Theodore DeWeese, MD
Radiation Oncology
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Theodore DeWeese
Professional Titles
- The Frances Watt Baker, M.D., and Lenox D. Baker Jr., M.D. Dean of the Medical Faculty and CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Vice President for Interdisciplinary Patient Care, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences
Background
Theodore DeWeese is The Frances Watt Baker, M.D., and Lenox D. Baker Jr., M.D. Dean of the Medical Faculty and CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dr. DeWeese is professor of oncology and urology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His areas of clinical expertise include prostate cancer, radiation oncology and urological oncology.
He and his colleagues focus their research on developing new ways to enhance radiation-induced killing of prostate cancer cells. This includes development of novel, prostate cancer-targeted RNA molecules as well as new ways to modulate androgen receptor signaling. He and his colleagues also developed the first adenoviral gene therapy trial for prostate cancer, using a common cold virus to target cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.
Dr. DeWeese earned his M.D. from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He completed his residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, serving as chief resident, and performed a laboratory research fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center and the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute.
Dr. DeWeese's research interests include prostate cancer, DNA damage, and radiation sensitization.
Dr. DeWeese has served on numerous committees and boards including as President and Chair of the Board for the American Society for Radiation Oncology. He also serves on committees for the American Association for Cancer Research and was appointed by the National Academy of Sciences as a scientific counselor for the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Hiroshima, Japan. He has received numerous awards and honors, including several teaching awards from Johns Hopkins.
Centers and Institutes
Clinical Trial Keywords
Prostate cancer; Gene therapy
Clinical Trials Summary
Learn more about clinical trials at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.
Recent News Articles and Media Coverage
Additional Academic Titles
Professor of Urology, Professor of Oncology
Research Interests
DNA damage, Prostate Cancer, Radiation sensitization
Research Summary
Dr. DeWeese's research focus is on identifying DNA repair enzymes that, if inactivated, would result in substantial radiation sensitization. His team has synthesized a chimeric molecule in which a siRNA-targeting DNA repair protein is combined with an aptamer targeting the prostate-unique protein, prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA). This results in a chimeric siRNA-apatmer that is a potent, targeted radiosensitizer with potential for translation into prostate cancer therapy.
Selected Publications
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Alcorn S, Walker AJ, Gandhi N, Narang A, Wild AT, Hales RK, Herman JM, Song DY, DeWeese TL, Antonarakis ES, Tran PT. “Molecularly targeted agents as radiosensitizers in cancer therapy--focus on prostate cancer.” Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Jul 16;14(7):14800-32.
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Kusano AS, Thomas CR Jr, Bonner JA, DeWeese TL, Formenti SC, Hahn SM, Lawrence TS, Mittal BB. “Burnout in United States academic chairs of radiation oncology programs.” Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2014 Feb 1;88(2):363-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2013.09.027. Epub 2013 Nov 1.
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Narang AK, Lam E, Makary MA, DeWeese TL, Pawlik TM, Pronovost PJ, Herman JM. “Accuracy of marketing claims by providers of stereotactic radiation therapy.”J Oncol Pract. 2013 Jan;9(1):57-62.
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Song H, Hedayati M, Hobbs RF, Shao C, Bruchertseifer F, Morgenstern A, DeWeese TL, Sgouros G. “Targeting aberrant DNA double-strand break repair in triple-negative breast cancer with alpha-particle emitter radiolabeled anti-EGFR antibody.” Mol Cancer Ther. 2013 Oct;12(10):2043-54. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-13-0108. Epub 2013 Jul 19.
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Wada S, Harris TJ, Tryggestad E, Yoshimura K, Zeng J, Yen HR, Getnet D, Grosso JF, Bruno TC, De Marzo AM, Netto GJ, Pardoll DM, DeWeese TL, Wong J, Drake CG. “Combined treatment effects of radiation and immunotherapy: studies in an autochthonous prostate cancer model.” Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2013 Nov 15;87(4):769-76.
Honors
- Director's Teaching Award in Clinical Science, The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, 1/1/03
- Director's Teaching Award in Basic Science, The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, 1/1/02
- Doris Duke Research Scientist Award, 1/1/99
- Travel Award, European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, 1/1/98
- Travel Grant, American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Basic Science, 1/1/95
- Fellowship Award, American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Research, 1/1/94
- Chief Resident, Radiation Oncology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1/1/93
- Dean's Letter of Academic Achievement, 1/1/90
Memberships
- American Association for Cancer Research
- American College of Radiology
- American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
- American Association for Radiation Oncology,
President
Professional Activities
- American Association for Cancer Research, Education Committee, 1/1/04
- American Society for Radiation Oncology, President
- American Society for Radiation Oncology, Chair of the Board
Locations
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
- 401 North Broadway Street, Weinberg BLDG, Floor-L1 (Lobby Level), Baltimore, MD 21287
- phone: 410-502-8000
- fax: 410-502-1419
Expertise
Education
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Residency, Radiation Oncology, 1994University of Colorado Anschutz
Medical Education, MD, 1990Board Certifications
Radiation Oncology
American Board of Radiology, 1995Insurance
- 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)