Ghassan K Abou-Alfa MD

Oncology•New York, NY

Gastrointestinal Cancer

Professor, Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Professor, Medicine, Weill Medical College at Cornell University

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160 East 53rd StreetNew York, NY 10022
Book by Phone+1(231) 508-9372

Education & Training

Columbia UniversityMBA, Business Administration, 2014 - 2016
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsM.B.A., 2014 - 2016
Yale-New Haven Medical CenterResidency, Internal Medicine, 1994 - 1997
Yale-New Haven Medical CenterFellowship, Hematology and Medical Oncology, 1992 - 1994
American University of Beirut Faculty of MedicineClass of 1992
American University of BeirutB.S., 1985 - 1988

Certifications & Licensure

FL State Medical License 2021 - Present
NY State Medical License 2001 - 2026
CT State Medical License 1998 - 2025
NJ State Medical License 2020 - 2025
NC State Medical License 2020 - 2022
American Board of Internal Medicine Medical Oncology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AΩA)
Blue Faery Award for Excellence in Liver Cancer Research Blue Faery, 2018
Alpha Omega Alpha American University of Beirut Chapter, 2016
Distinguished Alumnus Award for Outstanding Stature and Professional Attainment in Education, Research, and Innovation Worldwide Alumni Association of the American University of Beirut, 2016
Best Poster Award European Society of Medical Oncology, 2008
Scholarship, Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research AACR/ASCO, 2000
Award for Excellence in Research, Best Abstract by a Fellow American Federation of Clinical Research, 1994
First Prize, Science Context American University of Beirut, 1988
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Clinical Trials

Irinotecan and Flavopiridol in Treating Patients With Advanced Liver Cancer Start of enrollment: 2004 Jun 01
Completed
Phase 2
IMC-A12 in Treating Patients With Advanced Liver Cancer Start of enrollment: 2008 Mar 01
Completed
Phase 2
Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Plus Sorafenib in Patients With Advanced Biliary Tract Carcinomas Naive to Systemic Therapy Start of enrollment: 2009 Aug 01
Completed
Phase 2
Sorafenib Tosylate With or Without Doxorubicin Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Liver Cancer Start of enrollment: 2010 Feb 15
Completed
Phase 3
Ph 3 ADI-PEG 20 Versus Placebo in Subjects With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Who Have Failed Prior Systemic Therapy Start of enrollment: 2011 Jul 01
Completed
Phase 3
Study of (1) Everolimus, (2) Estrogen Deprivation Therapy (EDT) With Leuprolide + Letrozole and (3) Everolimus + EDT in Patients With Unresectable Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma (FLL-HCC) Start of enrollment: 2012 Jul 12
Completed
Phase 2
Sorafenib Plus Doxorubicin in Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Disease Progression on Sorafenib Start of enrollment: 2013 Apr 01
Active, not recruiting
Phase 2
Ph 1 Trial of ADI PEG 20 Plus Sorafenib to Treat Patients With Liver Cancer Start of enrollment: 2014 Nov 01
Completed
Phase 1
Ph 1-2 Study ADI-PEG 20 Plus FOLFOX in Subjects With Advanced GI Malignancies Focusing on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Start of enrollment: 2014 Nov 01
Terminated
Phase 1, Phase 2
A Phase II, Single Arm Study of BGJ398 in Patients With Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma Start of enrollment: 2014 Jul 23
Terminated
Phase 2
A Multi-center, Open-label Study of Oral ENMD-2076 for the Treatment of Patients With Advanced Fibrolamellar Carcinoma Start of enrollment: 2015 Oct 01
Completed
Phase 2
An Open-Label Safety and Tolerability Study of INCB062079 in Subjects With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Other Malignancies Start of enrollment: 2017 May 25
Terminated
Phase 1
YIV-906 (Formerly PHY906/KD018) With Sorafenib in HBV(+) Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Start of enrollment: 2020 Jan 10
Recruiting
Phase 2
National Translational Science Network of Precision-based Immunotherapy for Primary Liver Cancer Start of enrollment: 2021 Jul 28
RECRUITING
Roles: Contact
Electromagnetic Fields Versus Placebo For Child-Pugh A and B Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Start of enrollment: 2023 Jul 01
Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 3
Registry to Collect Health Information Related to Fibrolamellar Cancer Start of enrollment: 2021 Nov 24
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Roles: Principal Investigator, Contact
A Study to Test the Safety and Feasibility of Nivolumab With Drug Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization in Patients With Liver Cancer Start of enrollment: 2017 Apr 28
Active, not recruiting
Early Phase 1
Roles: Contact
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

ASO Visual Abstract: Adjuvant Cytotoxic Chemotherapy May Not Be Associated with a Survival Advantage for Resected Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.
Jeremy Sharib, Kristen E Rhodin, Annie Liu, Sarah McIntyre, Alex Bartholomew
Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2025-04-01
1 citations
Adjuvant Cytotoxic Chemotherapy may not be Associated with a Survival Advantage for Resected Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.
Jeremy Sharib, Kristen E Rhodin, Annie Liu, Sarah McIntyre, Alex Bartholomew
Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2025-04-01
Comparative effectiveness of immunotherapy versus lenvatinib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A real-world analysis using target trial emulation.
Joseph C Ahn, Wee Han Ng, Yee Hui Yeo, Hyun-Seok Kim, Yun Wang
Hepatology. 2025-03-28

Journal Articles

Trans-arterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: doxorubicin is not necessary
Karen T. Brown, Richard Kinh Do, Mithat Gonen, Anne M. Covey, George I. Getrajdman, Constintinos T. Sofocleous, William R. Jarnagin, Michael I. D�Angelica, Peter J. Al..., Translational Cancer Research, 1/1/2016
Making Sense of the Advances in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
El-Dika, I, Abou-Alfa, GK, Oncology & Hematology Review, 1/1/2015
Doxorubicin and Sorafenib in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Cracinoma
Abou-Alfa, GK, Capanu M, Saltz, L. In response to Pazo Cid, RA et al, JAMA, 1/23/2011
Phase II Randomized, Double-Blind Study of Doxorubicin plus Sorafenib and Doxorubicin plus Placebo in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Abou-Alfa, GK; Johnson, P; Knox, JK; Capanu, M; Davidenko, I; Lacava, J; Leung, T; Gansukh, B; Saltz, LB, Journal of the American Medical Association, 1/17/2010
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Books/Book Chapters

100 Questions and Answers About Gallbaldder and biliary cancers
Abou-Alfa, GK; O�Reilly, EMJones and Bartlett, Sudbury, MAEdition 2nd,2017
Abeloff's Clinical Oncology
Chapter: Liver and Bile Duct Cancer.
Abou-Alfa, GK, William Jarnagin, Maeve Lowery, Michael D�Angelica, Karen Brown, Emmy Ludwig, Anne Covey, Nancy Kemeny, Karyn A. Goodman, Jinru Shia, and Eileen M. O�...Editors: Abeloff, et al.Churchill Livingstone ElsevierEdition 5th,2013
100 Questions and Answers About Gallbaldder and biliary cancers
Abou-Alfa, GK; O�Reilly, EMJones and Bartlett, Sudbury, MAEdition 1st,2013
DX/RX Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Abou-Alfa, GK, Ang, CJones and Bartlett, Sudbury, MA2012
100 Questions and Answers About Liver Cancer
Abou-Alfa, GK; Dematteo, RJones and Bartlett, Sudbury, MAEdition 3rd,2012
Surgery of the Liver, Biliary Tract, and Pancreas
Chapter: Advances in systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Page 307 - 403Harding, JJ, Connell, LC, and Abou-Alfa, GKEditors: Blumgart, L.Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PAEdition 5th,2012
Surgery of the Liver, Biliary Tract, and Pancreas
Chapter: Advances in systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma
Page 1444 - 1452Abou-Alfa, GK; Saltz, LBEditors: Blumgart, L.Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PAEdition 5th,2012
Hepatocellular Carcinoma, A Multi-Disciplinary Approach
Chapter: Targeted Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Page 355 - 368Feilchenfeldt, JW; O�Reilly, EM; Albany, C; and Abou-Alfa, GKEditors: McMasters, KM and Vauthey, J-N.Springer, New York, NY2011
2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book
Chapter: Developing Drugs in Special Populations: Organ Dysfunction Studies. 2010 June 4-8; Chicago, Illinois
Abou-Alfa, GK, Mulkerin, D; and Huang, S-MAlexandria, VA2010
Malignant Liver Tumors, Current and Emerging Therapies.
Chapter: Novel therapies targeted at sinal transduction in liver tumors.
Page 382 - 392Huitzil-Melendez, DF; Abou-Alfa, GK; Morse, MAEditors: Clavien, P.Jones and Bartlett, Sudbury, MAEdition 3rd,2010
100 Questions and Answers About Liver Cancer
Abou-Alfa, GK; Dematteo, RJones and Bartlett, Sudbury, MAEdition 2nd,2009
Atlas of Cancer: Upper and Lower GI Tract Cancers volume
Chapter: Hepatobiliary Cancers.
Page 221 - 227Abou-Alfa, GK; Saltz, LBEditors: Markman, M..Springer2008
6Abeloff's Clinical Oncology
Chapter: Liver and Bile Duct Cancer.
S. Weber, W. Jarnagin, E.M. O'Reilly, A. Duffy, G.K. Abou-Alfa, L.H. BlumgartEditors: Abeloff, et al.Churchill Livingstone ElsevierEdition 4th,2008
Surgery of the Liver, Biliary Tract, and Pancreas
Chapter: Chemotherapy of liver tumors: Systemic Therapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Page 1307 - 1311Abou-Alfa, GK; Saltz, LBEditors: Blumgart, L.Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PAEdition 4th,2006
Surgery of the Liver, Biliary Tract, and Pancreas
Chapter: Chemotherapy of liver tumors: Systemic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Page 1298 - 1306Abou-Alfa, GK; Saltz, LBEditors: Blumgart, L.Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PAEdition 4th,2006
100 Questions and Answers About Liver Cancer
Abou-Alfa GKJones and Bartlett, Sudbury, MAEdition 1st,2004
Malignant Liver Tumors, Current and Emerging Therapies.
Chapter: New Small Molecules Therapy for Liver Tumors.
Page 307 - 314Abou-Alfa, GK; Morse, MAEditors: Clavien, P.Jones and Bartlett, Sudbury, MAEdition 2nd,2004
Clinical Oncology
Chapter: Liver and Bile Duct Cancer.
Page 1981 - 2013Weber, S; O'Reilly, E M; Abou-Alfa, GK; Blumgart, LEditors: Abeloff, M; Armitage, J; Lichter, A; and Niederhuber, J.Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia, PAEdition 3rd,2004
2004 American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book
Chapter: Current and Novel Therapeutics for Hepatocellular Carcinoma; 2004 June 4-9; New Orleans, Louisiana
Page 192 - 197Abou-Alfa GKAlexandria, VA2004
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Lectures

Association of adverse events (AEs) with efficacy outcomes for cabozantinib (C) in patients (pts) with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) in the phase III CELEST...
2019 ASCO Annual Meeting - 6/1/2019
HCC: Newer treatment options for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and Chemotherapy-resistant gastrointestinal malignancies particularly Hepatobiliary and pancreatic ...
Chennai, India - 1/24/2019
A randomized, multicenter phase 3 study of durvalumab (D) and tremelimumab (T) as first-line treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): HI...
2018 ASCO Annual Meeting - Chicago, Illinois - 06/3/2018
Cabozantinib (C) versus placebo (P) in patients (pts) with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have received prior sorafenib: Results from the randomized phase...
2018 ASCO Annual Meeting - Chicago, Illinois - 06/3/2018
HCC: Medical Oncologist's Perspective
Multiple Locations, 2015, 2016, 2018 - 1/26/2018
Hematology and Medical Oncology Board Review
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 - 1/1/2018
Improving Access and Quality of Healthcare in the Region
Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA - 1/31/2017
HCC: Systemic Treatment: Molecular Targeted Agents or Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
1/27/2017
Building Capacity, One Physician at a Time
Doha, Qatar - 1/22/2016
Towards Individualized Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Beaujon Hospital, Paris, France - 1/15/2014
Advances in systemic therapy for HCC
1/6/2014
Hepatocellular carcinoma & biliary cancers
Multiple Locations, 2010, 2013, 2014 - 1/1/2014
ILCA 2013 - International Liver Cancer Association Seventh Annual Conference
International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA), Washington, Dist Of Col - 9/13/2013
Hepatocellular Cancer: Clinical Heterogeneity and Treatment
Dublin, Ireland - 1/18/2013
An Update on Systemic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Cork, Ireland - 1/16/2013
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Enhancing clinical outcomes in HCC
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - 1/3/2013
The Ninth Annual Meeting of the International Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Arlington, Virginia - 9/13/2012
Hepatocellular carcinoma: strategies to integrate sorafenib and other novel therapeutics into locoregional treatment
The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom - 1/30/2011
How to Present Scientific Work
1/20/2009
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Multiple Locations, 2007, 2008, 2009 - 1/18/2009
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Other

How a cancer Patient Gives Back to Her Docto, on collaborative research development efforts between Bita Javadizadeh and Ghassan Abou-Alfa.
Abou-Alfa GK, Wall Street Journal
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-cancer-patient-gives-back-to-her-doctor-1476715884
1/17/2016
MSKCC's Ghassan Abou-Alfa discusses liver cancer new treatment options.
Abou-Alfa GK, LBCI
1/9/2014
MSKCC's Ghassan Abou-Alfa discusses causes of liver cancer and new treatment options.
Abou-Alfa GK, WCBS TV - Ch 2
1/8/2007
Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Stories
Abou-Alfa GK, ASCO, CancerPorgress.Net
http://www.cancerprogress.net/stories.html
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Press Mentions

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Showcases New Advancements in Cancer Care at Arab HealthJanuary 31st, 2025
The Role of TKIs in Hepatocellular CarcinomaNovember 22nd, 2022
Combination Treatment Approaches in Hepatocellular CarcinomaNovember 9th, 2022
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Professional Memberships

American Society of Clinical Oncology - ASCO
Member
European Society of Medical Oncology-ESMO
Member
International Society of Gastronintestinal Oncology
President-Elect

Other Languages

French, Arabic