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Faye Johnson, MD, Oncology, Houston, TX

FayeM.JohnsonMDPhD

Oncology Houston, TX

Head & Neck Cancer, Hematologic Oncology, Thoracic Cancer

Professor of Medicine

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Summary

  • I DO NOT LOG INTO DOXIMITY REGULARLY – I use Research Gate.


    The research in my laboratory integrates laboratory and clinical work to define the biological and molecular effects of the modulation of signal transduction pathways in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We have identified novel mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to kinase inhibitors including polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), Src, STAT3, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway inhibitors.

    I have demonstrated the ability to translate my laboratory work to the clinic with several clinical trials of c-Src inhibitors . Additionally, my laboratory was the first study to establish a therapeutic vulnerability of NOTCH1-mutant HNSCC to any class of drugs leading to the initiation of a clinical trial testing a PI3K/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor in NOTCH1-mutant HNSCC (NCT03740100). This ongoing research is funded by the NIH (R01) and CPRIT.

    Recently, we have discovered that inhibition of Aurora kinase in HPV+ cancers leads to apoptosis. These findings are the basis for my investigator-initiated clinical trial (NCT04555837) combining the inhibition of Aurora A (alisertib) and PD1 (pembrolizumab). This ongoing research is funded by the NIH (R01).

Education & Training

  • University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
    University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonFellowship, Hematology and Medical Oncology, 2000 - 2003
  • Baylor College of Medicine
    Baylor College of MedicineResidency, Internal Medicine, 1997 - 2000
  • McGovern Medical School at UTHealth
    McGovern Medical School at UTHealthClass of 1996
  • University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences MD Anderson Cancer Center
    University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences MD Anderson Cancer CenterPhD, Cancer Biology, 1996
  • Johns Hopkins University
    Johns Hopkins UniversityB.A., Biology, 1989

Certifications & Licensure

  • FL State Medical License
    FL State Medical License 2021 - Present
  • TX State Medical License
    TX State Medical License 1998 - 2026
  • TN State Medical License
    TN State Medical License 2022 - 2025
  • AZ State Medical License
    AZ State Medical License 2022 - 2025
  • WA State Medical License
    WA State Medical License 2022 - 2025
  • LA State Medical License
    LA State Medical License 2022 - 2024
  • GA State Medical License
    GA State Medical License 2022 - 2024
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Medical Oncology
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Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Robert M. Chamberlain Distinguished Mentor Award - Nominee UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017
  • Regional Top Doctor Castle Connolly, 2014
  • LCRF Scientific Merit Award Lung Cancer Research Foundation, 2013
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Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Combining Immune Checkpoint Blockade and Tumor-Specific Vaccine for Patients with Incurable Human Papillomavirus 16–Related Cancer  
    Erminia Massarelli, William William, Ming Guo, Merrill Kies, Bonnie Glisson, Hai Tran, Faye Johnson, Renata Ferrarotto, Lei Feng, JAMA
  • Differential Sensitivity Analysis for Resistant Malignancies (DISARM) Identifies Common Candidate Therapies Across Platinum-Resistant Cancers  
    Faye M Johnson, John V Heymach, Lauren Averett Byers, Clinical Cancer Research
  • CDKN2A/p16 deletion in head and neck cancer cells is associated with Cdk2 activation, replication stress, and vulnerability to Chk1 inhibition  
    Gadhikar MA, Zhang J, Shen L, Rao X, Wang J, Zhao M, Kalu NN, Johnson FM, Byers LA, Heymach J, Hittelman WN, Udayakumar D, Pandita RK, Pandita TK, Pickering CR, Redwoo..., Cancer Res, 1/1/2018
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Books/Book Chapters

Abstracts/Posters

  • Noncanonical c-Met activation mediates de novo and acquired resistance to polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor-induced apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer.
    Singh S, Viswanath P, Peng S, Sambandam V, Shen L, Li L, Wang J, Fang B, Johnson FM, American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting (AACR), Chicago, IL, 1/1/2018
  • Pharmacogenomic screen identifies KMT2D mutations as a biomarker of sensitivity to Aurora kinase inhibition in head and neck and cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
    Mazumdar T, Kalu NN, Peng S, Tong P, Shen Li, Wang J, Myers JN, Pickering CR, Brunell D, Stephan CC, Johnson FM, American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting (AACR), Chicago, IL, 1/1/2018
  • PI3K/mTOR pathway inhibition induces Aurora B mediated cell death in NOTCH1 mutant head and neck squamous (HNSCC) cells.
    Sambandam V, Shen L, Tong P, Mazumdar T, Singh R, Pickering CR, Myers JN, Wang J, Frederick M, Johnson FM, American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting (AACR), Chicago, IL, 1/1/2018
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Lectures

  • Redefining Perceptions in Locally Advanced Disease 
    Chicago, IL - 1/1/2018
  • Advanced Topics in Cancer: Emerging Technologies for Detection and Treatment of Cancer 
    University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, PR - 1/1/2017
  • "Frontiers in Cancer Research and Therapy" - Targeting polo-like kinase 1 in mesenchymal non-small cell lung cancer 
    Karolinska Institutet, Dept. of Oncology, Stockholm, Sweden - 1/1/2017
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Other

  • c-Src Family of Tyrosine Kinases. 
    Sen B, Johnson FM, Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules Part 4
    1/1/2011

Authored Content

  • Comprehensive Pharmacogenomic Profiling of Human Papillomavirus-Positive and -Negative Squamous Cell Carcinoma Identifies Sensitivity to Aurora Kinase Inhibition in KMT2D MutantsMay 2018

Press Mentions

  • Local Group Combats High Infant Mortality Rate in Duval County
    Local Group Combats High Infant Mortality Rate in Duval CountyApril 7th, 2021
  • Four-Time Cancer Survivor Spreads Awareness of Cowden Syndrome
    Four-Time Cancer Survivor Spreads Awareness of Cowden SyndromeSeptember 21st, 2020
  • A Novel Ex Vivo Tumor System Identifies Src-Mediated Invasion and Metastasis in Mesenchymal Tumor Cells in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
    A Novel Ex Vivo Tumor System Identifies Src-Mediated Invasion and Metastasis in Mesenchymal Tumor Cells in Non-Small Cell Lung CancerMarch 21st, 2019
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Grant Support

  • Harnessing Aurora kinase inhibition‐induced cell death to enhance immunotherapy in HPV‐driven cancersNIH/NCI2020–2025
  • Targeting Alterations of the NOTCH1 Pathway in Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)NIH/NCI2019–2024
  • Targeting Alterations of the NOTCH1 Pathway in Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)2020–2023
  • Nanatinostat in Human Papillomavirus (HPV)+ Squamous CancersViracta Therapeutics2021–2022
  • Selective depletion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in HPV+ cancersThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center2021–2022
  • Topoisomerase II inhibition-induced pyroptosis in human papillomavirus-driven head and neck squamous carcinomaThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center2020–2021
  • Aurora kinase A inhibition-induced cell death to enhance immunotherapy in HPV-driven cancerTakeda2019–2021
  • Lerryn M Carl Lung Cancer ResearchLerryn M Carl Lung Cancer Research2014–2021

Committees

  • Direct Supervision/Clinical Residents and Fellows, Supervisory Teaching Committee 2012 - Present
  • Direct Supervision/Postdoctoral Research Fellows, Supervisory Teaching Committee 2007 - Present
  • Advisory, Supervisory Teaching Committee 2006 - Present
  • Direct Supervision/Graduate Students, Supervisory Teaching Committee 2006 - Present
  • Direct Supervision/Undergraduate and Allied Health Students, Supervisory Teaching Commitee 2010 - 2011
  • Member, Supervisory Committe -University of New South Wales, Peter Luk, Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2010 - 2010
  • Supervisory, Supervisory Teaching Committee 2006 - 2012
  • Examining Commitee, Supervisory Teaching 2006 - 2012

Professional Memberships