Research Summary

My clinical interests focus most heavily on surgical neuropathology, especially in terms of its application towards neuro-oncology. As a diagnostic neuropathologist with a focus on CNS tumors, I am primarily involved in translational research with the primary goal of developing new diagnostic and prognostic markers, which can be utilized in the clinical management of brain tumor patients. In order to achieve this goal, my lab has applied immunohistochemical, molecular cytogenetic, and genomic screening techniques primarily towards the study of gliomas, meningiomas, and primitive pediatric malignancies. I have been particularly interested in improved classification and grading schemes as well as the identification of molecular genetic markers associated with tumorigenesis, malignant progression, and/or biologic behavior. I collaborate with a number of clinical and scientific researchers both within and outside UCSF and it is our hope that the markers we identify will improve patient management and lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches. I also maintain a private consultation service for difficult surgical neuropathology cases obtained from the U.S. and abroad, particularly brain tumors.

Research Funding

  • September 20, 2002 - August 31, 2023 - Brain Tumor SPORE Grant, Co-Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: P50CA097257
  • September 20, 2002 - August 31, 2023 - Brain Tumor SPORE Grant, Co-Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: P50CA097257
  • September 20, 2002 - August 31, 2023 - Brain Tumor SPORE Grant, Co-Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: P50CA097257
  • September 20, 2002 - August 31, 2023 - Brain Tumor SPORE Grant, Co-Investigator. Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: P50CA097257

Education

The University of Texas at Austin, TX, B.S., 1986, Zoology
UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, M.D., 1990, M.D.
UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, Postdoctoral, 1994, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Postdoctoral, 1998, Surgical Pathology, Neuropathology, and Research Fellowships

Honors & Awards

  • 1993
    First Place Resident Award (poster): Texas Society of Pathologists meeting
  • 1994
    First Place Resident Award (podium): Texas Society of Pathologists meeting
  • 1994
    Matthew T. Moore Award, International Congress of Neuropathology meeting
  • 1995
    Mary Tom Award, Canadian Association of Neuropathologists meeting
  • 1995-1997
    Fellowship Research Award, American Brain Tumor Association
  • 1999
    Distinguished Service Teaching Award, WUSM (Medical School Class of 2001)
  • 2002
    Lucien J. Rubenstein Award, American Association of Neuropathologists meeting
  • 2002
    Distinguished Service Teaching Award, WUSM (Medical School Class of 2004)
  • 2004
    Distinguished Service Teaching Award, WUSM (Medical School Class of 2006)
  • 2005
    Professor of the Year Award, WUSM (Medical School Class of 2007)
  • 2006-now
    America’s Top Doctors and America's Top Doctors for Cancer (Castle Connolly)
  • 2007
    Distinguished Service Teaching Award, WUSM (Medical School Class of 2009)
  • 2008
    Professor of the Year Award, WUSM (Medical School Class of 2010)
  • 2009-now
    Best Doctors in America, U.S. News and World Reports
  • 2009
    Distinguished Service Teaching Award, WUSM (Medical School Class of 2011)
  • 2013
    Nominated for MS1 Essential Core Teaching Award, UCSF (MS Class of 2016)

Selected Publications

  1. Lucas CG, Abdullaev Z, Bruggers CS, Mirchia K, Whipple NS, Alashari MM, Lowichik A, Cheshier S, Phillips JJ, Devine P, Solomon DA, Quezado M, Aldape KD, Perry A. Activating NTRK2 and ALK receptor tyrosine kinase fusions extend the molecular spectrum of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas of early childhood: a diagnostic overlap with infant-type hemispheric glioma. Acta Neuropathol. 2021 Dec 15.  View on PubMed
  2. Lucas CG, Gupta R, Wu J, Shah K, Ravindranathan A, Barreto J, Gener M, Ginn KF, Prall OWJ, Xu H, Kee D, Ko HS, Yaqoob N, Zia N, Florez A, Cha S, Perry A, Clarke JL, Chang SM, Berger MS, Solomon DA. EWSR1-BEND2 fusion defines an epigenetically distinct subtype of astroblastoma. Acta Neuropathol. 2021 Nov 25.  View on PubMed
  3. Sloan EA, Gupta R, Koelsche C, Chiang J, Villanueva-Meyer JE, Alexandrescu S, Eschbacher JM, Wang W, Mafra M, Ud Din N, Carr-Boyd E, Watson M, Punsoni M, Oviedo A, Gilani A, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Coss DJ, Lopes MB, Reddy A, Mueller S, Cho SJ, Horvai AE, Lee JC, Pekmezci M, Tihan T, Bollen AW, Rodriguez FJ, Ellison DW, Perry A, von Deimling A, Chang SM, Berger MS, Solomon DA. Intracranial mesenchymal tumors with FET-CREB fusion are composed of at least two epigenetic subgroups distinct from meningioma and extracranial sarcomas. Brain Pathol. 2021 Nov 25; e13037.  View on PubMed
  4. Schmid S, Solomon DA, Perez E, Thieme A, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Giannini C, Reinhardt A, Asa SL, Mete O, Stichel D, Siewert C, Dittmayer C, Hasselblatt M, Paulus W, Nagel C, Harter PN, Schittenhelm J, Honegger J, Rushing E, Coras R, Pfister SM, Buslei R, Koch A, Perry A, Jones DTW, von Deimling A, Capper D, Lopes MB. Genetic and epigenetic characterization of posterior pituitary tumors. Acta Neuropathol. 2021 Oct 18.  View on PubMed
  5. Carter-Febres M, Schneller N, Fair D, Solomon D, Perry A, Roy A, Linscott L, Alashari M, Kestle JR, Bruggers CS. Adjuvant Maintenance Larotrectinib Therapy in 2 Children With NTRK Fusion-positive High-grade Cancers. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2021 Oct 01; 43(7):e987-e990.  View on PubMed
  6. Wu J, Gupta R, Barreto J, Doo P, Joseph NM, Lee JC, Perry A, Chang SM, Berger MS, Solomon DA. Tumor DNA requirements for accurate epigenetic-based classification of CNS neoplasia. Neuro Oncol. 2021 10 01; 23(10):1798-1800.  View on PubMed
  7. Lucas CG, Mueller S, Reddy A, Taylor JW, Oberheim Bush NA, Clarke JL, Chang SM, Gupta N, Berger MS, Perry A, Phillips JJ, Solomon DA. Diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant: Genomic landscape of a new tumor entity and prospects for targeted therapy. Neuro Oncol. 2021 Sep 14.  View on PubMed
  8. Lucas CG, Devine P, Solomon DA, Giannini C, Reifenberger G, Dahiya S, Caccamo D, Perry A. Sarcomatous Meningioma: Diagnostic Pitfalls and the Utility of Molecular Testing. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2021 Sep 10; 80(8):764-768.  View on PubMed
  9. Kirches E, Sahm F, Korshunov A, Bluecher C, Waldt N, Kropf S, Schrimpf D, Sievers P, Stichel D, Schüller U, Schittenhelm J, Riemenschneider MJ, Karajannis MA, Perry A, Pietsch T, Boekhoff S, Capper D, Beck K, Paramasivam N, Schlesner M, Brastianos PK, Müller HL, Pfister SM, Mawrin C. Molecular profiling of pediatric meningiomas shows tumor characteristics distinct from adult meningiomas. Acta Neuropathol. 2021 Nov; 142(5):873-886.  View on PubMed
  10. Louis DN, Perry A, Wesseling P, Brat DJ, Cree IA, Figarella-Branger D, Hawkins C, Ng HK, Pfister SM, Reifenberger G, Soffietti R, von Deimling A, Ellison DW. The 2021 WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System: a summary. Neuro Oncol. 2021 08 02; 23(8):1231-1251.  View on PubMed
  11. Gupta R, Lucas CG, Wu J, Barreto J, Shah K, Simon IB, Casavilca-Zambrano S, Brathwaite C, Zhou H, Caccamo D, Gilani A, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Lee JC, Perry A, Clarke JL, Chang SM, Berger MS, Solomon DA. Low-grade glioneuronal tumors with FGFR2 fusion resolve into a single epigenetic group corresponding to 'Polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young'. Acta Neuropathol. 2021 09; 142(3):595-599.  View on PubMed
  12. Asa SL, Mete O, Cusimano MD, McCutcheon IE, Perry A, Yamada S, Nishioka H, Casar-Borota O, Uccella S, La Rosa S, Grossman AB, Ezzat S, Attendees of the 15th Meeting of the International Pituitary Pathology Club, Istanbul October 2019 . Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors: a model for neuroendocrine tumor classification. Mod Pathol. 2021 09; 34(9):1634-1650.  View on PubMed
  13. Mete O, Ezzat S, Perry A, Yamada S, Uccella S, Grossman AB, Asa SL. The Pangenomic Classification of Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors: Quality Histopathology is Required for Accurate Translational Research. Endocr Pathol. 2021 Sep; 32(3):415-417.  View on PubMed
  14. Sievers P, Sill M, Schrimpf D, Stichel D, Reuss DE, Sturm D, Hench J, Frank S, Krskova L, Vicha A, Zapotocky M, Bison B, Castel D, Grill J, Debily MA, Harter PN, Snuderl M, Kramm CM, Reifenberger G, Korshunov A, Jabado N, Wesseling P, Wick W, Solomon DA, Perry A, Jacques TS, Jones C, Witt O, Pfister SM, von Deimling A, Jones DTW, Sahm F. A subset of pediatric-type thalamic gliomas share a distinct DNA methylation profile, H3K27me3 loss and frequent alteration of EGFR. Neuro Oncol. 2021 01 30; 23(1):34-43.  View on PubMed
  15. Sloan EA, Chiang J, Villanueva-Meyer JE, Alexandrescu S, Eschbacher JM, Wang W, Mafra M, Ud Din N, Carr-Boyd E, Watson M, Punsoni M, Oviedo A, Gilani A, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Coss DJ, Lopes MB, Raffel C, Berger MS, Chang SM, Reddy A, Ramani B, Ferris SP, Lee JC, Hofmann JW, Cho SJ, Horvai AE, Pekmezci M, Tihan T, Bollen AW, Rodriguez FJ, Ellison DW, Perry A, Solomon DA. Intracranial mesenchymal tumor with FET-CREB fusion-A unifying diagnosis for the spectrum of intracranial myxoid mesenchymal tumors and angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma-like neoplasms. Brain Pathol. 2021 Jul; 31(4):e12918.  View on PubMed
  16. Gallo RA, Shoag J, Johnson TE, Solomon DA, Perry A, Podda A, Lee JY, Rong AJ. Eye-sparing Treatment of Localized Orbital Medulloepithelioma With Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021 Jan-Feb 01; 37(1):e13-e16.  View on PubMed
  17. Chen WC, Vasudevan HN, Choudhury A, Pekmezci M, Lucas CG, Phillips J, Magill ST, Susko MS, Braunstein SE, Oberheim Bush NA, Boreta L, Nakamura JL, Villanueva-Meyer JE, Sneed PK, Perry A, McDermott MW, Solomon DA, Theodosopoulos PV, Raleigh DR. A Prognostic Gene-Expression Signature and Risk Score for Meningioma Recurrence After Resection. Neurosurgery. 2020 12 15; 88(1):202-210.  View on PubMed
  18. Sievers P, Sill M, Blume C, Tauziede-Espariat A, Schrimpf D, Stichel D, Reuss DE, Dogan H, Hartmann C, Mawrin C, Hasselblatt M, Stummer W, Schick U, Hench J, Frank S, Ketter R, Schweizer L, Schittenhelm J, Puget S, Brandner S, Jaunmuktane Z, Küsters B, Abdullaev Z, Pekmezci M, Snuderl M, Ratliff M, Herold-Mende C, Unterberg A, Aldape K, Ellison DW, Wesseling P, Reifenberger G, Wick W, Perry A, Varlet P, Pfister SM, Jones DTW, von Deimling A, Sahm F, German Consortium “Aggressive Meningiomas” . Clear cell meningiomas are defined by a highly distinct DNA methylation profile and mutations in SMARCE1. Acta Neuropathol. 2021 02; 141(2):281-290.  View on PubMed
  19. Schulte JD, Buerki RA, Lapointe S, Molinaro AM, Zhang Y, Villanueva-Meyer JE, Perry A, Phillips JJ, Tihan T, Bollen AW, Pekmezci M, Butowski N, Oberheim Bush NA, Taylor JW, Chang SM, Theodosopoulos P, Aghi MK, Hervey-Jumper SL, Berger MS, Solomon DA, Clarke JL. Clinical, radiologic, and genetic characteristics of histone H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas in adults. Neurooncol Adv. 2020 Jan-Dec; 2(1):vdaa142.  View on PubMed
  20. Lucas CG, Vasudevan HN, Chen WC, Magill ST, Braunstein SE, Jacques L, Dahiya S, Rodriguez FJ, Horvai AE, Perry A, Pekmezci M, Raleigh DR. Histopathologic findings in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor predict response to radiotherapy and overall survival. Neurooncol Adv. 2020 Jan-Dec; 2(1):vdaa131.  View on PubMed

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