Aarti Bhatia, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology)Cards
About
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Head and Neck Neoplasms; Medical Oncology
Publications
2024
690TiP HERTHENA-PanTumor01: A global phase II trial of HER3-DXd in metastatic solid tumors
Powles T, Bhatia A, Burtness B, Kogawa T, Nishina T, Nakayama I, Fountzilas C, Castillo D, Mckean M, Meric-Bernstam F, Colombo N, Smithy J, Fayette J, Chandra S, Sternberg D, Sullivan K, Yueh S, Clinthorne G, Kudchadkar R, Hayashi H. 690TiP HERTHENA-PanTumor01: A global phase II trial of HER3-DXd in metastatic solid tumors. Annals Of Oncology 2024, 35: s534-s535. DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2024.08.2161.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe NAVigate-HPV Registry: A comprehensive biomarker evidence base for HPV-driven cancers.
Roof S, Hanna G, Rettig E, Routman D, Holsinger F, Kalman N, Bhatia A, Patel M, Jabalee J, Yom S, Baliga S, Raben A, Sims J, Kaczmar J, Bhayani M, Berger B, Del Vecchio Fitz C. The NAVigate-HPV Registry: A comprehensive biomarker evidence base for HPV-driven cancers. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: e15045-e15045. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.e15045.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHPV-driven cancersHPV-related cancersHuman papillomavirusClinical dataHead and neckClinical outcome dataBlood-based assayPrecision cancer medicineClinical careRoutine clinical careDNA scoreUterine cervixAcademic medical facilityImprove patient outcomesAnal canalClinicopathological featuresEligible subjectsU.S. cancer centersBlood testsOncogenic driversCancer CenterTherapeutic approachesTumor biomarkersPatientsCancer medicineHERTHENA-PanTumor01: A global, multicohort, phase 2 trial of HER3-DXd in relapsed/refractory metastatic solid tumors.
Bhatia A, Hayashi H, Kogawa T, Nishina T, Fountzilas C, Castillo D, McKean M, Colombo N, Smithy J, Fayette J, Chandra S, Powles T, Kudchadkar R, Sternberg D, Sullivan K, Yueh S, Clinthorne G, Burtness B. HERTHENA-PanTumor01: A global, multicohort, phase 2 trial of HER3-DXd in relapsed/refractory metastatic solid tumors. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: tps3164-tps3164. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.tps3164.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHead and neck squamous cell cancerHuman epidermal growth factor receptor 3Platinum-based chemotherapyHER3-DXdPhase 2 trialAntibody-drug conjugatesSolid tumorsHuman anti-HER3 monoclonal antibodyAnti-HER3 monoclonal antibodyAnti-PD-(L)1 therapyGastric cancerHER2-negative gastric cancerTopoisomerase I inhibitor payloadAssociated with poor clinical outcomesEpidermal growth factor receptor 3Anti-HER3 antibodiesGastroesophageal junction cancerHER2+ cancersMetastatic solid tumorsMetastatic breast cancerSquamous cell cancerBRAF wild-typePoor clinical outcomesMultiple tumor typesAcral subtype
2023
Randomized Phase II Trial of Ficlatuzumab With or Without Cetuximab in Pan-Refractory, Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer
Bauman J, Saba N, Roe D, Bauman J, Kaczmar J, Bhatia A, Muzaffar J, Julian R, Wang S, Bearelly S, Baker A, Steuer C, Giri A, Burtness B, Centuori S, Caulin C, Klein R, Saboda K, Obara S, Chung C. Randomized Phase II Trial of Ficlatuzumab With or Without Cetuximab in Pan-Refractory, Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2023, 41: 3851-3862. PMID: 36977289, DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.01994.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedian progression-free survivalProgression-free survivalObjective response rateRecurrent/metastatic headCMET overexpressionMetastatic headCombination armAntiepidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodyNoncomparative phase II studyRecurrent/metastatic HNSCCRandomized phase II trialEnd pointNeck squamous cell carcinomaHPV negative subgroupPhase II studyPrimary end pointSecondary end pointsHPV-positive diseaseHuman papillomavirus (HPV) statusMajor prognostic factorPhase II trialKey eligibility criteriaSquamous cell carcinomaReceptor monoclonal antibodyHPV-negative HNSCCTreating Head and Neck Cancer in the Age of Immunotherapy: A 2023 Update
Bhatia A, Burtness B. Treating Head and Neck Cancer in the Age of Immunotherapy: A 2023 Update. Drugs 2023, 83: 217-248. PMID: 36645621, DOI: 10.1007/s40265-023-01835-2.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersConceptsNeck cancerRecurrent/metastatic settingImmune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumabNeck squamous cell carcinomaAge of immunotherapyLate stage HNSCCImmune checkpoint inhibitionPlatinum-containing chemotherapyFirst-line treatmentGrowth factor receptor overexpressionCheckpoint inhibitor nivolumabSquamous cell carcinomaEpidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpressionPathogenesis of HNSCCTreatment of patientsTreatment of HNSCCManagement of headMonoclonal antibody cetuximabCurative intentPalliative chemotherapyAdvanced diseaseInhibitor nivolumabLocoregional failureMetastatic settingMultimodality therapy
2022
Targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Head and Neck Cancer
Bhatia A. Targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Head and Neck Cancer. The Cancer Journal 2022, 28: 331-338. PMID: 36165720, DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000623.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeck squamous cell carcinomaSquamous cell carcinomaEpidermal growth factor receptorGrowth factor receptorSystemic therapyCell carcinomaEpidermal growth factor receptor targetingFactor receptorMainstay of managementRational drug combinationsMost patientsDisease recurrenceDeath-1Neck cancerDisease outcomeDrug combinationsPatientsNovel drugsReceptor targetingSubstantial proportionRadiation techniquesPreclinical scienceCarcinomaTherapyReceptors656MO Phase I study of M6620 (VX-970, berzosertib) in combination with cisplatin and XRT in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Bhatia A, Chen Z, Bruce J, Steuer C, Zandberg D, Riess J, Mitchell D, Davis T, Patel M, Kaur V, Arnold S, Owonikoko T. 656MO Phase I study of M6620 (VX-970, berzosertib) in combination with cisplatin and XRT in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Annals Of Oncology 2022, 33: s842. DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.07.780.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA phase II/III trial of chemotherapy plus cetuximab versus chemotherapy plus bevacizumab versus atezolizumab plus bevacizumab following progression on immune checkpoint inhibition in recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancers: ECOG-ACRIN EA3202.
Bhatia A, Flamand Y, Johnson J, Ishizuka J, Duan F, Tang M, Karivedu V, Subramaniam R, Burtness B. A phase II/III trial of chemotherapy plus cetuximab versus chemotherapy plus bevacizumab versus atezolizumab plus bevacizumab following progression on immune checkpoint inhibition in recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancers: ECOG-ACRIN EA3202. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2022, 40: tps6098-tps6098. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.tps6098.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProgression-free survivalVascular endothelial growth factorM HNSCCOverall survivalPrimary endpointExperimental armControl armHigher treatment-related adverse eventsPhase II/III trialsOne-sided alpha levelRecurrent/metastatic headTreatment-related adverse eventsEffector T cell responsesMyeloid-derived suppressor cellsPhase II/IIIPhase IIStratified log-rank testEfficacy of atezolizumabPlatinum-doublet chemotherapyImmune checkpoint inhibitionFirst-line pembrolizumabAnti-tumor immunityPhase IIIDendritic cell maturationPhase III evaluationCemiplimab for Orbital Squamous Cell Carcinoma in 11 Cases
Steren B, Burtness B, Bhatia A, Demirci H, Shinder R, Yoo D, Tse B, Pointdujour-Lim R. Cemiplimab for Orbital Squamous Cell Carcinoma in 11 Cases. Ophthalmic Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery 2022, 38: 496-502. PMID: 35502804, DOI: 10.1097/iop.0000000000002190.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOrbital squamous cell carcinomaSquamous cell carcinomaCell carcinomaImmune checkpoint inhibitorsMulti-institutional seriesSignificant side effectsCheckpoint inhibitorsPatient characteristicsComplete responseClinical featuresStudy cohortOrbital exenterationCemiplimabDrug dosingSide effectsPatientsCarcinomaTreatmentExenterationRegimenResponseDosingCohortWeeksCessationEfficacy and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel, carboplatin, and cetuximab as induction chemotherapy or in cases of metastases or relapse for head and neck cancer with a focus on elderly or frail patients
Forman R, Deshpande H, Burtness B, Bhatia AK. Efficacy and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel, carboplatin, and cetuximab as induction chemotherapy or in cases of metastases or relapse for head and neck cancer with a focus on elderly or frail patients. Head & Neck 2022, 44: 1777-1786. PMID: 35488876, DOI: 10.1002/hed.27077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRECIST response rateProgression-free survivalMetastatic/recurrent diseaseOverall survivalInduction chemotherapyRecurrent diseaseNeck cancerMetastatic/recurrent headPFS/overall survivalMean progression-free survivalSuccessful induction rateMean overall survivalPercent of patientsCases of metastasisFrail subsetWeekly paclitaxelFrail patientsAdult patientsElderly patientsPerformance statusRecurrent headInduction cohortInduction groupPatientsRecurrent group
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
An Open Label Phase II Randomized Trial of BNT113 in Combination With Pembrolizumab Versus Pembrolizumab Monotherapy as a First Line Therapy in Patients With Unresectable Recurrent, or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) Which is Positive for Human Papilloma Virus 16 (HPV16+) and Expresses PD-L1 (AHEAD-MERIT)
HIC ID2000033494RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date05/31/2028Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18+ yearsA Window Trial of 5-Azacytidine or Nivolumab or Combination Nivolumab Plus 5-Azacytidine in Resectable HPV-Associated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
HIC ID2000025632RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date09/30/2025Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase II/III Trial of Chemotherapy + Cetuximab vs Chemotherapy + Bevacizumab vs Atezolizumab + Bevacizumab Following Progression on Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancers
HIC ID2000032270RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/15/2027Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase II Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Therapy With Pembrolizumab After Resection of Recurrent/Second Primary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma With High Risk Features
HIC ID2000031055RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date02/28/2026Recruiting ParticipantsPhase II Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Radiotherapy With or Without Cisplatin for p53 Mutated, Surgically Resected Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)
HIC ID1604017600RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2027Recruiting Participants
Clinical Care
Overview
Aarti Bhatia, MD, is a medical oncologist who focuses on treating patients with head and neck cancers. Dr. Bhatia serves as the clinical research team leader for the Head and Neck Cancers Program, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing treatment options for these challenging conditions.
As an associate professor of medicine (medical oncology) at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Bhatia's research interests lie in exploring novel therapies for head and neck cancers. She is actively involved in designing and conducting clinical trials, serving as the site principal investigator for multi-center studies. Her work is dedicated to finding innovative treatment strategies that can improve outcomes and quality of life for her patients.
Dr. Bhatia received her medical degree from University of Tennessee College of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University/Sinai Hospital and her fellowship in hematology/oncology at Temple University/Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Clinical Specialties
Medical Oncology
Fact Sheets
Head and Neck Cancer
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News & Links
News
- April 02, 2025
Yale Cancer Center Annual Awards
- June 07, 2024
Yale Cancer Center Researchers and Trainees Present at ASCO
- September 20, 2023
Clinical Trials for Sarcoma and Head & Neck Cancers at Yale
- January 10, 2023
Dr. Aarti Bhatia named Leader of the Head & Neck Disease-Aligned Research Team
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