Matthias A. Karajannis, MD, MS

I went to medical school during a time when rapid progress was being made to treat children with cancer using chemotherapy, particularly children with leukemia. I witnessed how collaboration, laboratory research, and clinical research turned once-deadly cancers into curable diseases. After completing my pediatric residency training and a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology, I decided to pursue additional training in pediatric neuro-oncology. I realized that despite the progress that had been made, many children with brain tumors were not doing well. There is an urgent need for new therapies that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

At MSK, we have the most skilled and experienced medical and surgical experts caring for children with brain tumors. First and foremost, we rely on one another to make the most accurate diagnosis. Because of advances in our understanding of the molecular roots of cancer, we now have the unprecedented ability to distinguish brain tumors that may look alike under the microscope but behave and respond to treatment differently. This enhanced understanding also lets us identify weaknesses in tumors that we can target with special drugs. This approach, called precision medicine, is changing the way we care for children with brain tumors and has tremendous potential.

Once we have learned what kind of tumor a child has, our team of experts — together with our patients and their families — creates a personalized care plan. Some children with low-grade or noncancerous tumors may only need to be watched. Those with more aggressive cancers may need surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. All of these treatments are available at MSK. We also have a strong clinical trials program for children with brain tumors. These patients may be able to receive promising new treatments. Our goal for every child is a cure while minimizing the side effects of treatment.

In addition to caring for patients, I conduct research. My research translates clinical observations and findings from the laboratory into better ways to diagnose and treat children and young adults with brain tumors. I am currently the principal investigator of several early-phase clinical trials to find new treatments for people with neurofibromatosis. This inherited condition predisposes people to nervous system tumors. I am also serving in leadership roles and as study chair in multicenter clinical trial groups, such as the Children’s Oncology Group, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, and the Neurofibromatosis Clinical Trials Consortium.

I recognize that a cancer diagnosis is perhaps the most difficult and challenging time in the life of a child and their family. Each situation is unique. To that end, all patients and families can rest assured that our experts will be with them throughout the entire experience — from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship. We are a team, and we are here to make sure that our patients receive the very best care available.