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Sylvia Kurz, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of NeurologyCards
About
Sylvia Kurz, MD, PhD, has been named an Associate Professor of Neurology (Neuro-Oncology) and is dedicated to the care of patients with neuro-oncological disorders as part of the Chênevert Family Brain Tumor Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center.
Clinical Care
As a passionate clinician, Dr. Kurz has vast experience with the full spectrum of neuro-oncological disorders and cares for patients with primary and secondary tumors affecting the central nervous system and neurological complications of cancer and cancer therapies. This includes patients with glioblastoma, glioma, meningioma, primary CNS lymphoma, metastases to the brain and meninges.
Overview
Sylvia Kurz, MD, PhD, specializes in neuro-oncology and provides care for patients with brain tumors as part of the Chênevert Family Brain Tumor Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center.
An associate professor of neurology at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Kurz's research focuses on developing new therapies and improving existing treatment protocols for brain tumors.
Dr. Kurz earned her medical and doctoral degrees from Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Germany. She completed her residency at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and a fellowship in neuro-oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Clinical Specialties
Neuro-Oncology
Fact Sheets
Brain Tumors
Learn More on Yale MedicineMeningiomas
Learn More on Yale MedicinePrimary Brain Tumors
Learn More on Yale MedicineNeoplasm (Tumor)
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Board Certifications
Neuro-Oncology
- Certification Organization
- United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties
- Latest Certification Date
- 2024
- Original Certification Date
- 2014
Yale Medicine News
Research
As a clinical investigator, Dr. Kurz is focused on developing more effective treatment options for patients with intracranial tumors, in particular high-grade gliomas and progressive, therapy-resistant meningiomas. She has served as principal investigator and co-investigator on numerous investigator-initiated, cooperative group and industry-sponsored clinical studies.
Publications
Featured Publications
Evaluation of the SSTR2-targeted Radiopharmaceutical 177Lu-DOTATATE and SSTR2-specific 68Ga-DOTATATE PET as Imaging Biomarker in Patients with Intracranial Meningioma.
Kurz S, Zan E, Cordova C, Troxel A, Barbaro M, Silverman J, Snuderl M, Zagzag D, Kondziolka D, Golfinos J, Chi A, Sulman E. Evaluation of the SSTR2-targeted Radiopharmaceutical 177Lu-DOTATATE and SSTR2-specific 68Ga-DOTATATE PET as Imaging Biomarker in Patients with Intracranial Meningioma. Clinical Cancer Research 2023, 30: 680-686. PMID: 38048045, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-2533.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalSomatostatin receptor type 2PFS-6Stable diseaseOverall survivalIntracranial meningiomasSingle-arm phase II clinical studyMedian progression-free survivalPhase II clinical studyImaging biomarkersCourse of radiationReceptor type 2Multicenter clinical trialMacdonald criteriaMedian OSRadiographic responseProgressive meningiomasTumor measurementsTumor resectionMedian agePrimary endpointRadiotherapeutic interventionSecondary endpointsMedical therapyAdult patients
2025
Efficacy and safety of dordaviprone (ONC201) in prospective clinical trials of adult and pediatric recurrent H3 K27M-mutant diffuse glioma patients.
Sumrall A, Allen J, Bagley S, Brundage T, Butowski N, Clymer J, Haggiagi A, Koschmann C, Kurz S, MacDonald T, Majd N, Mueller S, Ramage S, Tarapore R, Thomas R, Umemura Y, Zaky W, Odia Y. Efficacy and safety of dordaviprone (ONC201) in prospective clinical trials of adult and pediatric recurrent H3 K27M-mutant diffuse glioma patients. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2025, 43: 10017-10017. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.10017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTreatment-related adverse eventsTime to responseProspective clinical trialPartial responseRANO criteriaArm BTumor regressionDiffuse gliomasH3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomaClinical trialsH3 K27M-mutant gliomasIntegrated analysis of patientsLansky performance statusTreatment-related deathsDiffuse midline gliomaAnalysis of patientsDiffuse glioma patientsClinical trial armsInvestigator-assessedPFS ratesOS ratesRadiographic responseSpinal tumorsCSF disseminationLeptomeningeal diseaseAssessing the clinical benefit from medical therapies in CNS malignancies: Refining the ESMO Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale and the ASCO Value Framework
Kurz S, Renovanz M, Bitzer M, Niyazi M, Malek N, Tatagiba M, Tabatabai G. Assessing the clinical benefit from medical therapies in CNS malignancies: Refining the ESMO Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale and the ASCO Value Framework. Neuro-Oncology Advances 2025, 7: vdaf127. PMID: 40980453, PMCID: PMC12445679, DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaf127.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeuro-oncology studiesClinical benefitPatient cohortRandomized phase 3 clinical trialESMO-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit ScalePhase 3 clinical trialsMagnitude of Clinical Benefit ScaleMagnitude of clinical benefitProspective assessmentComprehensive molecular profilingSingle-arm studyAssessment of clinical outcomesTargeted therapy recommendationsClinically relevant toolASCO Value FrameworkTreatment-related burdenAmerican SocietyLongitudinal observational studyCNS malignanciesMedical therapyTreatment cohortsClinical outcomesRadiographic outcomesTreatment responseAntitumor therapy
2024
CTNI-54. RESPONSE BY RANO2.0 CRITERIA IN ONC201 (DORDAVIPRONE)-TREATED PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT H3 K27M-MUTANT DIFFUSE MIDLINE GLIOMA
Cloughesy T, Allen J, Arrillaga-Romany I, Barbaro M, Batchelor T, Butowski N, Cluster A, de Groot J, Graber J, Haggiagi A, Kilburn L, Kurz S, Melemed A, Ramage S, Salacz M, Shonka N, Sumrall A, Tarapore R, Taylor L, Wen P. CTNI-54. RESPONSE BY RANO2.0 CRITERIA IN ONC201 (DORDAVIPRONE)-TREATED PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT H3 K27M-MUTANT DIFFUSE MIDLINE GLIOMA. Neuro-Oncology 2024, 26: viii109-viii109. PMCID: PMC11552873, DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noae165.0421.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDiffuse midline gliomaH3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomaH3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomaMidline gliomaResponse assessmentTarget lesionsMedian duration of responseMedian time to responseProgression free survival rateDiffuse intrinsic pontine gliomaBlinded independent central reviewAssociated with overall survivalNon-enhancing diseaseDisease control ratePrimary spinal tumorsDuration of responseFree survival rateIntrinsic pontine gliomaImproved performance statusIndependent central reviewClinically meaningful efficacyTime to responseOverall response rateAnti-cancer therapyComplete responseCase report: Solitary mass of the sciatic nerve confirmed as a primary extranodal manifestation of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a geriatric patient
Becker H, Vogelsberg A, Feucht D, Estler A, Tafrali D, Schittenhelm J, Milla J, Kurz S, Fend F, Tatagiba M, Schuhmann M, Hurth H. Case report: Solitary mass of the sciatic nerve confirmed as a primary extranodal manifestation of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a geriatric patient. Frontiers In Oncology 2024, 14: 1354073. PMID: 38585009, PMCID: PMC10995294, DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1354073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDiffuse large B-cell lymphomaMalignant peripheral nerve sheath tumorManifestation of diffuse large B-cell lymphomaLarge B-cell lymphomaPeripheral nerve sheath tumorsB-cell lymphomaContrast-enhancing lesionsNerve sheath tumorsComprehensive diagnostic workupSheath tumorsSciatic nerveExtranodal manifestationsHematologic neoplasmsSolitary massTumor boardAcute onsetBenign peripheral nerve sheath tumorsPeripheral nervesPalliative local radiotherapyRadical tumor resectionHigh-grade malignancyInterdisciplinary tumor boardRadiological diagnostic featuresInfiltration of nervesIndividualized treatment approachONC201 (Dordaviprone) in Recurrent H3 K27M–Mutant Diffuse Midline Glioma
Arrillaga-Romany I, Gardner S, Odia Y, Aguilera D, Allen J, Batchelor T, Butowski N, Chen C, Cloughesy T, Cluster A, de Groot J, Dixit K, Graber J, Haggiagi A, Harrison R, Kheradpour A, Kilburn L, Kurz S, Lu G, MacDonald T, Mehta M, Melemed A, Nghiemphu P, Ramage S, Shonka N, Sumrall A, Tarapore R, Taylor L, Umemura Y, Wen P. ONC201 (Dordaviprone) in Recurrent H3 K27M–Mutant Diffuse Midline Glioma. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: 1542-1552. PMID: 38335473, PMCID: PMC11095894, DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.01134.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsH3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomaDiffuse midline gliomaDuration of responseTime to responseHigh-grade gliomasLow-grade gliomasMidline gliomaMedian duration of responseMedian time to responseTreatment-emergent adverse eventsEnd pointsBlinded independent central reviewCorticosteroid dose reductionIndependent central reviewSecondary end pointsClinically meaningful efficacyRadiographic end pointsSpinal tumorsDose reductionDismal prognosisCentral reviewPerformance scoresCorticosteroid responseResponse assessmentAdverse eventsPractical guidance for direct oral anticoagulant use in the treatment of venous thromboembolism in primary and metastatic brain tumor patients
Ranjan S, Leung D, Ghiaseddin A, Taylor J, Lobbous M, Dhawan A, Budhu J, Coffee E, Melnick K, Chowdhary S, Lu‐Emerson C, Kurz S, Burke J, Lam K, Patel M, Dunbar E, Mohile N, Peters K. Practical guidance for direct oral anticoagulant use in the treatment of venous thromboembolism in primary and metastatic brain tumor patients. Cancer 2024, 130: 1577-1589. PMID: 38288941, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35220.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDirect oral anticoagulantsLow-molecular-weight heparinVenous thromboembolismIntracranial hemorrhageBrain tumorsEfficacy of direct oral anticoagulantsMetastatic brain tumor patientsRisk of intracranial hemorrhageTreatment of venous thromboembolismManagement of venous thromboembolismMetastatic brain tumorsOral anticoagulant useTreat venous thromboembolismOff-label useBrain tumor patientsBrain metastasesOral anticoagulantsAnticoagulant useTumor patientsClinical trialsPatientsClinical guidanceThromboembolismGlioblastomaHeparinGlioblastom – aktuelle Therapiekonzepte
Rieger D, Renovanz M, Kurz S, Bombach P, Paulsen F, Roder C, Tatagiba M, Niyazi M, Tabatabai G. Glioblastom – aktuelle Therapiekonzepte. Die Onkologie 2024, 30: 145-156. DOI: 10.1007/s00761-024-01473-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchClinical trialsWorld Health Organization classificationCombination of radiotherapyFirst-line therapyDiagnosis of glioblastomaPatterns of disease progressionTherapeutic clinical trialsTumor Treating FieldsCurrent treatment conceptsCentral nervous systemNeuro-oncology careTemozolomide chemotherapyFirst-linePostoperative therapyPrimary neoplasmsOrganization classificationUnfavorable prognosisTumor progressionClinical statusDisease progressionTreatment conceptTreatment recommendationsBiomarker-basedNervous systemGlioblastomaApp-based assessment of patient-reported outcomes in the Molecular Tumor Board in the Center for Personalized Medicine—(TRACE)
Dörner L, Grosse L, Stange F, Hille H, Kurz S, Becker H, Volkmer S, Hippler M, Rieger D, Bombach P, Rieger J, Weinert L, Svensson L, Anders C, Cekin S, Paulsen F, Öner Ö, Ruhm K, Malek H, Möller Y, Tatagiba M, Wallwiener M, Eckert N, Escher P, Pfeifer N, Forschner A, Bauer A, Zips D, Bitzer M, Malek N, Gani C, Tabatabai G, Renovanz M. App-based assessment of patient-reported outcomes in the Molecular Tumor Board in the Center for Personalized Medicine—(TRACE). Neuro-Oncology Practice 2024, 11: 336-346. PMID: 38737615, PMCID: PMC11085831, DOI: 10.1093/nop/npae002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHealth care professionalsHealth-related quality of lifePatient-reported outcomesAssessment of patient-reported outcomesQuality of lifePRO assessmentSystematic assessment of patient-reported outcomesAssessment of health-related quality of lifeElectronic PRO assessmentMedian distress scoreMayring's qualitative content analysisApp-based assessmentsEORTC QLQ-C30 instrumentHealth-related qualityBurden of symptomsPilot studyQualitative content analysisGlobal health scoreQLQ-C30 instrumentSmartphone applicationNeuro-oncology patientsSemi-structured interviewsInterdisciplinary expert panelCare professionalsPatient perspective
2023
NCOG-29. THE NEURO-ONCOLOGY MAGNITUDE OF CLINICAL BENEFIT SCALE (NEURO-MCBS) AS A COMPREHENSIVE AND CLINICALLY RELEVANT ASSESSMENT TOOL TO DETERMINE CLINICAL BENEFIT FROM TARGETED THERAPIES IN CNS TUMORS
Kurz S, Renovanz M, Rieger J, Bombach P, Grosse L, Rieger D, Hucker S, Hille H, Hippler M, Oener O, Ruhm K, Beha J, Malek H, Moeller Y, Bitzer M, Malek N, Tabatabai G. NCOG-29. THE NEURO-ONCOLOGY MAGNITUDE OF CLINICAL BENEFIT SCALE (NEURO-MCBS) AS A COMPREHENSIVE AND CLINICALLY RELEVANT ASSESSMENT TOOL TO DETERMINE CLINICAL BENEFIT FROM TARGETED THERAPIES IN CNS TUMORS. Neuro-Oncology 2023, 25: v220-v220. PMCID: PMC10639832, DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad179.0842.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProgression-free survivalCNS tumorsBrain metastasesTargeted therapyClinical benefitTherapy optionsFirst-line therapy optionTreatment efficacyDegree of clinical benefitClinical utilityMagnitude of Clinical Benefit ScaleNeuro-oncological conditionsSecondary CNS tumorsOutcome dataPhase I studyComprehensive molecular profilingOff-label therapyOutcome measuresAssessment of treatment efficacyClinical outcome dataAssess treatment efficacySurvival outcome dataPFS2/PFS1 ratioLongitudinal observational studyPerformance status
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Randomized Phase II Trial of Anti-Lag-3 and Anti-PD-1 Blockade vs. SOC in Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma
HIC ID2000038850RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date05/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsPhase II Trial of SMO/ AKT/ NF2/CDK Inhibitors in Progressive Meningiomas With SMO/ AKT/ NF2/CDK Pathway Mutations
HIC ID2000021311RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date10/31/2024Recruiting Participants
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