Christopher Gamper, MD, PhD
Pediatric Hematology
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Christopher Gamper
Primary Academic Title
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Background
When it comes to discussing the realities of current cancer therapies, Christopher Gamper, M.D., PhD., doesn't mince words. "Conventional therapy knocks down the immune response. In a way, what we do to treat patients directly subverts what we're trying to accomplish," he says matter-of-factly, referring to the immune-suppressing effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
It's a grim reality that Dr. Gamper refuses to accept lightly. In fact, he's chosen to dedicate his research in pediatric oncology to finding alternate, less toxic methods of treating cancer. Subsequently, he's honing in on immunotherapy—a method of treatment that focuses on triggering the body's immune system to recognize and respond to cancerous cells.
Though it sounds like a fairly straightforward concept, Dr. Gamper cautions that immunology, as well as patients' response to it, is an extremely complex matter. "We take the immune system for granted, but the actual sophistication behind this seemingly mundane thing is incredibly complicated," Dr. Gamper says.
Applying immunology to patients with cancer is particularly daunting, Dr. Gamper explains, because their systems are already immune-suppressed. "The trick," he says, "is how to uncover chinks in the armor, so to speak, so we can turn off the defense mechanism of tumors."
While researching new ways to treat cancer, Dr. Gamper also focuses on improving how existing therapies are administered. "We want to do what we can to spare toxicity [inherent in chemotherapy treatment]—not just to have patients survive cancer," he says.
This pursuit involves analyzing genetic differences that may explain why not all patients respond similarly to chemotherapy. "Some patients exhibit an excellent response rate to treatment. Others may have a genetic factor that predisposes them to a high rate of relapse. We're looking at changes in therapy based on these differences," Dr. Gamper says.
As he soldiers on to find treatments that are less toxic and ultimately more effective for children with cancer, Dr. Gamper is buoyed by the strength of the families he encounters. "They say to us, 'I want to help other people in the world learn more.'" He believes that it's this spirit of generosity, whereby parents enroll their children in clinical trials knowing they personally may not reap the benefits, that has hastened the progress of pediatric oncology.
"Scientific progress has exploded: our understanding of genetic underpinnings, the potential for treatments to turn off genetic switches. We're just beginning to incorporate these new strategies that hold out the most hope," Dr. Gamper says.
Centers and Institutes
Clinical Trials Summary
Hematopoietic stem cell transplant and cancer immunotherapy.
Additional Academic Titles
Assistant Professor of Oncology
Research Interests
Regulation of T cell effector function in the setting of cancer immunotherapy and graft versus host disease
Selected Publications
Bolaños-Meade J, Fuchs EJ, Luznik L, Lanzkron SM, Gamper CJ, Jones RJ, Brodsky RA. HLA-haploidentical bone marrow transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide expands the donor pool for patients with sickle cell disease. Blood. 2012 Nov 22;120(22):4285-91. PMC3507140
Jacoby E, Chen A, Loeb DM, Gamper CJ, Zambidis E, Llosa NJ, Huo J, Cooke KR, Jones R, Fuchs E, Luznik L, Symons HJ, Single agent post-transplantation cyclophosphamide as GVHD prophylaxis after HLA-matched related BMT for pediatric and young adult patients with hematologic malignancies. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplant. 2016 Jan;22(1):112-8. PMC4706497
Klein OR, Chen AR, Gamper C, Loeb D, Zambidis E, Llosa N, Huo J, Dezern AE, Steppan D, Robey N, Jo Holuba M, Cooke KR, Symons HJ. Alternative-Donor Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation with Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide for Nonmalignant Disorders. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplant. 2016 May;22(5):895-901. PMCID pending.
Thomas RM†, Gamper CJ†, Ladle BH, Powell JD, Wells AD. De novo DNA methylation is required to restrict T helper lineage plasticity. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2012; 287(27):22900-9. PMC3391093 †These authors contributed equally to these studies.
Courses & Syllabi
- Classroom Instruction 10/06 - present Small group leader, Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Clinical Instruction 7/07 - 6/08 Morbidity & Mortality Coordinator, Pediatric Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Helped choose cases and supervise fellows presentations at Pediatric and Medical Oncology monthly M&M presentations
- 3/11 - present Small group leader, Genes to Society, Leukemia, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- CME Instruction 8/09 - 6/14 Organizer, Pediatric Oncology Case Conference, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Weekly multi-disciplinary conference held with Radiations Oncology, Pediatric Surgery, Radiology, and Pathology to review diagnostic studies and treatment planning for all active patients in the division; Didactic presentations by the fellows on service
Honors
- 2008 - 2009 Hyundai Scholar, $40,000 award for support of Pediatric Oncology research, Hyundai Motor Corporation
- 2009 - 2011 Cash Scholar, $36,000 per year, award for support of Pediatric Oncology research, Jonas Cash Foundation
- 2010 - 2011 Hyundai Scholar, $60,000 award for support of Pediatric Oncology research, Hyundai Motor Corporation
- 2012 SKCCC Director's Teaching Award in Clinical Science
- 2013 - 2014 Hyundai Scholar, $75,000 award for support of Pediatric Oncology research, Hyundai Motor Corporation
- Hyundai Scholar, 1/1/08
Memberships
- ASCO
- COG
- American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Locations
- Rubenstein Child Health Building
- 200 North Wolfe Street, Rubenstein BLDG Lower Level, Baltimore, MD 21287
- phone: 443-997-5437
- fax: 410-367-2748
- Johns Hopkins Children's Center
- 1800 Orleans Street, Bloomberg 11N, Baltimore, MD 21287
- phone: 410-955-8751
- fax: 410-614-1802
Expertise
Education
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Fellowship, Pediatric Oncology, 2008Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Residency, Pediatrics, 2004Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Medical Education, MD PhD, 2001Board Certifications
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
American Board of Pediatrics, 2009Pediatrics
American Board of Pediatrics, 2004Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Humana
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- UnitedHealthcare
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)