Nabil F Saba MD

Head & Neck Cancer

Professor and Vice Chair, Lynne and Howard Halpern Chair in HNCA research, Director of the Head and Neck Oncology, Emory University

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1365 Clifton Rd NeAtlanta, GA 30322
Phone+1 404-778-1900

Education & Training

University of TorontoFellowship, Stem cell transplantation , 1998 - 1999
Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University HealthFellowship, Hematology and Medical Oncology, 1994 - 1997
Mass General Brigham/Brigham and Women's HospitalResidency, Internal Medicine, 1992 - 1994
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and ClinicsResidency, Internal Medicine, 1990 - 1992
American University of Beirut Faculty of MedicineClass of 1990

Certifications & Licensure

GA State Medical License 2003 - 2025
MA State Medical License 1993 - 2004
MN State Medical License 1999 - 2004
RI State Medical License 1995 - 1996
American Board of Internal Medicine Medical Oncology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Atlanta Magazine: Top Doctors Castle Connolly, 2005, 2016
Distinguished Doctor Expert Network, 2015
Top Doctor Castle Connolly, 2011, 2014
Outstanding Contribution To Fellowship Program University of Minnesota, 2003
Fellow (FACP) American College of Physicians, 2002
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Clinical Trials

Chemotherapy With or Without Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Start of enrollment: 2008 Aug 08
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE3
Study of Cetuximab and Bevacizumab in Cancer of the Esophagus After Failure of Patient's First Therapy Start of enrollment: 2008 Oct 01
Withdrawn
Phase 2
Dasatinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors Start of enrollment: 2009 Mar 16
Completed
Phase 2
A Study of Carboplatin, Cetuximab and RAD001 in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Start of enrollment: 2011 Jan 01
Completed
Phase 1, Phase 2
Trial of XELOX Followed by Radiation Combined With Carboplatin and RAD001 for Esophageal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2012 Feb 01
Completed
Phase 1
A Phase Ib/II Study of BYL719 and Cetuximab in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Start of enrollment: 2012 Nov 12
Terminated
Phase 1, Phase 2
Chemotherapy Plus Cetuximab in Combination With VTX-2337 in Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Start of enrollment: 2013 Oct 14
Completed
Phase 2
Soy Isoflavone in Combination With Radiation Therapy and Cisplatin in SCC of the Head and Neck Start of enrollment: 2013 Nov 01
Completed
Phase 1
Trial of Nivolumab vs Therapy of Investigator's Choice in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Carcinoma (CheckMate 141) Start of enrollment: 2014 May 29
Completed
Phase 3
Pembrolizumab & Cabozantinib in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer Start of enrollment: 2018 Sep 18
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE2
Chemotherapy Before Surgery and Radiation Therapy or Surgery and Radiation Therapy Alone in Treating Patients With Nasal and Paranasal Sinus Cancer That Can Be Removed by Surgery Start of enrollment: 2019 Mar 12
RECRUITING
PHASE2
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy & Nivolumab for Recurrent or Second Primary Head & Neck Squamous Cell Cancer Start of enrollment: 2018 Jun 28
COMPLETED
PHASE2
Testing Immunotherapy Versus Observation in Patients With HPV Throat Cancer Start of enrollment: 2019 Aug 16
SUSPENDED
PHASE3
VX15/2503 in Combination with Ipilimumab or Nivolumab in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Start of enrollment: 2018 Nov 01
RECRUITING
PHASE1
Roles: Contact
Tolinapant and Radiation for Cisplatin-Ineligible, Previously Untreated, Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Start of enrollment: 2022 Feb 17
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
EARLY_PHASE1
Roles: Contact
Study of Induction Docetaxel, Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil Start of enrollment: 2006 Aug 01
Terminated
Phase 2
Study of Durvalumab Versus Placebo in Combination With Definitive Chemoradiation Therapy in Patient With ESCC Start of enrollment: 2020 Oct 19
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE3
Ganetespib Window of Opportunity Study in Head and Neck Cancers Start of enrollment: 2014 Dec 01
Terminated
Phase 1
A Study of Penpulimab (AK105) in the First-line Treatment of Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Start of enrollment: 2021 Aug 16
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE3
Phase II Study of Pre-Operative Chemotherapy in Patients With Resectable Local-Regional Carcinoma of Esophagus Start of enrollment: 1996 Jan 01
Terminated
Phase 2
Testing the Use of Investigational Drugs Atezolizumab and/or Bevacizumab With or Without Standard Chemotherapy in the Second-Line Treatment of Advanced-Stage Head and Neck Cancers Start of enrollment: 2023 Mar 13
RECRUITING
PHASE2, PHASE3
A Phase 1 Study in Patients with HPV16+ Recurrent/ Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Start of enrollment: 2019 Jul 30
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE1
The BURAN Study of Buparlisib in Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic HNSCC Start of enrollment: 2020 Dec 12
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE3
Testing the Addition of M3814 (Peposertib) to Radiation Therapy for Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Who Cannot Take Cisplatin Start of enrollment: 2021 Dec 20
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE1
Comparing Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) Biopsy With Standard Neck Dissection for Patients With Early-Stage Oral Cavity Cancer Start of enrollment: 2020 Sep 23
SUSPENDED
PHASE2, PHASE3
Radiation Therapy With Cisplatin or Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Oropharyngeal Cancer
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE3
De-intensified Radiation Therapy With Chemotherapy (Cisplatin) or Immunotherapy (Nivolumab) in Treating Patients With Early-Stage, HPV-Positive, Non-Smoking Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2019 Oct 09
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE2, PHASE3
Safety Testing of Adding Nivolumab to Chemotherapy in Patients With Intermediate and High-Risk Local-Regionally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Start of enrollment: 2016 Jun 01
Completed
Phase 1
Radiation Therapy, Paclitaxel, and Carboplatin With or Without Trastuzumab in Treating Patients With Esophageal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2011 Feb 14
Completed
Phase 3
Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Treating Patients With Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Surgery Start of enrollment: 2019 May 03
SUSPENDED
PHASE2, PHASE3
Efficacy and Safety Trial of ADU-S100 and Pembrolizumab in Head and Neck Cancer Start of enrollment: 2019 Aug 26
Terminated
Phase 2
Phase I Chemoprevention Trial With Green Tea Polyphenon E & Erlotinib in Patients With Premalignant Lesions of the Head & Neck Start of enrollment: 2010 Mar 01
Completed
Phase 1
Phase I/II Study of Chemoprevention With EGFR and COX-2 Inhibitor Start of enrollment: 2006 Oct 01
Completed
Phase 1, Phase 2
Radiation Therapy and Cisplatin With or Without Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer Start of enrollment: 2005 Nov 01
Completed
Phase 3
Durvalumab, Cetuximab and Radiotherapy in Head Neck Cancer Start of enrollment: 2018 Jan 01
Not yet recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2
Radiation Therapy With Durvalumab or Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Locoregionally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Who Cannot Take Cisplatin Start of enrollment: 2018 Apr 03
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE2, PHASE3
RT With or Without Cetuximab in Treating Patients Who Have Undergone Surgery for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Start of enrollment: 2010 Mar 31
Active, not recruiting
Phase 3
Biomarker-Driven Radiation Therapy Dose Reduction After Transoral Robotic Surgery for the Treatment of HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2022 Jun 06
RECRUITING
PHASE2
Safety and Efficacy of Repeat Administration of Ad/PNP and Fludarabine Phosphate in Patients With Local Head/Neck Cancer Start of enrollment: 2019 Feb 11
COMPLETED
PHASE1, PHASE2
Phase 1b Safety Study of Xevinapant, Weekly Cisplatin, and RT in Participants With Unresected LA SCCHN (HyperlynX) Start of enrollment: 2024 Jan 18
TERMINATED
PHASE1
Study of Zanzalintinib (XL092) + Pembrolizumab vs Pembrolizumab in Subjects With PD-L1 Positive Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Start of enrollment: 2024 Jun 07
RECRUITING
PHASE2, PHASE3
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

STELLAR-305: phase II/III study of zanzalintinib plus pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in patients with HNSCC.
Nabil F Saba, Kevin Harrington, Lisa Licitra, Jean-Pascal Machiels, Cixin He
Future Oncology. 2025-04-18
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery versus surgery for organ preservation of T3 and T4a nasal and paranasal sinus squamous cell carcinoma (NPNSCC) ECOG-ACRIN EA3163.
Nabil F Saba, Yael Flamand, Derrick T Lin, Christine H Chung, Mark W McDonald
Clinical Cancer Research. 2025-04-14
Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Multidisciplinary Care of Patients With Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: ASCO Guideline.
F Christopher Holsinger, Nofisat Ismaila, Douglas R Adkins, Brittany R Barber, Graham Burnette
Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2025-04-10

Journal Articles

Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy with Weekly Versus Triweekly Cisplatin in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: A Comparative Analysis
Rathi Pillai, Fadlo R Khuri, Nabil F Saba, Conor Steuer, Suchita Pakkala, Kristin Higgins, Jonathan J Beitler, Suresh S Ramalingam, Brandon Twardy, Kelly Schrapp, Taof..., Head & Neck
Disparities in Postoperative Therapy for Salivary Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas
Jonathan J Beitler, Ryan H Belcher, Richard J Cassidy, Jim Zhong, Conor E Steuer, Nabil F Saba, The Laryngoscope
Interleukin-6/STAT3 Signaling Is Prominent and Associated with Reduced Overall Survival in p16 Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Nabil F Saba, Dong M Shin, Head and Neck Pathology
Article MAST1 Drives Cisplatin Resistance in Human Cancers by Rewiring cRaf-Independent MEK Activation
Guojing Zhang, Fadlo R Khuri, Taofeek K Owonikoko, Dan Li, Conor E Steuer, Nabil F Saba, Dong M Shin, Sagar Lonial, ScienceDirect
Prognosis of Subglottic Carcinoma: Is It Really Worse?
William M Mendenhall, Nabil F Saba, Ashok R Shaha, Head & Neck
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Lectures

Nivolumab (nivo) vs investigatoras choice (IC) in patients (pts) with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN): Analysis of C...
2018 ASCO Annual Meeting - Chicago, Illinois - 06/2/2018

Other

Posttreatment surveillance of squamous carcinoma of the head and neck
Saba NF
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/posttreatment-surveillance-of-squamous-carcinoma-of-the-head-and-ne
UpToDate, Wolters Kluwer Health - 2013-01-22

Press Mentions

Neoadjuvant Chemo Boosts Structure Preservation Rates in Nasal, Sinus CancerSeptember 19th, 2024
Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month: 2022 Immunotherapy Research UpdatesApril 3rd, 2022
Dr. Nabil F. Saba Answers Questions About Head and Neck Cancer and Immunotherapy After the 2021 CRI Virtual Immunotherapy Patient SummitDecember 10th, 2021
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Grant Support

Atorvastatin to Reduce Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss in Head and Neck Cancer PatientsEMORY UNIVERSITY2023–2028
Atorvastatin to Reduce Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss in Head and Neck Cancer PatientsEMORY UNIVERSITY2023–2028
Atorvastatin to Reduce Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss in Head and Neck Cancer PatientsEMORY UNIVERSITY2023–2028
Winship National Clinical Trials Network Lead Academic Participating SiteEMORY UNIVERSITY2019–2025

Committees

Chair, Chair- NCI steering committee task force on RM HNCA 2017 - Present
Member, Dean's advisory committee - Emory University School of Medicine 2017 - Present
Chair, Chair-NCI head and neck cancer steering committee on rare diseases 2016 - Present
Member, NRG- Head and Neck Cancer Core Committee 2016 - Present
Principal Author, Member, Committee on Appropriateness Criteria, Expert Panel on Radiation Oncology - Head & Neck Cancer, American College of Radiology 2015 - Present
Member, Member - head and neck cancer steering committee on metastatic disease 2015 - Present
Member, ECOG Head and Neck Cancer core committee 2006 - Present