Dan Theodorescu MD PhD

Summary

• Theodorescu has emerged as an international leader in bladder cancer research. His pioneering application of computational biology led to the discovery of genes that drive bladder and other cancers, while providing novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets and the foundations for personalized/precision therapeutic approaches such as the Molecular Twin Precision Oncology Platform (MT-POP) and the COXEN principle. He has led the discovery and development of a “first in class” RalGTPase inhibitor as a new therapeutic in several human cancer types. He has identified approaches that define effective combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors and led the team that discovered a new subtype of bladder cancer called CDH12/C3, whose presence in the tumor is associated with chemotherapy resistance yet favorable response to checkpoint inhibitors. Recently, his lab was the first to demonstrate that loss of the Y chromosome in cancer makes tumors more aggressive by allowing them to evade the immune system. His experience as a surgeon, in biotech, academic administration and in interactions with elected officials has provided him with insights on how relationships between medical staff, academic, governmental, and commercial entities can be crafted to further improve local, regional and national health care. Theodorescu is a founding co-editor in chief of Bladder Cancer, the first journal focused on this disease.