Hamza Hassan, MD

Specialty: Hematologic Oncology
Myeloma and Amyloidosis Division
Member, Multiple Myeloma Translational Research
Department of Internal Medicine

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Locations

Roswell Park Main Campus
1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355)

Cancers Treated:

Specializing In:

  • Plasma Cell Disorders
  • Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS)
  • Smoldering Myeloma
  • Light Chain Amyloidosis
  • POEMS Syndrome
  • Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
  • Cryoglobulinemia
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation/Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Immunotherapy
  • Cellular Therapy

Research Interests:

  • High-risk Multiple Myeloma
  • Phase I trials
  • Fraility and patient-reported outcomes
  • Extramedullary myeloma
  • Plasma cell leukemia
  • AL Amyloidosis
  • Supportive care
  • Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy

Biography

I am a physician-researcher and hematologist-oncologist specializing in the care of patients with multiple myeloma, AL amyloidosis, precursor condition such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and other related disorders affecting plasma cells. These are the cells that produce the antibodies that protect us against infection and live predominantly in the bone marrow. I trained at one of the most robust autologous stem cell transplant and CAR T cell therapy centers in Boston. Many of the patients I see have a disease that has been deemed hard to treat or high risk.

A blood cancer diagnosis dramatically changes the trajectory of a patient’s life. I am acutely aware of the impact that I have on a patient’s cancer treatment journey and am passionate about having the opportunity to make a difference in my patients’ lives. Throughout the years of caring for patients with multiple myeloma, amyloidosis and plasma cell disorders, my patients and their family members have always been the most important people in the room for me. It is my responsibility to educate my patients with relevant information about their disease, alleviate their concerns at each stage in the process, and develop a treatment plan that best befits their individual needs. I advocate equitable care for patients with hematologic diseases from underserved populations through community-based patient and peer education programs. I am committed to making each of my patients feel comforted by the expertise of their care team and empowered by the information provided to them.

Positions

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

  • Assistant Professor of Oncology
  • Myeloma and Amyloidosis Division
  • Member, Multiple Myeloma Translational Research
  • Department of Internal Medicine

Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo

  • Assistant Professor of Medicine

Background

Education and Training

  • MBBS - Rawalpindi Medical College, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

Fellowship

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Cancer Center, Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Research Center, Boston, MA
  • Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

Board Certification

  • Internal Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Medical Oncology - American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Hematology - American Board of Internal Medicine

Professional Memberships

  • Member of the IMF IMWG (International Myeloma Working Group)
  • International Myeloma Society
  • American Society of Hematology
  • American Society of Medical Oncology
  • American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy

Honors & Awards

  • AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop, La Jolla, California (Vail Workshop)
  • Research Travel Award; Amyloidosis Research Consortium
  • Best Clinical Poster Evan’s Award, Boston University School of Medicine
  • FDA/ASCO Fellows' Workshop

Clinical Trials

Publications

  Full Publications list on PubMed
  • Hassan H, Davila ML. Deciphering the response to BCMA CAR T cell therapy. Nat Cancer. 2024 Sep 19. doi: 10.1038/s43018-024-00826-w. PMID: 39300321.  
  • Muchtar E, Gertz MA, Mwangi R, Hassan H, Dispenzieri A, Leung N, Buadi FK, Dingli D, Staron A, Sanchorawala V. Long-term outcomes of renal AL amyloidosis patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation: Validating the performance of the renal staging system. Am J Hematol. 2024 Aug 29. doi: 10.1002/ajh.27460. PMID: 39207186.
  • DuMontier C, La J, Bihn J, Corrigan J, Yildirim C, Dharne M, Hassan H, Yellapragada S, Abel GA, Gaziano JM, Do NV, Brophy M, Kim DH, Munshi NC, Fillmore NR, Driver JA. More intensive therapy has a better effect for frail parents with multiple myeloma. Blood Adv. 2023 Oct 24;7(20):6275-6284. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023011019. PMID: 37582048; PMCID: PMC10589796.
  • Hassan H, Szalat R. Genetic Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Multiple Myeloma. Appl Clin Genet. 2021 Apr 29;14:241-254. doi: 10.2147/TACG.S262866. PMID: 33953598; PMCID: PMC8092627.
  • Hassan H, Verma K, Ferri G, Brauneis D, Quillen K, Sloan JM, Sanchorawala V, Edwards CV. Modified High-Dose versus High-Dose Melphalan Conditioning in Older Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Immunoglobulin Light Chain Amyloidosis. Transplant Cell Ther. 2022 Nov;28(11):761.e1-761.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.08.007. Epub 2022 Aug 12. PMID: 35970300.
  • Hassan H, Anwer F, Javaid A, Hashmi H. Progress in research: Daratumumab improves treatment outcomes of patients with AL amyloidosis. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2021 Sep;165:103435. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103435. Epub 2021 Jul 31. PMID: 34343658.
  • Edwards CV, Hassan H, Yildirim C, Ferri G, Verma KP, Murray Horwitz ME, Fillmore NR, Munshi NC. Peripheral blood monocyte count is a dynamic prognostic biomarker in multiple myeloma. Blood Adv. 2023 Feb 28;7(4):482-490. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022008021. PMID: 36409606; PMCID: PMC9979755.
  • Hassan H, Sanchorawala V. Beyond Survival in AL amyloidosis: Identifying and Satisfying Patients’ Needs. Hemato. 2022 Jan 4;3(1):38-46.