Van Morris, M.D.
Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine
In the News
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal (GI) Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2016 | University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA, MS, Biomedical Sciences |
| 2008 | University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA, MD, Doctor of Medicine |
| 2002 | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA, BS, Chemistry |
Postgraduate Training
| 2014-2015 | Research Instructor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2011-2014 | Clinical Fellowship, Hematology / Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2009-2011 | Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC |
| 2008-2009 | Clinical Internship, Internal Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC |
Experience & Service
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Undergraduate Researcher, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 2001 - 2002
Honors & Awards
| 2015 | Khalifa Scholar Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2014 | Achievement in Clinical Investigation, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2013 | ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Merit Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| 2013 | Young Investigator Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| 2010 | Barton Haynes Housestaff Research Award, Duke Department of Medicine |
| 2008 | Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Tennessee College of Medicine |
| 2008 | Robert L. Summit, M.D. Distinguished Student Achievement Award, University of Tennessee College of Medicine |
| 2008 | University of Tennessee Health Science Center Distinguished Student Service Award, University of Tennessee College of Medicine |
| 2002 | American Institute of Chemists Graduation Award, University of North Carolina |
| 2002 | Graduate with Highest Honors, University of North Carolina Department of Chemistry |
| 2001 | Phi Beta Kappa, University of North Carolina |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Pereira AA, Rego JF, Morris VK, Overman MJ, Eng C, Garrett CR, Boutin AT, Ferrarotto R, Lee M, Jiang ZQ, Hoff PM, Vauthey JN, Vilar E, Maru D, Kopetz S. Association between KRAS mutation and lung metastasis in advanced colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer 112(3):424-8, 2015. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25535726.
- Morris VK, Lucas FA, Overman MJ, Eng C, Morelli MP, Jiang ZQ, Luthra R, Meric-Bernstam F, Maru D, Scheet P, Kopetz S, Vilar E. Clinicopathologic characteristics and gene expression analyses of non-KRAS 12/13, RAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer. Ann Oncol 25(10):2008-14, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25009008.
- Morris VK, Overman MJ, Jiang ZQ, Garrett C, Agarwal S, Eng C, Kee B, Fogelman D, Dasari A, Wolff R, Maru D, Kopetz S. Progression-free survival remains poor over sequential lines of systemic therapy in patients with BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer. Clin Colorectal Cancer 13(3):164-71, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25069797.
- Kopetz S, Morris VK, Parikh N, Overman MJ, Jiang ZQ, Maru D, Elvin P, Gallick G. Src activity is modulated by oxaliplatin and correlates with outcomes after hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer. BMC Cancer 14:660, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25208577.
- Morris VK, Kopetz S. Clinical biomarkers in colorectal cancer. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol 11(12):768-76, 2013. PMID: 24893280.
- Morris VK, Kopetz S. BRAF inhibitors in clinical oncology. F1000Prime Rep 5:11, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23585929.
- Jabbour E, Morris VK, Kantarjian H, Yin CC, Burton E, Cortes J. Characteristics and outcomes of patients with V299L BCR-ABL kinase domain mutation after therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Blood 120(16):3382-3, 2012. PMID: 23086624.
- Morris VK, Spraker HL, Howard SC, Ware RE, Reiss UM. Severe thrombocytopenia with iron deficiency anemia. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 27(5):413-9, 2010. PMID: 20670168.
- Morris VK, Izard T. Substrate-induced asymmetry and channel closure revealed by the apoenzyme structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase. Protein Sci 13(9):2547-52, 2004. PMID: 15322293.
- Brown KL, Morris VK, Izard T. Rhombohedral crystals of Mycobacterium tuberculosis phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 60(Pt 1):195-6, 2004. e-Pub 2003. PMID: 14684928.
Abstracts
- Hong DS, Morris VK, El Osta B, Sorokin AV, Janku F, Fu S, Overman MJ, Piha-Paul S, Subbiah V, Kee B, Tsimberidou A, Fogelman D, Bellido J, Shureiqi I, Huang H, Atkins J, Tarcic G, Sommer N, Lanman R, Meric-Bernstam F, Kopetz S. Phase 1B Study of Vemurafenib in Combination with Irinotecan and Cetuximab in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer with BRAF V600E Mutation. Cancer Discovery, 2016. PMID: 27729313.
- Morelli MP, Overman MJ, Dasari A, Kazmi SM, Mazard T, Vilar E, Morris VK, Lee MS, Herron D, Eng C, Morris J, Kee BK, Janku F, Deaton FL, Garrett C, Maru D, Diehl F, Angenendt P, Kopetz S. Characterizing the patterns of clonal selection in circulating tumor DNA from patients with colorectal cancer refractory to anti-EGFR treatment. Ann Oncol 26(4):731-6, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25628445.
Book Chapters
- Morris VK. Anal Cancer. In: The MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology 3rd edition.
- Morris VK. Colorectal Cancer. In: The MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology 3rd edition.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Epigenetics of BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer |
| Funding Source: | American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Patient-derived xenografts: a co-clinical trial for BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer |
| Funding Source: | SWOG Hope Foundation Award |
| Role: | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Wnt modulation as a therapeutic target in metastatic colorectal cancer |
| Funding Source: | Khalifa Scholar Award |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Phase I/II trial of M7824 in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |