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Peter Muscarella MD

Peter Muscarella MD
Assoc ProfessorCollege of Medicinepete.muscarella@osumc.edu
N711 Doan Hall 410 West 10th Avenue Columbus OH 43210
Phone:614-293-5815Fax: 614-293-4030
  • Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention

General Research Interest

Pancreatic Cancer surgery and biology

Research Description

Pancreatic cancer is currently the fourth most common cancer causing death in the United States. The overall prognosis remains poor despite advances in diagnostic tests, surgical technique, multimodality treatment, and postoperative care. Dr. Muscarella participates in ongoing research focusing on pancreatic cancer genetics, novel therapies, surgical therapy, and the biological behavior of this disease.

Transinstitutional Work

Dr. Muscarella is currently the Principal Investigator of a multi-institutional trial evaluating the use of a novel vaccine targeting a frequently mutated protein (k-ras) in pancreatic cancers in the postoperative setting. Together with help from the clinical trials office and our team of pancreatic cancer surgeons and oncologists, we have entered more patients into this study than any other institution. Dr. Muscarella has also been collaborating with other surgeons and basic science researchers in the Division of Human Cancer Genetics in order to better understand the phenomenon of pancreatic cancer cachexia, or muscle wasting. This is a common clinical problem in patients with pancreatic cancer and it has profound effects on quality of life and patients’ abilities to tolerate necessary therapies. This work has resulted in publication in a respected scientific journal, as well as funding from the National Cancer Institute. Finally, Dr. Muscarella continues to work with other pancreatic surgeons in order to perform outcomes based research for patients undergoing pancreatic cancer surgery. A number of these studies have been published in scientific and surgical journals and/or presented at national scientific meetings. The pancreatic surgery team employs the use of cutting-edge technologies in the clinical care of patients such as minimally invasive pancreatectomy, natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), and en bloc portal vein resection with reconstruction for borderline-resectable pancreatic tumors. Much of this experience has been reported in the literature.

Current Publications

  • Rath KS, Loseth D, Muscarella P, Phillips GS, Fowler JM, O'Malley DM, Cohn DE, Copeland LJ, Eisenhauer EL, Salani ROutcomes following percutaneous upper gastrointestinal decompressive tube placement for malignant bowel obstruction in ovarian cancer.Gynecol Oncol 129(1) 103-6 4/1/2013
  • Li J, Knobloch TJ, Poi MJ, Zhang Z, Davis AT, Muscarella P, Weghorst CMGenetic alterations of RD(INK4/ARF) enhancer in human cancer cells.Mol Carcinog in press 10/12/2012
  • Tempero MA, Arnoletti JP, Behrman SW, Ben-Josef E, Benson AB 3rd, Casper ES, Cohen SJ, Czito B, Ellenhorn JD, Hawkins WG, Herman J, Hoffman JP, Ko A, Komanduri S, Koong A, Ma WW, Malafa MP, Merchant NB, Mulvihill SJ, Muscarella P 2nd, Nakakura EK, Obando J, Pitman MB, Sasson AR, Tally A, Thayer SP, Whiting S, Wolff RA, Wolpin BM, Freedman-Cass DA, Shead DAPancreatic Adenocarcinoma, version 2.2012: featured updates to the NCCN Guidelines.J Natl Compr Canc Netw 10(6) 703-13 6/1/2012
  • Griesser MJ, Gillette B, Crist M, Pan X, Muscarella P, Scharschmidt T, Mayerson JInternal and external hemipelvectomy or flail hip in patients with sarcomas: quality-of-life and functional outcomes.Am J Phys Med Rehabil 91(1) 24-32 1/1/2012