Theresa M. Busch
Theresa M. Busch, Ph.D.
Research Professor of Radiation Oncology
Department: Radiation Oncology
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
Radiation Biology Division
Department of Radiation Oncology
University of Pennsylvania
Smilow Center for Translational Research, Room 8-126
3400 Civic Center Blvd., Bldg. 421
Philadelphia, PA 19104-5156
Department of Radiation Oncology
University of Pennsylvania
Smilow Center for Translational Research, Room 8-126
3400 Civic Center Blvd., Bldg. 421
Philadelphia, PA 19104-5156
Office: 215-573-3168
Publications
Education:
B.S. (Biophysics)
University of Scranton, 1993.
Ph.D. (Biophysics)
University of New York at Buffalo, Roswell Park Cancer Institute Division, Buffalo, NY, 1998.
Permanent linkB.S. (Biophysics)
University of Scranton, 1993.
Ph.D. (Biophysics)
University of New York at Buffalo, Roswell Park Cancer Institute Division, Buffalo, NY, 1998.
Description of Research Expertise
With over 25 years of experience in translational cancer research, our lab is dedicated to understanding and manipulating the tumor microenvironment to improve cancer therapy. We explore how both ionizing (photons, protons) and nonionizing (photodynamic therapy) radiation modalities impact tumor and normal tissue responses, with a particular focus on vascular function, tissue oxygenation, and immune dynamics.Our research spans from murine models to large animals and human clinical trials, where we investigate how the pre-existing and therapy-altered tumor microenvironment shapes therapeutic outcomes. Our recent work includes the investigation of immune checkpoint blockade to reverse the immunosuppression that accompanies surgery in tumors to be subsequently treated with photodynamic therapy. Also, our recent work in FLASH radiotherapy highlights its potential to spare normal tissue through its ultra-high dose rates, opening new possibilities in proton radiotherapy.
By integrating physiologic, structural, and immunologic insights—including studies of tumor and normal tissue vasculature, blood flow dynamics, and treatment-induced hypoxia—we aim to expand the therapeutic window of cancer treatment. Our goal is to translate mechanistic understanding into more effective, personalized, and less toxic therapeutic strategies.
Selected Publications
Wang H, Yao L, Zhong L, Fang J, He Q, Busch TM, Cengel K, Qin L.: Marrow adipogenic lineage precursors (MALPs) facilitate bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy. Bone June 2025.Cramer GM, Davis RW 4th, Papasavvas E, Klampatsa A, Miller JM, Carter S, Ikpe R, Yuan M, Widura S, Majumdar RS, McNulty S, Putt M, Kossenkov AV, Montaner LJ, Singhal S, Moon EK, Albelda SM, Cengel KA, Busch TM.: PD-1 Blockade Mitigates Surgery-Induced Immunosuppression and Increases the Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy for Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancer Res Commun 5: 841-856, May 2025.
Verginadis II, Velalopoulou A, Kim MM, Kim K, Paraskevaidis I, Bell B, Oliaei Motlagh SA, Karaj A, Banerjee E, Finesso G, Assenmacher CA, Radaelli E, Lu J, Lin Y, Putt ME, Diffenderfer ES, Guha C, Qin L, Metz JM, Maity A, Cengel KA, Koumenis C, Busch TM.: FLASH proton reirradiation, with or without hypofractionation, reduces chronic toxicity in the normal murine intestine, skin, and bone. Radiother Oncol April 2025.
Sun H, Kim MM, Ong YH, Dimofte A, Singhal S, Busch TM, Cengel KA, Zhu TC.: Comprehensive reanalysis of light fluence distribution in pleural photodynamic therapy using standardized anatomical coordinates. Photochem Photobiol Jan 2025.
Jang B, Amirshaghaghi A, Choi J, Miller J, Issadore DA, Busch TM, Cheng Z, Tsourkas A.: Enhanced Accumulation and Penetration of Magnetic Nanoclusters in Tumors Using an 8-Magnet Halbach Array Leads to Improved Cancer Treatment. ACS Nano 19: 1794-1808, Jan 2025.
Yang W, Johnson M, Lu B, Sourvanos D, Sun H, Dimofte A, Vikas V, Busch TM, Hadfield RH, Wilson BC, Zhu TC.: Correction of Multispectral Singlet Oxygen Luminescent Dosimetry (MSOLD) for Tissue Optical Properties in Photofrin-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy. Antioxidants (Basel) 13: 1458, Nov 2024.
Verginadis II, Velalopoulou A, Kim MM, Kim K, Paraskevaidis I, Bell B, Oliaei Motlagh SA, Karaj A, Banerjee E, Finesso G, Assenmacher CA, Radaelli E, Lu J, Lin Y, Putt ME, Diffenderfer ES, Guha C, Qin L, Metz JM, Maity A, Cengel KA, Koumenis C, Busch TM.: FLASH proton reirradiation, with or without hypofractionation, mitigates chronic toxicity in the normal murine intestine, skin, and bone. bioRxiv Jul 2024.
Chowdhury P, Velalopoulou A, Verginadis II, Morcos G, Loo PE, Kim MM, Motlagh SAO, Shoniyozov K, Diffenderfer ES, Ocampo EA, Putt M, Assenmacher CA, Radaelli E, Lu J, Qin L, Liu H, Leli NM, Girdhani S, Denef N, Vander Stappen F, Cengel KA, Busch TM, Metz JM, Dong L, Lin A, Koumenis C.: Proton FLASH Radiotherapy Ameliorates Radiation-induced Salivary Gland Dysfunction and Oral Mucositis and Increases Survival in a Mouse Model of Head and Neck Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 23: 877-889, Jun 2024.
Chowdhury P, Velalopoulou A, Verginadis II, Morcos G, Loo PE, Kim MM, Motlagh SAO, Shoniyozov K, Diffenderfer ES, Ocampo EA, Putt M, Assenmacher CA, Radaelli E, Lu J, Qin L, Liu H, Leli NM, Girdhani S, Denef N, Vander Stappen F, Cengel KA, Busch TM, Metz JM, Dong L, Lin A, Koumenis C. : Proton FLASH radiotherapy ameliorates radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction and oral mucositis and increases survival in a mouse model of head and neck cancer. Mol Cancer Ther. 9, April 2024 Notes: doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-23-0663. Epub ahead of print.
Cengel KA, Kim MM, Diffenderfer ES, Busch TM. : FLASH Radiotherapy: What Can FLASH's Ultra High Dose Rate Offer to the Treatment of Patients With Sarcoma? Semin Radiat Oncol. 34: 2, Apr 2024 Notes: 218-228. doi: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2024.02.001.