Theresa M. Busch, Ph.D.

Research Professor of Radiation Oncology
Associate Director, Division of Oncology Research, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
Diversity Officer, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
Education Officer, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
Vice Chair for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
Radiation Oncology Senior Governance, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
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
RESEARCH INTERESTS:Our primary research focus is the investigation of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of solid malignancies. In PDT, diseased tissue is illuminated by specific wavelengths of visible light after the delivery of a photosensitizer to that tissue. The light-excited photosensitizer interacts with oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species that damage the tissue and its associated stroma, including the supporting vascular network.
Our research centers on the study of biophysical limitations of treatment response to PDT. This includes the study of heterogeneities in the distributions of oxygen, photosensitizing drug, and light. Our studies have found that PDT can create widespread, severe hypoxia during illumination, even in tumor cells immediately adjacent to perfused blood vessels. Furthermore, noninvasive monitoring has shown PDT effect on tumor oxygenation and blood flow during the illumination period to be predictive of an animal’s long-term response to therapy. Such findings are extremely relevant to clinical PDT applications, where significant heterogeneity in hypoxia and photosensitizer distributions among the tumors of PDT patients will contribute to variable therapeutic outcomes. Indeed, we have documented a relationship between biochemical (PSA) response to PDT in prostate cancer patients and levels of photosensitizer drug and light energy in their prostates. Ultimately, in order to improve the clinical therapeutic index and efficacy of PDT, we aim to alter the microenvironment of tumors undergoing treatment as guided by noninvasive monitoring of their response.
Selected Publications
Cramer G, Davis IV RW, Klampatsa A, Carter S, Miller J, Cengel KA, Busch TM : Surgery-Induced Immunosuppression Limits Photodynamic Therapy Efficacy for Mesothelioma. American Society for Photobiology September 2022 Notes: oral.Carter S, Miller J, Cramer G, Yuan M, Guzman S, Putt ME, Cengel KA, Freedman GM, Busch TM: Systemic Versus Topical 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Administration for Photodynamic Therapy of Murine Mammary Tumors after Surgical Resection. American Society for Photobiology September 2022 Notes: oral.
Van Slyke AL, El Khatib M, Velapoulou A, Diffenderfer E, Shoniyozov K, Kim MM, Karagounis IV, Busch TM, Vinogradov SA, Koch CJ, Wiersma RD.: Oxygen Monitoring in Model Situations and In Vivo in Mice During Proton Irradiation at Conventional and FLASH Dose Rates. Radiat Res 198(2): 181-189, August 2022 Notes: doi: 10.1667/RADE-21-00232.1.
Sun H, Kim MM, Ong YH, Dimoft A, Singhal S, Busch TM, Cengel KA, Zhu TC.: Evaluation of Detector Position and Light Fluence Distribution Using an Infrared Navigation System during Pleural Photodynamic Therapy. Photochem Photobiol August 2022 Notes: doi: 10.1111/php.13697. Epub ahead of print.
Nieves LM, Dong YC, Rosario-Berrios DN, Mossburg K, Hsu JC, Cramer GM, Busch TM, Maidment ADA, Cormode DP.: Renally Excretable Silver Telluride Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for X-ray Imaging. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 14(30): 34354-34364, August 2022 Notes: doi: 10.1021/acsami.2c06190. Epub 2022 Jul 22.
El Khatib M, Van Slyke AL, Velalopoulou A, Kim MM, Shoniyozov K, Allu SR, Diffenderfer EE, Busch Tm, Wiersma RD, Koch CJ, Vinogradov SA.: Ultrafast Tracking of Oxygen Dynamics During Proton FLASH. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 113(3): 624-634, July 2022 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.03.016. Epub 2022 Mar 18.
Ivanick NM, OakleyER, Kunadharaju R, Brackett C, Bellnier DA, TWorek LM, Shafirstein G.: First In-Human Computer-Optimized Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy for Patients with Extrabronchial or Endobronchial Obstructing Malignancies. JTO CLin Res 3(10): 100372, june 2022 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2022.100372.
Velapoulou A, Karagounis, IV, Verginadis II, Kim M, Shoniyozov K, Diffenderfer E, Dong L, Metz J, Koumenis C, Cengel K, Maity A, Busch TM: Gene Expression Profiling of Full-Thickness Skin After FLASH Proton Radiotherapy. American Association for Cancer Research April 2022.
Cramer GM, Cengel KA, Busch TM: Forging Forward in Photodynamic Therapy. Cancer Res 15;82(4): 534-5326, Feburary 2022 Notes: doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-21-4122.
El Khatib M, Van SLyke AL, Velalopoulou A, Shoniyozov K, Kim M,Diffenderfer E, Busch TM, Wiersma R D, Koch C J, Vinogradov, SA: Ultrafast Tracking of Oxygen Dynamics During Proton FLASH. FLASH International Radiotherapy and Particle Delivery Conference December 2021 Notes: Oral.