Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD
Professor and Chair, Department of Leukemia
Samsung Distinguished Leukemia Chair in Cancer Medicine
The University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD, is a professor and chair of the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Also, he is the Samsung Distinguished Leukemia Chair in Cancer Medicine and a Special Fellow on Healthcare Policies at the Rice University Baker Institute in Houston, TX and advocates for healthcare issues pertinent to patients with cancer and leukemia.
Dr. Kantarjian’s research focuses on translational-clinical developmental therapeutics in leukemia. In the past 3 decades, he has made several contributions that improved the prognosis and survival in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (tyrosine kinase inhibitors, eg, imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, ponatinib which improved the 10-year survival from 20% to 90%), in acute lymphocytic leukemia (H-CVAD regimen and its derivatives; antibodies including blinatumomab and inotuzumab), 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 several drugs in leukemia.
Dr. Kantarjian has received several prestigious honours and awards, including the 37e Jeffrey A Gottlieb Memorial Award, the John Mendelsohn Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award, the ASCO Joseph H. Burchenal Memorial Award, the Charles A. LeMaistre, M.D. Outstanding Achievement Award in Cancer, and America’s Top Doctors, Castle Connolly Medical award. He was also selected the top Castle Connolly National Physician of the Year Award for Lifetime Achievement. He has authored more than 2000 peer-reviewed publications.
