Biography
I am a board-certified pathologist with expertise in thoracic and cardiovascular pathology and a physician-scientist focused on cancer therapy–induced cardiovascular toxicity. My clinical work involves evaluating tissue samples from cancer patients, many of whom have received radiotherapy, immunotherapy, or tyrosine kinase inhibitors—therapies that have transformed oncology but can cause significant cardiac and vascular injury. These clinical observations have guided my research into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity and the development of therapeutic strategies to mitigate these effects. My work bridges clinical pathology and translational research to identify approaches that preserve cardiac health without compromising anti-tumor efficacy. Building on my PhD training in Cardiovascular Pathology and Molecular Biology at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, I have maintained a long-standing interest in the pathophysiology of cardiac remodeling, inflammation, and fibrosis.
Current studies in my laboratory focus on the cardioprotective effects of small peptides and peptide analogs in cancer therapy–related cardiovascular toxicity. We are also investigating the immune-mediated mechanisms of cardiotoxicity in immunotherapy-induced organ injury. Through these efforts, my goal is to develop safe, mechanism-based interventions that improve both cardiovascular outcomes and effectiveness of cancer therapy.
Positions
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Professor of Oncology
- Chief, Pathology
- Director, Thoracic Pathology
- Vice Chair of Research, Pathology
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
- Vice Chair Research Pathology
Background
Education and Training
- 2000-2004 - PhD - Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Molecular Biology, University of Maastricht and University of Groningen, the Netherlands
- 1993-2000 - MD - Tribhuvan University, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal Medical School
Residency
- 2009-2011 - Anatomical Pathology/Clinical Pathology (PGY3 – PGY4), University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
- 2007-2009 - Anatomical Pathology/Clinical Pathology (PGY1 – PGY2), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Fellowship
- 2012-2013 - Joseph M. Corson Thoracic Pathology Fellowship, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- 2011-2012 - Cytopathology Fellowship, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Board Certification
- 2012 - Cytopathology (American Board of Pathology)
- 2011 - Anatomic Pathology (American Board of Pathology)
- 2011 - Clinical Pathology (American Board of Pathology
Publications
Li H, Shyam Sunder S, Jatwani K, Bae Y, Deng L, Liu Q, Dy GK, Pokharel S. Tumor Characteristics and Treatment Responsiveness in Pembrolizumab-Treated Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma. Cancers. 2024 Feb 10;16(4). doi: 10.3390/cancers16040744. PubMed PMID: 38398135; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10887414.
Shyam Sunder S, Sharma UC, Pokharel S. Adverse effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cancer therapy: pathophysiology, mechanisms and clinical management. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2023 Jul 7;8(1):262. doi: 10.1038/s41392-023-01469-6. Review. PubMed PMID: 37414756; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10326056.
Sonkawade SD, Xu S, Kim M, Nepali S, Karambizi VG, Sexton S, Turowski SG, Li K, Spernyak JA, Lovell JF, George A, Suwal S, Sharma UC, Pokharel S. Phospholipid Encapsulation of an Anti-Fibrotic Endopeptide to Enhance Cellular Uptake and Myocardial Retention. Cells. 2023 Jun 8;12(12). doi: 10.3390/cells12121589. PubMed PMID: 37371059; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10296995.
Peters S, Letovanec I, Mauer M, Dafni U, Ejedepang D, Biernat W, Bubendorf L, Warth A, Pokharel S, Reinmuth N, Majem Tarruella M, Casas-Martin J, Tsourti Z, Marti N, Kammler R, Danson S, O'Brien M, Stahel RA. Assessment of RANK/RANK-L prevalence and clinical significance in NSCLC European Thoracic Oncology Platform Lungscape cohort and SPLENDOUR randomized clinical trial. Lung Cancer. 2023 Jan;175:141–151. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2022.12.004. Epub 2022 Dec 13. PubMed PMID: 36535121.
Ganti AKP, Loo BW, Bassetti M, Blakely C, Chiang A, D'Amico TA, D'Avella C, Dowlati A, Downey RJ, Edelman M, Florsheim C, Gold KA, Goldman JW, Grecula JC, Hann C, Iams W, Iyengar P, Kelly K, Khalil M, Koczywas M, Merritt RE, Mohindra N, Molina J, Moran C, Pokharel S, Puri S, Qin A, Rusthoven C, Sands J, Santana-Davila R, Shafique M, Waqar SN, Gregory KM, Hughes M. Small Cell Lung Cancer, Version 2.2022, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2021 Dec;19(12):1441–1464. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2021.0058. PubMed PMID: 34902832; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10203822.