Behnam Badie, M.D.
Behnam Badie, M.D., is an expert in surgical neuro-oncology. He is chief of the Division of Neurosurgery and co-director of the Brain Tumor Program at City of Hope. He has personally performed more than 3,000 brain tumor operations and has guided the design of and conducted several first-in-human clinical trials involving local delivery of therapeutics into the brain.
Dr. Badie is a physician-scientist with clinical interests in the surgical management of malignant and benign brain tumors, including gliomas, pituitary tumors, meningiomas, skull base tumors, acoustic neuromas and other nervous system tumors. In addition to caring for his patients, he also dedicates his time to basic and translational research toward finding a cure for malignant brain tumors. His research focuses on brain tumor immunotherapy, and he has been the principal investigator in several first-in-human clinical trials examining the safety and efficacy of CAR T cell therapies for malignant brain tumors. His research team is also attempting to develop novel immunotherapy approaches for brain tumors by activating microglia and macrophages by targeting unique receptors and using nanoparticles. His research is funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and various public and private foundations.
Dr. Badie has published more than 125 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Cancer Discovery, JAMA Oncology, Science Translational Medicine, Clinical Cancer Research, Cancer Research, and Nanomedicine. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the NCI Experimental Therapeutics Program, and various review panels for the National Institutes of Health, and is an active member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Society of Neuro-oncology and other medical societies. Dr. Badie has also been named on both the "Top Doctors of America" and "Americas Top Doctors for Cancer" lists since 2002.
2000, Fellow, American College of Surgeons
1998, American Board of Neurological Surgery
1996, State of Wisconsin
1990, State of California
1985-1989, M.D., University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
1980-1984, Bachelor of Science, Division of Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
1990-1996, Resident, Division of Neurological Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
1989-1990, Intern, Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2018-present, The Heritage Provider Network Professor in Gene Therapy, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2011-present, Beckman Research Institute Board of Directors, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2011-2020, Vice Chair, Department of Surgery City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2012-present, Chair, Faculty Senate Executive Committee Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte CA
2005-present, Professor and Chief, Division of Neurosurgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2005-2009, Associate Professor, Chief Division of Neurosurgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2005-present, Co-Director, Brain Tumor Program, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2004-2005, Member, Cellular and Molecular Pathology Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
2003-2005, Vice-Chair, Academic Affairs, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
2002 - 2005, Associate Professor (Tenure), Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
1996-2005, Member, University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Immunology/Biological Therapy Program
1996-2005, Member, University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Immunology/Biological Therapy Program
1996-2005, Director, Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
1996-2002, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
The research interests of Behnam Badie, M.D., focus on brain tumor immunology. More specifically, his research team is attempting to develop novel immunotherapy approaches for malignant brain tumors through the activation of microglia and macrophages using nanoparticles. This research is currently funded by the National Cancer Institute and other organizations.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Nanotubes: Small and Lethal Envelopes Used to Kill Cancer
Nanotubes are microscopic technology shaped into tiny tubes about 1/10,000th the width of a human hair. Behnam Badie, M.D., is working closely with Jacob Berlin, Ph.D., to use nanotubes to deliver a drug called CpG, which activates immune cells called macrophages to recognize and attack tumor cells. Because nanotubes can carry the drug directly to macrophages around the tumor, patients can receive stronger dosages, tolerate their therapy better and recover more quickly.
Principal investigators: Behnam Badie, M.D.; Jacob Berlin, Ph.D., and Leying (Larry) Zhang, Ph.D.
Nanoparticles: Guiding Cancer Treatment to the Tumor with Magnets
Behnam Badie, M.D., is collaborating with scientists at Caltech to design a dynamically programmable, low-intensity magnetic field to route and traffic macrophages that have been treated with CpG to tumor sites. In this method, patients would receive CpG-loaded nanoparticles engineered with an iron oxide, so that the macrophages become magnetic. The magnetic field is generated by a grid, which allows for control over the spatial and temporal profile. Dr. Badie believes that directing CpG-treated macrophages to the areas where they are needed will make this treatment approach even more effective and durable.
Principal investigator: Behnam Badie, M.D.
Macrophages and Microglia: Harnessing the Immune System's Clean-up Crew
Macrophages are immune cells that act as scavengers feeding upon dead cells, foreign substances and other debris in the body. Microglia are macrophages specific to the central nervous system. Microglia are normally inactive but become activated in response to inflammation, infection and trauma. Once activated, they proliferate and migrate to the site of injury. Behnam Badie, M.D., is researching ways to improve outcomes in postsurgical brain tumor patients by reengineering the microglia to deliver therapeutic agents to the tumor site, killing residual tumor cells. He also aims to extend the life of T cells using microglia and test their efficacy against cancer. This study will likely garner results within a year, setting the stage for Phase I clinical trials.
Principal investigators: Behnam Badie, M.D., and Leying (Larry) Zhang, Ph.D.
GENE THERAPY
Creating an Innovative Approach to Therapy
Macrophages are plentiful around tumor sites; however, they aid tumor growth instead of mounting an immune attack. Behnam Badie, M.D., has found that these tumor-associated macrophages express high levels of an enzyme that inhibits the attack of T cells, the next line of immune response, and he has devised a pioneering concept to use tumor-associated macrophages to deliver genetic material to tumors.
The first step is a bone marrow transplant to remove the patient’s existing immune system and replace it with white blood cells that give rise to new modified macrophages. These macrophages are engineered with an inactive gene, which needs a promoter to become active. The modified macrophage will still respond to the tumor’s manipulation by traveling to the tumor site and secreting proteins that stimulate tumor growth. These proteins are the “promoters” that activate the genetic material.
At the same time, the patient is administered a prodrug, which is inactive. The activated gene makes material that converts the prodrug into active chemotherapy — which kills tumor cells. Meanwhile, that same active genetic material induces suicide in macrophages, so that they can no longer be employed for tumor growth. And because these modified macrophages are born from the new white blood cells, if the tumor reappears, the new macrophages will halt new tumor growth.
Principal Investigator: Behnam Badie, M.D.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE APPROACHES
Designing Leading-Edge Technology for Delivering Targeted Treatment
Behnam Badie, M.D., has designed a minimally invasive technique to debulk and treat brain tumors without open surgery — making treatment more effective while reducing trauma, the amount of drug used and time involved. The technique involves Dr. Badie inserting into the tumor a narrow cylinder, through which a small instrument reaches in and debulks it. The result is a reservoir in the center of the tumor into which a small tube is inserted and left just under the scalp to inject large amounts of targeted therapy.
Principal investigator: Behnam Badie, M.D.
CHEMOTHERAPY
Uncovering New Targets for Treatment
Macrophages are the first line of immune defense. They detect foreign debris, like bacteria and viruses, and present the proteins from these invaders to T cells, another type of immune cell that then mounts a coordinated attack. Brain tumor cells evade this response and more — they manipulate macrophages to work for them by supplying the tumor with oxygen and nutrients. Macrophages found around tumor cells also secrete proteins that encourage tumor cell growth.
Behnam Badie, M.D., and his team are researching new therapies to fight or reverse this manipulated response. They have found a protein secreted by tumor cells called S100B, which they believe plays a feature role in cancer’s ability to attract and subvert macrophages, and they are now working with City of Hope’s High Throughput Screening Core to identify lead compounds that inhibit S100B.
Principal investigator: Behnam Badie, M.D.
2012, Caltech-City of Hope Biomedical Initiative Award Recipient
2011, City of Hope Excellence Award Winner
2007-2012, "Americas Top Doctors for Cancer" by Castle Connolly
2007, Courage and Dedication Crystal Award, International Brain Mapping and Intraoperative Surgical Planning Society
2002, Departmental Teaching Award in Neurosurgery, University of Wisconsin
2003-2004, Best Doctors in America
2002, Best abstract presentation, AANS/CNS Section on Tumors
2002, Magna Cum Laude and Excellence in Design for education exhibit, The Radiological Society of North America
2002, "Top Doctor" or "Best Doctor" by Castle Connolly and/or BestDoctors.com
1988, Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society
1986, Best abstract presentation, Medical Student Summer Research Program
1984, Magna cum laude
1984, UCLA Departmental Honors in Biochemistry
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for Cancer Research
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Society of Gene Therapy
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Society of Neuro-oncology
International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer
North American Skull Base Society
Western Neurosurgical Society
- Sahoo P, Frankel P, Ressler J, Gutova M, Annala AJ, Badie B, Portnow J, Aboody KS, D'Apuzzo M, Rockne RC. Early Changes in Tumor Perfusion from T1-Weighted Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI following Neural Stem Cell-Mediated Therapy of Recurrent High-Grade Glioma Correlate with Overall Survival.Stem Cells Int. 2018 Mar 14;2018:5312426. doi: 10.1155/2018/5312426. eCollection 2018.PMID:29731779
- Alizadeh D, White EE, Sanchez TC, Liu S, Zhang L, Badie B, Berlin JM. Immunostimulatory CpG on Carbon Nanotubes Selectively Inhibits Migration of Brain Tumor Cells. Bioconjug Chem. 2018 May 16;29(5):1659-1668. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00146. Epub 2018 Apr PMID:29526082
- Gao H, Zhang IY, Zhang L, Song Y, Liu S, Ren H, Liu H, Zhou H, Su Y, Yang Y, Badie B. S100B Suppression Alters Polarization of Infiltrating Myeloid-Derived Cells in Gliomas and Inhibits Tumor Growth. Cancer Lett. 2018 Aug 1. pii: S0304-3835(18)30498-1. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.07.034. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 30076898
- Javanbakht A, D'Apuzzo M, Badie B, Salehian B. Pituitary metastasis: a rare condition.Endocr Connect. 2018 Aug 23. pii: EC-18-0338. doi: 10.1530/EC-18-0338. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 30139817
- Fiani B, Quadri SA, Farooqui M, D'Apuzzo M, Rosser RJ, Berman BW, Noel J, Xin XS, Badie B, Ramachandran A, Siddiqi J. A brainstem mass of Müllerian type Epithelial Origin without any primary cancer source. J Clin Neurosci. 2019 Jan;59:325-332. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2018.10.016. Epub 2018 Oct 15.PMID:30337125
- Mirzaei HR, Rodriguez A, Shepphird J, Brown CE, Badie B. Corrigendum: Chimeric Antigen Receptors T Cell Therapy in Solid Tumor: Challenges and Clinical Applications.Front Immunol. 2019 Apr 17;10:780. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00780. eCollection 2019. PMID:31049049
- Chaudhry AA, Naim S, Gul M, Chaudhry A, Chen M, Jandial R, Badie B. Utility of Preoperative Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent Functional MR Imaging in Patients with a Central Nervous System Neoplasm. Radiol Clin North Am. 2019 Nov;57(6):1189-1198. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2019.07.006. Review. PMID:31582044
- Zhang IY, Zhou H, Liu H, Zhang L, Gao H, Liu S, Song Y, Alizadeh D, Yin HH, Pillai R, Badie B. Local and Systemic Immune Dysregulation Alters Glioma Growth in Hyperglycemic Mice. Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Feb 4. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-2520.PMID: 32019861
- Wang D, Starr R, Chang WC, Aguilar B, Alizadeh D, Wright SL, Yang X, Brito A, Sarkissian A, Ostberg JR, Li L, Shi Y, Gutova M, Aboody K, Badie B, Forman SJ, Barish ME, Brown CE. Chlorotoxin-directed CAR T cells for specific and effective targeting of glioblastoma. Sci Transl Med. 2020 Mar 4;12(533). pii: eaaw2672. doi: 0.1126/scitranslmed.aaw2672.PMID: 32132216
- Zhang IY, Zhou H, Liu H, Zhang L, Gao H, Liu S, Song Y, Alizadeh D, Yin HH, Pillai R, Badie B. Local and Systemic Immune Dysregulation Alters Glioma Growth in Hyperglycemic Mice. Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Jun 1;26(11):2740-2753. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-2520. Epub 2020 Feb 4. PMID: 32019861
- Portnow J, Wang D, Blanchard MS, Tran V, Alizadeh D, Starr R, Dodia R, Chiu V, Brito A, Kilpatrick J, McNamara P, Forman SJ, Badie B, Synold TW, Brown CE. Systemic Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy Results in PD-1 Blockade on T Cells in the Cerebrospinal Fluid. JAMA Oncol. 2020 Oct 8;6(12):1-5. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.4508. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33030521
- Wang D, Prager BC, Gimple RC, Aguilar B, Alizadeh D, Tang H, Lv D, Starr R, Brito A, Wu Q, Kim LJY, Qiu Z, Lin P, Lorenzini MH, Badie B, Forman SJ, Xie Q, Brown CE, Rich JN. CRISPR Screening of CAR T Cells and Cancer Stem Cells Reveals Critical Dependencies for Cell-Based Therapies. Cancer Discov. 2020 Dec 16:candisc. 1243.2020. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-20-1243. Online ahead of print.PMID: 33328215
- Feldman L, Brown C, Badie B. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy: Updates in Glioblastoma Treatment. Neurosurgery. 2021 Feb 11:nyaa584. doi: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa584. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33575786