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Bio

Clinical Focus

  • Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Academic Appointments

Professional Education

  • Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology (2019)
  • Fellowship: NY Presbyterian Hospital Columbia Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Fellowship (2017) NY
  • Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics (2014)
  • Residency: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatric Residency (2014) PA
  • Medical Education: Indiana University School of Medicine (2011) IN
  • Pediatric Hem/Onc Fellowship, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University School of Medicine (2017)
  • Pediatric Residency, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2014)
  • MD, Indiana University School of Medicine (2011)
  • BA, Columbia University (2006)

Contact

  • Bass Cancer Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases 725 Welch Rd MC 5913 Palo Alto, CA 94304
    • Tel: (650) 497-8953
    Fax: (650) 497-8959

Publications

All Publications

  • Preclinical evaluation of XPO1 inhibition in Wilms tumors. Ortiz, M., Siddiquee, A., You, D., Mundi, P., Marks, L. Q., Guillan, K., Diolaiti, D., Aburi, M., Califano, A., Dela Cruz, F. S., Kung, A. AMER SOC CLINICAL ONCOLOGY. 2020

    View details for Web of Science ID 000560368301471

  • Expert consensus statements for Waldeyer's ring involvement in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma: The staging, evaluation, and response criteria harmonization (SEARCH) for childhood, adolescent, and young adult Hodgkin lymphoma (CAYAHL) group. Pediatric blood & cancer Seelisch, J., De Alarcon, P. A., Flerlage, J. E., Hoppe, B. S., Kaste, S. C., Kelly, K. M., Kurch, L., Marks, L. J., Mauz-Koerholz, C., McCarten, K., Metzger, M. L., Stroevesandt, D., Voss, S. D., Punnett, A. 2020: e28361

    Abstract

    Waldeyer's ring (WR) involvement in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is extremely rare and criteria for determining involvement and response to treatment are unclear. The international Staging, Evaluation, and Response Criteria Harmonization for Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma (SEARCH for CAYAHL) Group performed a systematic review of the literature in search of involvement or response criteria, or evidence to support specific criteria. Only 166 cases of HL with WR involvement were reported in the literature, 7 of which were pediatric. To date no standardized diagnostic or response assessment criteria are available. Given the paucity of evidence, using a modified Delphi survey technique, expert consensus statements were developed by the SEARCH group to allow for a more consistent definition of disease and response evaluation related to this rare site of involvement among pediatric oncologists. The available evidence and expert consensus statements are summarized.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/pbc.28361

    View details for PubMedID 32672879

  • Pediatric Aggressive Mature B-Cell Lymphomas, Version 2.2020, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN Davies, K., Barth, M., Armenian, S., Audino, A. N., Barnette, P., Cuglievan, B., Ding, H., Ford, J. B., Galardy, P. J., Gardner, R., Hanna, R., Hayashi, R., Kovach, A. E., Machnitz, A. J., Maloney, K. W., Marks, L., Page, K., Reilly, A. F., Weinstein, J. L., Xavier, A. C., McMillian, N. R., Freedman-Cass, D. A. 2020; 18 (8): 1105?23

    Abstract

    Pediatric aggressive mature B-cell lymphomas are the most common types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children, and they include Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). These diseases are highly aggressive but curable, the treatment is complex, and patients may have many complicated supportive care issues. The NCCN Guidelines for Pediatric Aggressive Mature B-Cell Lymphomas provide guidance regarding pathology and diagnosis, staging, initial treatment, disease reassessment, surveillance, therapy for relapsed/refractory disease, and supportive care for clinicians who treat sporadic pediatric BL and DLBCL.

    View details for DOI 10.6004/jnccn.2020.0036

    View details for PubMedID 32755986

  • Brentuximab Vedotin as Consolidation Therapy After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Children and Adolescents (<18y) With Early Relapse Hodgkin Lymphoma. Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology Fernandez, K. S., Mavers, M., Marks, L. J., Agarwal, R. 2019

    Abstract

    We describe 6 pediatric patients (12 to 18y) with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma treated with consolidative Brentuximab vedotin (Bv) following reinduction chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. The progression-free survival after autologous stem cell transplantation was 12, 18, 22, 24, 30, and 30 months. Most patients tolerated Bv well although 2 patients developed grade 3 neuropathy that prevent them from completing the scheduled 16 doses of Bv. Consolidative Bv in children and adolescents, as currently recommended for adult patients with early relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, is feasible but with some significant toxicities.

    View details for DOI 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001703

    View details for PubMedID 31876780

  • Pericardial effusion in Hodgkin lymphoma: a report from the Children's Oncology Group AHOD0031 protocol BLOOD Marks, L. J., McCarten, K. M., Pei, Q., Friedman, D. L., Schwartz, C. L., Kelly, K. M. 2018; 132 (11): 1208?11

    View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2018-02-834465

    View details for Web of Science ID 000444425900016

    View details for PubMedID 30061157

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6137557

  • Outcomes in intermediate-risk pediatric lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: A report from the Children's Oncology Group. Pediatric blood & cancer Marks, L. J., Pei, Q., Bush, R., Buxton, A., Appel, B., Kelly, K. M., Schwartz, C. L., Friedman, D. L. 2018; 65 (12): e27375

    Abstract

    Optimal management of patients with intermediate-risk lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (LPHL) is unclear due to their small numbers in most clinical trials. Children's Oncology Group AHOD0031, a randomized phase III trial of pediatric patients with intermediate-risk Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), included patients with LPHL. We report the outcomes of these patients and present directions for future therapeutic strategies.Patients received two cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide (ABVE-PC) followed by response evaluation. Slow early responders were randomized to two additional ABVE-PC cycles ± two dexamethasone, etoposide, cisplatin, and cytarabine cycles and all received involved field radiotherapy (IFRT). Rapid early responders (RERs) received two additional ABVE-PC cycles. RERs with complete response (CR) were randomized to IFRT or no further therapy. RERs without CR received IFRT.Ninety-six (5.6%) of 1711 patients on AHOD0031 had LPHL. Patients with LPHL were more likely to achieve RER (93.6% vs. 81.0%; P = 0.002) and CR (74.2% vs. 49.3%; P = 0.000005) following chemotherapy compared with patients with classical HL. Five-year event-free survival (EFS) was superior in patients with LPHL (92.2%) versus classical HL (83.5%) (P = 0.04), without difference in overall survival (OS). Among RERs with CR following chemotherapy (n = 33), there was no difference in EFS or OS between those randomized to receive or not receive IFRT.Children and adolescents with intermediate-risk LPHL represent ideal candidates for response-adapted therapy based on their favorable outcomes. The majority of patients treated with the ABVE-PC backbone achieve RER with CR status and can be treated successfully without IFRT.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/pbc.27375

    View details for PubMedID 30277639

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6192844

  • Stroke Prevalence in Children With Sickle Cell Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Global pediatric health Marks, L. J., Munube, D., Kasirye, P., Mupere, E., Jin, Z., LaRussa, P., Idro, R., Green, N. S. 2018; 5: 2333794X18774970

    Abstract

    Objectives. The prevalence of stroke among children with sickle cell disease (SCD) in sub-Saharan Africa was systematically reviewed. Methods. Comprehensive searches of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were performed for articles published between 1980 and 2016 (English or French) reporting stroke prevalence. Using preselected inclusion criteria, titles and abstracts were screened and full-text articles were reviewed. Results. Ten full-text articles met selection criteria. Cross-sectional clinic-based data reported 2.9% to 16.9% stroke prevalence among children with SCD. Using available sickle gene frequencies by country, estimated pediatric mortality, and fixed- and random-effects model, the number of affected individuals is projected as 29 800 (95% confidence interval = 25 571-34 027) and 59 732 (37 004-82 460), respectively. Conclusion. Systematic review enabled the estimation of the number of children with SCD stroke in sub-Saharan Africa. High disease mortality, inaccurate diagnosis, and regional variability of risk hamper more precise estimates. Adopting standardized stroke assessments may provide more accurate determination of numbers affected to inform preventive interventions.

    View details for DOI 10.1177/2333794X18774970

    View details for PubMedID 29785408

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5954575

  • Precision Medicine in Children and Young Adults with Hematologic Malignancies and Blood Disorders: The Columbia University Experience FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS Marks, L. J., Oberg, J. A., Pendrick, D., Sireci, A. N., Glasser, C., Coval, C., Zylber, R. J., Chung, W. K., Pang, J., Turk, A. T., Hsiao, S. J., Mansukhani, M. M., Bender, J., Kung, A. L., Sulis, M. 2017; 5: 265

    Abstract

    The advent of comprehensive genomic profiling has markedly advanced the understanding of the biology of pediatric hematological malignancies, however, its application to clinical care is still unclear. We present our experience integrating genomic data into the clinical management of children with high-risk hematologic malignancies and blood disorders and describe the broad impact that genomic profiling has in multiple aspects of patient care.The Precision in Pediatric Sequencing Program at Columbia University Medical Center instituted prospective clinical next-generation sequencing (NGS) for high-risk malignancies and blood disorders. Testing included cancer whole exome sequencing (WES) of matched tumor-normal samples or targeted sequencing of 467 cancer-associated genes, when sample adequacy was a concern, and tumor transcriptome (RNA-seq). A multidisciplinary molecular tumor board conducted interpretation of results and final tiered reports were transmitted to the electronic medical record according to patient preferences.Sixty-nine samples from 56 patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies and blood disorders were sequenced. Patients carried diagnoses of myeloid malignancy (n?=?25), lymphoid malignancy (n?=?25), or histiocytic disorder (n?=?6). Six patients had only constitutional WES, performed for a suspicion of an inherited predisposition for their disease. For the remaining 50 patients, tumor was sequenced with matched normal tissue when available. The mean number of somatic variants per sample was low across the different disease categories (2.85 variants/sample). Interestingly, a gene fusion was identified by RNA-seq in 58% of samples who had adequate RNA available for testing. Molecular profiling of tumor tissue led to clinically impactful findings in 90% of patients. Forty patients (80%) had at least one targetable gene variant or fusion identified in their tumor tissue; however, only seven received targeted therapy. Importantly, NGS findings contributed to the refinement of diagnosis and prognosis for 34% of patients. Known or likely pathogenic germline alterations were discovered in 24% of patients involving cancer predisposition genes in 12% of cases.Incorporating whole exome and transcriptome profiling of tumor and normal tissue into clinical practice is feasible, and the value that comprehensive testing provides extends beyond the ability to target-specific mutations.

    View details for DOI 10.3389/fped.2017.00265

    View details for Web of Science ID 000417730800001

    View details for PubMedID 29312904

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5732960

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