Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, FACP
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Clinical Locations
Primary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Chief, Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology
Director, Survivorship Program
Deputy Director, Early Clinical Drug Development Phase 1 Program
Associate Professor, Department of Hematology/Oncology
TRDG Member, Colorectal and SI Cancer; Esophagus, Pancreas, and Liver Cancer
Clinical Associate Professor (Adjunct), Department of Medicine-Oncology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University
NCCN, Esophageal/Gastric Cancers Panel Member
NCCN, Survivorship Panel Member
Specialties
Treatment Focus
Gastroesophageal cancers (esophagus, GE junction, and stomach cancers); liver, gall bladder & bile duct cancer; Cancer Survivorship
Research Program
Key Awards
National Comprehensive Cancer Center Foundation Young Investigator Award, 2012-2014
Treatment Philosophy
Each patient is unique, with different goals and wishes for their lives and individual cases of cancer. As a medical oncologist, I strive to ensure the best possible treatment for my patients. As a gastrointestinal cancer specialist, I work in a multidisciplinary fashion with my colleagues in surgery, radiation oncology, and gastroenterology to provide a holistic approach to the patient and his or her cancer. This may include standard treatment options or experimental therapies on a clinical trial, reflective of my interest in developing new and more effective therapies for gastrointestinal cancers. I work with patients to identify their goals and tailor treatment to meet all of their needs. In addition, I work to ensure a high level of quality of life during treatment. This is reflective of my interest in cancer survivorship, which addresses the effects of cancer and its treatment on the individual and their lives and families.
Facing a diagnosis of cancer is a daunting and difficult challenge. I believe it is my responsibility to make that diagnosis easier to understand and provide guidance as to how to meet that challenge head-on. Once the journey has begun, my role is to ensure that each patient has the best tools to face their disease, in keeping with their goals for treatment. At the end of the road, my role is to help each patient transition to the end of their life in keeping with their wishes. In each of these stages, I strive to work with patients and families to provide the best and most comprehensive care to meet their needs.
Educational Background
- Fellow, Hematology/Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center/Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
- Resident, Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY
- MD, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
Certifications
- Diplomate, Medical Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2007
- Diplomate, Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2004, 2014
Memberships
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
- Esophageal/Gastric Cancers Panel
- JNCCN Editorial Board
- Survivorship Panel
- Survivorship Panel: Anxiety and Depression
- Survivorship Panel: Cardiac Toxicity
- Survivorship Panel: Menopause
- Survivorship Panel: Physical Activity/Nutrition/Weight Management (Healthy Lifestyles)
- Academic GI Cancer Consortium
- American College of Physicians
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Gastrointestinal Cancer Committee
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Chair, National Comprehensive Cancer Network Cancer Survivorship Panel; Gastric Cancer Panel, Chemotherapy Subcommittee Member, Genetics Subcommittee Member; Esophageal Cancer Panel, Chemotherapy Subcommittee Member, Genetics Subcommittee Member
- Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, Associate Member
Honors & Awards
- Special Contributor Award, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 2014
- CHASE Award, Fox Chase Cancer Center Annual Cancer Survivors Celebration, 2011
- Participant, ASCO/AACR Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop, Vail, CO, 2008
- ASCO Foundation Merit Award, ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, Orlando, FL, 2007
Tiffany Mannino Dillon
Tiffany Mannino Dillon
I remember the day I was diagnosed so clearly. December 16, 2009.
Sterling Randolph
Sterling Randolph
Sitting in my car on the side of the road, it was like time had stopped. All I could think about was my family. What would they do without me?
Kathy Petrozelli
Kathy Petrozelli
When Kathy Petrozelli found out she had breast cancer in 2005, she was shocked even though she screened for it every year since her mother had breast cancer. After genetic testing revealed she was a carrier of a genetic mutation that increased her risk for breast cancer and recurrence, she sought a second opinion at Fox Chase Cancer Center. She first opted for a lumpectomy and then a hysterectomy to rule out her chances for getting ovarian cancer. Later, she underwent a simple bilateral mastectomy, which she, at first, tried to avoid. Kathy's final treatment at Fox Chase was in 2013, and today she is cancer free, though she still follows up regularly with her doctors. "I will never forget what the doctors at Fox Chase did for me and for my family. There is no doubt in my mind that they saved my life," she said. "I was impressed with everyone at Fox Chase. They proved to be some of the most compassionate, caring people I’ve ever met."
Barbara Lanza
Barbara Lanza
In January 2010, Barbara Lanza, who had just turned 52, was admitted to the emergency room four times during a trip to Florida. When she returned home, Barabara met with her doctor, where more tests were ordered; the tests revealed a mass on the head of her pancreas. Barbara's doctor referred her to Fox Chase Cancer Center, where she was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation before she was ready for a complex surgery, followed by one last procedure: a stent put into her collapsed superior mesenteric vein. Barbara has recovered well and is so pleased she received treatment at Fox Chase. “I had the best team–Dr. Denlinger, Dr. Karachristos, and Dr. Hayes did everything they could to save me. And Dr. Hoffman? What can I say? He’s not head of pancreatic surgery for nothing! He’s the best there is,” she said.
Carol Hobson
Carol Hobson
After a doctor suspected she had bile duct cancer, Carol Hobson sought the help of specialists at Fox Chase Cancer Center, where a diagnosis of bile duct cancer was finally confirmed after extensive testing. In 2011, she underwent a bile duct resection, followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The treatment was successul, and today Carol has extensive CAT scans and blood work done every three months to check for a possible recurrence. "I can tell you that if you decide to go to Fox Chase, you will get the most knowledgeable people taking care of you. Just as important, you will become part of the Fox Chase family and will be treated like a family member," she said. "That is one of the most outstanding features of Fox Chase Cancer Center."
Research Program
Research Interests
Gastrointestinal cancers; Cancer Survivorship; Drug Development
Selected Publications
He AR, Cohen RB, Denlinger CS, Sama A, Birnbaum A, Hwang J, Sato T, Lewis N, Mynderse M, Niland M, Giles J, Wallin J, Moser B, Zhang W, Walgren R, Plimack ER. First-in-Human Phase I Study of Merestinib, an Oral Multikinase Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Cancer. The oncologist, 2019.
Upshaw JN, O'Neill A, Carver JR, Dimond EP, Denlinger CS, Kircher SM, Wagner LI, Ky B, Brell JM. Fluoropyrimidine Cardiotoxicity: Time for a Contemporaneous Appraisal. Clinical Colorectal Cancer, 18(1):44-51, 2019. PubMed
Denlinger CS, Blanchard R, Xu L, Bernaards C, Litwin S, Spittle C, Berg DJ, McLaughlin S, Redlinger M, Dorr A, Hambleton J, Holden S, Kearns A, Kenkare-Mitra S, Lum B, Meropol NJ, O’Dwyer PJ. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenetic analysis of irinotecan plus bevacizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmocology, Dec;65(1):97-105, 2009. Epub 2009 May 5. PMID: 2746259, NIHMS 110194. PubMed
Denlinger CS, Barsevick AM. The challenges of colorectal cancer survivorship. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 7(8): 883-894, 2009. PMID: 19755048. PubMed
Denlinger CS, Engstrom PF. Colorectal cancer survivorship: movement matters. Cancer Prevention Research, 4(4):502-11, Apr, 2011. Epub April 3, 2011. PMID: 21464030. PubMed
Dotan E, Browner I, Hurria A, Denlinger C. Challenges in the Management of Older Patients With Colon Cancer. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 10(2): p. 213-224, 2012. PMID: 22308516. PubMed
Ligibel JA and Denlinger CS. New NCCN Guidelines(R) for survivorship care. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 11(5 Suppl): 640-644, 2013. PubMed
Denlinger CS, Meropol NJ, Li T, Lewis NL, Engstrom PF, Weiner LM, Cheng JD, Alpaugh RK, Cooper H, Wright JJ, Cohen SJ. A phase II trial of bortezomib in patients with advanced biliary tract cancers. Clinical Colorectal Cancer 13(2): 81-86, 2014 .Epub ahead of print Jan 4 2014. PMID 24512954. PubMed
Denlinger CS and Ligibel J. A Work In Progress: Developing the new NCCN Survivorship Guidelines. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 12(1): 1-4, 2014. PMID: 24453287. PubMed
Dotan E, Devarajan K, D’Silva AJ, Beck A, Kloth DD, Cohen SJ, Denlinger C. Patterns of use and tolerance of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies in older adults with metastatic colorectal cancer. Clinical Colorectal Cancer 2014 Sept; 13(3): 192-198. Epub ahead of print Jun 26 2014. PMID: 25074246. PubMed
Morgan MA, Denlinger CS. Survivorship: tools for transitioning patients with cancer. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 2014 Dec;12(12):1681-1687. PMID:25505209. PubMed
Shah M and Denlinger CS. Optimal post-treatment surveillance in cancer survivors: is more really better? Oncology 2015 29(4): 230-240. PMID: 25952485. PubMed
Vijayvergia N and Denlinger CS. Lifestyle factors in Cancer Survivorship: Where we are and where we are headed. Journal of Personalized Medicine. 2015 5(3): 243-263. PubMed
Vijayvergia N, Shah PC, Denlinger CS. Survivorship in non-small cell lung cancer: challenges faced and steps forward. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 2015 Sep;13(9):1151-61. PMID: 26358799. PubMed
Additional Publications
Related Articles
7 PATIENT COMMENTS
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5.0
February 24, 2019
Doctor & staff have always been very good to great with my health matters.
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5.0
February 20, 2019
Dr. Denlinger and team are the best.
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5.0
February 08, 2019
Provider listened carefully to all my concerns.
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5.0
January 14, 2019
Dr. Delinger is excellent in explaining and very helpful.
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5.0
October 08, 2018
I would and have recommended Dr. Denlinger to others. She is a very knowledgeable and dedicated doctor.
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5.0
September 25, 2018
this provider is excellent...
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5.0
May 26, 2018
Dr. Denlinger called me at home to see if I had any more question sense there was so much to absorb after 1st visit.
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