Hanny Al-Samkari, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Academic Titles

Associate Professor, Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Research Program Affiliation

Member, Developmental Therapeutics

Member, Angiogenesis, Invasion and Metastasis

Research Abstract

I am interested in the use of anti-angiogenic agents, including bevacizumab, pazopanib, pomalidomide and others, to treat the autosomal dominant bleeding disorder hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Recognition that HHT is associated with elevations in vascular endothelial growth factor-A has led to significant interest in repurposing cancer-directed anti-VEGF therapies for HHT treatment. I am leading clinical trials of anti-angiogenic drugs to treat chronic bleeding and severe anemia in these patients.

I additionally am interested in the management of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in cancer patients. Thrombopoietin receptor agonists, such as romiplostim and avatrombopag, hold great promise in management of this common complication of cancer treatment. Successful management of thrombocytopenia allows for maintenance of chemotherapy dose intensity and improves outcomes of cancer care while preventing bleeding from thrombocytopenia.