DownloadHi-Res Photo

Prasanna Ananth, MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Hematology Oncology)

Research & Publications
Biography
News

Research Summary

Dr. Ananth's research focuses on investigating ways to optimize supportive and palliative care for children with advanced cancer. Prior work explored how children with chronic, life-threatening illness utilize hospital resources in the last year of life; pediatric palliative care mitigates hospital use; enrollment in early phase clinical trials influences end-of-life care; and how providers, patients, and families perceive medical marijuana in pediatric oncology practice. Her ongoing work seeks to define attributes of high quality care for children with advanced cancer.

Extensive Research Description

Dr. Ananth's primary research agenda is to investigate mechanisms of optimizing supportive and palliative care for children with advanced cancer. Among adults with cancer, intense end-of-life care is defined by metrics such as hospitalizations in the last weeks of life and delayed hospice referral. No comparable quality measures exist for children with advanced cancer. In a published multi-center study, Dr. Ananth and her colleagues previously identified that children with cancer spend a substantial proportion of their last year of life admitted to the hospital, receiving interventions such as surgeries or mechanical ventilation. In two subsequent studies, they found that pediatric palliative care consultation may have a measurable impact on reducing hospital resource use and that enrollment in early phase clinical trials may influence timing of palliative care engagement. This has yielded her current research, in which she is developing patient- and family-centered, provider-informed quality measures that can be used to assess end-of-life care and develop prospective interventions.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Medical Oncology; Palliative Care; Pediatrics; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; Medical Marijuana

Selected Publications

Defining the denominator for measuring quality of end-of-life care in children with cancer: Results of a nominal group technique.Johnston E, Tefera R, Ananth P, Martinez I, Porter A, Snaman J, Thienprayoon R, Asch S, Bhatia S, O'Beirne R. Defining the denominator for measuring quality of end-of-life care in children with cancer: Results of a nominal group technique. JCO Oncology Practice 2023, 19: 227-227. DOI: 10.1200/op.2023.19.11_suppl.227.
“A double-edged sword”: Influence of the 21 st Century Cures Act on the childhood cancer care experience.Lindsay M, Clappier M, De Oliveira S, Gleeson D, Feifer D, O'bryan S, Kessler A, Mali N, Snaman J, Kaye E, Ananth P. “A double-edged sword”: Influence of the 21 st Century Cures Act on the childhood cancer care experience. JCO Oncology Practice 2023, 19: 360-360. DOI: 10.1200/op.2023.19.11_suppl.360.
Parent Priorities in End-of-Life Care for Children With CancerAnanth P, Lindsay M, Mun S, McCollum S, Shabanova V, de Oliveira S, Pitafi S, Kirch R, Ma X, Gross C, Boyden J, Feudtner C, Wolfe J. Parent Priorities in End-of-Life Care for Children With Cancer. JAMA Network Open 2023, 6: e2313503. PMID: 37184834, PMCID: PMC10878399, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.13503.
Measuring Pediatric Palliative Care Quality: Challenges and OpportunitiesBoyden J, Bogetz J, Johnston E, Thienprayoon R, Williams C, McNeil M, Patneaude A, Widger K, Rosenberg A, Ananth P. Measuring Pediatric Palliative Care Quality: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2023, 65: e483-e495. PMID: 36736860, PMCID: PMC10106436, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.01.021.
Development of Primary Palliative Care End-of-Life Quality Measures: A Modified Delphi Process.Bogetz J, Johnston E, Thienprayoon R, Patneaude A, Ananth P, Rosenberg A. Development of Primary Palliative Care End-of-Life Quality Measures: A Modified Delphi Process. Pediatrics 2022, 150 PMID: 36437228, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-058241.
Charting a path to high‐quality end‐of‐life care for children with cancerAnanth P, Wolfe J, Johnston EE. Charting a path to high‐quality end‐of‐life care for children with cancer. Cancer 2022, 128: 3586-3592. PMID: 36006762, PMCID: PMC9530011, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34419.
End‐of‐life care quality for children with cancer who receive palliative careAnanth P, Lindsay M, Nye R, Mun S, Feudtner C, Wolfe J. End‐of‐life care quality for children with cancer who receive palliative care. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2022, 69: e29841. PMID: 35686746, PMCID: PMC10498672, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29841.
Parent Priorities in End-of-Life Care for Children with Cancer (CO202C)Ananth P, Lindsay M, Mun S, De Oliveira S, Pitafi S, Gross C, Boyden J, Feudtner C, Wolfe J. Parent Priorities in End-of-Life Care for Children with Cancer (CO202C). Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2022, 63: 1064. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.04.011.
Survey of Pediatric Palliative Care Quality Improvement Training, Activities, and BarriersBogetz JF, Johnston E, Ananth P, Patneaude A, Workgroup T, Thienprayoon R, Rosenberg A. Survey of Pediatric Palliative Care Quality Improvement Training, Activities, and Barriers. Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2022, 64: e123-e131. PMID: 35577143, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.04.182.
Parent Priorities in End-of-Life Care for Children with CancerAnanth P, Mun S, Lindsay M, De Oliveira S, Pitafi S, Ma X, Gross C, Boyden J, Feudtner C, Wolfe J. Parent Priorities in End-of-Life Care for Children with Cancer. Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2022, 63: 885. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.02.087.
Perspectives of pediatric oncologists and palliative care physicians on the therapeutic use of cannabis in children with cancerOberoi S, Protudjer JLP, Rapoport A, Rassekh SR, Crooks B, Siden H, Decker K, Ananth P, Chapman S, Balneaves LG, Vanan MI, Kelly LE. Perspectives of pediatric oncologists and palliative care physicians on the therapeutic use of cannabis in children with cancer. Cancer Reports 2021, 5: e1551. PMID: 34672127, PMCID: PMC9458513, DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1551.
Refining Patient-Centered Measures of End-of-Life Care Quality for Children With CancerAnanth P, Mun S, Reffat N, Kang SJ, Pitafi S, Ma X, Gross CP, Wolfe J. Refining Patient-Centered Measures of End-of-Life Care Quality for Children With Cancer. JCO Oncology Practice 2021, 18: e372-e382. PMID: 34613797, PMCID: PMC8932486, DOI: 10.1200/op.21.00447.
Reenvisioning End-of-Life Care Quality Measurement for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer—Novel Patient-Centered Indicators and ApproachesAnanth P. Reenvisioning End-of-Life Care Quality Measurement for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer—Novel Patient-Centered Indicators and Approaches. JAMA Network Open 2021, 4: e2122323. PMID: 34424309, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.22323.
Sociodemographic and hospital‐based predictors of intense end‐of‐life care among children, adolescents, and young adults with hematologic malignanciesMun S, Wang R, Ma X, Ananth P. Sociodemographic and hospital‐based predictors of intense end‐of‐life care among children, adolescents, and young adults with hematologic malignancies. Cancer 2021, 127: 3817-3824. PMID: 34185881, PMCID: PMC8478813, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33764.
YIA21-001: A Modified Delphi Study to Refine Measures of End-of-Life Care Quality for Children with CancerAnanth P, Mun S, Reffat N, Kang S, Pitafi S, Ma X, Gross C, Wolfe J. YIA21-001: A Modified Delphi Study to Refine Measures of End-of-Life Care Quality for Children with Cancer. Journal Of The National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2021, 19: yia21-001. DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2020.7751.
A Stakeholder-Driven Qualitative Study to Define High Quality End-of-Life Care for Children With CancerAnanth P, Mun S, Reffat N, Li R, Sedghi T, Avery M, Snaman J, Gross CP, Ma X, Wolfe J. A Stakeholder-Driven Qualitative Study to Define High Quality End-of-Life Care for Children With Cancer. Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2021, 62: 492-502. PMID: 33556497, PMCID: PMC8339188, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.01.134.
Patterns of medication use at end of life by pediatric inpatients with cancerProzora S, Shabanova V, Ananth P, Pashankar F, Kupfer GM, Massaro SA, Davidoff AJ. Patterns of medication use at end of life by pediatric inpatients with cancer. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2020, 68: e28837. PMID: 33306281, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28837.
Parent and patient perceptions of medical marijuana in the childhood cancer contextAnanth P, Revette A, Reed‐Weston A, Das P, Wolfe J. Parent and patient perceptions of medical marijuana in the childhood cancer context. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2020, 68: e28830. PMID: 33258215, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28830.
What Defines High Quality End-of-Life Care for Children with Cancer? A Stakeholder-Driven Qualitative Study (GP706)Ananth P, Mun S, Reffat N, Li R, Sedghi T, Bilodeau M, Snaman J, Gross C, Ma X, Wolfe J. What Defines High Quality End-of-Life Care for Children with Cancer? A Stakeholder-Driven Qualitative Study (GP706). Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2020, 60: 249. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.04.129.
Parent Perceptions of Team-Delivered Care for Children With Advanced Cancer: A Report From the PediQUEST StudyFeraco AM, Ananth P, Dussel V, Al-Sayegh H, Ma C, Rosenberg AR, Feudtner C, Wolfe J. Parent Perceptions of Team-Delivered Care for Children With Advanced Cancer: A Report From the PediQUEST Study. Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2020, 60: 811-817. PMID: 32450115, PMCID: PMC7508972, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.05.019.
What Defines High Quality End-of-Life Care for Children with Cancer? A Stakeholder-Driven Qualitative Study (FR481C)Ananth P, Li R, Reffat N, Mun S, Sedghi T, Bilodeau M, Gross C, Ye X, Snaman J, Wolfe J. What Defines High Quality End-of-Life Care for Children with Cancer? A Stakeholder-Driven Qualitative Study (FR481C). Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2020, 59: 487-488. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.12.186.
Provider Perspectives on Use of Medical Marijuana in Children With CancerAnanth P, Ma C, Al-Sayegh H, Kroon L, Klein V, Wharton C, Hallez E, Braun I, Michelson K, Rosenberg AR, London W, Wolfe J. Provider Perspectives on Use of Medical Marijuana in Children With Cancer. Pediatrics 2018, 141: e20170559. PMID: 29233937, PMCID: PMC5744275, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2017-0559.
Medical marijuana in pediatric oncology: A review of the evidence and implications for practiceAnanth P, Reed‐Weston A, Wolfe J. Medical marijuana in pediatric oncology: A review of the evidence and implications for practice. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2017, 65 PMID: 28926679, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.26826.
Influence of early phase clinical trial enrollment on patterns of end‐of‐life care for children with advanced cancerAnanth P, Monsereenusorn C, Ma C, Al‐Sayegh H, Wolfe J, Rodriguez‐Galindo C. Influence of early phase clinical trial enrollment on patterns of end‐of‐life care for children with advanced cancer. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2017, 65 PMID: 28771913, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.26748.
Trends in Hospital Utilization and Costs among Pediatric Palliative Care RecipientsAnanth P, Melvin P, Berry JG, Wolfe J. Trends in Hospital Utilization and Costs among Pediatric Palliative Care Recipients. Journal Of Palliative Medicine 2017, 20: 946-953. PMID: 28453361, DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2016.0496.
Liposomal doxorubicin: Effective treatment for pediatric desmoid fibromatosisAnanth P, Werger A, Voss S, Rodriguez‐Galindo C, Janeway KA. Liposomal doxorubicin: Effective treatment for pediatric desmoid fibromatosis. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2016, 64: e26375. PMID: 27905688, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.26375.
Influence of early-phase clinical trial enrollment on patterns of end-of-life care for children with advanced cancer.Ananth P, Monsereenusorn C, Ma C, Al-Sayegh H, Wolfe J, Rodriguez-Galindo C. Influence of early-phase clinical trial enrollment on patterns of end-of-life care for children with advanced cancer. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2016, 34: 151-151. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2016.34.26_suppl.151.
Pediatric oncology providers and use of medical marijuana in children with cancer.Ananth P, Ma C, Al-Sayegh H, Rosenberg A, Michelson K, Kroon L, Klein V, Wharton C, Hallez E, Wolfe J. Pediatric oncology providers and use of medical marijuana in children with cancer. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2016, 34: 10581-10581. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2016.34.15_suppl.10581.
Hospital Use in the Last Year of Life for Children With Life-Threatening Complex Chronic ConditionsAnanth P, Melvin P, Feudtner C, Wolfe J, Berry JG. Hospital Use in the Last Year of Life for Children With Life-Threatening Complex Chronic Conditions. Pediatrics 2015, 136: 938-946. PMID: 26438707, PMCID: PMC4621793, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-0260.
Use of a fever fast track tool to reduce time to antibiotic dose in febrile pediatric oncology patients.Ananth P, Archer N, Collins N, Croteau S, Hong A, Kamihara J, Kim D, Kort K, Mersereau R, Mosadegh S, Billett A. Use of a fever fast track tool to reduce time to antibiotic dose in febrile pediatric oncology patients. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2014, 32: 222-222. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2014.32.30_suppl.222.
Neuroblastoma Presenting as Facial Nerve Palsy and Bulging Tympanic MembraneBernson-Leung M, Ananth P, Shusterman S. Neuroblastoma Presenting as Facial Nerve Palsy and Bulging Tympanic Membrane. Clinical Pediatrics 2014, 54: 183-185. PMID: 24817076, DOI: 10.1177/0009922814534314.
Successful surgical thrombectomy for neonatal IVC and bilateral renal vein thrombosisLee S, Ananth P, Boyd T, Esrick E, Kim H. Successful surgical thrombectomy for neonatal IVC and bilateral renal vein thrombosis. Journal Of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports 2014, 2: 176-179. DOI: 10.1016/j.epsc.2014.03.009.
Trends in Hospital Utilization Among Children Receiving Inpatient Palliative Care (S704)Ananth P, Melvin P, Wolfe J, Berry J. Trends in Hospital Utilization Among Children Receiving Inpatient Palliative Care (S704). Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2014, 47: 467. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.12.123.
HIV/AIDS knowledge, beliefs, and behavior among women of childbearing age in India.Ananth P, Koopman C. HIV/AIDS knowledge, beliefs, and behavior among women of childbearing age in India. AIDS Education And Prevention : Official Publication Of The International Society For AIDS Education 2003, 15: 529-46. PMID: 14711166, DOI: 10.1521/aeap.15.7.529.24049.

Clinical Trials

Conditions	Study Title
Brain and Nervous System; Pediatrics	A Phase 3 Randomized Study of Selumetinib Versus Carboplatin/Vincristine in Newly Diagnosed or Previously Untreated Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) Associated Low-Grade Glioma (LGG)
Lymphoid Leukemia	A Phase II Trial of Tisagenlecleucel in First-line High-risk (HR) Pediatric and Young Adult Patients With B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) Who Are Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Positive at the End of Consolidation (EOC) Therapy
Brain and Nervous System	A Phase 3 Randomized Non-Inferiority Study of Carboplatin and Vincristine Versus Selumetinib (NSC# 748727) in Newly Diagnosed or Previously Untreated Low-Grade Glioma (LGG) Not Associated With BRAFV600E Mutations or Systemic Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)
Unknown Sites	PrOspective Non-interventional Study in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic TRK Fusion Cancer Treated With Larotrectinib
Brain and Nervous System; Pediatrics	A Target Validation/Phase1 Study of BGB-290 in Combination With Temozolomide in Adolescent and Young Adult IDH1/2 Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent Mutant Gliomas
Leukemia, not otherwise specified; Leukemia, other; Pediatrics	A Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Inotuzumab Ozogamicin (NSC#: 772518) for Newly Diagnosed High-Risk B-ALL; Risk-Adapted Post-Induction Therapy for High-Risk B-ALL, Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia, and Disseminated B-LLy
Leukemia, other; Pediatrics	A Phase 3 Trial Investigating Blinatumomab ( NSC# 765986) in Combination With Chemotherapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Standard Risk or Down Syndrome B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) and the Treatment of Patients With Localized B-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (B-LLy)
Leukemia, not otherwise specified; Leukemia, other	A Phase IB/II Study of Venetoclax (ABT-199) in Combination With Liposomal Vincristine in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory T-Cell or B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Bones and Joints; Kidney; Pediatrics; Soft Tissue	Phase 3 Accelerated BEP: A Randomised Phase 3 Trial of Accelerated Versus Standard BEP Chemotherapy for Patients With Intermediate and Poor-risk Metastatic Germ Cell Tumors
Bones and Joints; Brain and Nervous System; Leukemia, not otherwise specified; Leukemia, other; Lymphoid Leukemia	NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) Screening Protocol
Soft Tissue	A Phase 2 Study of Anti-PD-L1 Antibody (Atezolizumab) in Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma
Other Male Genital; Ovary	Active Surveillance, Bleomycin, Carboplatin, Etoposide, or Cisplatin in Treating Pediatric and Adult Patients With Germ Cell Tumors
Bones and Joints; Brain and Nervous System; Eye and Orbit; Hodgkin's Lymphoma; Kidney; Leukemia, other; Liver; Lymphoid Leukemia; Myeloid and Monocytic Leukemia; Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma; Other Digestive Organ; Other Endocrine System; Other Female Genital; Other Male Genital; Other Respiratory and Intrathoracic Organs; Other Skin; Other Urinary; Ovary; Pediatrics; Small Intestine; Soft Tissue	The Project: Every Child Protocol: A Registry, Eligibility Screening, Biology and Outcome Study
Unknown Sites	Effects of Dexrazoxane Hydrochloride on Biomarkers Associated With Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure After Cancer Treatment (HEART)
Brain and Nervous System	Biomarkers in Tumor Tissue Samples From Patients With Newly Diagnosed Neuroblastoma or Ganglioneuroblastoma
Unknown Sites	Neuropsychological and Behavioral Testing in Younger Patients With Cancer
Pediatrics	A Randomized Phase 3 Trial of Vinorelbine, Dactinomycin, and Cyclophosphamide (VINO-AC) Plus Maintenance Chemotherapy With Vinorelbine and Oral Cyclophosphamide (VINO-CPO) vs Vincristine, Dactinomycin and Cyclophosphamide (VAC) Plus VINO-CPO Maintenance in Patients With High Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma (HR-RMS)
Pediatrics	A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Drug Levels, and Preliminary Efficacy of Relatlimab Plus Nivolumab in Pediatric and Young Adults With Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (RELATIVITY-069)
Pediatrics	A Phase 3 Study of Selumetinib (NSC# 748727) or Selumetinib in Combination With Vinblastine for Non-NF1, Non-TSC Patients With Recurrent or Progressive Low-Grade Gliomas (LGGs) Lacking BRAFV600E or IDH1 Mutations

Edit Profile

Prasanna Ananth, MD, MPH

Contact Information

Related Links

Patient Care

Research & Publications

Biography