Director, Gastrointestinal Oncology Research, Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center in the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Health & Services
Medical Director, Gastrointestinal Cancer Program, Providence Cancer Center
Medical Oncologist, The Oregon Clinic
Research Interests
Todd S. Crocenzi, M.D., serves as Medical Director of the Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Program at the Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center. Dr. Crocenzi earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and served as a research fellow and instructor at Dartmouth Medical School. “One of my personal research interests, and of my colleagues here, is immunotherapy. This is an area of research that is really beginning to blossom, but requires further exploration,” says Dr. Crocenzi.
The GI Cancer Program is establishing four multidisclipinary collaborative working groups: Colorectal, Gastroesophageal, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreatic. The purpose of this effort is to design and implement research projects that utilize the array of disciplines represented, while building upon existing Providence programs, such as Cancer Support Services and Integrative Medicine.
Current Projects
Duke University and Providence have teamed together to bring modern immunotherapy clinical trial options to patients at Providence Cancer Center. This innovative study is for those who have resected (or ablated) hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer and have completed chemotherapy.
The “PANVAC Trial” is a multicenter, randomized phase II study of vaccine-induced active immunotherapy with PANVAC (viral vector) or autologous, cultured dendritic cells infected with PANVAC. The primary objective is improved progression-free survival beyond that achieved with surgical resection and chemotherapy alone. This is an opportunity for physicians to select their own plan for resection (or ablation) and systemic chemotherapy, while still offering their patients a clinical trial that includes an immunotherapy component in their treatment plan. The patients will continue to follow up with their surgeon and medical oncologist for long-term surveillance.
Recent Publications
Crocenzi TS, Tretter CPG, Waugh MG, Ernstoff, MS. “Functional CD8+CD28- T Suppressor (TS) Cells in the Peripheral Blood Circulation of Cancer Patients.” (submitted 2/05)
Curti BD, Weinberg AD, Morris NP, Walker EB, Justice L, Ross HJ, Crocenzi TS, Urba WJ.” A phase I trial of a monoclonal antibody to OX40 in patients with advanced cancer.” (iSBTc Annual Meeting: Dendritic Cells/Vaccines Oral Poster Session, 2006, Abstract# 273588)
Crocenzi TS, Tretter CPG, Schwaab T, Schned AR, Heaney JA, Cole BF, Fisher J, Ernstoff MS. “Signaling through the T cell receptor in peripheral blood T cells from renal cell carcinoma patients.” Clin Immunol. 2005 Oct;117(1):6-11.
Current Research Collaborations
Colorectal Cancer
A Phase II study of Active Immunotherapy With PANVACTM or Autologous, Cultured Dendritic Cells Infected With PANVACTM After Complete Resection of Hepatic OR Pulmonary Metastases of Colorectal Carcinoma
