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
NCCN, Esophageal/Gastric Cancers Panel Member
NCCN, Survivorship Panel Member
Clinical Associate Professor (Adjunct), Department of Medicine-Oncology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University
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
Kathy Petrozelli
Kathy Petrozelli
Breast cancer was always in the back of Kathy Petrozelli's mind. Her mother was treated for both breast and ovarian cancer. Knowing that family history raises a woman's risk of these cancers, Kathy had a mammogram every year since she turned 29.
Barbara Lanza
Barbara Lanza
In January 2010, Barbara Lanza had just turned 52. Like many women her age, she was trying to lose weight and even tried green tea pills. She began experiencing stomach problems and attributed it to the pills, along with a stressful and physical job working in a dog kennel. Still, she took a family trip to Florida and visited the emergency room four times during her 10 day trip. “I was told it was pancreatitis because my cancer marker levels were too low for concern,” shared Barbara.
Carol Hobson
Carol Hobson
As a school nurse, Carol Hobson knew the importance of taking care of her own health.
After 23 years in the field, Carol retired in January 2011 at the age of 67. In June, while experiencing severe left shoulder pain, Carol’s husband, Wayne, took her to the emergency room at their local hospital. Doctors performed several tests which were inconclusive. Carol was sent home to follow up with her family doctor.
Janice GaNun
Janice GaNun
In 2008, Janice GaNun was halfway to her goal of section-hiking the Appalachian Trail when she hit a bump in the road. This active 57-year-old experienced GI symptoms and sought medical attention. Just hours after an ultrasound of her lower GI region, Janice received a phone call from her doctor, who delivered the frightening news that she had a large mass in her pancreas. “My doctor urged me to go to Fox Chase Cancer Center for diagnosis and, if possible, surgery,” she recalled. Janice saw medical oncologist Crystal S.
Research Program
Research Interests
Gastrointestinal cancers; Cancer Survivorship; Drug Development
Selected Publications
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
