Dickran Saint-Fleur Kazandjian, MD

Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS), Smoldering Myeloma, Multiple Myeloma, Immunotherapy, Early Drug Development

Dr. Kazandjian’s clinical and translational research interests lie in the treatment of precursor plasma cell disorders including high risk smoldering multiple myeloma and the role of immunotherapy in plasma cell dyscrasias. In addition, he is re-evaluating the role of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in the era of highly efficacious novel-novel drugs, immunotherapy biologics, and cell-based therapies with the hypothesis that certain subsets of patients with myeloma may not benefit by default upfront ASCT.
Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous disease. However, currently virtually all myeloma is treated in the same fashion unlike other post-germinal B cell malignancies. His groups' interests lie in understanding the extremes of patients' natural histories and clinical responses to modern, highly-active, state-of-the-art therapies. Specifically, a subset of our patients who did not receive upfront ASCT post-induction have remained in durable MRD negative complete response off of maintenance therapy. On the other hand, a few patients may attain suboptimal response to induction therapy and have poor outcomes post ASCT. 
His groups' translational laboratory investigations aim to identify key differences in these patient subsets to include not only identifying somatic aberrations but also variations in the immune system/response and micro-environment. Additionally, he was instrumental in the development of a collaboration between the NCI/CCR, FDA, Johns Hopkins University, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and University of Miami to develop an NGS lab at the FDA to help support clinical trial translational and regulatory research. 
Dr. Kazandjian works on understanding the molecular biologic underpinnings of the racial differences in incidence, age of onset, and clinical outcomes that exist in multiple myeloma. He was awarded an intramural FDA funding grant to characterize - molecularly - the racial disparity observed in myeloma. He is conducting this in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His efforts continue in South Florida to clinically and biologically characterize this unique patient population.

View over 50 publications

• Boston University, Distinguished Alumni Rising Star Award
• Biology FDA Commissioner’s, Special Citation Award
• FDA Center for Drug Evaluation & Research, Honor Award
• FDA Breakthrough Therapy Program Public Workshop Group Recognition Award
• FDA Center for Drug Evaluation & Research, Excellence in Communication Award
• FDA Outstanding Service Award
• FDA Center for Devices & Radiological Health, Outstanding Service Award
• FDA Center for Drug Evaluation & Research Excellence in Communication Award
• Recognition of 10 Years of Federal Government Service Certificate Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
• Air Force Commendation Medal Deployment overseas in medical support of Operation Iraqi Freedom Air Education and Training Command
• Air Force Clinical Excellence Award Iraqi Campaign Medal
• Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
• Air Force Achievement Medal Clinical Excellence CGO category 59th Medical Operations Squadron Company Grade Officer of the quarter award
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
• Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

Dr. Kazandjian is a hematologic oncologist and clinician-scientist whose clinical research focuses on multiple myeloma and its precursor plasma cell dyscrasias (monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) and smoldering myeloma).
Dr. Kazandjian has a particularly strong interest in identifying high-risk smoldering myeloma patients who may benefit from early treatment strategies and the development of early-interventional clinical trials targeting this patient population. In addition, his translational research interests lie in the development of modern and novel laboratory techniques, including next generation sequencing (NGS) to advance monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) and the immune cell repertoire during treatment.
Dr. Kazandjian received his undergraduate bachelor's degree in Biology with distinction from Boston University (Summa cum laude) where his research interest was in viral oncogenesis. He remained at Boston University to receive his Medical Doctorate. He was then commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force medical corps and completed an Internal Medicine residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center.  After residency, Dr. Kazandjian remained on faculty as an active-duty physician, attending internist, assistant professor, and conducted HIV-malignancy research to elucidate the role normal human genetic variation plays on HIV pathogenesis. After six years of active duty including a stint in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as an intensivist, he continued his training at the NIH as a civilian and completed fellowships in Medical Oncology (NCI) and Hematology (NHLBI). 
His laboratory-based research involved understanding the role that long intergenic non-coding RNAs play in cancer. He was subsequently appointed as an FDA-NCI Clinical Investigator. He has represented the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence at several meetings, discussing topics including the accelerated approval of oncology drugs, breakthrough designation, and biomarkers.  His clinical interest remained in multiple myeloma where he continued to be clinically active, treating patients and teaching fellows, residents, and students as the head of the Myeloma Program and principal investigator in the NCI lymphoid malignancies division. Most recently, he arrived at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami to continue his efforts as a clinical trialist. He has presented his research at prestigious conferences including the American Society of Hematology and American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meetings. Lastly, Dr. Kazandjian has been involved in a multitude of health care missions to Armenia focusing on the improvement of medical oncology, education, and arranging for allogeneic stem cell transplantation outside of Armenia.