Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab MD

Gastrointestinal Cancer, Clinical Pharmacology

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

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5881 E. Mayo BoulevardPhoenix, AZ 85050

Summary

Tanios Bekaii-Saab is the David F. and Margaret T. Grohne Professor of Novel Therapeutics for Cancer Research I. He is the Chair for Hematology/Medical Oncology for the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and the leader for the Advanced Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) Program at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. Dr. Bekaii-Saab conducts clinical/translational research with many in collaboration with various industry partners to focus on developing anticancer agents for patients with gastrointestinal cancers. His work includes two discoveries as co-inventor of a pan-HDAC inhibitor (REC-2282) and an anti-PD-1 vaccine (PD-Vaxx). REC-2282 is licensed to Recursion and is undergoing clinical development in a phase III study in Neurofibromatosis Type II. PD-Vaxx is licensed to imugene and is undergoing clinical development in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Moreover, Dr. Bekaii-Saab’s research continues to lead to the launch of several phase II and III clinical trials, including but not limited to a recent trial with tucatinib and trastuzumab in Her2+ colorectal cancer (MOUNTAINEER with an FDA approval Jan 2023), He also contributed to the pivotal studies that led to the regulatory approval of liposomal irinotecan for pancreatic cancer, fruquintinib for colorectal cancer, infigratinib and pemigatinib in cholangiocarcinoma with an FGFR2 fusion, and adagrasib with cetuximab in colorectal cancer that bear a KRAS G12C mutation. His work also includes a number of pivotal studies that led to incorporating new agents into the NCCN guidelines such as Adagrasib in Pancreas and Biliary cancers that bear a KRAS G12C mutation. Dr. Bekaii-Saab has authored more than 600 peer reviewed publications, abstracts, and book chapters, including papers in New England Journal of Medicine , Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA, JNCI, Annals of Oncology, and Clinical Cancer Research.

Education & Training

Tufts University School of MedicinePharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics, 2000 - 2002
Tufts Medical CenterFellowship, Hematology and Medical Oncology, 1999 - 2002
Indiana University School of MedicineResidency, Internal Medicine, 1996 - 1999
American University of Beirut Faculty of MedicineClass of 1996
McGill UniversityB.S., Neuro Biology, With Great Distinction, 1990 - 1992
American University of BeirutNone, Biology, Dean's Honor List, 1987 - 1989
Université de Montpellier None, Medicine , 1986 - 1987

Certifications & Licensure

AZ State Medical License 2015 - 2027
OH State Medical License 2002 - 2017
MA State Medical License 1999 - 2002
IN State Medical License 1996 - 2000
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
Regional Top Doctor Castle Connolly, 2012-2014
Top Doctor Castle Connolly, 2012
Top 10 Doctor Vitals, 2012
Leadership Development Award Program ASCO, 2012
Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award National Cancer Institute, 2011
America’s Top Oncologist Gastrointestinal Oncology, 2010
Workshop Award ASCO/AACR/NCI/FDA, 2001, 2005
Oliver Smith Award Tufts-New England Medical Center, 1999
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Clinical Trials

Lapatinib Ditosylate in Treating Patients With Unresectable Liver or Biliary Tract Cancer Start of enrollment: 2005 Oct 01
Completed
Phase 2
3-AP and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III Pancreatic Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery Start of enrollment: 2006 Dec 20
Completed
Phase 1
3-AP and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphoma Start of enrollment: 2006 Jun 01
Completed
Phase 1
Selumetinib in Treating Patients With Biliary Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery Start of enrollment: 2007 Nov 01
Completed
Phase 2
Sunitinib in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Start of enrollment: 2008 Jun 30
Completed
Phase 2
Sorafenib Tosylate With or Without Doxorubicin Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Liver Cancer Start of enrollment: 2010 Feb 15
Completed
Phase 3
Study of REOLYSIN® in Combination With FOLFIRI and Bevacizumab in FOLFIRI Naive Patients With KRAS Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2010 Dec 01
Completed
Phase 1
Carboplatin and Paclitaxel With or Without Viral Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Start of enrollment: 2010 Dec 01
Completed
Phase 2
Regorafenib+FOLFIRI Versus Placebo+FOLFIRI as 2nd Line Tx in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2011 Apr 07
Completed
Phase 2
MK2206 in Treating Patients With Advanced Refractory Biliary Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery Start of enrollment: 2011 Apr 01
Completed
Phase 2
S1201: Combination Chemo for Patients W/Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal, Gastric, or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Start of enrollment: 2012 Feb 01
Completed
Phase 2
Study of LGX818 and Cetuximab or LGX818, BYL719, and Cetuximab in BRAF Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2012 Nov 23
Completed
Phase 2
SGI-110 in the Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
COMPLETED
PHASE2
Immunotherapy Study in Borderline Resectable or Locally Advanced Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer Start of enrollment: 2013 May 01
Terminated
Phase 3
Selumetinib and Akt Inhibitor MK-2206 in Treating Patients With Refractory or Advanced Gallbladder or Bile Duct Cancer That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery Start of enrollment: 2013 Jan 01
Withdrawn
Phase 2
A Phase II, Single Arm Study of BGJ398 in Patients With Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma Start of enrollment: 2014 Jul 23
Terminated
Phase 2
A Study of Zenocutuzumab (MCLA-128) in Patients With Solid Tumors Harboring an NRG1 Fusion (eNRGy)
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE2
Pembrolizumab in Treating Patients With Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma That is Metastatic or Locally Advanced and Cannot Be Removed by Surgery Start of enrollment: 2017 Mar 24
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE2
Liposomal Irinotecan, Fluorouracil, Leucovorin Calcium, and Rucaparib in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic, Colorectal, Gastroesophageal, or Biliary Cancer Start of enrollment: 2018 Nov 02
Active, not recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2
Binimetinib and Palbociclib or TAS-102 in Treating Patients With KRAS and NRAS Mutant Metastatic or Unresectable Colorectal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2019 Oct 29
COMPLETED
PHASE2
Panitumumab, Regorafenib, or TAS-102, in Treating Patients With Metastatic and/or Unresectable RAS Wild-Type Colorectal Cancer Start of enrollment: 2020 Apr 24
Active, not recruiting
Phase 2
Pemigatinib for the Treatment of Metastatic or Unresectable Colorectal Cancer Harboring FGFR Alterations Start of enrollment: 2020 Aug 31
Active, not recruiting
Phase 2
Tucatinib Plus Trastuzumab and Oxaliplatin-based Chemotherapy or Pembrolizumab-containing Combinations for HER2+ Gastrointestinal Cancers Start of enrollment: 2020 Sep 15
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE2
An Open Label Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Etrumadenant (AB928) Based Treatment Combinations in Participants With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Start of enrollment: 2021 May 10
COMPLETED
PHASE1, PHASE2
Electromagnetic Fields Versus Placebo For Child-Pugh A and B Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Start of enrollment: 2023 Jul 01
Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 3
Roles: Principal Investigator, Contact
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Durvalumab in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer: Real-World Data From a Large Cohort of Patients Across Multiple International Centers.
Margherita Rimini, Lorenzo Fornaro, Masafumi Ikeda, Oluseyi Abidoye, Jessica Lucchetti
Liver International. 2025-12-01
Cost-effectiveness analysis of regorafenib dose optimization for refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.
Tanios Bekaii-Saab, Sang Kyu Cho, Brian Hocum, Jamie Grossman, Sreevalsa Appukkuttan
Journal of Medical Economics. 2025-12-01
Optimized dose schedule of rucaparib and liposomal irinotecan/5-fluorouracil in metastatic gastrointestinal cancers: A phase 1 study.
Cody Eslinger, Daniel Walden, Alexandra Krivonos, Numrah Fadra, Tyler Zemla
Cancer. 2025-12-01

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
What provider volumes and characteristics are appropriate for gastric cancer resection? Results of an international RAND/UCLA expert panel
Dixon M, Mahar A, Paszat L, McLeod R, Law C, Swallow C, Helyer L, Seeveratnam R, Cardoso R, Bekaii-Saab et al, Surgery, 11/1/2013
The Addition of Radiation to Chemotherapy does not Improve Outcome When Compared to Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Resected Pancreas Cancer: The Results of a Single-...
Martin LK, Luu DC, Li X, Muscarella P, Christopher Ellison E, Bloomston M, Bekaii-Saab T, Ann Surg Oncol, 9/18/2013
Pain, Depression, and Fatigue: Loneliness as a Longitudinal Risk Factor
Jaremka LM, Andridge RR, Fagundes CP, Alfano CM, Povoski SP, Lipari AM, Agnese DM, Arnold MW, Farrar WB, Yee LD, Carson WE, Bekaii-Saab T, Martin EW, Schmidt CR, Kieco..., Health Psychol, 8/19/2013
Phase I dose-escalation study of EZN-2208 (PEG-SN38), a novel conjugate of poly(ethylene) glycol and SN38, administered weekly in patients with advanced cancer
Patnaik A, Papadopoulos KP, Tolcher AW, Beeram M, Urien S, Schaaf LJ, Tahiri S, Bekaii-Saab T, Lokiec FM, Rezaï K, Buchbinder A, Cancer Chemother Pharmacol, 6/1/2013
Peptide Vaccines and Peptidomimetics of EGFR (HER-1) Ligand Binding Domain Inhibit Cancer Cell Growth In Vitro and In Vivo
Foy KC, Wygle RM, Miller MJ, Overholser JP, Bekaii-Saab T, Kaumaya PT, J Immunol, 5/22/2013
Pancreatic Cancer-Associated Stellate Cells Promote Differentiation of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in a STAT3-Dependent Manner
Mace TA, Ameen Z, Collins A, Wojcik S, Mair M, Young GS, Fuchs JR, Eubank TD, Frankel WL, Bekaii-Saab T, Bloomston M, Lesinski GB, Cancer Res, 5/15/2013
Defining Surgical Quality in Gastric Cancer: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Study
Brar S, Law C, McLeod R, Helyer L, Swallow C, Paszat L, Seevaratnam R, Cardoso R, Dixon M, Mahar A, Lourenco LG, Yohanathan L, Bocicariu A, Bekaii-Saab T et al, J Am Coll Surg, 5/8/2013
Localized Colon Cancer
Benson AB 3rd, Bekaii-Saab T, Chan E, Chen YJ, Choti MA, Cooper HS, Engstrom PF et al, J Natl Compr Canc Netw, 5/1/2013
Optimal Management of Gastric Cancer: Results From an International RAND/UCLA Expert Panel
Coburn N, Seevaratnam R, Paszat L, Helyer L, Law C, Swallow C, Cardosa R, Mahar A, Lourenco LG, Dixon M, Bekaii-Saab T et al, Ann Surg, 3/8/2013
Colorectal Cancer
Bekaii-Saab T, Audio-Digest Oncology, 3/7/2013
Metastatic colon cancer
Benson AB 3rd, Bekaii-Saab T, Chan E, Chen YJ, Choti MA, Cooper HS, Engstrom PF et al, J Natl Compr Canc Netw, 2/1/2013
Clinical indications for Ziv-Aflibercept in colorectal cancer
Haraldsdottir S, Bekaii-Saab T, The International Journal of Targeted Therapies in Cancer, 2/1/2013
A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Study of the Management of Familial Gastric Cancer
Dixon M, Seevaratnam R, Wirtzfeld D, McLeod R, Helyer L, Law C, Swallow C, Paszat L, Bocicariu A, Cardoso R, Mahar A, Bekaii-Saab T et al, Ann Surg Oncol, 2/1/2013
Phase I Dose Escalation and Pharmacodynamic Study of SU5416 (Semaxanib) Combined with Weekly Cisplatin and Irinotecan in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors
Martin LK, Bekaii-Saab T, Serna D, Monk P, Clinton SK, Grever MR, Kraut EH, Onkologie, 1/1/2013
FOLFIRINOX in Locally Advanced Pancreas Adenocarcinoma: Back to the Future?
Bekaii-Saab T, Goldberg RM, Oncology, 1/1/2013
Astounding' increase in esophageal adenocarcinoma largely unexplained
Bekaii-Saab T, Ilson D,Infantolino A, Ko A, HemOnc Today, 12/10/2012
Fractionated Radioimmunotherapy (RAIT) with 90Y-Clivatuzumab Tetraxetan (90Y-hPAM4) and Low-dose Gemcitabine is Active in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Phase I trial
Ocean A, Pennington K, Guarino M, Sheikh A, Bekaii-Saab T, Serafini A, Lee D, Sung M, Gulec S, Goldsmith S, Manzone T, Holt M, O'Neil B, Hall N, Montero A, Kauh J, Gol..., Cancer, 11/15/2012
Influence of KRAS Mutational Status in Metachronous and Synchronous Metastatic Colorectal Adenocarcinoma
Rose J, Serna D, Martin K, Li X, Weatherby L, Abdel-Misih S, Zhao W and Bekaii-Saab T, Cancer, 11/1/2012
VEGF remains an interesting target in advanced pancreas cancer (PCA): Results of a multi-institutional phase II study of bevacizumab, gemcitabine and infusional 5-fluo...
Martin K, Li X, Kleiber B, Ellison E. C., Bloomston M, Zalupski M and Bekaii-Saab T, Annals of Oncology, 11/1/2012
The Ohio Patient Navigation Research Program: does the American Cancer Society patient navigation model improve time to resolution in patients with abnormal screening ...
Paskett ED, Katz ML, Post DM, Pennell ML, Young GS, Seiber EE, Harrop JP, DeGraffinreid CR, Tatum CM, Dean JA, Murray DM, Ohio Patient Navigation Research Program, Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 10/1/2012
Yttrium-90 (90Y) Radioembolization as a Salvage Treatment of Refractory Colorectal Cancer with Liver Metastases: A Retrospective Analysis
Martin L, Cucci A, Wei L, Rose J, Blazer M, Schmidt C, Khabiri K, Bloomston M, and Bekaii-Saab T, Clin Colorectal Cancer, 9/1/2012
Zaltrap approved for metastatic colorectal cancer
Bekaii-Saab T, Cancer Discovery, 8/23/2012
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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 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 CancerOctober 3rd, 2019
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