Dan Theodorescu has been appointed as the Director of University of Arizona Cancer Center

On February 21, 2025, the University of Arizona Health Sciences named Dan Theodorescu, MD, PhD, as the director of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Theodorescu will assume his role as the Nancy C. and Craig M. Berge Endowed Chair for the Director of the Cancer Center on March 1. He will lead the scientific and administrative operations of the Cancer Center, including the Ginny L. Clements Breast Cancer Research Institute and the Skin Cancer Institute.

University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella expressed his excitement about this appointment, stating:

“We are very proud of the University of Arizona Cancer Center’s five decades of service as the only National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center headquartered in Arizona, uniting top clinicians and scientists as they seek to understand, prevent, and treat cancer. Dr. Theodorescu’s groundbreaking translational research and his outstanding history of academic and administrative excellence make him the ideal person to lead the Cancer Center as it continues to shape the future of cancer care. We look forward to his impact.”

Dan Theodorescu also expressed his excitement about his new role, saying:

“I am deeply committed to advancing cancer care through precision prevention and therapy, community engagement, and the integration of groundbreaking strategies to improve patient outcomes. Arizona’s diverse and dynamic population, combined with the Cancer Center’s involvement in the Cancer Moonshot and clinical trial networks, presents a unique and powerful opportunity to address the health challenges faced by different communities and make a tangible difference in their lives.”

Some of the other colleagues from the University of Arizona and Banner–University Medicine Tucson have also shared their enthusiasm and expressed kind words on Dan Theodorescu’s appointment:

“Dr. Theodorescu’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter in our pursuit of groundbreaking cancer research and transformative patient care. His visionary leadership and pioneering work in precision oncology align perfectly with our mission to drive innovation that directly benefits communities across Arizona and beyond. I look forward to seeing the Cancer Center thrive under his guidance as we continue to push the boundaries of discovery and impact lives through scientific excellence,” said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation.

Michael D. Dake, MD, Senior Vice President for U of A Health Sciences, said: “Dr. Theodorescu is an internationally renowned physician-scientist who brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and innovation to the University of Arizona Cancer Center,” “I am confident his leadership will transform the Cancer Center as we strive to solve critical health care problems, provide compassionate care, and build healthier communities for all.”

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Theodorescu to Banner–University Medicine Tucson and look forward to collaborating with him on patient care and clinical research-related activities as we continue to build on the inspiring success of the University of Arizona Cancer Center. We are committed to providing exceptional patient care and advancing new therapies for those we serve,” said Alison Flynn Gaffney, CEO of Banner-University Medicine Tucson.

About Dan Theodorescu

Dan Theodorescu is a renowned urologic oncologist specializing in bladder cancer. Before joining the University of Arizona, he served as the director of the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and led the entire Cedars-Sinai Health System cancer enterprise. From 2010 to 2018, he was the University of Colorado Cancer Center director and a distinguished university professor. Additionally, he served as the director of the Paul Mellon Urologic Cancer Institute at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Theodorescu is widely recognized for his research on the molecular mechanisms of bladder cancer, drug response prediction, and the development of novel cancer therapies. His contributions include the identification of genes regulating tumor growth and metastasis (RhoGDI2, AGL, GON4L), the discovery of biomarkers using DNA/NGS, RNA, and proteomic approaches, and the development of precision therapeutic strategies such as the COXEN principle, which has been tested in national SWOG clinical trials.

He also pioneered the discovery and development of a “first-in-class” RalGTPase inhibitor as a new cancer therapy, which was awarded a U.S. patent and is currently in commercial development. More recently, he led groundbreaking research on the loss of the Y chromosome (LOY) in cancer, demonstrating its role in altering T cell function, promoting T cell exhaustion, and increasing sensitivity to PD-1-targeted immunotherapy. This work not only advanced the understanding of LOY in cancer biology but also identified potential biomarkers for improving cancer immunotherapy.

Dr. Theodorescu has authored over 300 publications in leading journals such as Nature, Science, Cancer Cell, PNAS, and JCI. His research is supported by NIH-NCI grants. Additionally, he serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Bladder Cancer Journal (IOS Press).

He is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), the Association of American Physicians (AAP), the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons (AAGUS), the American Surgical Association (ASA), and the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Additionally, he is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Source: Nature – Genetics: A clearer view

Honors and Awards

Dr. Theodorescu has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, recognizing his contributions to urologic oncology, research, and leadership. Early in his career, he was honored with the Young Investigator Award from the Society for Basic Urologic Research (1998) and the Edwin Beer Award from the New York Academy of Medicine (1998). He was also named a Kimmel Foundation Scholar in 1997.

His dedication to education was acknowledged with the Resident Teaching Award from the Department of Urology at the University of Virginia in 1999. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of genitourinary surgery, he received the Barringer Medal from the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons (AAGUS) in 2015. Most recently, on December 13, 2024, he was honored with the Excellence in Leadership and Innovation Award.

Dan Theodorescu received the Excellence in Leadership and Innovation Award from Her Excellency Lucia Sava, Consul General of Romania. 

Education

Theodorescu earned his medical degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, and completed his urology residency at the University of Toronto, where he also obtained his doctorate. He then pursued a fellowship in urologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Looking ahead

Dan Theodorescu’s appointment as the director of the University of Arizona Cancer Center is an exciting step forward for cancer research and patient care. With his impressive track record in precision oncology, he brings a wealth of knowledge and innovation to the role. His leadership is expected to drive breakthroughs and positively impact the lives of many, both in Arizona and beyond. The future of the Cancer Center looks brighter than ever under his guidance, and we look forward to seeing the difference he’ll make in the fight against cancer.

About the University of Arizona Cancer Center

The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center located in Arizona and one of just 57 such centers across the United States. With more than a dozen research and education offices statewide, the center’s mission is to reduce the cancer burden in Arizona, focusing especially on underserved populations, including Hispanics and Native Americans.

UACC serves as a regional resource and national leader in addressing cancer risks, enhancing treatments through collaborative discoveries, training skilled scientists and healthcare providers, and engaging communities to promote health equity. Its clinical affiliate, Banner–University Medicine, operates in Tucson and supports local outpatient clinics. Established by Dr. Sydney Salmon in 1976, UACC earned its first NCI Cancer Center Support Grant in 1978 and achieved comprehensive cancer center status in 1990.

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