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Personal History
Dr. Suntha received his BA from Brown University in 1986 and his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in 1990. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Pennsylvania, and residency in Radiation Oncology at University of Maryland School of Medicine. He also completed a one-year fellowship in 1994 which was sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Upon completion of his residency training, Dr. Suntha joined the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as an assistant professor in 1995. Dr. Suntha also earned an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in May 2009.
Research Interests
Dr. Suntha's research focuses on patients diagnosed with carcinomas of the lung, esophagus and head and neck. He designed and conducted numerous investigator-initiated combined modaility clinical trials aimed at improving the therapeutic outcome in these diseases. These trials have attempted to define optimal ways of delivering chemotheapy and radiation concurrently, either as definitive therapy or in the neoadjuvant setting prior to surgical resection.
Clinical Speciality
Dr. Suntha's clinical specialty includes cancers of the lung, esophagus, and head and neck.
Investigator-Initiated Clinical Research Protocols:
2004 – Present (GCC #04-42)
Principal Investigator: A Phase II Study of Evaluation of Cetuximab (ERBITUX) and Concurrent Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and Radiotherapy in the Management of Patients with Advanced Locoregional Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck. Sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology.
Funding: $302,709 total costs
Status: Study open, accruing patients.
2008 – (GCC #07-40)
Principal Investigator: Neoadjuvant Paclitaxel Poliglumex (PPX;CT-2103), Cisplatin and Radiation for Esophageal Cancer: Multicenter Trial including Brown University and University of Maryland. Sponsored by Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
Funding: $100,754 total costs
Status: Open, accruing patients
2009 – (NIH-R01)
Co-principal Investigator: Radiotherapy with Dose-Rate Regulated Tracking
Total funding requested: $1,595,674
Publications
BOOK CHAPTERS
Salazar, O.M., Suntharalingam, M. Palliative Radiation for Widespread Pulmonary Disease in Medical Radiology in Kagan R., Steckel, R., (eds), Practical Approaches to Cancer Invasion and Metastasis. Springer Verlag, 1994.
Suntharalingam, M. Principles and Complications of Radiation Therapy in Ord, R.A and Blanchart, R.H. (eds), Oral Cancer: The Dentist’s Role in Diagnosis, Management, Rehabilitation and Prevention. Quintessence Publishing, 1999.
Paz, I.B., Suntharalingam, M., Leichman, L. Esophageal Cancer in Pazdur, R., Coia, L.R., Hoskins, W.J., Wagman, L.D. (eds), Cancer Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Medical, Surgical and Radiation Oncology, 5th Edition, PRR Inc, 2001.
Paz, I.B., Suntharalingam, M., Hwang, J.J., Marshall, J.L., Leichman, L. Esophageal Cancer in Pazdur, R., Coia, L.R., Hoskins, W.J., Wagman, L.D. (eds), Cancer Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Medical, Surgical and Radiation Oncology, 5th Edition, PRR Inc., 2002.
Moore-Higgins, G.J., Strohl, R.A., Suntharalingam, M. Lung Cancer, in Bruner, D.W., Moore-Higgins, G.J., Haas, M. (eds), Outcomes in Radiation Therapy. Multidisciplinary Management, 2001.
Paz, I.B., Suntharalingam, M., Hwang, J.J., Marshall, J.L., Leichman, L. Esophageal Cancer in Pazdur, R., Coia, L.R., Hoskins, W.J., Wagman, L.D. (eds), Cancer Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Medical, Surgical and Radiation Oncology, 8th Edition, PRR Inc., 2003.
Paz, I.B., Hwang, J.J., Marshall, J.L., Leichman, L., Suntharalingam, M. Esophageal Cancer in Pazdur, R., Coia, L.R., Hoskins, W.J., Wagman, L.D. (eds), Cancer Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Medical, Surgical and Radiation Oncology, 8th Edition, PRR Inc, 2004.
Suntharalingam, M, Settle, K., Cullen, K. Perspective on Fractionated Radiation and Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Tumors, Chin, L., Regine, W.F. (eds) in Principles and Practice of Stereotactic Radiosurgery, 1st edition, Springer, 2005.
Patel, A.B., Suntharalingam, M. Definitive Radiochemotherapy in Esophageal Tumors: Principles and Practice. Jobe BA, Thomas CR, Hunter JG, Tran N, Editors. Demos Medical Publishing, March 2009.
Dr. Suntha has published extensively in leading journals. The following are selected examples. Please see his CV for a complete list of his publications.
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Mao, Y.S., Suntharalingam, M., Krasna, M.J. Management of Late Distant Metastases After Trimodality Therapy for Esophageal Cancer. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 76:5, 1742-1743, March 2003.
Suntharalingam, M., Laskey, W.K., Tan, J., Kuntz, R., Bonan, R. Vascular Brachytherapy Using A Beta Emitter in Diabetic Patients with In-Stent Restenosis: Angiographic and Clinical Outcomes. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, 57:2, 536-542, October 2003.
Suntharalingam, M., Moughan, J., Cola, L.R., Krasna, M.J., Kachnic, L., Haller, D.G., Willet, C.G., John, M.J., Minksy, B.D., Owens, J.B. The National Practice for Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy for Carcinoma of the Esophagus: Results of the 1996-1999 Patterns of Care Study. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, 56:4, 981-987, 2003.
Timmerman, R., Papiez, L., Suntharalingam, M. Extracranial Stereotactic Radiation Delivery: Expansion of Technology Beyond the Brain. Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment, 2:2, 153-160, 2003.
Edelman, J.J., Suntharalingam, M., Krasna, J.J. The Management of the Patient Undergoing Combined Modality Therapy for Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Current Treatment Options in Oncology, 4, 45-53, 2003.
Flannery, T.A., Suntharalingam, M., Kwok, Y., Koffman, B.H., Amin, P.a., Chin, L.S., Nichol, B., Fowler, B., Young, B., Regine, W.F. Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Synchronous Versus Metachronous Solitary Brain Metastases from Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Lung Cancer, 32:3, 327-333, December 2003.
Rhee, J.G., Li, D., Guo, M., O’Malley Jr, B.W, Suntharalingam, M. Combination Radiation and Adenovirus Mediated p16 (INK4A) in a Murine Model for Head and Neck Cancer. Journal of ORL, 65:3, 144-154, June 2003.
O’Malley Jr, B.W., Li, D., Carney, J., Rhee, J., Suntharalingam, M. Molecular Disruption of the MRN(95) Complex Induces Radiation Sensitivity in Head and Neck Cancer. Laryngoscope, 13:9, 1588-1594, September 2003.
Brady, D., Yu, S.Z., Koprowski, H., Rhee, J., Kuman, S., Pericle, F., Suntharalingam, M., Van Echo, D.A., Li, D., O’Malley Jr., B.W. Combination Non-Viral Interleukin-2 Gene Therapy and External Beam Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer. Archives of Otolaryngol Head and Neck, 129:6, 618-622, June 2003
Suntharalingam, M. The Role of Concurrent Chemotherapy and Radiation in the Management of Patients with Squamous Cell Carncinomas of the Head and Neck. Seminars in Oncology, 30:4, Suppl (9), 37-45, August 2003.
Suntharalingam, M., Jaboin, J, Taylor, R., Wolf, J., Bangalore, M., Van Echo, D., Ord, R. The Evaluation of Amifostine for Mucosal Protection in Patients with Advanced Lco-Regional Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck (SCCHN) Treated with Concurrent Weekly Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and Daily Radiotherapy (RT). Seminars in Oncology, 31 (6 Suppl 18), 2-7, December 2004
Sonett, J.R., Suntharalingam, M., Edelman, M.J., Gamliel, Z., Doyle, A., Hausner, P., Dickerson, A., Krasna, M.J. Pulmonary Resection Following Neoadjuvant High Dose Curative Intent Radiotherapy (>59Gy) and Concurrent Chemotherapy. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 78:4, 1200-1205, October 2004.
Patel, A.B., Edelman, M.J., Kwok, Y., Krasna, M.J., Suntharalingam, M. Predictors of Acute Esophagitis in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Treated with Concurrent Chemotherapy and Hyperfractionated Radiation Therapy Followed by Surgery. The International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, (60) 4:1106-1112, 2004.
Rhee, J.G., Li, D., Suntharalingam, M., O’Malley, B.W., Guo, G., Carney, J.P. Radiosensitization of Head/Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Adenovirus-Mediated Expression of the Nbs1 Protein. Accepted with revisions, International Journal Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, February, 2005.
Silber, S., Popma, J.J., Suntharalingam, M., Lansky, A.J., Heuser, R.R., Spieser, B., Teirstein, P.S., Bass, T., O’Neill, W., Lasala, J., Reisman, M., Sharma, S.K., Kuntz, R.E., Bonan, R. Two-Year Clinical Follow-Up of 90 Sr/90 Y Beta Radiation Versus Placebo Control for the Treatment of In-Stent Restenosis. The American Heart Journal, 149: 689-694, 2005.
Kwong, K., Cooper, L., Edelman, M.J., Gamliel, Z., Suntharalingam, M., Burrows, W., Hausner, P., Doyle, L.A., Krasna, M.J. High-Dose Radiation in tri-Modality Treatment of Pancoast tumors Results in High Pathologic Complete Response Rates and Excellent Long-term Survival. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 29 (6) 1250-7, June 2005.
Suntharalingam, M., Moughan, J., Coia, L.R., Krasna, M.J., Kachnic, L., Haller, D.G., Willett, C.G., John, M.J., Minsky, B.D., Owen, J. Outcome Results of the 1996-1999 Patterns of Care Survey of the National Practice for Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy for Carcinoma of the Esophagus. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 20, 10:2325-2331, 2005.
Li, XA, O’Neill, M., Suntharalingam, M. Improving patient-specific dosimetry for intravascular brachytherapy. Brachytherapy, 4: 291-97, 2005.
Rhee, J.G., Li, D., Suntharalingam, M., O’Malley, B.W., Guo, G., Carney, J.P. Radiosensitization of Head/Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Adenovirus-Mediated Expression of the Nbs1 Protein. Accepted with revisions, International Journal Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, February, 2005.
Bangalore, M., Matthews, S., Suntharalingam, M. Recent Advances in Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer. Journal for Otorhinolaryngology, November 2006
Balcer-Kubiczek, E., Attarpour, M., Jiang, J., Kennedy, AS, Suntharalingam, M. Cytotoxicity of Docetaxel (Taxotere) used as a Single Agent and in Combination with Radiation in Human Gastric, Cervical and Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Chemotherapy, 52:231-240, 2006.
Suntharalingam, M. Definitive chemoradiation in the management of locally advanced esophageal cancer. Seminars in Oncology, 17(1), 22-28, January 2007.
D’Souza, WD., Nazareth, DP., Zhang, B., DeYoung, C., Suntharalingam, M., Kwok, Y., Yu, CX., Regine, WF. The use of gated and 4d CT imaging in planning for stereotactic body radiation therapy. Med Dosim., Vol. 32(2), pp 92-101, June 2007.
Safran, H., Suntharalingam, M., Dipetrillo, T., Ng, T., Doyle, LA, Krasna, MJ, Plette, A., Evans, D., Wanebo, H., Akerman, P., Spector, J., Kennedy, N., Kennedy, T. Cetuximab with Concurrent Chemoradiation for Esophagogastric Cancer: Assessment of Toxicity. Int J Radiat Oncol Phys., November 2007.
Rhee, JG, LI, D., Suntharalingam, M., Guo, C., O’Malley, BW, Carney, JP. Radiosensitization of head/neck squamous cell carcinoma by adenovirus-mediated expression of the Nbs 1 protein. Int J Radiation Oncol Biol Phys, 67(1), 273-78, January 2007.
Machtay, M., Pajak, TF, Suntharalingam, M., Shenouda, G., Hershock, D., Stripp, DC, Cmelak, AJ., Schulsinger, A., Fu, KK. Radiotherapy with or without Erythropoietin for Anemic Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Randomized Trial of the Radiation therapy Oncology Group (RTOG 99-03). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 69(4) 1008-1017, October 2007.
D’Souza, WD, Nazareth, DP, Zhang, B., DeYoung, C., Suntharalingam, M. Kwok, Y., Yu, CX, Regine, WF. The Use of Gated and 4D CT Imaging in Planning for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. Med Dosim, 32(2), 92-101, May 2007.
Yovino, S., Settle, K., Taylor, R., Wolf, J., Kwok, Y., Cullen, K., Ord, R., Zimrin, A., Strome, S., Suntharalingam, M. Can Adjuvant Neck Dissection Be Deferred in Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Who Obtain A Complete Response to Definitive Chemoradiotherapy. Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol Phys., Vol. 69(3), pp S15.
Safran, H., Suntharalingam, M., DiPetrillo, T., Ng, T., Doyle, LA, Krasna, M., Plette, A., Evans, D., Wanebo, H., Akerman, P., Spector, J., Kennedy, N., Kennedy, T. Cetuximab with Concurrent Chemoradiation for Esophagogastric Cancer: Assessment and Toxicity. Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol Phys., Vol. 70, No.2, pp 391-395, 2008.
Corn, BW., Wexler, ID., Suntharalingam, M., Inbar, M., Curran, WJ., Jr., Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Globalization of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group: Implementation of a model for service expansion and public health improvement. J. Clin Oncol, Vol., 26(7), pp 1160-1166, March 1, 2008.
Wu, J., Li, H., Shekhar, R., Suntharalingam, M., D’Souza, W. An evaluation of planning techniques for stereotactic body radiation therapy in lung tumors. Epub. March 2008, Radiother Oncol, Vol 87(1), pp 35-43, April 2008.
Flannery, T.W., Suntharalingam, M., Regine, W.F., Chin, L.S., Krasna, M.J., Shehata, M.K., Edelman, M.J., Kremer, M., Patchell, R.A., Kwok, Y. Long-Term Survival in Patients with Synchronous, Solitary Brain Metastasis from Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Radiosurgery. Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol Phys., Vol 72(1), pp. 19-23, September 2008.
Edelman, MJ., Suntharalingam, M., Burrows, W., Kwong, KF., Mitra, N., Gamliel, Z., Riley, M., Cooper, LB., Kennedy, NL, Buskirk, S., Hausner, P., Doyla, LA, Krasna, MJ. Phase I/II Trial of hyperfractionated radiation and chemotherapy followed by surgery in stage III lung cancer. Ann Thoracic Surg., Vol. 86(3), pp 903-910. September 2008.
Edelman, MJ, Burrows, W, Krasna, MJ, Suntharalingam, M. Phase I Trial of Carboplatin/Paclitaxel/ Bortezomib and Concurrent Radiotherapy followed by Surgical Resection in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. J of Thoracic Onc. January 2009.
Saito, K., Khan, K., Yu, SZ, Ronson, S., Rhee, J., Li, G., Van Echo, D. Suntharalingam, M., O’Malley, BW, Jr., Li, D. The Predictive and Therapeutic Value of Thymidine Phosphorylas and Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase in Capecitabine (Xeloda)-based Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer. Laryngoscope, Vol., 119(1), pp 82-88, January 2009.
Patel, S., Macdonald, OK, Suntharalingam, M. Evaluation of the Use of Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation in Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cancer, Vol. 115 (4), pp 842-850, February 2009.
Neuner, G., Patel, A., Suntharalingam, M. Chemoradiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer. Gastrointestinal Cancer Research, March/April 2009.
Settle, K., Taylor, R., Wolf, J., Young, K. Cullen, K., Carter, K., Ord, R., Zimrin, A., Strome, S., Suntharalingam, M. Race Impacts Outcome in Stage III/IV Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck Following Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy. Cancer, Vol. 115 (8), pp. 1744-1752, April 15, 2009.
Kim, C., Monjazeb, AM, Suntharalingam, M., Giesinger, KR, Blackstock, AW. Preoperative Versus Postoperative Chemoradiotherapy in the Trimodality Management of Esophageal Cancer. Clinical Advances In Hematology & Oncology, Vol. 7 (5) pp. 327-324, May 2009.
Yovino, S., Settle, K., Taylor, R., Wolf, J., Kwok, Y., Cullen, K., Ord, R., Zimrin, A., Strome, S., Suntharalingam, M. Phase I Trial of Carbonplating/Paclitaxel/Bortezomib and Concurrent Radiotherapy followed by Surgical Resection in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Head & Neck, May 2009.
Cheng, S., Iannettoni, M., Koshy, M., Suntharalingam, M., Urba, S. Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus: Treat With How Many Modalities? Seminars in Oncology, Vol. 36 (6) pp 493-497.
Settle K, Posner MR, Schumaker LM, Tan M, Suntharalingam M, Goloubeva O, Strome SE, Haddad RI, Patel SS, Campbell EV, Sarlis N, Lorch J, Cullen KJ. Racial Survival Disparity in Head and Neck Cancer Results from Low Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Black Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients. Cancer Pre Res, Vol. 2(9); 776-81, Sep 2009.
Jin, Z., Yi, BY, Lasio, G., Suntharalingam, M, Yu, C. Tomographic image via background subtraction using an x-ray projection image and a priori computed tomography. Medical Physics, Vol. 36(10); 4433-4439, Nov. 2009.
D’Souza, WD, Malinowski, KT, Van Liew, S, D’Souza, G, Asbury, K., Suntharalingam, M., Regine, WF. Investigation of Motion Sickness and Inertial Stability on a Moving Couch for Intra-Fraction Motion Compensation. Acta Oncologica, Vol. 48(8), pp 1198-1203, November, 2009.
Peng HQ, Halsey K, Sun CC, Manucha V., Nugent S., Rodgers WH, Suntharalingam, M. Greenwald BD. Clinical Utility of Postchemoradiation endoscopic brush cytology and biopsy in predicting residual esophageal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cytopathol, Vol. 117(6); 463-72. December 25, 2009.
Lim, DH, Yi, BY, Mirmiran, A, Dhople, A, Suntharalingam, M. Optimal beam arrangement for stereotactic body radiation therapy delivery in lung tumors. Acta Oncologica, Vol. 49, pp 219-224, 2010.
Yovino S, Settle K, Taylor R, Wolf J, Kwok Y, Cullen KJ, Ord R, Zimrin A, Strome S, Suntharalingam M. Patterns of failure among patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who obtain a complete response to chemoradiotherapy. Head & Neck, Vol. 32(1); pp 46-52, January 2010.
Krasna MJ, Gamliel Z, Burrows WM, Sonett JR, Kwong KF, Edelman MJ, Hausner PF, Doyle LA, DeYoung C, Suntharalingam, M. Pneumonectomy for lung cancer after preoperative concurrent chemotherapy and high-dose radiation. Ann Thorac Surg, Vol. 89(1); 200-206, January 2010.
Koshy M, Goloubeva O, Suntharalingam, M. Impact of Neoadjuvant Radiation on Survival in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, Jun, 2010 [Epub ahead of print].
Koshy M, Greenwald BD, Hausner P, Krasna MJ, Horiba N, Battafarano RJ, Burrows W, Suntharalingam M. Outcomes After Trimodality Therapy for Esophageal Cancer: The Impact of Histology on Failure Patters. Am J Clin Oncol, Aug 3, 2010 [Epub ahead of print].
Rutter CE, Yovino S, Taylor R, Wolf J, Cullen KJ, Ord R, Athas M, Zimrin A, Strome S, Suntharalingam M. Impact Of Early Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Placement On Nutritional Status and Hospitalization In Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Definitive Chemoradiation Therapy. Head & Neck, Dec 15, 2010 [Epub ahead of print].