Sarah Weiss, MD
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Assistant Professor (Medical Oncology)
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Assistant Professor Adjunct
Assistant Professor (Medical Oncology)Biography
Sarah A. Weiss, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine completed her internship and residency at the Montefiore Medical Center of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY and received her medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. She completed a 3-year fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at New York University School of Medicine and a 1-year post-doctoral fellowship with a focus on tissue-based prognostic markers in melanoma.
Dr. Weiss is a member of both the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer. Some of her ongoing research includes study of new immunotherapeutic strategies for patients with melanoma whose disease has progressed on standard therapy.
Appointments
Medical Oncology
Assistant Professor AdjunctPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Post-Docotoral Research Fellowship (Melanoma)
- New York University (2016)
- Fellowship
- New York University (2015)
- Residency
- Montefiore Medical Center of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2012)
- MD
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2009)
Research
Overview
Dr. Weiss joined the Melanoma and Renal Cell Carcinoma Disease Aligned Research Team at Yale in August 2016 and has a growing clinical practice. Her primary research interests are to develop innovative clinical trials for the management of advanced melanoma, and to identify and integrate prognostic and predictive biomarkers into clinical practice. She is currently the site Principal Investigator on several clinical trials including a study of Apexigen’s CD40 agonist in combination with nivolumab in patients with melanoma who are resistant to PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors. This has led to an investigator-initiated clinical trial protocol that Dr. Weiss wrote based off of preclinical work conducted in the Kaech and Bosenberg laboratories here at Yale, aimed at overcoming resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 agents by targeting both the innate and adaptive immune systems with a triple combination of a CD40 agonist, CSF1R inhibitor, and PD-1 inhibitor.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Immunotherapy; Melanoma
ORCID
0000-0002-1106-7089
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Sarah Weiss's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Sarah Weiss's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Sarah Weiss is interested in exploring.
Harriet Kluger, MD
Kelly Olino, MD, FACS
Mario Sznol, MD
Thuy Tran, MD, PhD
Lucia Jilaveanu, MD, PhD
Veronica Chiang, MD, FAANS
53Publications
1,696Citations
Melanoma
Immunotherapy
Publications
2024
Patterns of brain metastases response to immunotherapy with pembrolizumab
Mahajan A, Goldberg S, Weiss S, Tran T, Singh K, Joshi K, Aboian M, Kluger H, Chiang V. Patterns of brain metastases response to immunotherapy with pembrolizumab. Journal Of Neuro-Oncology 2024, 1-7. PMID: 38963658, DOI: 10.1007/s11060-024-04754-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerBrain metastasesComplete resolutionLung cancerMedian time to CNS progressionLesion progressionNon-small cell lung cancer patientsModified RECIST criteriaPD-1 inhibitorsTrial of pembrolizumabEffective systemic treatmentResponse to immunotherapyPhase II trialCell lung cancerMethodsThis retrospective studyLocal treatment decisionsPurposeCentral nervous systemCNS progressionRECIST criteriaPD-1Local therapySystemic treatmentMRI evaluationResponse assessmentRetrospective study
2023
A bedside to bench study of anti-PD-1, anti-CD40, and anti-CSF1R indicates that more is not necessarily better
Djureinovic D, Weiss S, Krykbaeva I, Qu R, Vathiotis I, Moutafi M, Zhang L, Perdigoto A, Wei W, Anderson G, Damsky W, Hurwitz M, Johnson B, Schoenfeld D, Mahajan A, Hsu F, Miller-Jensen K, Kluger Y, Sznol M, Kaech S, Bosenberg M, Jilaveanu L, Kluger H. A bedside to bench study of anti-PD-1, anti-CD40, and anti-CSF1R indicates that more is not necessarily better. Molecular Cancer 2023, 22: 182. PMID: 37964379, PMCID: PMC10644655, DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01884-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsStable diseasePartial responseMacrophage populationsThree-drug regimenUnconfirmed partial responsePhase I trialLimited treatment optionsMonocyte/macrophage populationNon-classical monocytesMurine melanoma modelTreatment-related changesResultsThirteen patientsWorse survivalI trialInflammatory tumorPatient populationTreatment optionsImmune cellsDisease progressionMurine studiesPreclinical modelsResistant melanomaAntigen presentationMurine modelCyTOF analysisUse of immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid organ transplant recipients with advanced cutaneous malignancies
Ji S, Liu H, Pachella L, Stephenson R, Groisberg R, Weiss S. Use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid organ transplant recipients with advanced cutaneous malignancies. Frontiers In Transplantation 2023, 2: 1284740. PMID: 38993910, PMCID: PMC11235332, DOI: 10.3389/frtra.2023.1284740.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsCutaneous squamous cell carcinomaObjective response rateMerkel cell carcinomaSolid organ transplant recipientsOrgan transplant recipientsSOT recipientsGraft rejectionCutaneous malignanciesCheckpoint inhibitorsTransplant recipientsCell carcinomaRetrospective analysisFirst-line immune checkpoint inhibitorsPrior systemic therapyAdvanced skin cancerSquamous cell carcinomaAdvanced cutaneous malignanciesImmunosuppressive therapyAllograft rejectionGraft failureSystemic therapyAdvanced melanomaCare therapyImmunosuppressive agentsSociety for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma, version 3.0
Pavlick A, Ariyan C, Buchbinder E, Davar D, Gibney G, Hamid O, Hieken T, Izar B, Johnson D, Kulkarni R, Luke J, Mitchell T, Mooradian M, Rubin K, Salama A, Shirai K, Taube J, Tawbi H, Tolley J, Valdueza C, Weiss S, Wong M, Sullivan R. Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma, version 3.0. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2023, 11: e006947. PMID: 37852736, PMCID: PMC10603365, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-006947.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsClinical practice guidelinesCutaneous melanomaTreatment of melanomaPractice guidelinesProlongs recurrence-free survivalCancer clinical practice guidelinesCell death protein 1Metastatic cutaneous melanomaBispecific T cell engager (BiTE) therapyChemotherapy-resistant diseaseRecurrence-free survivalDeath protein 1Long-term followManagement of patientsSpecial patient populationsImmunotherapy of cancerConsensus-based recommendationsPossibility of cureUnique toxicity profileQuality of lifeIntratumoral immunotherapyNeoadjuvant strategiesAdvanced diseaseBrain metastasesA Phase II Trial of the CD40 Agonist Sotigalimab (APX005M) in Combination with Nivolumab in Subjects with Metastatic Melanoma with Disease Progression on Anti-PD-1
Weiss S, Sznol M, Shaheen M, Berciano-Guerrero M, Muñoz-Couselo E, Rodríguez-Abreu D, Boni V, Schuchter L, Cao M, Fernandez A, Wei W, Ganti A, Hauke R, Berrocal A, Iannotti N, Hsu F, Kluger H. A Phase II Trial of the CD40 Agonist Sotigalimab (APX005M) in Combination with Nivolumab in Subjects with Metastatic Melanoma with Disease Progression on Anti-PD-1. Clinical Cancer Research 2023, 30: 74-81. PMID: 37535056, PMCID: PMC10767304, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0475.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsObjective response ratePhase II trialAdverse eventsPartial responseDisease progressionII trialGrade 3 adverse eventsAnti PD-1CD40 agonist antibodyElevated liver functionTreatment-related SAEsCommon adverse eventsActivation of CD40Subset of patientsFavorable safety profileAntigen presenting cellsStable diseaseMedian durationAdvanced melanomaAdditional patientsLiver functionSafety profileMetastatic melanomaPreclinical dataPresenting cellsCheckMate-915: does adjuvant CTLA-4 blockade play a role in resected melanoma?
Su D, Kluger H, Weiss S. CheckMate-915: does adjuvant CTLA-4 blockade play a role in resected melanoma? Annals Of Translational Medicine 2023, 0: 0-0. PMID: 37675335, PMCID: PMC10477634, DOI: 10.21037/atm-23-754.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsCombinatorial Immunotherapy with Agonistic CD40 Activates Dendritic Cells to Express IL12 and Overcomes PD-1 Resistance.
Krykbaeva I, Bridges K, Damsky W, Pizzurro G, Alexander A, McGeary M, Park K, Muthusamy V, Eyles J, Luheshi N, Turner N, Weiss S, Olino K, Kaech S, Kluger H, Miller-Jensen K, Bosenberg M. Combinatorial Immunotherapy with Agonistic CD40 Activates Dendritic Cells to Express IL12 and Overcomes PD-1 Resistance. Cancer Immunology Research 2023, 11: 1332-1350. PMID: 37478171, DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0699.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPD-1 resistanceDendritic cellsTumor regressionAnti-PD-1 resistanceActivates Dendritic CellsCytokine secretion profilingSystemic cytokine profileTriple therapy combinationInnate immune activationAdaptive immune responsesComplete tumor regressionMajority of miceSignificant clinical challengeMouse melanoma modelT cell activationAgonistic CD40Checkpoint inhibitorsDC subsetsTriple therapyCytokine profileImmune activationCombinatorial immunotherapyTherapy combinationsT cellsClinical challengeCase report: Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma presenting seven years after loco-regional disease resection of primary tumor with interval in-transit and nodal metastases
Rusheen J, Clune J, Ariyan S, Baumann R, Kluger H, Olino K, Weiss S. Case report: Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma presenting seven years after loco-regional disease resection of primary tumor with interval in-transit and nodal metastases. Frontiers In Oncology 2023, 13: 1217816. PMID: 37476373, PMCID: PMC10354444, DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1217816.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical NotesCitationsAltmetricConceptsMerkel cell carcinomaDuration of surveillanceLate recurrenceCell carcinomaMetastatic Merkel cell carcinomaPrimary Merkel cell carcinomaMetastases 15 monthsSuch late recurrencesPredictors of recurrenceNodal recurrenceDefinitive therapyFirst recurrenceDisease resectionNodal metastasisPhysical examinationRare tumorPrimary diagnosisPrimary tumorRisk factorsHigh riskNational guidelinesRecurrenceOptimal durationPatientsCarcinomaA phase 2/3 trial in progress on tebentafusp as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab in HLA-A*02:01+ patients with previously treated advanced non-uveal melanoma (TEBE-AM).
Davar D, Ikeguchi A, Buchbinder E, Shoushtari A, Seedor R, Bernicker E, Weiss S, Daniels G, Panella T, Ryan H, Goodall H, Sullivan R. A phase 2/3 trial in progress on tebentafusp as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab in HLA-A*02:01+ patients with previously treated advanced non-uveal melanoma (TEBE-AM). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2023, 41: tps9594-tps9594. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2023.41.16_suppl.tps9594.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsMetastatic cutaneous melanomaMetastatic uveal melanomaAdvanced melanomaInvestigator's choicePrimary endpointDual primary endpointsOverall survival benefitPhase 3 trialSimilar patient populationsPhase 2/3 trialIC armOS benefitPrior ipilimumabRECIST responseInhibitor regimenSupportive careSurvival benefitCare therapyAnti-CTLA4CtDNA levelsTumor burdenInvestigational agentsPatient populationCutaneous melanomaClinical trialsThe role of imaging and sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with T3b-T4b melanoma with clinically negative disease
Papageorge M, Maina R, King A, Lee V, Baumann R, Pucar D, Ariyan S, Khan S, Weiss S, Clune J, Olino K. The role of imaging and sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with T3b-T4b melanoma with clinically negative disease. Frontiers In Oncology 2023, 13: 1143354. PMID: 37223678, PMCID: PMC10200883, DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1143354.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPre-operative imagingCross-sectional imagingFree survivalLow-risk melanomaHigh-risk melanomaHigh-risk diseaseKaplan-Meier methodRecurrence-free survivalSentinel node biopsyWide local excisionManagement of patientsLog-rank testRole of imagingPropensity-score matchingIncidental cancerT4b diseaseMetastatic diseaseNodal diseaseNode biopsyPerioperative periodMedian ageNegative diseaseSentinel lymphLocal excisionNodular melanoma
Links & Media
News
- October 23, 2023
Rare Case of Late-recurring Merkel Cell Carcinoma
- January 13, 2021
Discoveries & Impact (January 2021)
- September 27, 2019Source: CT Insider
Perspectives: Stand up to the challenges of cancer to preserve life
- February 03, 2019
Meet Yale Internal Medicine: Q&A with Sarah Weiss, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology)