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Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, Oncology, Phoenix, AZ, Mayo Clinic Hospital

TaniosS.Bekaii-SaabMDFACP

Oncology • Phoenix, AZ

Gastrointestinal Cancer, Clinical Pharmacology

Professor, Mayo Clinic Leader Gastrointestinal Cancer Program , Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Chair, ACCRU Research Consortium

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Summary

  • Tanios Bekaii-Saab is a Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Leader of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Chair Medical Oncology and Hematology in at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. He is also the consortium chair for the ACCRU research Network. Dr. Bekaii-Saab earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut and completed a residency in internal medicine at Indiana University. He then completed fellowships in clinical pharmacology/experimental therapeutics and oncology at Tufts University/New England Medical Center in Boston.
    Dr. Bekaii-Saab, MD, conducts clinical/translational research focused on developing anticancer agents for patients with gastrointestinal cancers. Dr. Bekaii-Saab collaborates with various scientists and industry partners to design and execute innovative clinical trials, including many first-in-human studies. Bekaii-Saab’s research includes a focus on the incorporation of agents that target the multiple facets of cancer, including genetic drivers, as well as the microenvironment and the immune milieu. His work includes 2 recent discoveries as coinventor of a molecule that targets cancer-related cachexia (AR-42) and an anti–PD-1 vaccine. His research has led to the launch of a number of phase II and III clinical trials, including a recent trial with a cancer stem cell inhibitor (napabucasin) in pancreatic cancer, the development of an FGFR inhibitor in bile duct cancers, and a contribution to the pivotal study that led to the regulatory approval of nanoliposomal irinotecan for treating pancreatic cancer.
    Dr. Bekaii-Saab has authored or co-authored more than 500 peer reviewed publications, abstracts, and book chapters, including papers in Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Annals of Oncology, and Clinical Cancer Research.

Education & Training

  • Tufts Medical Center
    Tufts Medical CenterFellowship, Hematology and Medical Oncology, 1999 - 2002
  • Indiana University School of Medicine
    Indiana University School of MedicineResidency, Internal Medicine, 1996 - 1999
  • American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine
    American University of Beirut Faculty of MedicineClass of 1996
  • McGill University
    McGill UniversityB.S., Neuro Biology, With Great Distinction, 1990 - 1992
  • American University of Beirut
    American University of BeirutNo Degree, Dean's Honor List, 1987 - 1989

Certifications & Licensure

  • AZ State Medical License
    AZ State Medical License 2015 - 2025
  • OH State Medical License
    OH State Medical License 2002 - 2017
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Medical Oncology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • High Performing Physician 2013
  • Best Doctor Best Doctors in America, 2013
  • CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2012-2013
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Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Comparison of Universal Genetic Testing vs Guideline-Directed Targeted Testing for Patients with Hereditary Cancer Syndrome  
    Scott Okuno, Luke Mountjoy, Cameron S Thorpe, Edward D Esplin, Robert L Nussbaum, Alan H Bryce, Tanios S Bekaii-Saab, Aleksandar Sekulic, JAMA Oncology
  • Systemic Therapy and Sequencing Options in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma  
    Mohamad Bassam Sonbol, Amit Mahipal, Zhaohui Jin, Kabir Mody, Mitesh J Borad, Daniel H Ahn, Tanios Bekaii-Saab, JAMA Oncology
  • Processes of Care in the Multidisciplinary Treatment of Gastric Cancer: Results of a RAND/UCLA Expert Panel  
    Brar SS, Mahar AL, Helyer LK, Swallow C, Law C, Paszat L, Seevaratnam R, Cardoso R, McLeod R, Dixon M, Yohanathan L, Lourenco LG, Bocicariu A, Bekaii-Saab T, JAMA Surg, 11/13/2013
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Lectures

  • Phase III study of first-line (1L) pemigatinib (PEM) versus gemcitabine (GEM) plus cisplatin (CIS) for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) with FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements. 
    ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium - San Francisco, CA - 1/24/2020
  • Biomarker-Based Basket Trials: A New Model for Biliary Cancer Drug Development 
    ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium - San Francisco, CA - 1/24/2020
  • Phase 1b/2 trial of cancer stemness inhibitor napabucasin (NAPA) + nab-paclitaxel (nPTX) and gemcitabine (Gem) in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC). 
    2018 ASCO Annual Meeting - Chicago, Illinois - 06/3/2018

Authored Content

  • The POLO Trial Is Great, but Probably Not Practice-ChangingJune 2019
  • The POLO Trial Is Great, but Probably Not Practice-ChangingJune 2019

Press Mentions

  • Colon Cancer: Lowering Ammonia Levels Increases Tumor Treatment Response
    Colon Cancer: Lowering Ammonia Levels Increases Tumor Treatment ResponseFebruary 8th, 2023
  • ReDOS: Regorafenib Dose-Escalation Strategy in Refractory Advanced Colorectal Cancer
    ReDOS: Regorafenib Dose-Escalation Strategy in Refractory Advanced Colorectal CancerJuly 11th, 2019
  • Dr. Bekaii-Saab on the APACT Trial in Pancreatic Cancer
    Dr. Bekaii-Saab on the APACT Trial in Pancreatic CancerOctober 3rd, 2019
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Professional Memberships

Other Languages

  • French, Arabic

Hospital Affiliations

Dr. Tanios Bekaii-Saab, Dr. Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, Dr. T Bekaii-Saab, Dr. Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab