Richard Aplenc, MD, PhD
Section Chief, Hematologic Malignancies
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Resume
- Department: Pediatrics
- Division: Oncology
- Primary Address:
CTRB Room 4018
3501 Civic Center Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19104 - 2674267252
Expertise
Dr. Aplenc's research involves molecular epidemiology, pediatric cancer Phase I clinical trials, treatment of pediatric AML, and the use of genetic polymorphism data to predict treatment response to therapeutic interventions, particularly in pediatric cancer therapy.
Appointments
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2011 – present)
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2008 – 2011)
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (2002 – 2008)
Education
- PhD, Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania (2011)
- MSCE, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania (2002)
- MD, University of Virginia (1994)
- A.B., Classics, Princeton University (1988)
Extended Bio
I have several areas of clinical and research focus. Currently, my primary focus is on the treatment of pediatric myeloid leukemia (AML). As a young physician, one of my first patients had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Her diagnosis, treatment, subsequent relapse and untimely death made such an impression on me that I decided to focus on the disease.
My research involves the treatment of AML in children and the use of genetic data to predict treatment response to therapeutic interventions. I am the Vice-Chair of AAML0531 and the Study Chair for AAML1031. These are large, Phase III trials for patients with newly diagnosed AML in the Children’s Oncology Group. Together, these trials will treat more than 2,000 children with AML with the newest available therapies.
My research focuses on improving the outcomes of children with cancer, particularly AML. I am currently leading a genome-wide genotyping effort to discover genetic variations that change the risks of relapse, life-threatening infections, and heart complications in children treated for AML. I am also leading several efforts to use administrative data sets to improve the care of children with AML, particularly focusing on antibiotic and intensive care use.
In addition to this work, I also lead Phase I trials I for children whose cancers have not responded to standard therapy. These trials include gemtuzumab, dasatinib and obatoclax. I am also the Primary Investigator at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for multiple Phase I trials that are offered through the Children’s Oncology Group. I also help lead the Hematologic Malignancies Program and Experimental Therapeutics Program here at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Children's Hospital has a long tradition that embraces the total care of patients and their families. Every child receiving complex cancer therapy needs the expertise of more than one provider. That's why I work with our other Children's Hospital physicians, nurses and social workers to provide a team approach to total care. This kind of collaboration with the family and patient helps our team provide the best, most modern and sophisticated care -- not only nationally, but in the world.
Personally, I believe that families need their physicians to be clear, straight forward and honest -- from the time of initial diagnosis to daily interactions in clinic or hospital. My goal is to communicate clearly and precisely to provide a good understanding of the medical condition, the best treatment choices for each child, and the potential and risks of treatment options. In short, I try to provide the care I would want my family to receive.
Publications
- Puumala S. E., Ross J. A., Aplenc R., Spector L. G.. Epidemiology of childhood acute myeloid leukemia.. Pediatr Blood Cancer. Vol 60(5) . 2013 May:728-33.
- Walker D. M., Fisher B. T., Seif A. E., Huang Y. S., Torp K., Li Y., Aplenc R.. Dexrazoxane use in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic or myeloid leukemia from 1999 and 2009: Analysis of a national cohort of patients in the pediatric health information systems database. Pediatr Blood Cancer. Vol 60(4) . 2013 Apr:616-20.
- de Blank P., Zaoutis T., Fisher B. T., Troxel A., Kim J., Aplenc R.. Trends in Clostridium difficile Infection and Risk Factors for Hospital Acquisition of Clostridium difficile among Children with Cancer.. The Journal of pediatrics. 2013 Mar:[Epub ahead of print].
- Grupp S. A., Kalos M., Barrett D., Aplenc R., Porter D. L., Rheingold S. R., Teachey D. T., Levine B. L., June C. H.. Induction of Complete Remissions of ALL by Chimeric Antigen Receptor-expressing T Cells. N Engl J Med. 2013 March:[Epub ahead of print].
- Kavcic M., Fisher B.T., Torp K., Li Y., Huang Y.S., Seif A.E., Vujkovic M., Aplenc R.. Assembly of a cohort of children treated for acute myeloid leukemia at free-standing children's hospitals in the United States using an administrative database.. Pediatr Blood Cancer. Vol 60(3) . 2013 Mar:508-11.
- Diamond J. M., Lee J. C., Kawut S. M., Shah R. J., Localio A. R., Bellamy S. L., Lederer D. J., Cantu E., Kohl B. A., Lama V. N., Bhorade S. M., Crespo M., Demissie E., Sonett J., Wille K., Orens J., Shah A. S., Weinacker A., Arcasoy S., Shah P. D., Wilkes D. S., Ware L. B., Palmer S. M., Christie J. D.; Lung Transplant Outcomes Group.. Clinical risk factors for primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation.. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine. Vol 187(5) . 2013 Mar:527-34.
- Sung L., Aplenc R., Alonzo T. A., Gerbing R. B., Lehrnbecher T., Gamis A. S.. Effectiveness of supportive care measures to reduce infections in pediatric AML: a report from the Children's Oncology Group.. Blood. 2013 Mar:[Epub ahead of print].
- Kavcic M., Fisher B. T., Li Y., Seif A., Torp K., Walker D. M., Huang Y. S., Lee G. H., Tasian S. K., Vujkovic M., Bagatell R., Aplenc R.. Induction Mortality and Resource Utilization in Children Treated for Acute Myeloid Leukemia at Free-Standing Pediatric Hospitals in the United States. Cancer. 2013 Feb:[Epub ahead of print].
- Meyer N.J., Feng R., Li M., Zhao Y., Sheu C.C., Tejera P., Gallop R., Bellamy S., Rushefski M., Lanken P. N., Aplenc R., O'Keefe G. E., Wurfel M. M., Christiani D. C., Christie J. D.. IL1RN Coding Variant Is Associated with Lower Risk of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Increased Plasma IL1RA.. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine. 2013 Feb:[Epub ahead of print].
- Gupta V., Richards S., Rowe J.; Acute Leukemia Stem Cell Transplantation Trialists' Collaborative Group.. Allogeneic, but not autologous, hematopoietic cell transplantation improves survival only among younger adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first remission: an individual patient data meta-analysis.. Blood. Vol 121(2) . 2013 Jan:339-50.
