Michael J. Hall, MD, MS, FASCO

Dr. Michael Hall

This Fox Chase professor participates in the Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship
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Clinical Locations

  • Fox Chase Cancer Center
    333 Cottman Avenue
    Philadelphia, PA 19111
    Phone: 888-369-2427

Chair, Department of Clinical Genetics

Professor, Department of Clinical Genetics

Director, Gastrointestinal Risk Assessment

Co-Leader, Cancer Prevention and Control Program

NCCN, Genetic Colorectal/Colorectal Cancer Screening Panel Member

Specialties

  • Medical Oncology

Areas of Expertise

Liver, Gall Bladder & Bile Duct Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Neuroendocrine Tumors, Colorectal Cancer, Stomach (Gastric) Cancer, Appendix Cancer

Treatment Focus

  • Lynch Syndrome
  • Gastrointestinal oncology/medical oncology
  • Cancer risk assessment for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract
  • Cancer risk assessment for endocrine cancers and genitourinary cancers

Distinctions

Treatment Philosophy

I am a GI oncologist and a clinical cancer geneticist, and I have found over the years that my strongest skills are in helping my patients and their families to understand the complicated risks of cancer screening, surgery and treatment, to weigh the different options for treatment, and finally to develop a plan that is both in line with cutting edge research but also with their personal needs and preferences for their health and their lives. In cancer medicine, there is no longer a one size fits all approach, and in my practice I strive to build on my patients’ unique strengths and to further bring the multi-faceted expertise of my colleagues at Fox Chase and my colleagues nationally to offer each of my patients the best care I possibly can.

Lab Overview

Since 1991, the Risk Assessment Program has received strong support from its clinical and research participants and referring providers. Over 11,000 patients have joined RAP’s registry and donated epidemiologic data and a biospecimen (~8,000 blood donations). This valuable resource is available to FCCC investigators and the wider genetics community and has generated significant grant support, publications, and presentations at national/international venues. RAP, the research component of the Department of Clinical Genetics, is part of the FCCC Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) program. RAP maintains close collaborations with clinical, behavioral, and laboratory scientists with research interests in genetic risk and cancer prevention. RAP administers studies of the biological, genetic and environmental factors that influence cancer risk. RAP has established a unique registry of family data, blood, and tissue samples that is used to study the genetic basis of cancer. Our work is supported by funding from governmental, foundation, industry, and philanthropic sources and has contributed significantly to the field.

My group’s research is in three areas related to GI genetic risk and risk assessment. My primary syndrome of expertise and study is Lynch syndrome, but I have also performed research among all high risk GI patients, patients with hereditary breast/ovarian cancer and BRCA1/2 mutations, hereditary pancreatic cancer, high risk renal cell cancers, and others:

  1. Characterization of genetic risks associated with germline genes and molecular genetic changes that increase cancer risks including gene discovery. Our research has included studies to characterize the spectrum of cancer risk associated with hereditary risk genes, studies in high risk patients recruited through our Risk Assessment Program database to identify new cancer risks, and characterization of molecular risks in high risk patients such as TMB, MSI, and others.
  2. Communication of genetic risks to patients, whether related to novel tests (tumor genomic testing), novel pathways for communication of genetic risk information (telephone, online, etc), and supports for communication.
  3. Disparities associated with risk assessment and clinical genetics testing awareness, access, utilization, communication of results in families, and use of preventive screening.

Educational Background

  • MS, Health Studies, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 2006
  • Fellowship, Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 2002-2005
  • Residency, Internal Medicine, Harvard/Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 1999-2002
  • MD, Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY, 1999
  • BA, French Literature, Columbia University, New York, NY, 1993

Certifications

  • American Board of Internal Medicine - Medical Oncology

Memberships

  • American Cancer Society
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Colorectal Cancer (CGA-ICC)
  • Research Review Committee, Fox Chase Cancer Center

Honors & Awards

  • Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 2015-2022, 2023-2024
  • Best Doctors in America® , 2019-2020, Medical Oncology and Hematology
  • Main Line Today Top Doctors, 2019
  • America's Top Doctors®2017
  • Mentored Research Scholar Grant, American Cancer Society, 2007
  • Young Investigator Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2006
  • Merit Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2003-2005
  • Honorary Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Chicago, 2004
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Harvard Medical School, 2001
  • Alpha Omega Alpha, Columbia College of Physicians/Surgeons, 1999
Janice Hudnell

Janice Hudnell-Davis

  • Pancreatic Cancer

In January 2022, I listened to my body, and it may have saved my life. I initially went to the doctor because I had hemorrhoids that had been acting up for about a week. Not only was an over-the-counter medication not working, but I had also noticed a change in the color of my stool. Together, these were red flags that something wasn’t right.

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David Morschauser

  • Colorectal Cancer

Early in 2019, I started to experience an uncomfortable feeling whenever I sat down on a hard surface. Little things like riding my bike or just resting on a bench started to hurt a little. At first, it wasn’t that bad, so I just ignored it and hoped it would go away on its own.

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Alan Zlatkin

  • Pancreatic Cancer

Being defeated is a matter of perspective and will. I feel that no matter how serious the illness is, I can overcome it with the right help and the right attitude.

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Karin McAnlis

  • Pancreatic Cyst

I am BRCA1 and BRCA2 positive, meaning I have mutations in those two genes that make me more susceptible to cancer. When I was 67 years old, I was diagnosed with premalignant pancreatic cysts and anal cancer in the same year.

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People

  • Alison Conn
    Practice Manager
  • Link to
    Eric Tetzlaff
    PA-C –Physician Assistant
  • Yana Chertock, MA, CCRP
    Research Coordinator
  • Link to
    Hannah R. Campbell, ScM, LCGC
    Cancer Genetic Counselor
  • Link to
    Michelle McSweeny, MS, LCGC
    Cancer Genetic Counselor
  • Link to
    Catherine Neumann, MS, LCGC
    Cancer Genetic Counselor
  • Freiberg,-Yael
    Yael Frieberg, MS, LCGC,
  • chau-nguyen
     Chau Q. Nguyen, CGC
  • Zrada, Corinne
    Corrine Zrada, MS, LCGC,
  • Deborah Grace BcS
    Research Assistant
  • Maria Kadlec, BSN, RN,
    Nurse Navigator.

Research Interests

  • Hereditary cancer risk for gastrointestinal cancers
  • Lynch syndrome, microsatellite instability, polyposis syndromes, DNA repair
  • Genetic and genomic testing in cancer patients
  • Communication of genetic risk information to patients and physicians
  • Health disparities related to genetic and genomic testing
  • Genetic basis of cancer, especially cancer in young adults

The following ratings and reviews are based on verified feedback collected from independently administered patient experience surveys. The ratings and comments submitted by patients reflect their own views and opinions. Patient identities are withheld to ensure confidentiality and privacy. Learn more about our Patient Experience Ratings.

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Selected Publications

Hoadley A., Bass S.B., Chertock Y., Brajuha J., D'Avanzo P., Kelly P.J.,Hall M.J., The role of medical mistrust in concerns about tumor genomic profiling among black and African American cancer patients. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 19(5)2022. PMC8909390.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35270290.

Hall MJ, Bernhisel R, Hughes E, Larson K, Rosenthal E, Singh NA, Lancaster JM, Kurian AW. Germline pathogenic variants in the Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) gene are associated with high and moderate risks for multiple cancers. Accepted for publication January 2021, Cancer Prevention Research

Hall MJ. Updates in Chemoprevention Research for Hereditary Gastrointestinal and Polyposis Syndromes. Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology. CTOG-D-20-00028R1. 8.2020.

Tricarico R, Nicolas E, Hall MJ, Golemis EA. X- and Y-linked chromatin-modifying genes as regulators of sex-specific cancer incidence and prognosis. Clin Cancer Res, 2020.

Salem ME, Bodor JN, Puccini A, Xiu J, Goldberg RM, Grothey A, Korn WM, Shields AF, Worrilow WM, Kim ES, Lenz HJ, Marshall JL, Hall MJ. Relationship Between MLH, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6 Gene Specific Alternations and Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB) in 1,057 Microsatellite Instability-high Solid Tumors. Int J Cancer. 2020 May 24. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33115. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 32449172.

Hampel H, Chruch J, Dudley BR, Hall MJ, Stoffel E, Yurgelun MB, Kupfer S, Singh A, You YN, Mork ME, Stoll JLK. Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer Position Statement on Multigene Panel Testing for Patients with Colorectal Cancer and/or Polyposis. Fam Cancer. 2020 Jul;19(3):223-239. doi: 10.1007/s10689-020-00170-9.PMID: 32172433

Biller L, Ukaegbu C, Dhingra T, Burke C, Chertock Y, Chittenden A, Church J, Koeppe E, Leach B, Levinson E, Lim R, Lutz M, Salo-Mullen E, Sheikh R, Idos G, Kastrinos F, Stoffel E, Weiss J, Hall MJ, Kalady M, Stadler Z, Syngal S, Yurgelun M. A Multi-Institutional Cohort of Therapy-associated Polyposis in Childhood and Young Adulthood Cancer Survivors. Canc Prev Res. 2020 Feb 12. Doi: 10.1158/1940-6207. CAPR-19-0416R1. PMID: 32051178.

Golan T et al, Hall MJ. Geographic and Ethnic Heterogeneity of Germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation Prevalence with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Screened for Entry into the POLO Trial. Clin Oncol. 2020 Feb 19: JCO1901890. doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.01890. PMID: 32073954.

Jain R, Handorf E, Khare V, Blau M, Chertock Y, Hall MJ. Impact of Baseline Nutrition and Exercise Status on Toxicity and Outcomes in Phase I and II Oncology Clinical Trial Participants. Oncologist. 2020 Feb; 25 (2): 161-169. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0289.Epub 2019 Nov 20. PMID: 32043776.

Nicolas E, Tricarico R, Savage M, Golemis EA, Hall MJ. Disease-Associated Genetic Variation in Human Mitochondrial Protein Import. American Journal of Human Genetics, 2019. PubMed

Golan T, Hammel P, Reni M, Van Cutsem E, Hall MJ, et all. Maintenance Olaparib for Germline BRCA-Mutated Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2019 Jul 25;381(4):317-327. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1903387. Epub 2019 Jun 2. PMID: 31157963; PMCID: PMC6810605... Expand

Additional Publications

This Fox Chase professor participates in the Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship
Learn more about Research Volunteering.