Christine Parseghian

Christine Parseghian

Medical Oncologist

Gastrointestinal Oncology

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Location USA, Houston

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Dr. Christine Parseghian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She is a medical oncologist specializing in localized and metastatic colorectal cancer, anti-EGFR refractory colorectal cancer, and RAS mutated colorectal cancer, with a research focus on mechanisms of resistance to anti-EGFR therapy and anti-EGFR rechallenge strategies.

Current Position

  • Associate Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology (2022 – Present)
  • Member, Cancer Center Support Grant Program (CCSG), Houston, TX (2022 – Present)
  • Member, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (2020 – Present)
  • Committee Member, Scientific Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (2025 – Present)
  • Committee Member, Medical Staff Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (2022 – Present)
  • Committee Member, Junior Faculty Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (2018 – Present)

Education

  • BA in Neurobiology — Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • MD — Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Residency in Internal Medicine — Ronald Reagan University of California, Los Angeles, California
  • Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology — The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Licenses & Certifications

  • American Board of Medical Oncology (2018)
  • Texas Medical Board (2017)
  • American Board of Internal Medicine (2016)

Professional Experience

  • Associate Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (2024 – Present), previously Assistant Professor (2018–2024).
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology (2022 – Present).
  • Member, Biostatistics Chair Search Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (2023–2025).
  • Member, Cancer Center Support Grant Program (CCSG) (2022 – Present).
  • Member, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (2020 – Present).
  • Clinical Assistant, USAID and Armenian Medical Association (2005–2006).
  • David F. Noonan Tufts Summer Research Fellow (2008–2009).
  • Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellow in Graduate Studies (2008–2012).
  • Leopold Schepp Foundation Scholar for commitment to community service (2008–2009).

Research Activity

  • Mechanisms of innate and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.
  • Anti-EGFR rechallenge strategies in advanced colorectal cancer, including dynamics of resistant clone decay after progression.
  • Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker for monitoring treatment response, minimal residual disease, and acquired resistance in colorectal cancer.
  • RAS and BRAF mutated colorectal cancer, including KRAS G12C and BRAF V600E targeted therapies.
  • Phase I–II clinical trials of novel combinatorial strategies in anti-EGFR refractory colorectal cancer, including ERK inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, FAK inhibitors, and CDK4/6 inhibitors combined with cetuximab.
  • Immunotherapy approaches in microsatellite stable and microsatellite instability-high colorectal cancer.
  • Early onset colorectal cancer molecular and clinical characterization.
  • Clinical trial design and reporting standards in oncology, including research biopsy reporting and stratification factor standardization.

Memberships / Honors / Awards

  • Patient Experience Top 10% Recognition Provider (2022)
  • Andrew Sabin Family Foundation Award (2020–2022)
  • NIH/NCI Gastrointestinal SPORE Career Enhancement Program Award (2019–2024)
  • Gastrointestinal SPORE Career Enhancement Program Award (2019–2021)
  • Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO Merit Award (2018–2024)
  • Commendation for Excellence in Medical Student Teaching (2013–2014)
  • Solomon Research Scholar (2012–2014)
  • Tufts University School of Medicine Research Honors (2012)
  • William Dameshek Award for Research Excellence in Hematology (2012)
  • William Dameshek Award in Internal Medicine (2012)
  • Harvard Foundation Distinguished Senior Award for Excellence in Leadership and Academic Achievement (2007)
  • Harvard Foundation Award for Contributions to Intercultural and Race Relations (2005–2006)
  • Member, Southwest Oncology Group (2020 – Present)
  • Member, American Association for Cancer Research (2016 – Present)
  • Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology (2015 – Present)

Areas of Specialization

  • Localized and metastatic colorectal cancer
  • Anti-EGFR refractory colorectal cancer
  • RAS mutated colorectal cancer
  • Anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy
  • Circulating tumor DNA and liquid biopsy
  • BRAF V600E and KRAS G12C targeted therapies

Publications

Dr. Christine M. Parseghian has published extensively in colorectal cancer research. Her publications include:

Folkert IW, Mehran R, Sun R, Morris VK, Parseghian CM, Kopetz SE, et al. Hepatectomy Plus Chemotherapy or Chemotherapy Alone for Resectable Liver and Unresectable Lung Metastases from Colorectal Adenocarcinoma (LUNA): A Randomized Phase II Trial. Ann Surg Oncol, 2025.
Pellatt AJ, Barnett RM, Gnerre S, Morris VK, Parseghian C, Kopetz S, et al. Detection of Oncogenic Fusions in Colorectal Cancer Using a Partner-Agnostic Next-Generation Sequencing Approach. BMC Cancer, 2025.
Morris VK, Parseghian CM, Bahrambeigi V, Kopetz S, et al. Phase 1/2 Trial of Encorafenib, Cetuximab, and Nivolumab in Microsatellite Stable BRAFV600E Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Cell 43(11):2106-2118, 2025.
Pellatt AJ, Bent AH, Hornstein N, Parseghian C, Dasari NV, Kopetz S, et al. Phase II Trial of TAS-102 in Colorectal Cancer Patients With Circulating Tumor DNA-Defined Minimal Residual Disease After Adjuvant Therapy. JCO Precision Oncology 9, 2025.
Riedl JM, Fece de la Cruz F, Lin JJ, Parseghian C, Corcoran RB, et al. Genomic Landscape of Clinically Acquired Resistance Alterations in Patients Treated with KRASG12C Inhibitors. Annals of Oncology 36(6):682-692, 2025.
Pattalachinti VK, Haque E, Yousef M, Parseghian CM, Shen JP, et al. BRAF Mutant Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma Differs from Colorectal Cancer but Responds to BRAF-Targeted Therapy. NPJ Precision Oncology 9(1):38, 2025.
Alshenaifi JY, Vetere G, Yousef M, Parseghian C, Kopetz S, et al. Mutational and Co-Mutational Landscape of Early Onset Colorectal Cancer. Biomarkers 30(1):64-76, 2025.
Yousef M, Yousef A, Chowdhury S, Parseghian C, Kopetz S, Willis J, Shen JP, et al. Molecular, Socioeconomic, and Clinical Factors Affecting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Survival. JAMA Oncology 10(11), 2024.
Johnson B, Morris V, Wang X, Parseghian C, Kopetz S, et al. Comprehensive Landscape of BRAF Variant Classes, Clonalities, and Co-Mutations in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Using ctDNA Profiling. Cancers (Basel) 16(4), 2024.
Higbie V, Shah P, Bent AH, Parseghian C, Overman MJ, et al. Natural History and Patterns of Progression for dMMR/MSI-H Colorectal Cancer Treated with Immune Checkpoint Blockade. Journal of Clinical Oncology 42(3), 2024.
Simmons K, Thomas JV, Ludford K, Parseghian CM, Morris VK, Overman MJ, et al. Sustained Disease Control in Immune Checkpoint Blockade Responders with Microsatellite Instability-High Colorectal Cancer after Treatment Termination. Cancer Res Commun 3(12):2510-2517, 2023.
Napolitano S, Parikh AR, Henry J, Parseghian CM, Kopetz S, Sun R, et al. Novel Clinical Tool to Estimate Risk of False-Negative KRAS Mutations in Circulating Tumor DNA Testing. JCO Precision Oncology 7:e2300228, 2023.
Newhook TE, Overman MJ, Chun YS, Parseghian C, Kopetz S, Vauthey JN, et al. Prospective Study of Perioperative Circulating Tumor DNA Dynamics in Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastases. Ann Surg 277(5):813-820, 2023.
Zeineddine FA, Zeineddine MA, Yousef A, Dasari A, Parseghian C, Kopetz S, Shen JP, et al. Survival Improvement for Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer over Twenty Years. NPJ Precision Oncology 7(1):16, 2023.
Parseghian CM, Sun R, Woods M, Raghav KP, Morris VK, Kopetz S, et al. Resistance Mechanisms to Anti-EGFR Therapy in RAS/RAF Wildtype Colorectal Cancer Vary by Regimen and Line of Therapy. J Clin Oncol 41(3), 2023.
Chowdhury S, Gupta R, Parseghian C, Kopetz S, Shen JP, et al. Transcriptional Profiling and Consensus Molecular Subtype Assignment to Understand Response and Resistance to Anti-EGFR Therapy in Colorectal Cancer. JCO Precision Oncology 7, 2023.
Parseghian C, Eluri M, Kopetz S, Raghav KS. Mechanisms of Resistance to EGFR-Targeted Therapies in Colorectal Cancer. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 11, 2023.
Morris VK, Overman MJ, Lam M, Parseghian CM, Kopetz S, et al. Bintrafusp Alfa, an Anti-PD-L1:TGF-β Trap Fusion Protein, in Patients with ctDNA-Positive, Liver-Limited Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Res Commun 2(9):979-986, 2022.
Johnson B, Haymaker CL, Parseghian C, Overman MJ, Kopetz S, et al. Phase II Study of Durvalumab and Trametinib in Microsatellite Stable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer 10(8), 2022.
Kanikarla Marie P, Haymaker C, Parseghian C, Overman MJ, Vauthey JN, et al. Pilot Clinical Trial of Perioperative Durvalumab and Tremelimumab in the Treatment of Resectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases. Clin Cancer Res 27(11):3039-3049, 2021.
Henry JT, Coker O, Chowdhury S, Morris VK, Parseghian CM, Kopetz S, Johnson B, et al. Comprehensive Clinical and Molecular Characterization of KRAS G12C-Mutant Colorectal Cancer. JCO Precision Oncology 5:613-621, 2021.
Parseghian CM, Napolitano S, Loree JM, Kopetz S. Mechanisms of Innate and Acquired Resistance to Anti-EGFR Therapy: A Review of Current Knowledge with a Focus on Rechallenge Therapies. Clin Cancer Res, 2019.
Parseghian CM, Loree JM, Morris VK, Overman MJ, Kopetz S, et al. Anti-EGFR Resistant Clones Decay Exponentially after Progression: Implications for Anti-EGFR Rechallenge. Ann Oncol 30(2):243-249, 2019.
Parseghian CM, Tam AL, Yao J, Overman MJ, et al. Assessment of Reported Trial Characteristics, Rate of Publication, and Inclusion of Mandatory Biopsies of Research Biopsies in Clinical Trials in Oncology. JAMA Oncol 5(3):402-405, 2019.
Clifton K, Rich TA, Parseghian C, Kopetz S, Morris V, et al. Identification of Actionable Fusions as an Anti-EGFR Resistance Mechanism Using a Circulating Tumor DNA Assay. JCO Precision Oncology 3, 2019.
Parseghian CM, Parikh NU, Wu JY, Overman MJ, Kopetz S, et al. Dual Inhibition of EGFR and c-Src by Cetuximab and Dasatinib Combined with FOLFOX Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 23(15):4146-4154, 2017.
Parseghian CM, Raghav K, Wolff RA, Overman MJ, et al. Underreporting of Research Biopsies from Clinical Trials in Oncology. Clin Cancer Res 23(21):6450-6457, 2017.
Thierry AR, Pastor B, Parseghian CM, Kopetz S, et al. Circulating DNA Demonstrates Convergent Evolution and Common Resistance Mechanisms during Treatment of Colorectal Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 23(16):4578-4591, 2017.
Parseghian CM, Patnana M, Bhosale P, Overman MJ, Kopetz S, et al. Evaluating for Pseudoprogression in Colorectal and Pancreatic Tumors Treated with Immunotherapy. J Immunother 41(6):284-291, 2018.
Gay CM, Parseghian CM, Byers LA. This Is Our Cells Under Pressure: Decreased DNA Damage Repair in Response to Targeted Therapies Facilitates the Emergence of Drug-Resistant Clones. Cancer Cell 37(1):5-7, 2020.
Mullally A, Lane SW, Ball B, Megerdichian C, Ebert BL, et al. Physiological Jak2V617F Expression Causes a Lethal Myeloproliferative Neoplasm with Differential Effects on Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells. Cancer Cell 17(6):584-96, 2010.
Dutt S, Narla A, Lin K, Megerdichian CM, Ebert BL, et al. Haploinsufficiency for Ribosomal Protein Genes Causes Selective Activation of p53 in Human Erythroid Progenitor Cells. Blood 117(9):2567-76, 2011.

Book Chapters

  • Parseghian CM. Colorectal Cancer. In: The MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology, Fifth Edition, 2025.
  • Parseghian CM, Bent AH. Targeted Therapy with Anti-EGFR and Anti-VEGF Therapy and Beyond, 293-299, 2022.
  • Parseghian CM. Colorectal Liver Metastases. In: Targeted Therapy Beyond EGFR and VEGF, 2022.
  • Parseghian CM. Colorectal Cancer. In: The MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology, Fourth Edition, 2021.

All information is sourced from publicly available materials.