Nai-KongCheungMDPhD

Pediatric Hematology & Oncology • New York, NY

Enid A. Haupt Chair in Pediatric Oncology, Member and Attending, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Overview of Dr. Cheung

Nai-Kong V. Cheung is a pediatric oncologist and cancer researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York, specializing in immunologic approaches for diagnosing and treating pediatric cancers. He received from Harvard Medical School his MD degree, as well as PhD degree in immunology, where he studied suppressor T cells and B cell tolerance under the mentorship of Dr. Baruj Benacerraf, the 1980 Nobel laureate in Medicine. Upon completing his pediatric training in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Stanford University Medical Center, he has devoted his entire career to translational science, with a clinical focus on neuro-blastoma, and a research focus on antibody-based therapies. Over three decades at MSK, he has developed from bench to the bedside several monoclonal antibodies, including 3F8 and its humanized form (hu3F8, Naxitamab) specific for ganglioside GD2, and 8H9 (Omburtamab) specific for B7-H3. For high-risk metastatic neuroblastoma, patient survival has steadily improved as 3F8 was successfully applied to eradicate bone marrow metastases, and 8H9 to salvage CNS relapse. Naxitamab received FDA breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) in 2017 while Omburtamab (Burtomab) received BTD in 2018. Both drugs have been licensed to Y-mabs Inc. for further clinical development. He has developed immunocytology and molecular methods to measure minimal residual disease in neuroblastoma, which also serve as tools to evaluate adjuvant antibody-based strategies. In recent years, he has focused his lab on humanization, target discovery, novel antibody platforms to redirect T cells or radioisotopes, and antibody vaccines for curative applications in the clinic. He has filed a total of 35 patents (either approved or pending approval) and assembled a highly coordinated translational team made up of PhD researchers, MDs, and nurses to bring antibody-based biologics from blueprint to the bedside in accelerated timelines for orphan diseases.

Office
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10065
Book by Phone+1(786) 574-3644

Education & Training

Stanford Health Care-Sponsored Stanford UniversityFellowship, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 1980 - 1982
Stanford Health Care-Sponsored Stanford UniversityResidency, Pediatrics, 1978 - 1980
Harvard Medical SchoolPhD, 1974 - 1978
Harvard Medical SchoolClass of 1978

Certifications & Licensure

CA State Medical License 1979 - Present
NY State Medical License 1987 - 2025
OH State Medical License 1982 - 1988
American Board of Pediatrics Pediatrics

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

America's Top Doctors Castle Connolly, 2012-2017
America's Top Doctors for Cancer Castle Connolly, 2011-2017
Top Doctors: New York Metro Area Castle Connolly, 2012-2014, 2017

Clinical Trials

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Children With Metastatic Neuroblastoma in Second Remission Start of enrollment: 1987 Nov 01
Completed
Phase 2
Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Plus Sargramostin in Treating Patients With Advanced Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 1994 Feb 01
Completed
Phase 2
Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Immunotherapy, and Bone Marrow Transplantation in Treating Patients With Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 1995 Feb 01
Completed
Phase 2
Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Leptomeningeal Cancer Start of enrollment: 1997 Apr 01
Completed
Phase 1
Monoclonal Antibody A1G4 Plus BCG in Treating Patients With Cancer Start of enrollment: 1997 Mar 01
Completed
Phase 1
Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Plus Etoposide in Treating Patients With Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 1999 Aug 01
Completed
Phase 2
Beta-Glucan and Monoclonal Antibody in Treating Patients With Metastatic Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2001 Nov 01
Completed
Phase 1
Multiple Therapies in Treating Patients With Advanced Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2000 Jun 01
Completed
Phase 2
Intrathecal Radioimmunotherapy, Radiation Therapy, and Chemotherapy After Surgery in Treating Patients With Medulloblastoma Start of enrollment: 2003 Feb 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Monoclonal Antibody 3F8 and Sargramostim in Treating Patients With Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2003 Jul 01
Completed
Phase 2
Beta-Glucan and Rituximab in Treating Young Patients With Relapsed or Progressive Lymphoma or Leukemia, or Lymphoproliferative Disorder Related to Donor Stem Cell Transplantation Start of enrollment: 2004 May 01
Terminated
Phase 1
Radiolabeled MAB Therapy in Patients With Refractory, Recurrent, or Advanced CNS or Leptomeningeal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2004 Feb 05
Terminated
Phase 1
Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Neuroblastoma That Has Not Responded to Previous Treatment Start of enrollment: 2004 Jul 01
Completed
Phase 2
Intravitreal Long Acting Gas in the Prevention of Early Postoperative Vitreous Hemorrhage in Diabetic Vitrectomy Start of enrollment: 2004 Sep 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Iodine I 131 Monoclonal Antibody 3F8 in Treating Patients With Central Nervous System Cancer or Leptomeningeal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2006 Jan 01
Completed
Phase 2
Monoclonal Antibody 3F8 and GM-CSF in Treating Young Patients With High-Risk, Refractory or Relapsed Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2005 Jun 01
Completed
Phase 1
Iodine I 131 Monoclonal Antibody 3F8 and Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2006 Aug 01
Completed
Phase 1
Pneumatic Retinopexy Versus Vitrectomy With Gas for Retinal Detachment Due to Myopic Macular Hole Start of enrollment: 2005 Jan 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Beta-Glucan and Monoclonal Antibody 3F8 in Treating Patients With Metastatic Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2005 Sep 09
Completed
Phase 1
Tumor Detection Using Iodine-131-Labeled Monoclonal Antibody 8H9 Start of enrollment: 2001 Oct 01
Terminated
Not Applicable
Molecular Characterization of Neuroblastic Tumor: Correlation With Clinical Outcome Start of enrollment: 2000 Sep 26
Recruiting
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Treatment of Patients With Fanconi Anemia Lacking a Genotypically Identical Donor, Using Total Body Irradiation, Cyclophosphamide and Fludarabine Start of enrollment: 2001 Jun 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab and Gas for Diabetic Premacular Hemorrhage With Active Fibrovascular Proliferation Start of enrollment: 2007 Jan 01
Unknown status
Not Applicable
Anti-GD2 3F8 Antibody and Allogeneic Natural Killer Cells for High-Risk Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2009 Apr 02
Completed
Phase 1
Bivalent Vaccine With Escalating Doses of the Immunological Adjuvant OPT-821, in Combination With Oral β-glucan for High-Risk Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2009 May 27
Active, not recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2
Therapy to Treat Ewing's Sarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma or Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2007 Jun 02
Completed
Phase 1, Phase 2
A Study of MAb-3F8 Plus Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) Versus 13-cis-Retinoic Acid (RA) Plus GM-CSF in Primary Refractory Neuroblastoma Patients Start of enrollment: 2009 Aug 01
Terminated
Phase 2
Protocol for RCT of Posturing in Phacovitrectomy for Full Thickness Macular Hole (FTMH) Start of enrollment: 2008 Sep 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Intraperitoneal RIT With 131I-8H9 for Pts With DSRCT and Other Solid Tumors Involving the Peritoneum Start of enrollment: 2010 Apr 01
Terminated
Phase 1
High-Dose 3F8/GM-CSF Immunotherapy Plus 13-Cis-Retinoic Acid for Consolidation of First Remission After Myeloablative Therapy and Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation Start of enrollment: 2010 Aug 01
Completed
Phase 2
3F8/GM-CSF Immunotherapy Plus 13-Cis-Retinoic Acid for Consolidation of First Remission After Non-Myeloablative Therapy in Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2010 Aug 12
Completed
Phase 2
3F8/GM-CSF Immunotherapy Plus 13-Cis-Retinoic Acid for Consolidation of Second or Greater Remission of High-Risk Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2010 Aug 01
Terminated
Phase 2
3F8/GM-CSF Immunotherapy Plus 13-Cis-Retinoic Acid for Primary Refractory Neuroblastoma in Bone Marrow Start of enrollment: 2010 Aug 12
Completed
Phase 2
Intravitreal Ranibizumab in Exudative Age-related Macular Degeneration With Posterior Vitreomacular Adhesion Start of enrollment: 2011 Feb 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Humanized 3F8 Monoclonal Antibody (Hu3F8) in Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma and GD2-Positive Tumors Start of enrollment: 2011 Aug 15
Completed
Phase 1
Convection-Enhanced Delivery of 124I-Omburtamab for Patients With Non-Progressive Diffuse Pontine Gliomas Previously Treated With External Beam Radiation Therapy Start of enrollment: 2011 Dec 01
Completed
Phase 1
Humanized 3F8 Monoclonal Antibody (Hu3F8) When Combined With Interleukin-2 in Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma and GD2-positive Solid Tumors Start of enrollment: 2012 Aug 06
Completed
Phase 1
Combination Therapy of Antibody Hu3F8 With Granulocyte- Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory High-Risk Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2012 Dec 01
Active, not recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2
Intravitreal tPA and C3F8 for the Treatment of Submacular Haemorrhage as a Complication of Neovascular AMD Start of enrollment: 2014 Sep 01
Completed
Phase 2, Phase 3
The Effect of Glaucoma Drops on of the Duration of a Pure Intraocular Gas Bubble Start of enrollment: 2011 Jun 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Impact of C3F8 or SF6 Use and Length of Face-down Positioning (7 vs 14 Days Respectively) in Macular Hole Surgery Start of enrollment: 2010 Jan 01
Completed
Not Applicable
The Intravitreal Autologous Platelet Concentrate Injection as an Adjunct of Vitrectomy for the Treatment of Refractory Macular Holes Start of enrollment: 2013 Dec 01
Unknown status
Not Applicable
Anti-GD2 3F8 Monoclonal Antibody and GM-CSF for High-Risk Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2014 Mar 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Activated T Cells Armed With GD2 Bispecific Antibody in Children and Young Adults With Neuroblastoma and Osteosarcoma Start of enrollment: 2014 Nov 01
Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2
Bevacizumab Against Recurrent Retinal Detachment Start of enrollment: 2015 Jan 21
Completed
Phase 2
PET Imaging of Solid Tumors Using 124I-Humanized 3F8: A Pilot Study Start of enrollment: 2014 Nov 01
Active, not recruiting
Not Applicable
Humanized Monoclonal Antibody 3F8 (Hu3F8) With Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) in the Treatment of Recurrent Osteosarcoma Start of enrollment: 2015 Jul 01
Active, not recruiting
Phase 2
Humanized Anti-GD2 Antibody Hu3F8 and Allogeneic Natural Killer Cells for High-Risk Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2016 Jan 01
Active, not recruiting
Phase 1
Effects of Macular Buckle Versus Vitrectomy on Macular Schisis and Macular Detachment in Highly Myopic Eyes Start of enrollment: 2015 Apr 01
Completed
Not Applicable
A Study of the Effect of Hu3F8/GM-CSF Immunotherapy Plus Isotretinoin in Patients in First Remission of High-Risk Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2017 Jan 23
Active, not recruiting
Phase 2
Study of Chemoimmunotherapy for High-Risk Neuroblastoma Start of enrollment: 2017 Jun 12
Active, not recruiting
Early Phase 1
131I-omburtamab Radioimmunotherapy for Neuroblastoma Central Nervous System/Leptomeningeal Metastases Start of enrollment: 2018 Dec 11
Terminated
Phase 2, Phase 3
Naxitamab for High-Risk Neuroblastoma Patients With Primary Refractory Disease or Incomplete Response to Salvage Treatment in Bone and/or Bone Marrow Start of enrollment: 2018 Apr 03
Recruiting
Phase 2
Effects of Macular Buckle Versus Vitrectomy on Macular Hole and Macular Detachment in Highly Myopic Eyes Start of enrollment: 2018 Jan 30
Completed
Not Applicable
Comparison of 129Xe MRI With 19F MRI in CF Lung Disease Start of enrollment: 2018 May 29
Completed
Early Phase 1
19F MRI to Evaluate Regional Ventilation in Healthy Subjects and Subjects With Cystic Fibrosis Start of enrollment: 2015 Jul 01
Completed
Early Phase 1
19F MRI of Ventilation in Subjects With Cystic Fibrosis Undergoing Treatment for Pulmonary Exacerbation Start of enrollment: 2015 Aug 25
Terminated
Early Phase 1
Effects of Pneumatic Vitreolysis on Vitreomacular Traction Start of enrollment: 2018 Oct 16
Completed
Phase 3
Silicone Oil Versus Gas in PDR Patients Undergoing Vitrectomy Start of enrollment: 2018 Sep 04
Completed
Not Applicable
Effects of Pneumatic Vitreolysis on Macular Hole Start of enrollment: 2018 Nov 14
Completed
Not Applicable
Head Positioning After Retina Detachment Repair Start of enrollment: 2019 Apr 08
Recruiting
Not Applicable
Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Humanized 3F8 Bispecific Antibody (Hu3F8-BsAb) in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Neuroblastoma, Osteosarcoma and Other Solid Tumor Cancers Start of enrollment: 2019 Feb 22
Terminated
Phase 1, Phase 2
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

104 citations
Complement-Mediated Mechanisms in Anti-GD2 Monoclonal Antibody Therapy of Murine Metastatic Cancer
Masaki Imai, Charles N. Landen, Rieko Ohta, Nai-Kong V. Cheung, Stephen Tomlinson
Cancer Research. 2005-11-15
133 citations
Monoclonal antibody 8H9 targets a novel cell surface antigen expressed by a wide spectrum of human solid tumors.
Shakeel Modak, Kim Kramer, S. H. Gultekin, Hong-fen Guo, N.-K. V. Cheung
Cancer Research. 2001-05-15
314 citations
Association of Age at Diagnosis and Genetic Mutations in Patients With Neuroblastoma
Nai-Kong V. Cheung, Jinghui Zhang, Charles Lu, Matthew Parker, Armita Bahrami
JAMA. 2012-03-14

Abstracts/Posters

PD-L1 Checkpoint Blockade Augments Anti-Tumor Immune Response of GD2 or HER2-Bsab Ex Vivo Armed T-Cells (EVAT) Therapy in Osteosarcoma
Nai-Kong V. Cheung, 61st Annual American Society of Hematology Meeting, Orlando, FL, 12/9/2019

Grant Support

Phase I Study Of Humanized 3F8 Monoclonal Antibody (HU3F8) In Patients With High-National Cancer Institute2011
Modulation By Botanicals Of Antibody Based Cancer ImmunotherapyNational Center For Complementary &Alternative Medicine2007–2009
Project 4National Cancer Institute2005–2009
A Novel SET Of Molecular Markers To Measure Metastatic NeuroblastomaNational Cancer Institute2006–2007
Modulation By Botanicals Of Antibody Based Cancer ImmunoNational Center For Complementary &Alternative Medicine2005–2006
Beta Glucan Enhances Antibody Therapy For NeuroblastomaNational Cancer Institute2002–2003
Novel Tumor Antigen For Antibody TargetingNational Cancer Institute2000–2001
Novel Combination Therapy Of NeuroblastomaNational Cancer Institute1998–2000
Novel Combination Therapy Of Stage IV NeuroblastomaNational Cancer Institute1993–1995
Monocyte Rhmcsf And Antibodies In Cancer TreatmentNational Cancer Institute1992–1993
Monocyte Rhmcsf And Antibodies In Cancer TreatmentNational Cancer Institute1991
Neuroblastoma Antibodies For Diagnosis And TreatmentNational Cancer Institute1987–1988
Neuroblastoma Antibodies For Diagnosis And TreatmentNational Cancer Institute1985–1986