Iris Isufi, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology)Cards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Co-Director Adult CAR T-Cell Therapy Program, Hematology
Co-Leader, Cellular Therapy Clinical Research Team, Yale Cancer Center
Co-Chair, Cellular Therapy (CT)-SAFE Committee, Yale Cancer Center
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Co-Director Adult CAR T-Cell Therapy Program, Hematology
Co-Leader, Cellular Therapy Clinical Research Team, Yale Cancer Center
Co-Chair, Cellular Therapy (CT)-SAFE Committee, Yale Cancer Center
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Co-Director Adult CAR T-Cell Therapy Program, Hematology
Co-Leader, Cellular Therapy Clinical Research Team, Yale Cancer Center
Co-Chair, Cellular Therapy (CT)-SAFE Committee, Yale Cancer Center
Contact Info
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology)
Co-Director Adult CAR T-Cell Therapy Program, Hematology; Co-Leader, Cellular Therapy Clinical Research Team, Yale Cancer Center; Co-Chair, Cellular Therapy (CT)-SAFE Committee, Yale Cancer Center
Appointments
Hematology
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- Yale University School of Medicine (2011)
- Residency
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center (2007)
- MD
- State University of New York at Stony Brook (2004)
- BA
- The College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY, 2000, Biology (2000)
Research
Overview
Dr. Isufi's clinical work has been in the area of hematologic malignancies and autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation for these conditions. As part of the lymphoid malignancy and transplant teams, she developed a strong clinical interest in aggressive lymphomas. She has focused her efforts in treating patients with aggressive lymphomas as part of clinical trials and consolidating their response to treatment with either autologous or allogeneic transplant based on specifics of their disease. She has a research interest in early drug development in lymphoma, and has served as local PI for a variety of industry- and cooperative-group-sponsored lymphoma trials, including phase 1 trials.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Francine Foss, MD
Stuart Seropian, MD
Lohith Gowda, MD, MRCP
Scott Huntington, MD, MPH, MSc
Noffar Bar, MD
Manoj M Pillai, MBBS
Graft vs Host Disease
Transplantation Conditioning
Lymphoma
Publications
2024
Real World Data on Efficacy and Safety of EPOCH in T-Cell Lymphoma
Straining R, Foss F, Schiffer M, Amin K, Agarwal S, Isufi I, Huntington S, Kothari S, Seropian S, Girardi M, Sethi T. Real World Data on Efficacy and Safety of EPOCH in T-Cell Lymphoma. Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma & Leukemia 2024 PMID: 39368885, DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2024.09.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsT-cell lymphomaHeterogeneous group of lymphoid malignanciesGroup of lymphoid malignanciesPeripheral T-cell lymphomaAggressive T-cell lymphomaCutaneous T-cell lymphomaT cellsResponse rateR/R settingComplete responseLymphoid malignanciesPoor outcomeAnaplastic large cell lymphomaFrontline treatment regimensLarge cell lymphomaCombination of prednisoneHeterogeneous groupCell lymphomaChemotherapy optionsCaucasian patientsFirst-linePositive patientsTreatment regimensGrade 3LymphomaABCL-193 Impact of Bridging Therapy (BT) on Lisocabtagene Maraleucel (liso-cel) as Second-Line (2L) or Later (2L+) Treatment of R/R Follicular Lymphoma (FL) in the Phase 2, Open-Label TRANSCEND FL Study
Dahiya S, Hirayama A, Schuster S, Ortega J, Morschhauser F, Garcia-Sancho A, Kuruvilla J, Izutsu K, Barbui A, Borchmann P, Mielke S, Cartron G, Ghesquieres H, Goto H, Varadarajan I, Kamdar M, Isufi I, Farazi T, Kao G, Vedal M, Bhatnagar R, Nishii R, Papuga J, Palomba M. ABCL-193 Impact of Bridging Therapy (BT) on Lisocabtagene Maraleucel (liso-cel) as Second-Line (2L) or Later (2L+) Treatment of R/R Follicular Lymphoma (FL) in the Phase 2, Open-Label TRANSCEND FL Study. Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma & Leukemia 2024, 24: s462-s463. DOI: 10.1016/s2152-2650(24)01497-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLiso-celDuration of responseFollicular lymphomaBridging therapyBT subgroupR/R follicular lymphomaMedian follow-upHigh-risk populationSlow disease progressionFL diagnosisLisocabtagene maraleucelSecond-lineCR ratePrimary endpointSecondary endpointsInvestigator's discretionSafety profileFollow-upConsenting patientsDisease progressionSafety signalsOutpatient monitoringImprove outcomesResponse rateOutpatient settingImpact of Bridging Therapy (BT) on Lisocabtagene Maraleucel (liso-cel) as Second-Line (2L) or Later (2L+) Treatment of R/R Follicular Lymphoma (FL) in the Phase 2, Open-Label TRANSCEND FL Study
Dahiya S, Hirayama A, Schuster S, Ortega J, Morschhauser F, Garcia-Sancho A, Kuruvilla J, Izutsu K, Barbui A, Borchmann P, Mielke S, Cartron G, Ghesquieres H, Goto H, Varadarajan I, Kamdar M, Isufi I, Farazi T, Kao G, Vedal M, Bhatnagar R, Nishii R, Papuga J, Palomba M. Impact of Bridging Therapy (BT) on Lisocabtagene Maraleucel (liso-cel) as Second-Line (2L) or Later (2L+) Treatment of R/R Follicular Lymphoma (FL) in the Phase 2, Open-Label TRANSCEND FL Study. Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma & Leukemia 2024, 24: s212. DOI: 10.1016/s2152-2650(24)00792-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchP-088 Evaluating T-cell Fitness Pre B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA)-Targeted T-Cell Redirection Therapies (TRT) as a Predictive Marker for Efficacy/Toxicity in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM)
Theprungsirikul P, Yu M, Liu Y, Rall K, Matthews M, Neparidze N, Parker T, Browning S, Anderson T, Stevens E, Foss F, Gowda L, Pillai M, Isufi I, Seropian S, Mirza S, Bar N. P-088 Evaluating T-cell Fitness Pre B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA)-Targeted T-Cell Redirection Therapies (TRT) as a Predictive Marker for Efficacy/Toxicity in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM). Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma & Leukemia 2024, 24: s92-s93. DOI: 10.1016/s2152-2650(24)01991-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchP-096 Patient-Reported Outcomes in the Phase 3 CARTITUDE-4 Study of Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel Vs Standard of Care in Patients With Lenalidomide-Refractory Multiple Myeloma After 1–3 Lines of Therapy
Weisel K, Mina R, Mylin A, Yokoyama H, Magen H, Alsdorf W, Minnema M, Shune L, Isufi I, Harrison S, Shah U, Schecter J, Lendvai N, Gries K, Katz E, Slaughter A, Lonardi C, Gilbert J, Li Q, Deraedt W, Filho O, Patel N, Karlin L. P-096 Patient-Reported Outcomes in the Phase 3 CARTITUDE-4 Study of Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel Vs Standard of Care in Patients With Lenalidomide-Refractory Multiple Myeloma After 1–3 Lines of Therapy. Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma & Leukemia 2024, 24: s97-s98. DOI: 10.1016/s2152-2650(24)01999-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAddressing platelet insecurity – A national call to action
Gehrie E, Young P, Basavaraju S, Bracey A, P. A, Culler L, Dunbar N, Homer M, Isufi I, Macedo R, Petraszko T, Ramsey G, Tormey C, Kaufman R, Snyder E. Addressing platelet insecurity – A national call to action. Transfusion 2024, 64: 2001-2013. PMID: 39133194, DOI: 10.1111/trf.17987.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCosts of care during chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas
Di M, Potnis K, Long J, Isufi I, Foss F, Seropian S, Gross C, Huntington S. Costs of care during chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas. JNCI Cancer Spectrum 2024, 8: pkae059. PMID: 39115391, PMCID: PMC11340641, DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkae059.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapyB-cell lymphomaRelapsed/refractory B-cell lymphomaT-cell therapyCAR-T administrationCAR-T productsMedian total costCommercially insured patientsReal-world costsMedian costOut-of-pocket copaymentsCost of careLymphomaMonthly costTherapyPatientsProduct acquisitionFinancial outcomesHigher upfront costAssociations of T-cell fitness prior to B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)–targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) and bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) therapies and efficacy/toxicity in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).
Theprungsirikul P, Yu M, Rall K, Matthews M, Neparidze N, Parker T, Browning S, Anderson T, Stevens E, Foss F, Gowda L, Pillai M, Isufi I, Seropian S, Mirza S, Bar N. Associations of T-cell fitness prior to B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)–targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) and bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) therapies and efficacy/toxicity in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: 7549-7549. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.7549.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsChimeric antigen receptor T cellsRelapsed/refractory multiple myelomaT cell fitnessHigh-risk cytogeneticsCytokine release syndromeNon-respondersExtramedullary diseaseT cellsPeripheral blood prior to treatmentInternational Myeloma Working Group criteriaNR groupBlood prior to treatmentBispecific T-cell engagerMedian follow-up timeMedian prior linesT-cell therapyPost-treatment follow-upT-cell engagersT cell influxT-cell %Working Group criteriaYale Cancer CenterMann-Whitney U testResponse to disease progressionIdecabtagene vicleucelPhase 2 open label, multicenter study evaluating CRG-022, a CD22-directed autologous CAR T-cell therapy, in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) after CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy.
Ghobadi A, Jacobson C, McGuirk J, Shah N, Rossi J, Buchholz T, Bachier-Rodriguez L, Baird J, Diefenbach C, Farooq U, Hernandez-Ilizaliturri F, Isufi I, Patel K, Neelapu S, Sauter C, Spiegel J, Tees M, Timmerman J, Laport G, Frank M. Phase 2 open label, multicenter study evaluating CRG-022, a CD22-directed autologous CAR T-cell therapy, in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) after CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: tps7085-tps7085. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.tps7085.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCAR-T cell therapyCD19-directed CAR T-cell therapyDiffuse large B-cell lymphomaT-cell therapyB-cell lymphomaCytokine release syndromeOverall response rateLarge B-cell lymphomaR/R LBCLT cells/kgAdverse eventsAutologous CAR-T cell therapyHigh grade B-cell lymphomaBispecific T-cell engager antibodiesPrimary mediastinal B-cell lymphomaPhase 2 open-labelRecommended phase 2 doseAllogeneic stem cell transplantationGrade B-cell lymphomaMediastinal B-cell lymphomaInduce long-term remissionT-cell engager antibodiesResponse ratePhase 2 doseComplete response rateMulticenter, Real-World Study in Patients with R/R Large B-Cell Lymphoma (LBCL) Who Received Lisocabtagene Maraleucel (liso-cel) in the United States (US)
Palomba M, Crombie J, Nastoupil L, Andreadis C, Isufi I, Hunter B, Winter A, Hess B, Barta S, Frigault M, Grover N, Jain M, Moyo T, Patel S, Pophali P, Bernasconi D, Parrilla C, Kitali A, Liu F, Gharibo M, Pasquini M. Multicenter, Real-World Study in Patients with R/R Large B-Cell Lymphoma (LBCL) Who Received Lisocabtagene Maraleucel (liso-cel) in the United States (US). Transplantation And Cellular Therapy 2024, 30: s40-s41. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2023.12.071.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsImmune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndromeR/R large B-cell lymphomaLarge B-cell lymphomaCenter for International Blood and Marrow Transplant ResearchCytokine release syndromeDuration of responseLiso-celData cutoffRisk of cytokine release syndromeCAR-T cell productsDuration of response rateHigh-risk disease featuresMedian duration of responseReal-world population of patientsB-cell lymphomaTreated with corticosteroidsCAR+ T cellsMarrow Transplant ResearchT cell productionStudy of US patientsPopulation of patientsOne-time infusionReal-world populationReal-world studyCellular therapy registry
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
BrUOG 401: A Phase 2 Study of Mosunetuzumab With Lenalidomide Augmentation as First-line Therapy for Follicular and Marginal Zone Lymphoma
HIC ID2000031398RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/01/2025Recruiting ParticipantsPhase 2 Study of Pembrolizumab and Brentuximab Vedotin in Subjects With Relapsed/Refractory CD30 Positive T-cell Lymphoma
HIC ID2000029793RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date04/30/2028Recruiting ParticipantsPhase 1b/2, Open-Label Study to Evaluate Safety and Tolerability of Epcoritamab in Combination With Anti-Neoplastic Agents in Subjects With Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
HIC ID2000032539RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date05/19/2029Recruiting ParticipantsA Randomized, Phase IIB, Multicenter, Trial of Oral Azacytidine Plus Romidepsin Versus Investigator's Choice in Patients With Relapse or Refractory Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma (PTCL)
HIC ID2000030190RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/02/2026Recruiting ParticipantsNovel Combination of Belantamab Mafodotin and Elotuzumab to Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy in Multiple Myeloma
HIC ID2000028918RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/01/2025Recruiting Participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor ASCO/AACR Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop Fellow, Vail, CO
National AwardAACRDetails08/01/2008United Stateshonor Outstanding House Officer in Internal Medicine Award
Other AwardAlbert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical CenterDetails10/01/2007United Stateshonor The Kijeon Yoo Award for Determination in Pursuit of a Medical Education
Other AwardStony Brook University School of MedicineDetails10/01/2004United Stateshonor Medical School Merit-Based Scholarship
Other AwardStony Brook University School of MedicineDetails10/01/2004United States
Clinical Care
Overview
Iris Isufi, MD, is a hematologist who specializes in treating patients with lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia. Dr. Isufi provides care through treatments involving cellular therapy, which include CAR T-cell therapy and stem cell transplants. She is co-director of the CAR T-Cell Therapy Program for adults.
“Cell therapies like CAR T-cell therapy are promising for diseases that haven’t responded to multiple types of treatment,” Dr. Isufi says. “It’s a recent development, but one that students in medical school are already learning about, and that’s very exciting.”
The potential benefit of CAR T-cell therapy matters especially to Dr. Isufi, who grew up in Albania and sometimes accompanied her mother, a physician, on rounds at the hospital. “I saw challenges they [the doctors] were facing in trying to help people. Their determination inspired me when I was young to become a physician,” Dr. Isufi says.
As she visits her cancer patients today, Dr. Isufi spends time getting to know each one so that she can provide reassurance for each person’s unique situation. “I tell them we are in this together and that I’ll do my best to help them get through it all—beginning to end,” she says. Dr. Isufi continues to check in on patients who have been in remission for many years after receiving their treatment.
“My patients are very grateful, brave, and courageous, and this inspires me,” she says.
Dr. Isufi is an assistant professor of hematology at Yale School of Medicine, where she also runs clinical trials in patients with lymphoma.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Learn More on Yale MedicineCytogenic Studies for Leukemia Diagnosis
Learn More on Yale MedicineAcute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Learn More on Yale MedicineDiffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Yale Medicine News
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View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileNews & Links
News
- July 30, 2024
Smilow Cancer Hospital Cellular Therapies Program
- November 08, 2023
Smilow Shares with Primary Care: Lymphadenopathy and Diagnosis
- November 16, 2022
Discoveries & Impact (November 2022)
- July 15, 2021
Discoveries & Impact (July 2021)
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Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
Events
Everyone Markus Müschen, MD, PhD - Sidi Chen, PhD - Richard Flavell, PhD, FRS - Shangqin Guo, PhD - Iris Isufi, MD - Jun Lu, PhD - Xiaolei Su, PhD - Yongxian Hu, MD - He Huang, MD, PhD - Pengxu Qian, PhD - Shanshan Pei, PhD - Lie Wang, PhD - Gang Xio, PhD - Yishan Ye, MD - Yanmin Zhao, MD