Karen McLean, MD, PhD, FACOG

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology
Department of Gynecologic Oncology
Dr. M. Steven Piver Endowed Professorship in Gynecologic Oncology

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Locations

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

Dr. McLean is a Buffalo Spree Top Doctor! Top Doctors 2024 See all of our physicians who made this year's list.

Cancers Treated:

Cervical Endometrium Fallopian Tube Ovarian Uterine Endometrial Vaginal Vulvar

Specializing In:

  • Cancers of the ovaries, uterus, cervix and vulva/vagina
  • Surgical management of gynecologic malignancies including laparotomy, robotic and conventional laparoscopy, complex pelvic surgeries including bowel and urologic components
  • Chemotherapy and clinical trials
  • Primary radiation for patients unable to undergo surgery

Research Interests:

  • Comprehensive care for women with gynecologic cancers
  • Translational laboratory research to discover new cancer treatments
  • Mentorship and education of trainees

Biography

I am a board-certified gynecologic oncologist with extensive experience as a principal investigator running a basic science laboratory concurrent with an active clinical gynecologic oncology practice including comprehensive surgical and chemotherapy care. I am committed to advancing our understanding of gynecologic cancers with the goal of improving outcomes for our patients.

View the McLean Laboratory

Positions

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

  • Associate Professor of Oncology
  • Department of Gynecologic Oncology
  • Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics
  • Dr. M. Steven Piver Endowed Professorship in Gynecologic Oncology

Background

Education and Training

  • 1995-2004 - PhD - Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  • 1995-2004 - MD - Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Residency

  • 2004 -2008 - Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Fellowship

  • 2008 - 2011 - Gynecologic Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Board Certification

  • Obstetrics & Gynecology - American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Gynecologic Oncology - American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Memberships

  • American Association for Cancer Research
  • Society of Gynecologic Oncology

Honors & Awards

  • Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Academy

Research Overview

McLean Laboratory

Frequently Searched Questions: Cervical cancer Frequently Searched Questions: Uterine Cancer Can you get cervical cancer after a hysterectomy? Frequently Searched Questions: Ovarian Cancer

Featured on CancerTalk

Frequently Searched Questions: Cervical cancer
Dr. Katherine Mager and Dr. Karen McLean smile together while answering questions for the most frequently searched questions for cervical cancer
Frequently Searched Questions: Uterine Cancer
Graphic with the words "frequently searched questions: uterine cancer"
Can you get cervical cancer after a hysterectomy?
Hands holding a drawing of the female reproductive system, including the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and cervix.

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Publications

Full Publications list on PubMed

Tan L, Tondo-Steele K, Foster C, McIlwain C, Bolland DE, Crawford HC, Sciallis A, McLean K. Inhibition of Tumor Microenvironment Cytokine Signaling Sensitizes Ovarian Cancer Cells to Antiestrogen Therapy. Cancers 14:4675, 2022. PMC9564160

McLean K, Tan L, Bolland DE, Coffman LG, Peterson LF, Talpaz M, Neamati N, Buckanovich RJ:
Leukemia inhibitory factor functions in parallel with interleukin-6 to promote ovarian cancer growth.
Oncogene 38(9): 1576-1584, 2018. PM30305729

Hacker KE, Bolland DE, Tan L, Saha AK, Niknafs YS, Markovitz DM, McLean K: The DEK Oncoprotein
Functions in Ovarian Cancer Growth and Survival. Neoplasia 20(12): 1209-1218, 2018. PM30412857
/PMC6226625

Stasenko M, Plegue M, Sciallis AP, McLean K: Clinical response to antiestrogen therapy in platinum-resistant
ovarian cancer patients and the role of tumor estrogen receptor expression status. International
journal of gynecological cancer: official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society 25(2):
222-8, 2015. PM25500503

McLean K, Gong Y, Choi Y, Deng N, Yang K, Bai S, Cabrera L, Keller E, McCauley L, Cho KR,
Buckanovich RJ: Human ovarian carcinoma–associated mesenchymal stem cells regulate cancer stem
cells and tumorigenesis via altered BMP production. J Clin Invest 121(8): 3206-19, 2011. PM21737876
/PMC3148732