Due to a system-wide technology update, we are experiencing extremely high call volume. We appreciate your patience with our operators during this time. Thank you for choosing Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Paul Engstrom, MD, FACP
Professor Emeritus, Department of Hematology/Oncology
Special Advisor to the President
Former Samuel M.V. Hamilton Chair in Cancer Prevention
NCCN, Colon/Rectal/Anal/Cancers Panel Member
NCCN, Neuroendocrine Tumors Panel Member
Treatment Focus
As a medical oncologist with over 45 years of continuous experience in a cancer hospital, I have developed expertise in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of patients with localized or advanced malignant tumors of the GI tract with special emphasis on neuroendocrine tumor management. I employ chemotherapy and treatments that are recommended in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, (NCCN) Guidelines. I administer chemotherapy regimens that are listed in the NCCN Compendium. Patients who are appropriate and eligible for Phase II or Phase I cancer treatment trials are encouraged to receive investigational therapy.
Key Awards
- America’s Top Doctors® 2015-2017
- ACCC Annual Clinical Care Achievement Award, 2013
- Philadelphia magazine Top Doc, 2010, 2011
- Distinguished Achievement Award, American Society of Preventive Oncology, 2010
- Distinguished Service Award, American Cancer Society, 2009
- Cancer Control Award, American Cancer Society, Philadelphia Division, 1989
Treatment Philosophy
In my leadership role at Fox Chase, I am involved in cancer research, specifically prevention and survivorship issues. In my practice, I specialize in gastrointestinal malignancies, especially neuroendocrine tumors and colon-rectum cancer management. I offer a second opinion service at several of our Fox Chase Cancer Center Partner hospitals for patients with breast cancer and other diagnoses.
I am the chair of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Colorectal-Anal Cancer Guidelines Panel and am a member of the NCCN Neuroendocrine Malignancy Panel and Senior Adult Oncology Task Force.
Educational Background
- Public Health Service Trainee, Medical Oncology, University of Minnesota Hospitals, Minneapolis, MN, 1967
- Resident, University of Minnesota Hospitals, Minneapolis, MN, 1965
- Intern, Medicine, University of Minnesota Hospitals, Minneapolis, MN, 1963
- MD, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 1962
- Medical Student Trainee, Epidemiology Research, 1959
- Training Program, California Department of Public Health, 1959
- BA, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, 1954
Certifications
- Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, 1973
- Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine, 1969
- Basic Science Certification for Minnesota
- Minnesota State Board of Medicine
- Pennsylvania State Board of Medical Education & Licensure
- New Jersey State Board of Medical Education & Licensure
Memberships
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
- NCCN Board of Directors
- Colon/Rectal/Anal Cancers Panel
- Distress Management Panel
- Guidelines Steering Committee
- Neuroendocrine Tumors Panel
- YIA Review Committee
- American Association for Cancer Education
- American Medical Association
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- American Federation for Clinical Research
- American College of Physicians, Fellow
- Member, Cancer Control Committee, Philadelphia County Medical Society
- Philadelphia College of Physicians
- Chairman, Breast Cancer Task Force, Philadelphia Division, American Cancer Society
Honors & Awards
- America’s Top Doctors® 2015-2017
- ACCC Annual Clinical Care Achievement Award, 2013
- Samuel M.V. Hamilton Chair in Cancer Prevention, 2012
- Philadelphia magazine Top Doc, 2010, 2011
- Distinguished Achievement Award, American Society of Preventive Oncology, 2010
- Distinguished Service Award, American Cancer Society, 2009
- Cancer Control Award, American Cancer Society, Philadelphia Division, 1989
Research Interests
- Cancer prevention research
- Identification and development of biomarkers directed to cancer etiology, prognosis and response to therapy
- Phase II and Phase I cancer chemotherapy investigations.
Selected Publications
Benson AB, Venook AP, Bekaii-Saab T, Chan E, Chen YJ, Cooper HS, Engstrom PF, Enzinger PC, Fenton MJ, Fuchs CS, Grem JL, Grothey A, Hochster HS, Hunt S, Kamel A, Kirilcuk N, Leong LA, Lin E, Messersmith WA, Mulcahy MF, Murphy JD, Nurkin S, Rohren E, Ryan DP, Saltz L, Sharma S, Shibata D, Skibber JM, Sofocleous CT, Stoffel EM, Stotsky-Himelfarb E, Willett CG, Gregory KM, Freedman-Cass D. Rectal cancer, version 2.2015: Featured updates to the NCCN guidelines. JNCCN Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 2015;13(6):719-28. PubMed
Kulke MH, Shah MH, Benson AB, Bergsland E, Berlin JD, Blaszkowsky LS, Emerson L, Engstrom PF, Fanta P, Giordano T, Goldner WS, Halfdanarson TR, Heslin MJ, Kandeel F, Kunz PL, Kuvshinoff BV, Lieu C, Moley JF, Munene G, Pillarisetty VG, Saltz L, Sosa JA, Strosberg JR, Vauthey JN, Wolfgang C, Yao JC, Burns J, Freedman-Cass D. Neuroendocrine Tumors, Version 1.2015. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 13(1):78-108, 2015. PubMed
Kulke MH, Shah MH, Benson AB, Bergsland E, Berlin JD, Blaszkowsky LS, Emerson L, Engstrom PF, Fanta P, Giordano T, Goldner WS, Halfdanarson TR, Heslin MJ, Kandeel F, Kunz PL, Kuvshinoff BV, Lieu C, Moley JF, Munene G, Pillarisetty VG, Saltz L, Sosa JA, Strosberg JR, Vauthey JN, Wolfgang C, Yao JC, Burns J, Freedman-Cass D. Neuroendocrine Tumors, Version 1.2015. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 13(1):78-108, 2015. PubMed
Marks JR, Anderson KS, Engstrom P, Godwin AK, Esserman LJ, Longton G, Iversen ES, Mathew A, Patriotis C, Pepe MS. Construction and Analysis of the NCI-EDRN Breast Cancer Reference Set for Circulating Markers of Disease. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention: a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology, 24(2):435-41, 2015. PubMed
Perkins J, Boland P, Cohen S, Olszanski A, Zhou Y, Engstrom P, Astsaturov I. Successful Imatinib therapy of neuroendocrine carcinoma with activating KIT mutation: a case study. JNCCN 2014 June;12:847-852. PMID: 24925195 Benson AB, Venook AP, Bekaii-Saab T, Chan E, Chen YJ, Cooper HS, Engstrom PF, Enzinger PC, Fenton MJ, Fuchs CS, Grem JL, Hunt S, Kamel A, Leong LA, Lin E, Messersmith W, Mulcahy MF, Murphy JD, Nurkin S, Rohren E, Ryan DP, Saltz L, Sharma S, Shibata D, Skibber JM, Sofocleous CT, Stoffel EM, Stotsky-Himelfarb E, Willett CG, Gregory KM, Freedman-Cass CA. Colon Cancer, Version 3.2014. JNCCN 2014;12(7):1028-59. PubMed
A phase II trial of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib in patients with advanced biliary tract cancers. Clin Colorectal Cancer 2014 Jan 4. [epub ahead of print] PubMed
Engstrom, Paul F. Physician Burnout. JNCCN 2013 April; 11(4): 1-3 PubMed
Khrizman P, Niland JC, ter Veer A, Milne D, Bullard Dunn K, Carson WE 3rd, Engstrom PF, et al. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy use in patients with stage II/III rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy; a national comprehensive network analysis. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Jan 1;31(1):30-8 PubMed
Gordiev M, Engstrom PF, Khasanov R, et al. Genetic Analysis of Polymorphisms in Dopamine Receptor and Transporter Genes for Association with Smoking among Cancer Patients. Eur Addict Res. 2012 Nov 2:19(2)105-111. PubMed
Engstrom PF. Commentary: Ten Years of Progress in Colon Cancer Therapy. JNCCN 2012 May; 10(5); 574-575. PubMed
Schnoll RA, Subramanian S, Martinez E, Engstrom PF. Correlates of continued tobacco use and intention to quit smoking among Russian cancer patients. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 2011 Jan;18(4):325-32. PubMed
O'Grady MA, Slater E, Sigurdson ER, Meropol NJ, Weinstein A, Lusch CJ, Sein E, Keeley P, Miller B, Engstrom PF, Cohen SJ. Assessing Compliance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for Elderly Patients with Stage III Colon Cancer: The Fox Chase Cancer Center Partners' Initiative. Clinical Colorectal Cancer. 2011 Jun;10(2):113-6. PubMed
Engstrom PF Cohen SJ Emerging Therapies for Advanced Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors PubMed
Denlinger CS, Engstrom PF. Colorectal cancer survivorship: Movement matters. Cancer Prev. Res; 4(4);502-11, 2011. PubMed
Morris GJ, Greco FA, Hainsworth JD, Engstrom PF, et al. Cancer of unknown primary site. Seminars in Oncology 37(2):71-79, 2010. PubMed
Braithwaite D, Wernli KJ, Anton-Culver H, Engstrom P, Greenberg R, Meyskens F. Opportunities for cancer epidemiology and control in low-and middle-income PubMed
Additional Publications
Lynn Tucker
- Neuroendocrine Tumors
When something feels wrong, speak up. For Lynn Tucker, that sentiment is more than empowering, it’s life changing.
Five years ago Lynn began to experience stomach pain so severe that at times it left her housebound and unable to move. For years, she went from doctor to doctor, received countless tests, and was repeatedly misdiagnosed.
“I was told I had a hernia, Crohn’s Disease, and several other conditions,” Lynn said. “Finally, I just accepted the pain as something I would have to live with. I didn’t think I would ever feel well.”
Alan Stachura
- Colorectal Cancer
Alan Stachura practically grew up at Fox Chase Cancer Center, as both his parents were treated there for cancer. Alan thought he would one day get cancer but that it wouldn't be until he was well in his 60s. However, Alan learned in 2010, at the age of 30, that he had colon cancer. Alan chose the least-invasive procedure possible, which was to remove the polyp, which turned out to be malignant. Alan also tested positive for Lynch Syndrome, and, as a result, he encouraged his siblings to be tested as well through Fox Chase's Risk Assessment Program. While Alan's brother tested negatove, his sister tested positive. Today, Alan is feeling good, but continues his regular checkups at Fox Chase to ensure the cancer does not return. "If you think there is a risk of cancer in your family, there probably is," he said. "The genetic counselors at Fox Chase's Risk Assessment Program provide valuable information and guidance. I recommend them to anyone with a strong family history of cancer."
Todd Jackman
- Colorectal Cancer
Todd Jackman had no reason to suspect anything was seriously wrong with his health. At 49, the Villanova professor of biology was in the prime of his life. His wife convinced him to see their family doctor, who suggested that Todd get a colonoscopy. It was Stage 2 colorectal cancer. Todd was urged to see an oncologist to learn what his treatment options were.
Angela Fedele
- Breast Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
In 1983, Angela Fedele was diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time she was going through a divorce. This 42-year-old mother of four felt that her whole life was crumbling apart. "I felt totally alone and full of despair," shared Angela, who put her health in the hands of her surgeon. After the mastectomy to remove the cancer, Angela tried to pick up the pieces of her life and move on. Little did she know this was just the beginning of a long journey with cancer that would span more than two decades.
