Kathleen Fenn, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology)Cards
About
Research
Overview
Dr. Fenn is a member of the T32 Cancer Biology Training Program (T32-CA009503) that seeks to identify and recruit individuals with outstanding potential and prepare them for highly productive careers in cancer research. She recently presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on the tumor immune microenvironment in early stage HR-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer.
Publications
2022
Network-based assessment of HDAC6 activity predicts preclinical and clinical responses to the HDAC6 inhibitor ricolinostat in breast cancer
Zeleke T, Pan Q, Chiuzan C, Onishi M, Li Y, Tan H, Alvarez M, Honan E, Yang M, Chia P, Mukhopadhyay P, Kelly S, Wu R, Fenn K, Trivedi M, Accordino M, Crew K, Hershman D, Maurer M, Jones S, High A, Peng J, Califano A, Kalinsky K, Yu J, Silva J. Network-based assessment of HDAC6 activity predicts preclinical and clinical responses to the HDAC6 inhibitor ricolinostat in breast cancer. Nature Cancer 2022, 4: 257-275. PMID: 36585452, PMCID: PMC9992270, DOI: 10.1038/s43018-022-00489-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBreast cancerDose-escalation clinical trialHDAC6 inhibitor ricolinostatMetastatic breast cancerPan-HDAC inhibitorsHistone deacetylaseHuman breast cancerIndividual histone deacetylaseSensitive cancer cellsNab-paclitaxelClinical responseMetastatic BCPredictive biomarkersClinical trialsClinical activityPreclinical studiesTumor typesHDAC6 activityCancer cellsHDAC6iAnticancer strategyPatientsRicolinostatCancerMultiple cohorts
2020
Diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) through identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Fenn K, Singh V, Lee S, Cieremans D, Lassman A, Hershman D, Crew K, Accordino M, Trivedi M, Iwamoto F, Schultz R, Huynh L, Sales E, Fisher D, Mayer J, Kreisl T, Kalinsky K. Diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) through identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2020, 38: 3567-3567. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2020.38.15_suppl.3567.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDiagnosis of LMLeptomeningeal metastasesCerebrospinal fluidLumbar punctureCSF cytologyNext-generation sequencingMedian age 56 yearsTime of LPSolid tumor diagnosisAge 56 yearsMetastatic breast cancerBreast cancer CTCsPeripheral blood samplesBreast cancer-related genesSomatic mutationsEvaluable ptsCNS lymphomaER statusHER2 statusBreast cancerStandard cytologyMetastatic therapyBlood samplesCSF samplesActionable mutations
2015
Survival in veterans with lung cancer: Cancer cachexia and the importance of weight.
Malhotra S, Huang K, Simeunovic K, Vinnakota R, Gavrancic T, Villanueva N, Dietz D, Fenn K, Beck K, Coker C, Park Y, Acharyya S. Survival in veterans with lung cancer: Cancer cachexia and the importance of weight. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2015, 33: e20608-e20608. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2015.33.15_suppl.e20608.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Phase 2 Study of Pembrolizumab and Brentuximab Vedotin in Subjects With Relapsed/Refractory CD30 Positive T-cell Lymphoma
HIC ID2000029793RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date04/30/2028Recruiting ParticipantsParallel Phase III Randomized Trials for High Risk Prostate Cancer Evaluating De-Intensification for Lower Genomic Risk and Intensification of Concurrent Therapy for Higher Genomic Risk With Radiation (PREDICT-RT*)
HIC ID2000032279RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2033Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase III Trial of Perioperative Versus Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
HIC ID2000031542RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/31/2026Recruiting ParticipantsSIMCAP (Surgery in Metastatic Carcinoma of Prostate): Phase 2.5 Multi-Institution Randomized Prospective Clinical Trial Evaluating the Impact of Cytoreductive Radical Prostatectomy Combined With Best Systemic Therapy on Oncologic and Quality of Life Outcomes in Men With Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Prostate Cancer
HIC ID2000031290RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date10/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsGenderMaleAge18+ yearsA 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 Participants
Clinical Care
Overview
Kathleen Fenn, MD, is a medical oncologist who specializes in caring for people with breast cancer. In particular, she focuses on early-stage breast cancers that are hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive, where tumor cells depend on hormones or produce certain proteins that encourage growth.
As an assistant professor of medicine (medical oncology) at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Fenn’s research explores how the body’s immune system interacts with tumors. She has shared insights into what’s known as the tumor immune microenvironment at national conferences.
Dr. Fenn completed her medical training at Yale School of Medicine. She then pursued her internship, residency, and fellowship in internal medicine, hematology, and oncology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Gestational Trophoblastic Tumors
Learn More on Yale MedicineHormonal Therapy for Cancer
Learn More on Yale MedicineBreast Cancer
Learn More on Yale MedicineCancer
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Yale Medicine News
News & Links
News
- April 01, 2025
Comprehensive Breast Cancer Care at Smilow Cancer Hospital in Trumbull, Fairfield, and at Bridgeport Hospital
- March 20, 2025
Smilow Cancer Hospital Gynecologic Oncology Expertise in Fairfield County
- October 24, 2024
Smilow Shares Breast Cancer Awareness: Empowered through Knowledge, Smilow at Trumbull
- March 02, 2023
Gynecologic Oncology Specialty Team at Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center in Trumbull
Get In Touch
Contacts
Locations
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Events
- EveryoneGabriel Cartagena, PhD - Kathleen Fenn, MD - Monica G Valero, MD