Andrew Lassman, MD

Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, NY John Harris Associate Professor of Neurology and Chief Neuro-Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Dr. Lassman (Department of Neurology, NY Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NY) is board certified in Neurology. He earned his BS and MS degrees in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry from Yale, and his MD from Columbia (now the Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons). He completed his Neurology Residency at New York-Presbyterian (NYP)/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and pursued a Neuro-Oncology Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) encompassing clinical training, clinical research, and bench science in the molecular biology of gliomas, including approximately 20 years of experience in translational neuro-oncology research. Dr. Lassman received the Preuss Award in Neuro-Oncology from the American Academy of Neurology, the Boyer Clinical Research Award from MSKCC, the Neurology Resident Teaching Award from MSKCC/Weill Cornell (twice), and the Adult Clinical Research Abstract Award from the Society for Neuro-Oncology. In recognition of his clinical acumen, he has been selected by his peers and listed among the “Best Doctors” in New York Magazine and related publications since 2013. In 2020, he became a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (FAAN). Dr. Lassman is currently Associate Professor and Chief of Neuro-Oncology Division at NYP/Columbia University where he is actively engaged in several ongoing trials in glioblastoma and continues to support pilot through Phase III clinical trials across the full spectrum of human tumors. He is a member of the Senior Leadership Team and serves the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center as Associate Director for Clinical Trials, overseeing the Data & Safety Monitoring and Protocol Review & Monitoring Committees, and Medical Director for the Clinical Protocol Data Management Office.

AR-67 has the potential to deliver the efficacy of Camptothecins with significantly less gastrointestinal and hematological toxicity than Irinotecan. That could be a game changer for patients with gastrointestinal cancers.
Dr. Gerard Blobe, MD, PhD.Duke University School of Medicine.
AR–67 is a next generation camptothecin optimized for fewer side effects and blood-brain-barrier penetration. In glioblastoma patients treated with AR-67 on a clinical trial at our center, we saw encouraging outcomes and tumor shrinkage. AR-67 was extremely well tolerated. I believe AR-67 represents a novel approach in treating this devastating disease.
Dr. Jai Grewal, MD.NSPC Brain and Spine Surgery, NY

References

1. Novel silatecan displays high lipophilicity, improved blood stability and potent
anticancer activity. Bom D, et al J Med Chem 2000; 43:3970-3980

2. Silatecan DB-67 is a novel DNA Topo-1 targeted radiation sensitizer: Chen AY. Mol
Cancer Ther 2005; 4(2): 317-24.

3. Phase I study publication: Arnold SM, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2010;6:673-680

4. Phase II study publication (abstract): Kumthekar P, et al. SNO 2019. Poster ACTR-40,
published in Neuro-Oncology(https://academic.oup.com/neuro-oncology)

5. Ubiquitin-dependent Destruction of Topoisomerase I Is
Stimulated by the Antitumor Drug Camptothecin*, Desai et al. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 272, No. 39, Issue of September 26, pp. 24159–24164, 1997.  https://www.jbc.org

6. Metabolic Pathways of the Camptothecin Analog AR-67, Horn et al. Drug Metabolism and Disposition, Vol. 39, No. 4, 37390/3672838, 2011. https://dmd.aspetjournals.org