Cancers |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | Advances in Bone Formation and Bone Metastasis (Health Care and Other Facilities) |
| Funding Source: | Department of Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Paul Calabresi Clinical Oncology Award |
| Funding Source: | NCI |
| Role: | Advisory Committee Member/Mentor |