James Feusner, MD

Dr. James Feusner is an international leader in pediatric oncology including research, supportive care, and education. He was recruited from the University of Washington to direct and build a pediatric oncology center at BCHO. In addition, he has been the Principal Investigator to the Children’s Cancer Study Group (now the Children’s Oncology Group, COG) during this entire period. He has been the PI for the local CCOP (Clinical Community Oncology Program) of the East Bay since 1993. He has played a leading role in over 55 national pediatric oncology trial groups. He has been the chair of over 11 COG studies. He has led groundbreaking work in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia including the role of trans-retinoic acid, and in understanding and improving therapy for hepatoblastoma. Dr. Feusner has a lifelong passion to improve evidence-based supportive care for oncology, which has led to major changes in standards of care. He has had many national honors and awards including a recent selection by Vice President Joe Biden as an advisor on the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative. He received the highest honors at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland which include the Bronze Bambino and the Lifetime Achievement Award. He has cared for and assisted in the diagnosis and management of over 1,800 patients. These experiences have led to his strong interest in pediatric oncology, the transition to adult care, and the development of a long-term survivor program. He has received grant support from Children’s Cancer Services (CCS), COG, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, and other institutes. He has mentored many of the newer, leading pediatric clinical and research oncologists and continues to serve as a one-on-one mentor to hematology/oncology fellows. His experience has led him to assume multiple leadership roles, including President of the Medical Staff.

Dr. Feusner has authored or co-authored over 220 manuscripts, books chapters, and abstracts, most of which have been on the topic of pediatric oncology. He has served as a journal reviewer for 27 journals and reviewed over 285 manuscripts, and has server on 12 editorial boards.

Selected Research and Publications:

1. Feusner JH, Hastings CA, Agrawal AK, eds. Supportive Care in Pediatric Oncology: A Practical Evidence-Based Approach. Berlin Springer; 2015.
2. Zhang L, Samad A, Pombo-de-Oliveria MS, Scelo G, Smith MT, Feusner J, Wiemels JL, Metayer C. Global characteristics of childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood Reviews 2015;29(2) March 2015:101-25.
3. Trobaugh-Lotrario AD, Venkatramani R, Feusner JH. Hepatoblastoma in Children With Beckwith- Wiedemann Syndrome: Does it Warrant Different Treatment? J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2014.
4. Trobaugh-Lotrario AD, Meyers RL, Feusner JH. Outcomes of Patients With Relapsed Hepatoblastoma Enrolled on Children's Oncology Group (COG) Phase I and II Studies. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2016;38 3:187-90.
5. Trobaugh-Lotrario AD, Meyers RL, Feusner JH. Outcomes of Patients With Relapsed Hepatoblastoma Enrolled on Children's Oncology Group (COG) Phase I and II Studies. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2015.
6. Trobaugh-Lotrario A, Feusner J. Unresectable hepatoblastoma: current perspectives. Hepatic Medicine: Evidence and Research 2016 (submitted).
7. Sung L, Feusner J. Invasive Rothia Infections in Children with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A report from the Canadian Infections in AML Research Group. Ped Infect Dis J 2016 (submitted).
8. Sung L, Dix D, Cellot S, Gillmeister B, Ethier MC, Roslin NM, Johnston DL, Feusner J, Mitchell D, Lewis V, Aplenc R, Yanofsky R, Portwine C, Price V, Zelcer S, Silva M, Bowes L, Michon B, Stobart K, Traubici J, Allen U, Beyene J, den Hollander N, Paterson AD. Single nucleotide polymorphism in IL1B is associated with infection risk in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia. Clin Microbiol Infect 2016.
9. Sung J, Feusner J. Invasive Rothia Infections in children with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A report from the Canadian Infections in AML Research Group. Ped Hematology Oncology 2016 (accepted).
10. Rai P, Feusner JH. Cerebral Metastasis of Hepatoblastoma: A Review. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2016;38 4:279-82.
11. Lee P, Rademaker A, Laonzo T, Feusner J, Hijiya N. Obesity is an adverse prognostic factor in adults but not in children and adolscents with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood 2016 (submitted).
12. Kutny MA, Gregory J, Jr., Feusner JH. Treatment of paediatric APL: how does the therapeutic approach differ from adults? Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 2014;27 1:69-78.
13. Kutny M, Rajpurkar M, Alonzo T, Feusner J, Gregory J. Identification of risk markers for significant bleeding and thrombosis in pediatric Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: A report from the Children's Oncology Group Study AAML0631. 2016 (submitted).
14. Kutny M, Gregory J, Feusner J. Outcome for Pediatric APL Patients at Children's Oncology Group Sites on the Leukemia Study CALGB 9710. Blood 2016 (submitted).
15. Khurana M, Lee B, Feusner JH. Fever at Diagnosis of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Are Antibiotics Really Necessary? J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2015;37 7:498-501.
16. Karski EE, Dvorak CC, Leung W, Miller W, Shaw PJ, Qayed M, Katsanis E, Feusner JH. Treatment of Hepatoblastoma With High-dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Rescue: The Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium Experience and Review of the Literature. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2014.
17. Dix D, Aplenc R, Bowes L, Cellot S, Ethier MC, Feusner J, Gillmeister B, Johnston DL, Lewis V, Michon B, Mitchell D, Portwine C, Price V, Silva M, Stobart K, Yanofsky R, Zelcer S, Beyene J, Sung L. Impact of registration on clinical trials on infection risk in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia. Int J Cancer 2016;138 7:1785-91.
18. Dang DN, Morris HD, Feusner JH, Koduru P, Wilson K, Timmons CF, Cavalier M, Luu HS. Therapy-induced Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(11;19)(q23;p13.1) in a Pediatric Patient With Relapsed Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2014;36 8:e546-
    8.
19. Coombs CC, DeAngelis LM, Feusner JH, Rowe JM, Tallman MS. Pseudotumor Cerebri in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Patients on Intergroup Protocol 0129: Clinical Description and Recommendations for New Diagnostic Criteria. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2016;16 3:146-51.
20. Abla O, Kutny M, Testi A, Feusner J. Management of relapsed and refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia: recommendations from an international expert panel. Blood 2016 (submitted).