Opinion

Pashtoon Kasi: Immunotherapy works fast in MSI-high tumors

Pashtoon Kasi/LinkedIn

Jan 4, 2025, 11:21

Pashtoon Kasi: Immunotherapy works fast in MSI-high tumors

Pashtoon Kasi, Medical Director of GI Medical Oncology at City of Hope, Orange County, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Immunotherapy works fast in MSI-high tumors. ctDNA, with its short half-life, reveals responses within 2-3 weeks – well before scans, which can be unreliable. Early ctDNA drops signal efficacy, redefining how we monitor these patients.”

Circulating tumor DNA and plasma microsatellite instability during PD-1 blockade

Author: Pashtoon M. Kasi

Pashtoon Kasi: Immunotherapy works fast in MSI-high tumors

Dr. Pashtoon Kasi is the Medical Director of GI Medical Oncology at City of Hope, Orange County. Previously, Dr. Kasi served as an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Iowa, following positions as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Oncology at both the University of Iowa and Mayo Clinic. He also served as the Director of Colon Cancer Research and Director of Precision Medicine Research for Liquid Biopsies at Weill Cornell Medicine.

His research primarily focuses on “liquid biopsies,” particularly circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Dr. Kasi is also recognized as an author and editor of several significant books, including “Research: What, Why, and How: A Treatise from Researchers to Researchers” and “Impact of Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) in Patients with Gastrointestinal Malignancies.”

His scholarly contributions extend to over 100 publications in esteemed peer-reviewed journals. He also received the Yvonne Award 2024 by OncoDaily in the “challenging the status quo” category.