Igor Puzanov MD
Genitourinary Oncology, Hematologic Oncology, Melanoma
Senior Vice President, Clinical Investigation; Judith and Stanford Lipsey Chair in Clinical Studies; Professor of Oncology and Medicine; Director, Center for Early Phase Clinical Trials; Chief of Early Phase Clinical Trials and Melanoma; Co-Leader, CCSG Experimental Therapeutics Program
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Elm and Carlton StreetsBuffalo, NY 14263
Phone+1 716-845-2300
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Summary
- Dr. Igor Puzanov is an oncology specialist based in Buffalo, NY, with subspecialties in genitourinary and hematologic oncology, as well as melanoma. He completed his fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and has served as a professor and director at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center since 2016. His expertise includes malignant melanoma, immunotherapy, and renal cell carcinoma. Dr. Puzanov has published several papers on topics like immune checkpoint inhibitors and cancer stemness. He has played pivotal roles in numerous clinical trials, primarily focusing on melanoma therapies. Notably, he has received accolades such as the Top Doctor Award and the Bridge 2018 Award for his contributions to melanoma research.
Education & Training
Vanderbilt UniversityMSCI, Clinical Investigation, 2004 - 2007
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterFellowship, Hematology and Medical Oncology, 2002 - 2005
University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterResidency, Internal Medicine, 1998 - 2001
Charles University in Prague Faculty of MedicineClass of 1991
Certifications & Licensure
NY State Medical License 2016 - 2028
TN State Medical License 2002 - 2017
TX State Medical License 2001 - 2005
OK State Medical License 2000 - 2002
American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine- American Board of Internal Medicine Medical Oncology
Awards, Honors, & Recognition
- Top Doctor Award Top Doctor Magazine, 2020-2021
- Bridge 2018 Award for Lifelong Contributions to Melanoma Research Melanoma Foundation Onlus, 2018
- CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification StarPanel, Vanderbilt University, 2012, 2015
Clinical Trials
- SJG-136 in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors That Are Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed By Surgery
- Safety Study of PLX108-01 in Patients With Solid Tumors Start of enrollment: 2009 Oct 01
- S0931, Everolimus in Treating Patients With Kidney Cancer Who Have Undergone Surgery Start of enrollment: 2011 Apr 01
Publications & Presentations
PubMed
- Melanoma: Cutaneous, Version 2.2026, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines In Oncology.Susan M Swetter, Douglas Johnson, Mark R Albertini, Christopher A Barker, Sarah Bateni
Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 2026-06-01 - Infusion-Related Reactions from Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Solid Tumors: A Proportional and Network Meta-Analysis.Yu Fujiwara, Toshiaki Takahashi, Kazuya Tsuchiya, Mako Koseki, Anneliese Markus
Targeted Oncology. 2026-05-01 - Single-cell imaging analysis, therapeutic modeling and a Phase Ib trial validate BCL-2 as a target across heterogeneous castration-resistant prostate cancer.Anmbreen Jamroze, Xiaozhuo Liu, Surui Hou, Wen Jess Li, Han Yu
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. 2026-05-01
Journal Articles
- Association of BRAF V600E/K Mutation Status and Prior BRAF/MEK Inhibition with Pembrolizumab Outcomes in Advanced MelanomaIgor Puzanov, Kim A Margolin, Jose Lutzky, Ahmad Tarhini, Nageatte Ibrahim, JAMA Oncology
- Combined Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Melanoma Metastatic to the BrainKim Margolin, Omid Hamid, Christopher D Lao, Anna C Pavlick, Michael A Postow, F Stephen Hodi, Nikhil I Khushalani, Marc S Ernstoff, Hussein A Tawbi, Igor Puzanov, Ahm..., The New England Journal of Medicine
- A Phase II study of bevacizumab and high-dose interleukin-2 in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A Cytokine Working Group (CWG) studyDandamudi UB, Ghebremichael M, Sosman JA, Clark JI, McDermott DF, Atkins MB, Dutcher JP, Urba WJ, Regan MM, Puzanov I, Crocenzi TS, Curti BD, Vaishampayan UN, Crosby N..., J Immunother, 11/1/2013
Authored Content
- Association of BRAF V600E/K Mutation Status and Prior BRAF/MEK Inhibition with Pembrolizumab Outcomes in Advanced MelanomaJuly 2020
- Association of BRAF V600E/K Mutation Status and Prior BRAF/MEK Inhibition with Pembrolizumab Outcomes in Advanced MelanomaJuly 2020
Press Mentions
OncoHost Announces AI-Based Clinical Trial Collaboration to Analyze Immunotherapy ResistanceApril 5th, 2022- Troponin Monitoring Can Detect MyocarditisDecember 31st, 2021
- Igor Puzanov on Pegylated IL-2 plus Nivolumab in First-Line Treatment for Metastatic MelanomaNovember 18th, 2021
Grant Support
- Network Lead Academic Participating Site Grant from the Roswell Park Cancer InstituteROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE CORP2019–2026
- Network Lead Academic Participating Site Grant from the Roswell Park Cancer InstituteROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE CORP2019–2026
- P30 Administrative supplement to support participation and leadership of RPCI in NCI ETCTN trialsNIH/NCI Early Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network (ETCTN)2016–2024
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Center Support Grant (CCSG)NIH2014–2024
- Genetic and phenotypic biomarkers to predict immune-related adverse events.UT Southwestern Medical Center/ACS2018–2021
Committees
- Member, SITC, Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Immunotherapy Guideline (CIG) Expert Panel 2020 - Present
- Member, SITC CTCAE Taskforce 2020 - Present
- Member, SITC Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor and Cytokine‐related Adverse Event Subcommittee 2019 - Present
- Member, ORIEN Scientific Retreat Planning Task Force 2019 - Present
- Member, SITC Biomarkers Committee/Microbiome Subcommittee 2018 - Present
Professional Memberships
- Member
- Member
- Fellow
- Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)Member
Other Languages
- Czech, Russian, Croatian
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