Karen McLean

MD, PhD, FACOG
Gynecologic Oncology

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

About Karen McLean

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

Research Overview:

McLean Laboratory
Can you get cervical cancer after a hysterectomy? Frequently Searched Questions: Ovarian Cancer

Featured on Cancer Talk

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

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