Steven D. Chang, MD, the Robert C. and Jeannette Powell Professor
Academic Appointments
- Professor - Med Center Line, Neurosurgery
- Member, Stanford Cancer Institute
Key Documents
Contact Information
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Clinical Offices
Neurosurgery Department 300 Pasteur Dr R225 MC 5327 Stanford, CA 94305 Tel Work (650) 723-5573 Fax (650) 725-5032Neuro-Oncology Clinic 875 Blake Wilbur Dr Clinic D Stanford, CA 94305 Tel Work (650) 725-8630 Fax (650) 725-5032Practices at Stanford Hospital and Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
- Academic Offices
Personal Information EmailAlternate Contact Aysha Ali Administrative Assistant Email Tel Work 650-736-1134Not for medical emergencies or patient use
Professional Overview
Clinical Focus
- Cancer> Neuro Oncology
- Brain / Central Nervous System Tumors
- Brain / Central Nervous System Tumors - Neuro Oncology
- Brain / Central Nervous System Tumors - Neurosurgery
- Neurological Surgery
- Neurosurgery
Administrative Appointments
- Robert C. and Jeannette Powell Professor in the Neurosciences, Stanford (2008 - present)
- Director, Stanford Neurogenetics Program (2010 - present)
- Director, Stanford Neuromolecular Innovation Program (2009 - present)
- Co-Director, Stanford Cyberknife Program, Stanford (2003 - present)
- Neuroscience Service Line Committee, Stanford (2003 - present)
- Editorial Board, Journal of Radiosurgery and SBRT (2010 - present)
Honors and Awards
- Robert C. and Jeannette Powell Professor in the Neurosciences, Stanford University (2008-)
Professional Education
| Fellowship: | Stanford University School of Medicine CA (2000) |
| Residency: | Stanford University School of Medicine CA (1999) |
| Medical Education: | Stanford University School of Medicine CA (1993) |
| Internship: | Stanford University School of Medicine CA (1994) |
| Board Certification: | Neurological Surgery, American Board of Neurological Surgery (2003) |
| AB: | Stanford University, Quantitative Economics (1989) |
Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations
Community and International Work
- Stanford Brain Tumor Support Group, Bay Area
- Neurofibromatosis Support Group, California
- Stanford Meningioma Support Group, Stanford
- Stanford Acoustic Neuroma Support Group, Stanford
Scientific Focus
Current Research Interests
The Stanford Neurogenetic Innovation Program (SNIP) brings together clinical experts with the goal of developing new technologies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by neurological conditions. Dr. Steven D. Chang, M.D., Professor of Neurosurgery, is leading SNIPÂ’s research efforts, which can be divided into three broad categories: (1) Neural Stem Cells, (2) New Blood Vessel Growth and Response to Radiosurgery, and (3) Nanotechnology and Microfluidic Biochips
1. Neural Stem Cells
SNIP researchers recently found that the ability of stem cells in the brain to regenerate themselves and produce new nerves is a process guided by signals from neighboring cells, in particular the cells that make up our blood vessels. SNIP researchers have succeeded in isolating stem cells from brain tumor tissue. It is possible that errors in the programming of these tumor stem cells may result in abnormal growth of tissue and the development of brain tumors. Similar to neural stem cells, these tumor stem cells are located around the blood vessels that feed the tumor. SNIP researchers are currently studying the stem cells present in brain tumors and vascular malformations to determine what changes occurred in these cells to cause them to produce or promote disease. With this knowledge, it may soon be possible to discover new therapies for affected patients, prevent recurrent tumor growth, identify genetic risk factors, and develop preventative therapies to protect against development of disease.
2. New Blood Vessel Growth and Response to Radiosurgery
Understanding the process by which new blood vessels grow in the brain is important for research on (1) stroke recovery, 2) Blood vascular malformations that are characterized by overgrowth or dysfunction of vascular elements, e.g. arteriovenous malformations, and (3) brain tumors, which grow on the basis of new blood vessel formation to feed the tumor. SNIP researchers have recently found that circulating cells, previously thought only to have functions in our immune system, are recruited to areas of new blood vessel growth in the brain. SNIP researchers hope to develop new therapies that travel through the bloodstream to affect this process in order to directly treat vascular malformations and brain tumors. SNIP researchers are examining genetic variation in key genes responsible for vascular health and response to radiation injury to explain patient variations in response to radiosurgery.
SNIP researchers are also leading efforts in biomarker discovery, a process that focuses on the isolation of circulating factors in the bloodstream of patients that may relate to specific characteristics of their tumor or vascular malformation. These biomarkers are being obtained on all patients undergoing neurosurgery for removal of their tumor or vascular malformation. Differences in biomarkers are being related to characteristics of the specimen obtained from surgery to determine whether these noninvasive measurements can reveal information specific to radiation susceptibility. Dr. Chang hopes to one day offer his patients a simple blood test that he can use to determine whether a particular patient will benefit from neurosurgery versus radiosurgery, i.e. the goal of practicing personalized medicine.
3. Nanotechnology and Microfluidic Biochips
Microfluidic systems can perform conventional chemical and molecular processes on a biochip, allowing for sample metering, mixing, reactions and detection—processes that usually require a laboratory full of equipment to be integrated and miniaturized onto chips no larger than the size of a standard glass slide. SNIP researchers are now focusing on prototyping new biochips to directly isolate specific cell populations and biomarkers using nanotechnology in order to develop tools that can enable SNIP clinicians to improve the diagnostics and treatment options available to patients affected by neurological conditions.
Clinical Trials
- Not Recruiting Phase I Compare OS in Post-CyberKnife Radiosurgery Tx in 1-3 VS 4 or More Brain Metastases
- Recruiting Phase I/II Study of Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery to Treat Large Brain Metastases
- Recruiting Phase I Vorinostat Concurrent With Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) in Brain Metastases From Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Recruiting PI/II of Temozolomide & Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Tx of Supratentorial Glioblastoma Multiform
- Not Recruiting Cyberknife Radiosurgery and Quality of Life
Publications
- Literature review of various treatment plans and outcomes for brain metastases from colorectal cancer. World Neurosurg. 2013 Mar-Apr; (3-4): 435-6
- Cavity volume dynamics after resection of brain metastases and timing of postresection cavity stereotactic radiosurgery. Neurosurgery. 2013; (2): 180-5; discussion 185
- CyberKnife radiosurgery for the management of skull base and spinal chondrosarcomas. J Neurooncol. 2013
- Pituitary stalk Langerhans cell histiocytosis treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2013; (5): 573-7
- Robotic skull base surgery via supraorbital keyhole approach: a cadaveric study. Neurosurgery. 2013: 33-8
- Spontaneous intracranial hypotension secondary to anterior thoracic osteophyte: Resolution after primary dural repair via posterior approach. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2013; (1): 26-9
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