Abstract
Philip McCarthy speaks to Roshaine Wijayatunga, Senior Editor: Oncology Philip McCarthy completed his MD at Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA and his Internal Medicine Residency at Yale, New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA. His Fellowship was completed at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Insitute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA. His research interests are devoted to developing novel intensive and reduced intensity allogeneic (allo) and autologous (auto) hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) approaches for the treatment of hematologic disorders, leading to improved patient outcomes and decreased toxicity. He has over 20 years of experience treating HSCT patients and directing clinical and translational HSCT research studies. He has served as chair or co-chair of several clinical trials including CALGB 100104, a Phase III clinical trial evaluating lenalidomide maintenance after auto-HSCT for multiple myeloma (MM). This study demonstrated an improved progression-free and overall survival for MM patients receiving lenalidomide maintenance therapy after auto-HSCT. The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Blood and Marrow Transplant team has developed a systematic approach to the evaluation and treatment of HSCT patients with a specific focus on predicting and minimizing treatment-related mortality. The team participates with a core group of basic science and clinical researchers who are committed to the investigation of the complications of auto- and allo-HSCT and to the developing novel approaches to improve outcomes.