Pooja Rao, MD - Penn State Cancer Institute
Researcher Profile
Pooja Rao, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Division of Hematology and Oncology
Division of Hematology and Oncology
Scientific Program:Cancer Control
Disease Teams:
Cancer Institute, Pediatric Cancer Team
Clinical Trials
A Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Open vs Thoracoscopic Management of Pulmonary Metastases in Patients With Osteosarcoma
Phase II Trial of Tipifarnib and Naxitamab for Relapsed/Refractory Neuroblastoma BCC022
A Phase 1/2, Open-label, Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Anti-Tumor Activity Study of Repotrectinib in Pediatric and Young Adult Subjects with Advanced or Metastatic Malignancies Harboring ALK, ROS1, or NTRK1-3 Alterations (CARE)
A Dose Escalation Study Using Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and AMXT-1501 followed by a Randomized Controlled Trial of DFMO with or without AMXT-1501 for Neuroblastoma, CNS Tumors, and Sarcomas
A Phase II Study of Naxitamab Added to Induction Therapy for Subjects with Newly Diagnosed
High-Risk Neuroblastoma
BCC021 Phase I/II study of Silmitasertib (CX-4945) in combination with chemotherapy in children and young adults with relapsed refractory solid tumors
Phase II Trial of Eflornithine (DFMO) and Etoposide for Relapsed/Refractory Neuroblastoma
AHOD2131 A Randomized Phase 3 Interim Response Adapted Trial Comparing Standard Therapy with Immuno-oncology Therapy for Children and Adults with Newly Diagnosed Stage I and II Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma
Recent Publications
2025
Rao, P, Segel, JE, Bingen, K, Devine, KA, Scott, AM, Koehly, LM, Verdery, AM, Rumbaugh, CL, Wasserman, E, Costigan, HJ, Dandekar, S, Rakszawski, K, Songdej, N, Blackall, GF, Vasekar, M, Naik, S, Lengerich, EJ & Van Scoy, LJ 2025, 'The impact of a personal cancer diagnosis on adolescent and young adult cancer survivors’ social connectedness: A qualitative analysis', Journal of Health Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053241311977
2024
Kuntz, H, Santucci, J, Butts, S, Dandekar, S, Smink, G, Van Scoy, LJ & Rao, P 2024, 'Determinants of Decision Regret Regarding Fertility Preservation in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review', Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 726-737. https://doi.org/10.1089/jayao.2023.0191
Rao, P, Segel, JE, Bingen, K, Devine, KA, Rumbaugh, CL, Costigan, HJ, Dandekar, S, Wasserman, E, Koehly, LM, Blackall, GF, Rakszawski, K, Songdej, N, Verdery, AM, Lengerich, EJ & Van Scoy, LJ 2024, 'Educational and occupational aspirations of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: a qualitative analysis', Supportive Care in Cancer, vol. 32, no. 9, 572. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08761-3
Caru, M, Dandekar, S, Gordon, B, Conroy, DE, Barb, ED, Doerksen, SE, Smink, GM, McKeone, DJ, Shah, NB, Greiner, RJ, Schramm, JW, Rao, P, McGregor, L & Schmitz, KH 2024, 'Implementing a behavioral physical activity program in children and adolescent survivors of childhood cancer: a pilot randomized controlled trial', Journal of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 47, no. 5, pp. 792-803. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-024-00497-z
Kaiser, KM, Rao, P & Estes, SJ 2024, 'Variables associated with ovarian insufficiency in pediatric oncology patients following chemotherapy', Pediatric Hematology Oncology Journal, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 32-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phoj.2024.01.004
2023
Rao, P, Kazak, AE, Doerksen, SE, Koehly, LM, Verdery, AM, Heitzenrater, J, Harding, BA, Byrnes, CL, Costigan, HJ, Rovniak, LS, Sciamanna, CN, Van Scoy, LJ & Schmitz, KH 2023, 'AYA-UNITE: Lessons Learned on Intervention Development Promoting Social and Physical Health of Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Survivors', Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, vol. 12, no. 6, pp. 929-934. https://doi.org/10.1089/jayao.2023.0093
Caru, M, Alberts, NM, Freeman, MC, Dandekar, SC, Rao, P, McKeone, DJ, Brown, VI, McGregor, LM & Schmitz, KH 2023, 'Chronic pain in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer: the challenge of mitigating the pain and the potential of integrating exercise into pain management', Supportive Care in Cancer, vol. 31, no. 4, 228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-023-07695-6
Caru, M, Wurz, A, Brunet, J, Barb, ED, Adams, SC, Roth, ME, Winters-Stone, K, Fidler-Benaoudia, MM, Dandekar, S, Ness, KK, Culos-Reed, SN, Schulte, F, Rao, P, Mizrahi, D, Swartz, MC, Smith, M, Valle, CG, Kadan-Lottick, NS, Dieli-Conwright, CM & Schmitz, KH 2023, 'Physical activity and physical fitness assessments in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer: a scoping review', Supportive Care in Cancer, vol. 31, no. 10, 569. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-023-08008-7
Demharter, NS, Rao, P, Scalzi, LV, Ericson, JE & Clarke, S 2023, 'Prolonged Thrombocytopenia in a Case of MIS-C in a Vaccinated Child', Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports, vol. 11. https://doi.org/10.1177/23247096221145104
2022
Caru, M, Levesque, A, Rao, P, Dandekar, S, Terry, C, Brown, V, McGregor, L & Schmitz, K 2022, 'A scoping review to map the evidence of physical activity interventions in post-treatment adolescent and young adult cancer survivors', Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, vol. 171, 103620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103620
Rao, P, Sproch, A, Ungemach, M, Cash, M & Blackall, GF 2022, 'Life on Pause: Lessons Learned in Creating an Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivor Podcast', Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 439-441. https://doi.org/10.1089/jayao.2021.0073