DavidGorskiMD, PhD, FACS

Breast, Surgical Oncology (Other than Breast)

Professor of Surgery and Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine; Medical Director, Alexander J. Walt Breast Center, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center

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Office
4100 John R St
Karmanos Cancer Center
Detroit, MI 48201
Phone+1 800-527-6266

Fax+1 313-993-8669

Summary

I am an academic surgical oncologist specializing in breast surgery. I run my own laboratory, in which I study glutamate signaling as a therapeutic target in triple negative breast cancer, tumor angiogenesis, and the contribution of microRNAs to breast cancer progression. I have been funded by the Department of Defense, the NIH, the Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.. Currently, I am the chief of the Breast Surgery Section at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the medical director of the Alexander J. Walt Comprehensive Breast Center.

Clinical Expertise

Homeodomain Proteins, Mice, Inbred C57BL Mice, Pathologic Neovascularization, Vascular Endothelium, Homeobox Genes, Antineoplastic Agents, Breast surgery, Surgical oncology (non-breast), Clinical research, Clinical protocols, Computer-assisted image processing, Molecular biology, Molecular therapy, Triple-negative breast cancer, Breast cancer, Inflammatory breast cancer, Invasive epithelial breast cancers, Breast disorders, Breast adenoma, Breast health, Complex sclerosing breast lesions, Hypertension

Education & Training

University of ChicagoFellowship, Complex General Surgical Oncology, 1996 - 1998
Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterResidency, Surgery, 1988 - 1996
Case Western Reserve UniversityPHD, Cellular Physiology, 1994
Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterInternship, Surgery, 1988 - 1989
University of Michigan Medical SchoolClass of 1988
University of MichiganBS, Chemistry, 1984

Certifications & Licensure

MI State Medical License 2008 - 2025
OH State Medical License 1990 - 2023
NJ State Medical License 1999 - 2009
IL State Medical License 1996 - 1999
American Board of Surgery Surgery

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

American Society of Clinical Oncology Advanced Clinical Research 2007
MetroHealth Medical Center Resident Research 1994
Graduation with Honors and High Distinction in Chemistry 1984
Sophomore Honors 1982
Branstrom Freshman Prize 1981
Michigan Legislative Merit 1980
Fellow (FACS) American College of Surgeons
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Clinical Trials

Riluzole in Women With Stage I, Stage II, or Stage IIIA Breast Cancer Start of enrollment: 2009 May 01
Withdrawn
Phase 1
Targeted T Cells After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Treating Women With Stage II or III Breast Cancer Undergoing Surgery Start of enrollment: 2010 Jul 01
Terminated
Phase 2

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

20 citations
Racial Differences in 21-Gene Recurrence Scores Among Patients With Hormone Receptor–Positive, Node-Negative Breast Cancer
Andreana N. Holowatyj, Michele L. Cote, Julie J. Ruterbusch, Kristina Ghanem, Ann G. Schwartz
Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2018-01-17
715 citations
Blockade of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Stress Response Increases the Antitumor Effects of Ionizing Radiation
David H. Gorski, Michael A. Beckett, Nora Jaskowiak, Douglas P. Calvin, Helena J. Mauceri
Cancer Research. 1999-07-15
73 citations
Detection of B-RAF and N-RAS mutations in human melanoma
James S. Goydos, Barbara Mann, Hyunjin Jane Kim, Emmanuel Gabriel, Janivette Alsina
Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2005-03-01

Journal Articles

Level of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) correlates with stage of local/regional progression in patients with melanoma.
Goydos, J. S., and D. H. Gorski, Clin. Cancer Res. 9:5962-5967
Detection of mutations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in human melanoma.
Alsina, J., D. H. Gorski, F. J. Germino, W. Shih, S.-E. Lu, Z.-G. Zhang, J.-M. Yang, W. N. Hait, and J. S. Goydos, Clin. Cancer Res. 9:6419-6425
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor-1: A potential therapeutic target for the treatment of breast cancer.
Speyer, C. L., J. S. Smith, M. Banda, T. Mekani, J. A. deVries, and D. H. Gorski, Breast Cancer Treat. Res.132:565-573
Metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 as a novel target for the antiangiogenic treatment of breast cancer.
Speyer, C. L., A. Hachem, A. Assi, J. A. DeVries, and D. H. Gorski, Angiogenesis
Metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 signaling is oncogenic in triple negative breast cancer.
Banda, M, C. L. Speyer, S. N. Semma, K. Osuala, H. J. Kim, N. Kounalakis, K. E. Torres Torres, N. Barnard, B. F. Sloane, F. R. Miller, J. S. Goydos, and D. H. Gorski, PLoS ONE
Integrative oncology: Improving patient care or diluting the scientific basis of cancer care?
Gorski, D. H, Nature Rev. Cancer
When to refer to the breast surgeon in primary care practice.
Kosir, M. A., K. Bland, L. Choi, D. H. Gorski, M. S. Simon, and L. A. Chism, Advance
Null findings for a biofield energy study do not justify a call for further research.
Coyne, J. C., C. Johansen, and D.H. Gorski, Cancer 118:4635-6; author reply 4636-7. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.27415
The homeobox gene Gax induces p21 expression and inhibits vascular endothelial cell activation.
Gorski, D. H, Ann. Surg. Oncol. 9:S42
Differential expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms at different stages of melanoma progression.
Gorski, D. H., and J. S. Goydos, J. Am. Coll. Surg. 195:S63
Inhibition of endothelial cell activation and angiogenesis by the homeobox gene Gax is associated with downregulation of nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B)-dependent gene expre...
Patel, S., and D. H. Gorski, Proc. Amer. Assoc. Cancer Res.45:77
The role of the growth arrest-specific homeobox gene Gax in inhibiting angiogenesis and nuclear factor-?B signaling.
Patel, S., Y. Chen, H. Sohail, A. D. Leal, and D. H. Gorski, J. Surg. Res. 130:162-163
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Books/Book Chapters

Gene Therapy of Cancer: Translational Approaches from Preclinical Studies to Clinical Implementation.
Chapter: Strategies for combining gene therapy with ionizing radiation to improve antitumor efficacy
Gorski, D. H., H. J. Mauceri, and R. R. WeichselbaumEditors: Lattime, E.C., and S. L. Gerson.Academic Press, San DiegoEdition 2,

Abstracts/Posters

The incidence of activating MAPK point mutations in human melanoma.
Alsina, J., D. H. Gorski, F. J. Germino, and J. S. Goydos, American Association for Cancer Research Meeting, Washington, D.C
Improved tumor response of esophageal adenocarcinoma to combined treatment with anti-VEGF antibody and radiation.
N. Jaskowiak, D. Gorski, R. Salloum, H. Mauceri, S. Seetharam, R. Weichselbaum, M. Posner, The Society of Surgical Oncology Meeting, New Orleans, LA
A new isocoumarin, NM3, selectively inhibits endothelial cell growth in vitro.
R. Salloum, H. Mauceri, N. Jaskowiak, D. Gorski, S. Seetharam, D. Hari, M. Posner, D. Kufe, R. Weichselbaum, The Society of Surgical Oncology Meeting, New Orleans, LA
The growth arrest-specific homeobox gene Gax: A potential negative regulator of angiogenesis.
D. Gorski, The Society of Surgical Oncology Meeting, Washington, D.C
Gax: A growth arrest-specific homeobox transcription factor that inhibits VEGF-induced proliferation and tube formation in endothelial cells.
D. Gorski, American Association for Cancer Research Meeting, New Orleans, LA
Negative regulation of angiogenesis by a growth arrest-specific homeobox gene.
D. Gorski, Association for Academic Surgery Meeting, Milwaukee, WI
The homeobox gene Gax induces p21 expression and inhibits vascular endothelial cell activation.
D. Gorski, The Society of Surgical Oncology Meeting, Denver, CO
The growth arrest-specific homeobox gene Gax blocks cell cycle progression and migration and induces p21 expression in vascular endothelial cells.
D. Gorski and A. Leal, American Association for Cancer Research Meeting, San Francisco, CA
Differential expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms at different stages of melanoma progression.
D. Gorski, Surgical Forum, American College of Surgeons Meeting, San Francisco, CA
The level of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) expression correlates with lymphatic density and stage of progression in patients with melanoma
D. Gorski and J. Goydos, American Association for Cancer Research Meeting, Washington, D.C
Angiostatin and ionizing radiation suppress lung metastases in Lewis Lung carcinoma.
D. H. Gorski, H. Mauceri, R. R. Weichselbaum, The Society of Surgical Oncology Meeting, New Orleans, LA
Detection of Mutations in the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Pathway in Human Melanoma.
Alsina, J., D. H. Gorski, F. J. Germino, W. Shih, S. Lu, Z. Zhang, J. Yang, W. N. Hait, and J. S. Goydos, Surgical Forum (Oncology). American College of Surgeons Meeting, Chicago, IL
Inhibition of endothelial cell activation and angiogenesis by the homeobox gene Gax is associated with downregulation of nuclear factor ?B (NF-?B)-dependent gene expre...
Patel, S., and D. H. Gorski, American Association for Cancer Research Meeting, Orlando, FL
Inhibition of endothelial cell activation and angiogenesis by the homeobox gene Gax is associated with downregulation of nuclear factor? B (NF-?B)-dependent gene expre...
Patel, S., A. Leal, and D. H. Gorski, Plenary Session, Society of Surgical Oncology Meeting, Atlanta, GA
The role of the growth arrest-specific homeobox gene Gax in inhibiting angiogenesis and nuclear factor-? B signaling.
Patel, S., Y. Chen, H. Sohail, A. D. Leal, and D. H. Gorski, J. Surg. Res. 130:162-163, Association for Academic Surgery Plenary Session, Academic Surgical Congress, San Diego, CA
Metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in breast cancer and melanoma.
Goydos, J. S., D. H. Gorski, S. R. Schell, J. Namkoong, and S. Chen, J. Surg. Res. 130:163, Academic Surgical Congress, San Diego, CA
Elevated metabotropic glutamate receptor expression: A novel finding in invasive breast cancer.
Gorski, D. H., S. R. Schell, N. Kounalakis, K. Torres, N. J. Barnard, J. S. Goydos, and S. Chen, J. Surg. Res. 130:164, Academic Surgical Congress, San Diego, CA
“Breast Abscesses,” given as part of a minicourse, “When to Call the Breast Surgeon: Empowering the Primary Care Provider.
Gorski, D. H, Michigan Medical Society, Troy, MI
The antiangiogenic homeobox gene Gax activates p21WAF1/CIP1 expression in vascular endothelial cells through interaction with upstream AT-rich sequences.
Chen, Y., and D. H. Gorski, Society of University Surgeons, Academic Surgical Conference, Phoenix, AZ
The role of metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 in breast cancer progression.
Speyer, C. L., M. Banda, J. Smith, and D. H. Gorski, 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 18-21; Washington, DC
The level of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) expression correlates with lymphatic density and stage of progression in patients with melanoma.
Gorski, D. H., and J. S. Goydos, Proc. Amer. Assoc. Cancer Res. (1st Ed.) 44:2054
The incidence of activating MAPK point mutations in human melanoma.
Alsina, J., D. H. Gorski, F. J. Germino, and J. S. Goydos, Proc. Amer. Assoc. Cancer Res. (1st Ed.) 44:LB141
The frequency of MAPK mutations differs by level of progression of melanoma.
Goydos, J. S., J. Alsina, and D. H. Gorski, J. Am. Coll. Surg. 197:S84
Metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in breast cancer and melanoma.
Goydos, J. S., D. H. Gorski, S. R. Schell, J. Namkoong, and S. Chen, J. Surg. Res. 130:163
Elevated metabotropic glutamate receptor expression: A novel finding in invasive breast cancer.
Gorski, D. H., S. R. Schell, N. Kounalakis, K. Torres, N. J. Barnard, J. S. Goydos, and S. Chen, J. Surg. Res. 130:164
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Lectures

Integrative Medicine.
The Amazing Meeting, Las Vegas
Clinical breast cancer for basic scientists.
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
A skeptical look at “complementary and alternative medicine” and “integrative medicine.
Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL
Targeting glutamatergic signaling in triple negative breast cancer.
Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
The blind spot of evidence-based medicine.
Galileo’s Legacy Conference, Missouri Western State University
Case studies in cancer quackery: Testimonials, anecdotes, and pseudoscience.
Science-Based Medicine Conference, Las Vegas, NV
The infiltration of pseudoscience into medicine.
2nd Annual Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism (NECSS), New York, NY
Quackademic medicine: An online wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Science-Based Medicine Workshop: How to find health information on the Internet, Las Vegas, NV
Quackademic medicine: The infiltration of pseudoscience into medicine.
Joint meeting of the Center for Inquiry-Chicago, Chicago
Cancer quackery: Testimonials, anecdotes, and pseudoscience.
Office for Science and Society, McGill University, Montreal, ON, Canada
Alternative medicine and quackery.
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Toxins.
Recurring Themes in Medical Mythology, Las Vegas, NV
Placebo Medicine: The Ethics and Mechanisms of the Mysterious Placebo.
The Amazing Meeting, Las Vegas
Cancer: Dr. Google and Mr. Hyde.
The Amazing Meeting, Las Vegas
The infiltration of pseudoscience into medicine.
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Alternative medicine.
Ann Arbor Science and Skeptics
Quackademic Medicine: How pseudoscience is infiltrating medical academia.
CSICon, Nashville, TN
Dr. Google and Mr. Hyde.
MDCSS Conference, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
The Daniel Hauser chemotherapy refusal case.
The World Tonight with Rob Breakenridge; CHQR AM 770
Celebrity health myths and Oprah Winfrey.
NYU Langone Medical Center's Doctor Radio, Sirius channel 114, XM 119
Pseudoscience promoted on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Radio interview on Sunday House Call with Barry Dworkin, MD; 580 AM CFRA News
Various issues in quackery and pseudoscience in medicine.
News Talk Radio CJAD 1010 AM Montreal
Breast cancer, nutrition, and prevention.
The Warren Pierce Show, Newstalk WJR 760 AM Detroit
Skepticism, pseudoscience, and quackery.
News Talk Radio CJAD 1010 AM Montreal
Various issues in quackery and pseudoscience in medicine; breast cancer and mammography.
News Talk Radio CJAD 1010 AM Montreal
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Other

Growth Arrest Homeobox Gene.
Kenneth Walsh and David H. Gorski, U. S. Patent no. 5,856,121
Mercury in vaccines as a cause of autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs): A failed hypothesis.
Gorski, D. H, Sci. Rev. Alt. Med. 11:23-28
Disputing Seven Deadly Medical Hypotheses.
Gorski, D. H, Skeptical Inquirer 35:55
Complementary therapies in radiation oncology: Mixing cow pie with apple pie?
Gorski, D. H, FACT
Review of Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure.
Gorski, D. H, Sci. Rev. Alt. Med. 11: 47-49
The ‘Oprah-fication’ of Medicine.
Gorski, DH, Toronto Star, Insight Section, June 7, 2009; pp 1-2
Proving provings?
Gorski, DH, The Skeptic 32(2):22-24
Vaccines.
Gorski, DH, Radio interview on Skeptically Speaking, CJSR 88.5 FM, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
http://skepticallyspeaking.ca
So-Called Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Gorski DH, Podcast interview on For Good Reason
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
Gorski DH, Television interview on FOX 2 Detroit News
The C Word.
Gorski DH, Radio interview on Skeptically Speaking, CJSR 88.5 FM, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
http://skepticallyspeaking.ca
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Authored Content

We Are Not “Losing the War on Cancer”January 2020

Press Mentions

Antivax as Ideology: “Limited Hangouts” Run by “Controlled Opposition”October 7th, 2024
The NCCIH Embraces the Quackery That Is “Functional Medicine”September 30th, 2024
Column: This GOP-Leaning Political Polling Firm Has Turned into a Purveyor of Anti-Vaccine PropagandaJune 19th, 2024
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Grant Support

Repurposing a riluzole, a nontoxic drug for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, to treat triple negative breast cancer (supplement)DMC Foundation2016–2017
Repurposing a drug for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to treat triple negative breast cancerDepartment of Defense2015–2017
Glutamate signaling: A therapeutic target in cancerBayer Healthcare Grants4Targets2011–2012
Metabotropic glutamate receptor-1: Validation of a serendipitously discovered molecular target for breast cancer treatmentConquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO2007–2010
Mechanism of angiogenesis inhibition by a homeobox geneNational Cancer Institute2005–2010
Inhibition of breast cancer-induced angiogenesis by a diverged homeobox geneDepartment of Defense2003–2006
The Growth Arrest-Specific Homeobox Gene Gax in CancerNew Jersey Commission on Cancer Research2000–2002

Committees

Member, Promotion and Tenure Committee, Department of Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine 2016 - Present
Member, Interdisciplinary Research Committee, Wayne State University School of Medicine 2012 - Present
Member, Research Development Committee, Wayne State University School of Medicine 2010 - Present
Co-Chair, Cancer Committee, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute 2012 - 2017
Co-Chair, Executive Committee, Michigan Breast Oncology Quality Initiative 2012 - 2016
Member, Medical Executive Committee, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute 2010 - 2012
Member, Scientific Leadership Council, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute 2008 - 2012

Research History

Co-Leader, Breast Cancer Biology Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute2010 - 2012
Leader, Breast Cancer Biology Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute2008 - 2010