Cathy Eng

Cathy Eng

Medical Oncologist

Colorectal Oncology

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Location USA, Nashville

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Dr. Cathy Eng is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she serves as Co-Director of GI Oncology and Co-Leader of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. She is a board-certified medical oncologist with primary research interests in clinical trials involving innovative drugs for the treatment of colorectal, anal, and appendiceal cancers, with a specific interest in early onset colorectal cancer. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the NCI Gastrointestinal Steering Committee and VICC Associate Director for Strategic Relations and Research Partnerships.

Current Position

  • VICC Associate Director, Strategic Relations and Research Partnerships, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (October 2024 – Present)
  • Executive Director, Young Adult Cancers Program, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
  • Co-Director, GI Oncology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (June 2019 – Present)
  • Co-Leader, Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Program, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (June 2019 – Present)
  • Co-Chair, NCI Gastrointestinal Steering Committee (August 2021 – Present)
  • Vice-Chair, SWOG GI Committee, SWOG Cancer Research Network
  • VICC SWOG Lead Investigator

Education

  • BA in Psychobiology and International Politics (minor) — New York University (1990)
  • MD — Hahnemann University School of Medicine (1994)
  • Internship, Preliminary Internal Medicine — Hahnemann University (1995)
  • Residency, Diagnostic Radiology — St. Barnabas Medical Center (1996)
  • Internship, Internal Medicine — Rush University (1997)
  • Residency, Internal Medicine — Rush University (1999)
  • Fellowship in Hematology and Oncology — University of Chicago Medical Center (1999–2002)
  • Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP)

Professional Experience

  • VICC Associate Director for Strategic Relations and Research Partnerships, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (October 2024 – Present).
  • Executive Director, Young Adult Cancers Program, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, working to optimize care for all young adults diagnosed with cancer (ages 20–45) by addressing unmet needs including psychosocial support, nutrition, health and wellness, fertility and sexual function, supportive care, and pain management.
    Co-Director of GI Oncology and Co-Leader of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (June 2019 – Present), where she joined the faculty in 2019.
  • Director for Strategic Relations, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (July 2022 – November 2024).
  • Director, Young Adult Cancers Initiative, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (March 2020 – Present).
  • Co-Chair, NCI Gastrointestinal Steering Committee, National Cancer Institute (August 2021 – Present).
  • Vice-Chair, SWOG GI Committee, SWOG Cancer Research Network (June 2019 – August 2021).
  • Co-Chair, Rectal Subcommittee, SWOG Cancer Research Network (May 2012 – June 2019), with a leadership role in the development of clinical trials for anal and rectal cancer, review of existing national and international clinical trials, and enhancement of collaboration for the Intergroup of SWOG, ECOG/ACRIN, Alliance, and NRG cooperative groups, including mentorship of junior faculty in clinical trial development.
  • NCTN LAPS U10 Institutional Grant Lead Contact PI, MD Anderson Cancer Center (January 2014 – June 2019), serving as contact PI for the institutional NCI National Clinical Trials Network Leading Academic Participating Sites grant, which served as the umbrella grant for all cooperative group research at MDACC inclusive of the Alliance, ECOG/ACRIN, NRG, and SWOG.
  • Has served in multiple national leadership roles for ASCO, ASCO GI, ECOG, SWOG, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Research Activity

  • Phase I–III clinical trial development using novel therapeutics inclusive of blood and tissue correlatives for biomarker discovery and enhanced drug utilization in the treatment of colorectal, anal, and appendiceal cancers.
  • Early onset colorectal cancer, with extensive publications on genomic landscapes, molecular features, and outcomes in young adults.
  • Innovative drugs for the treatment of colorectal, anal, and appendiceal cancers including fruquintinib, amivantamab, nivolumab, and encorafenib plus cetuximab.
  • Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker in gastrointestinal cancers.
  • BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer treatment strategies including the BREAKWATER trial.
  • Immunotherapy for anal cancer and microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer.
  • Appendiceal adenocarcinoma molecular profiling and treatment.
  • Fertility preservation and reproductive health in young adults with colorectal cancer.
  • Young adult cancers, with a focus on unmet needs including psychosocial support, fertility, and survivorship.
  • Cooperative group trials, pharmaceutical trials, and CTEP trials in gastrointestinal oncology.
  • Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer patients.

Memberships / Honors / Awards

  • Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP)
  • Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO)
  • Board Certified in Medical Oncology
  • Member, ASCO
  • Member, SWOG Cancer Research Network
  • Member, ECOG
  • Co-Chair, NCI Gastrointestinal Steering Committee

Areas of Specialization

  • Colorectal cancer
  • Anal cancer
  • Appendiceal cancer
  • Early onset colorectal cancer
  • Gastrointestinal oncology
  • Young adult cancers
  • Clinical trials and drug development

Publications

Dr. Cathy Eng has 432 publications covering colorectal, anal, and appendiceal cancers, clinical trial development, and gastrointestinal oncology. Her most influential publications include:

Kopetz S, Chang GJ, Overman MJ, Eng C, et al. Improved Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Is Associated with Adoption of Hepatic Resection and Improved Chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol, Jun 2009.
Morris V, Salem ME, Nimeiri HS, Eng C, et al. Nivolumab for Previously Treated Unresectable Metastatic Anal Cancer (NCI9673): A Multicentre, Single-Arm, Phase 2 Study. Lancet Oncol, Feb 2017.
Rao S, Sclafani F, Eng C, Cunningham D, et al. International Rare Cancers Initiative Multicenter Randomized Phase II Trial of Cisplatin and Fluorouracil Versus Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in Advanced Anal Cancer: InterAAct. J Clin Oncol, Jun 2020.
Dasari A, Lonardi S, Garcia-Carbonero R, Eng C, et al. Fruquintinib Versus Placebo in Patients with Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (FRESCO-2): An International, Multicentre, Randomised, Double-Blind, Phase 3 Study. Lancet, Jun 2023.
Morris V, Kennedy EB, Baxter N, Eng C, et al. Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: ASCO Guideline. Oct 2022.
Morris V, Kennedy EB, Amin MA, Eng C, et al. Systemic Therapy for Stage I-III Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: ASCO Guideline. Dec 2024.
Kopetz S, Yoshino T, Van Cutsem E, Tabernero J, Eng C, et al. Encorafenib, Cetuximab, and mFOLFOX6 in BRAF-Mutated Colorectal Cancer: A Randomized Phase 3 Trial (BREAKWATER). Jan 2025.
Eng C, Jácome A, Agarwal R, Lieu CH, et al. A Comprehensive Framework for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Research. Jan 2022.
Raghav KPS, Shen JP, Jácome A, Eng C, et al. Integrated Clinico-Molecular Profiling of Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma Reveals a Unique Grade-Driven Entity Distinct from Colorectal Cancer. Jul 2020.
Dasari A, Morris V, Allegra C, Kopetz S, Eng C, et al. ctDNA Applications and Integration in Colorectal Cancer: An NCI Colon and Rectal–Anal Task Forces Whitepaper. Jul 2020.

Her most recent publications include:

Oberstein PE, Hecht JR, Raghav KPS, Han SW, Eng C, et al. Amivantamab Monotherapy in Chemorefractory RAS/BRAF Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Results From OrigAMI-1. Apr 2026.
Hecht JR, Élez E, Eng C, Cremolini C, et al. Abstract CT216: OrigAMI-3: A Randomized, Phase 3 Study of Amivantamab plus FOLFIRI vs Cetuximab or Bevacizumab plus FOLFIRI in Participants with Recurrent, Unresectable, or Metastatic RAS/BRAF Wild-Type Colorectal Cancer. Apr 2026.
Shen C, Conces M, Ciombor K, Eng C, et al. Trends in Primary Surgery and Overall Survival in Non-Metastatic Anal Cancer: A Population-Based Analysis. Apr 2026.
Cann CG, Eng C, Thota R. Bridging the Gap: Transforming Total Neoadjuvant Therapy: NEOTERIC Signals a Step Forward in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer. Feb 2026.
Morris V, Ciombor KK, Xiao L, Eng C, et al. NCI9673 (Part B): ETCTN Randomized Phase II Study of Nivolumab With or Without Ipilimumab in Refractory, Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal. Jan 2026.
Bekaii-Saab TS, Dasari A, Eng C, Cremolini C, et al. Number Needed to Treat/Harm: A Benefit/Risk Analysis of Fruquintinib vs Other Treatments for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Jan 2026.
Kopetz S, Wasan HS, Yoshino T, Tabernero J, Eng C, et al. BREAKWATER: Primary Analysis of First-Line Encorafenib + Cetuximab + FOLFIRI in BRAF V600E-Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Jan 2026.
Eng C, Kopetz S, Tabernero J, Tie J, et al. BREAKWATER Phase 3: Post Hoc Subgroup Analyses by Age in Patients with BRAF V600E-Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Jan 2026.
Storandt MH, Shi Q, Eng C, Jin Z, et al. Genomic Landscapes of Early-Onset Versus Average-Onset Colorectal Cancer Populations. Feb 2025.
Eng C, Dasari A, Lonardi S, Tabernero J, et al. Fruquintinib Versus Placebo in Patients with Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Safety Analysis of FRESCO-2. Mar 2025.
Eng C, Lakhani NJ, Philip PA, Hecht JR, et al. A Phase 1b/2 Study of the Anti-CD47 Antibody Magrolimab with Cetuximab in Patients with Colorectal Cancer and Other Solid Tumors. Mar 2025.
Elez E, Yoshino T, Shen L, Kopetz S, Eng C, et al. Encorafenib, Cetuximab, and mFOLFOX6 in BRAF-Mutated Colorectal Cancer. May 2025.
Cann CG, LaPelusa M, Cimino S, Eng C, et al. Biweekly Dosing of Trifluridine-Tipiracil Reduces Rates of Myelosuppression While Maintaining Efficacy in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. May 2025.
Schultz KS, Bansal VV, Wach MM, Baumgartner JM, Eng C, et al. Consensus Guideline for the Management of Colorectal Cancer with Peritoneal Metastases. Jun 2025.
Godfrey EL, Mahoney F, Bansal VV, Foote MB, Eng C, et al. Consensus Guideline for the Management of Patients with Appendiceal Tumors, Part 1: Appendiceal Tumors Without Peritoneal Involvement. Jun 2025.
Godfrey EL, Mahoney F, Bansal VV, Suraju M, Eng C, et al. Consensus Guideline for the Management of Patients with Appendiceal Tumors, Part 2: Appendiceal Tumors with Peritoneal Involvement. Jun 2025.
Cann CG, Eng C. Cancer in the Prime of Life: Etiologic Insights and Supportive Oncologic Interventions for the Rising Burden of Young Adult Cancer. Jul 2025.
Jin Z, Dixon JG, Hubbard J, Shi Q, Eng C, et al. Response to Biologics in Patients With Early-Onset Treatment-Naïve Metastatic Colorectal Cancer — An ARCAD Database Analysis. Jul 2025.
Rajdev L, King G, Lieu CH, Philip PA, Eng C, et al. Incorporating Circulating Tumor DNA Testing Into Clinical Trials: A Position Paper by the National Cancer Institute GI Oncology Circulating Tumor DNA Working Group. Mar 2025.

All information is sourced from publicly available materials.