Wafik El-Deiry

El-Deiry was formerly a professor of Medicine and Chief of Hematology/Oncology at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He also served as the associate director for Translational Research and Interim Cancer Center Director at Penn State University.{{Cite news|url=http://news.psu.edu/story/282530/2013/07/24/el-deiry-serve-cancer-institute-interim-director|title=El-Deiry to serve as Cancer Institute interim director}} Prior to his tenure at Penn State, he was an investigator in cell biology at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a professor of medicine, genetics, and pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. While at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. El-Deiry served as co-Leader of the Radiobiology & Imaging Program at the Abramson Cancer Center and as associate director for Physician-Scientist training in Hematology/Oncology.{{Cite web|url=http://news.psu.edu/story/169771/2010/03/03/research/renowned-oncologist-and-cancer-researcher-joins-penn-state-hershey|title=Renowned oncologist and cancer researcher joins Penn State Hershey}}{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} He held an endowed chair in hematology-oncology while at Penn State University: the Rose Dunlap Division Chair in Hematology-Oncology.{{Cite journal|title=Cancer Biology and Therapy Editor Wafik El-Deiry named as Chief of Hematology/Oncology at Penn State|doi=10.4161/cbt.9.7.11846 |volume=9 |issue=7 |year=2010 |journal=Cancer Biology & Therapy|pages=479–478|doi-access=free }} At Fox Chase Cancer Center, he holds the William Wikoff Smith Chair in Cancer Research.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxchase.org/blog/2016-11-18-16-Wafik-%20El-Deiry-%20MD-%20Earns-Prestigious-Smith-Chair-in-Cancer-Research|title=Wafik El-Deiry, MD, Earns Prestigious Smith Chair in Cancer Research |date=2018-07-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxchase.org/giving/honoring-philanthropy/endowed-funds/william-wikoff-smith-chair-cancer-research|title=William Wikoff Smith Chair in Cancer Research|date=2015-11-09}} El-Deiry earned MD and PhD degrees from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 1987 and later delivered the Keynote presentation at the 9th Annual MD/PhD Student Research Symposium.{{Cite web|url=http://brainbank.med.miami.edu/news/events/2017/04/06/the-9th-annual-md-phd-student-research-symposium|title=The 9th Annual MD/PhD Student Research Symposium - Events & Talks - Brain Endowment Bank at Miller School of Medicine|website=brainbank.med.miami.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-03-04}}{{Cite web|url=http://sylvester.org/news/events/2017/04/06/the-9th-annual-md-phd-student-research-symposium|title=The 9th Annual MD/PhD Student Research Symposium - Events - News & Events - Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center |website=sylvester.org|language=en|access-date=2018-03-04}} These and other accomplishments are listed in an online CV.{{Cite web|title=El-Deiry online CV from January, 2021|url=https://vivo.brown.edu/docs/w/weldeiry_cv.pdf?dt=490111116}}

El-Deiry is among the top 40 most-cited researchers of the 1990s,{{Cite web|url=http://www.in-cites.com/scientists/dr-wafik-el-deiry.html|title=Dr. Wafik El-Deiry}}{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} having authored 13 papers that have been cited over 6,000 times. His paper, "WAF1, a potential mediator of p53 tumor suppression",{{Cite journal | last1 = El-Deiry | first1 = W. S. | last2 = Tokino | first2 = T. | last3 = Velculescu | first3 = V. E. | last4 = Levy | first4 = D. B. | last5 = Parsons | first5 = R. | last6 = Trent | first6 = J. M. | last7 = Lin | first7 = D. | last8 = Mercer | first8 = W. E. | last9 = Kinzler | first9 = K. W. | last10 = Vogelstein | first10 = B. | title = WAF1, a potential mediator of p53 tumor suppression | journal = Cell | volume = 75 | issue = 4 | pages = 817–825 | year = 1993 | pmid = 8242752 | doi=10.1016/0092-8674(93)90500-P| doi-access = free }} which has been cited over 9,000 times according to Google Scholar,{{cite web|url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zr6p8b0AAAAJ&hl=en|title=Wafik El-Deiry - Google Scholar Citations|website=scholar.google.com}} is among the top 10 most-cited papers of the 1990s. El-Deiry discovered the genomic DNA binding site for the tumor suppressor p53.{{Cite journal|last1=El-Deiry|first1=Wafik S.|last2=Kern|first2=Scott E.|last3=Pietenpol|first3=Jennifer A.|last4=Kinzler|first4=Kenneth W.|last5=Vogelstein|first5=Bert|date=1992|title=Definition of a consensus binding site for p53|journal=Nature Genetics|language=En|volume=1|issue=1|pages=45–49|doi=10.1038/ng0492-45|pmid=1301998|s2cid=1710617|issn=1546-1718}} Nikola Pavletich later crystallized the DNA-binding domain of p53 with the DNA binding site and showed that p53 amino acid residues involved in mutations in human cancer normally touch the DNA binding site recognized by the p53 protein.{{Cite journal|last1=Cho|first1=Y.|last2=Gorina|first2=S.|last3=Jeffrey|first3=P. D.|last4=Pavletich|first4=N. P.|date=1994-07-15|title=Crystal structure of a p53 tumor suppressor-DNA complex: understanding tumorigenic mutations|journal=Science|volume=265|issue=5170|pages=346–355|issn=0036-8075|pmid=8023157|doi=10.1126/science.8023157|bibcode=1994Sci...265..346C}} El-Deiry made the discoveries of the consensus binding site for p53 and the discovery of WAF1 while working with Bert Vogelstein at Johns Hopkins University. p21(WAF1) was the first mammalian cell cycle inhibitor to be discovered, and was found independently by Wade Harper and Steve Elledge as a CDK2-interacting protein p21(CIP1),{{Cite journal|last1=Harper|first1=J. W.|last2=Adami|first2=G. R.|last3=Wei|first3=N.|last4=Keyomarsi|first4=K.|last5=Elledge|first5=S. J.|date=1993-11-19|title=The p21 Cdk-interacting protein Cip1 is a potent inhibitor of G1 cyclin-dependent kinases|journal=Cell|volume=75|issue=4|pages=805–816|issn=0092-8674|pmid=8242751|doi=10.1016/0092-8674(93)90499-g|doi-access=}} Yue Xiong and David Beach as a cyclin-CDK-PCNA interacting protein (p21),{{Cite journal|last1=Xiong|first1=Yue|last2=Hannon|first2=Gregory J.|last3=Zhang|first3=Hui|last4=Casso|first4=David|last5=Kobayashi|first5=Ryuji|last6=Beach|first6=David|date=1993|title=p21 is a universal inhibitor of cyclin kinases|journal=Nature|language=En|volume=366|issue=6456|pages=701–704|doi=10.1038/366701a0|pmid=8259214|issn=1476-4687|bibcode=1993Natur.366..701X|s2cid=4362507}} and as a senescence derived inhibitor by Noda.{{Cite journal|last1=Noda|first1=Asao|last2=Ning|first2=Yi|last3=Venable|first3=Susan F.|last4=Pereira-Smith|first4=Olivia M.|last5=Smith|first5=James R.|title=Cloning of Senescent Cell-Derived Inhibitors of DNA Synthesis Using an Expression Screen|journal=Experimental Cell Research|volume=211|issue=1|pages=90–98|doi=10.1006/excr.1994.1063|pmid=8125163|year=1994}} Multiple CDK inhibitors have become approved as cancer therapeutics, including palbociclib, abemaciclib and ribociclib. In 2017, El-Deiry's group discovered a micro-RNA family that inhibits CDK4/6.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxchase.org/news/2017-10-23-micro-RNAs-lower-cyclin-dependent-kinases-CDK4-CDK6|title=Researchers Discover Micro-RNA Family that Blocks Key Cancer and Cell Cycle Growth-Promoting Proteins}}{{Cite journal|last1=Lulla|first1=Amriti R.|last2=Slifker|first2=Michael J.|last3=Zhou|first3=Yan|last4=Lev|first4=Avital|last5=Einarson|first5=Margret B.|last6=Dicker|first6=David T.|last7=El-Deiry|first7=Wafik S.|date=2017-12-15|title=miR-6883 Family miRNAs Target CDK4/6 to Induce G1 Phase Cell-Cycle Arrest in Colon Cancer Cells|journal=Cancer Research|volume=77|issue=24|pages=6902–6913|doi=10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1767|pmid=29061672|doi-access=free}} In 2021, Dr. El-Deiry discussed the discovery of WAF1 in an interview entitled "Persistence. Agility. Cancer Research with Dr. Wafik El-Deiry" for The Medicine Mentors Podcast.{{Cite web|title=The Medicine Mentors Podcast: Persistence. Agility. Cancer Research with Dr. Wafik El-Deiry|url=https://themedicinementors.libsyn.com/persistence-agility-cancer-research-with-dr-wafik-el-deiry|access-date=2021-08-05|website=themedicinementors.libsyn.com|language=en}}

In total, El-Deiry has >109,000 citations and an h-index of 133 according to Google Scholar. He was recognized through an award from the American Cancer Society in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/practice-management/news/online/%7Be55b90c2-7302-4588-b31f-e229d2de429b%7D/american-cancer-society-honors-three-from-fox-chase|title=American Cancer Society honors three from Fox Chase}}

As an independent investigator at University of Pennsylvania, El-Deiry discovered TRAIL death receptor 5 (DR5){{Cite news|url=https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/1997-09/UoPM-NDGI-290997.php|title=Novel Death-Receptor Gene Identified: KILLER/DR5 Triggers Cancer Cell Death After Chemotherapy Or Radiation}}{{Cite journal|last1=Wu|first1=Gen Sheng|last2=Burns|first2=Timothy F.|last3=McDonald|first3=E. Robert|last4=Jiang|first4=Wen|last5=Meng|first5=Ray|last6=Krantz|first6=Ian D.|last7=Kao|first7=Gary|last8=Gan|first8=Dai-Di|last9=Zhou|first9=Jun-Ying|date=1997|title=KILLER/DR5 is a DNA damage–inducible p53–regulated death receptor gene|journal=Nature Genetics|language=En|volume=17|issue=2|pages=141–143|doi=10.1038/ng1097-141|pmid=9326928|s2cid=7037468|issn=1546-1718}} in 1997. His group was first to combine gene silencing with bioluminescence imaging in vivo{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041203095525.htm|title=Molecular Tailoring Of Chemotherapy With Novel Imaging Techniques}}{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Shulin|last2=El-Deiry|first2=Wafik S.|date=2004-09-15|title=Inducible Silencing of KILLER/DR5 In vivo Promotes Bioluminescent Colon Tumor Xenograft Growth and Confers Resistance to Chemotherapeutic Agent 5-Fluorouracil|journal=Cancer Research|volume=64|issue=18|pages=6666–6672|doi=10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-1734|pmid=15374982|doi-access=free}} and to use molecular imaging for drug screening.{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Wenge|last2=Kim|first2=Seok-Hyun|last3=El-Deiry|first3=Wafik S.|date=2006-07-18|title=Small-molecule modulators of p53 family signaling and antitumor effects in p53-deficient human colon tumor xenografts|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|language=en|volume=103|issue=29|pages=11003–11008|doi=10.1073/pnas.0604507103|issn=0027-8424|pmid=16835297|pmc=1544164|bibcode=2006PNAS..10311003W|doi-access=free}} His group created a knockout mouse of death receptor 5 (DR5) that shows reduced apoptosis in vivo after exposure to gamma-radiation,{{Cite journal|last1=Finnberg|first1=Niklas|last2=Gruber|first2=Joshua J.|last3=Fei|first3=Peiwen|last4=Rudolph|first4=Dorothea|last5=Bric|first5=Anka|last6=Kim|first6=Seok-Hyun|last7=Burns|first7=Timothy F.|last8=Ajuha|first8=Hope|last9=Page|first9=Robert|date=2005-03-01|title=DR5 Knockout Mice Are Compromised in Radiation-Induced Apoptosis|journal=Molecular and Cellular Biology|language=en|volume=25|issue=5|pages=2000–2013|doi=10.1128/mcb.25.5.2000-2013.2005|issn=0270-7306|pmid=15713653|pmc=549384}} and increased tumor susceptibility in tumor-prone genetic backgrounds.{{Cite journal|last1=Finnberg|first1=Niklas|last2=Klein-Szanto|first2=Andres J.P.|last3=El-Deiry|first3=Wafik S.|title=TRAIL-R deficiency in mice promotes susceptibility to chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis|journal=Journal of Clinical Investigation|volume=118|issue=1|pages=111–123|doi=10.1172/jci29900|pmid=18079962|year=2008|pmc=2129232}} The mechanism by which cell death occurs in vivo after radiation or other DNA damage has remained an important question that has been studied by Michael B. Kastan, Scott W. Lowe, Karen Vousden, and others. El-Deiry's contribution was to define the role of the extrinsic cell death pathway through p53 regulation of death receptor 5.

El-Deiry worked on drug synergies and discovered a potent cancer therapeutic interaction between TRAIL and sorafenib.{{Cite journal|last1=Ricci|first1=M. Stacey|last2=Kim|first2=Seok-Hyun|last3=Ogi|first3=Kazuhiro|last4=Plastaras|first4=John P.|last5=Ling|first5=Jianhua|last6=Wang|first6=Wenge|last7=Jin|first7=Zhaoyu|last8=Liu|first8=Yingqiu Y.|last9=Dicker|first9=David T.|title=Reduction of TRAIL-Induced Mcl-1 and cIAP2 by c-Myc or Sorafenib Sensitizes Resistant Human Cancer Cells to TRAIL-Induced Death|journal=Cancer Cell|volume=12|issue=1|pages=66–80|doi=10.1016/j.ccr.2007.05.006|pmid=17613437|year=2007|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last1=Kim|first1=Seok-Hyun|last2=Ricci|first2=M. Stacey|last3=El-Deiry|first3=Wafik S.|date=2008-04-01|title=Mcl-1: A Gateway to TRAIL Sensitization|journal=Cancer Research|volume=68|issue=7|pages=2062–2064|doi=10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-6278|pmid=18381408|doi-access=free}} In 2013, his group reported a TRAIL-inducing compound TIC10 as a novel cancer therapeutic and dual inhibitor of ERK and Akt.{{Cite journal|last1=Allen|first1=Joshua E.|last2=Krigsfeld|first2=Gabriel|last3=Mayes|first3=Patrick A.|last4=Patel|first4=Luv|last5=Dicker|first5=David T.|last6=Patel|first6=Akshal S.|last7=Dolloff|first7=Nathan G.|last8=Messaris|first8=Evangelos|last9=Scata|first9=Kimberly A.|date=2013-02-06|title=Dual Inactivation of Akt and ERK by TIC10 Signals Foxo3a Nuclear Translocation, TRAIL Gene Induction, and Potent Antitumor Effects|journal=Science Translational Medicine|language=en|volume=5|issue=171|pages=171ra17|doi=10.1126/scitranslmed.3004828|issn=1946-6234|pmid=23390247|pmc=4535715}} TIC10 (also known as ONC201) could cross the blood-brain barrier and treat glioblastoma brain cancer in mice.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nature.com/news/small-molecule-drug-drives-cancer-cells-to-suicide-1.12385|title=Small-molecule drug drives cancer cells to suicide}} Glioblastoma is a difficult to treat cancer with a high mortality rate. ONC201 is being tested in the clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital and New York University with some evidence of response in patients with glioblastoma.{{Cite journal|last1=Arrillaga-Romany|first1=Isabel|last2=Chi|first2=Andrew S.|last3=Allen|first3=Joshua E.|last4=Oster|first4=Wolfgang|last5=Wen|first5=Patrick Y.|last6=Batchelor|first6=Tracy T.|date=2017-05-12|title=A phase 2 study of the first imipridone ONC201, a selective DRD2 antagonist for oncology, administered every three weeks in recurrent glioblastoma|journal=Oncotarget|volume=8|issue=45|pages=79298–79304|doi=10.18632/oncotarget.17837|pmid=29108308|pmc=5668041|issn=1949-2553}}{{Cite journal|last1=Ralff|first1=Marie D.|last2=Lulla|first2=Amriti R.|last3=Wagner|first3=Jessica|last4=El-Deiry|first4=Wafik S.|date=2017-10-13|title=ONC201: a new treatment option being tested clinically for recurrent glioblastoma|journal=Translational Cancer Research|language=en|volume=6|issue=S7|pages=S1239–S1243|doi=10.21037/tcr.2017.10.03|pmid=30175049|issn=2219-6803|pmc=6117120 |doi-access=free }} By 2016, TIC10 was found to trigger an integrated stress response leading to anti-tumor effects.{{Cite journal|last1=Kline|first1=C. Leah B.|last2=Van den Heuvel|first2=A. Pieter J.|last3=Allen|first3=Joshua E.|last4=Prabhu|first4=Varun V.|last5=Dicker|first5=David T.|last6=El-Deiry|first6=Wafik S.|date=2016-02-16|title=ONC201 kills solid tumor cells by triggering an integrated stress response dependent on ATF4 activation by specific eIF2α kinases|journal=Science Signaling|volume=9|issue=415|pages=ra18|doi=10.1126/scisignal.aac4374|pmid=26884600|pmc=4968406}} ONC201/TIC10 is active against cancer stem cells{{Cite journal|last1=Prabhu|first1=Varun V.|last2=Allen|first2=Joshua E.|last3=Dicker|first3=David T.|last4=El-Deiry|first4=Wafik S.|date=2015-04-01|title=Small-Molecule ONC201/TIC10 Targets Chemotherapy-Resistant Colorectal Cancer Stem–like Cells in an Akt/Foxo3a/TRAIL–Dependent Manner|journal=Cancer Research|volume=75|issue=7|pages=1423–1432|doi=10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-3451|pmid=25712124|pmc=4537643}} and blocks cancer stem cell gene signatures.{{Cite journal|last1=Prabhu|first1=Varun V.|last2=Lulla|first2=Amriti R.|last3=Madhukar|first3=Neel S.|last4=Ralff|first4=Marie D.|last5=Zhao|first5=Dan|last6=Kline|first6=Christina Leah B.|last7=Heuvel|first7=A. Pieter J. Van den|last8=Lev|first8=Avital|last9=Garnett|first9=Mathew J.|date=2017-08-02|title=Cancer stem cell-related gene expression as a potential biomarker of response for first-in-class imipridone ONC201 in solid tumors|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=12|issue=8|pages=e0180541|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0180541|pmid=28767654|pmc=5540272|issn=1932-6203|bibcode=2017PLoSO..1280541P|doi-access=free}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170802152541.htm|title=ONC201 may inhibit cancer stem cell self-renewals by altering their gene expression}} ONC201 can bind a subtype of dopamine receptors.{{Cite journal|last1=Kline|first1=Christina Leah B.|last2=Ralff|first2=Marie D.|last3=Lulla|first3=Amriti R.|last4=Wagner|first4=Jessica M.|last5=Abbosh|first5=Phillip H.|last6=Dicker|first6=David T.|last7=Allen|first7=Joshua E.|last8=El-Deiry|first8=Wafik S.|title=Role of Dopamine Receptors in the Anticancer Activity of ONC201|journal=Neoplasia|volume=20|issue=1|pages=80–91|doi=10.1016/j.neo.2017.10.002|pmid=29216597|year=2018|pmc=5725157}} Unlike TRAIL which is active against a subset of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), ONC201 has preclinical anti-tumor efficacy against ER/PR+. Her2+ and TNBC.{{Cite journal|last1=Ralff|first1=Marie D.|last2=Kline|first2=Christina L. B.|last3=Küçükkase|first3=Ozan C.|last4=Wagner|first4=Jessica|last5=Lim|first5=Bora|last6=Dicker|first6=David T.|last7=Prabhu|first7=Varun V.|last8=Oster|first8=Wolfgang|last9=El-Deiry|first9=Wafik S.|date=2017-07-01|title=ONC201 Demonstrates Antitumor Effects in Both Triple-Negative and Non–Triple-Negative Breast Cancers through TRAIL-Dependent and TRAIL-Independent Mechanisms|journal=Molecular Cancer Therapeutics|volume=16|issue=7|pages=1290–1298|doi=10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0121|pmid=28424227|pmc=5564301}} El-Deiry reported that ONC201 synergizes with TRAIL, and described the discovery in a video interview.{{Cite web|title=Interview with Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry and Marie D. Ralff {{!}} Oncotarget|url=https://www.oncotarget.com/videos/interview/interview-with-dr-wafik-s-el-deiry-and-marie-d-ralff/|access-date=2021-08-05|website=www.oncotarget.com}} Analogues of ONC201, including ONC206 and ONC212 have been described and demonstrate some differential activities as compared to ONC201.{{Cite journal|last1=Wagner|first1=Jessica|last2=Kline|first2=Christina Leah|last3=Ralff|first3=Marie D.|last4=Lev|first4=Avital|last5=Lulla|first5=Amriti|last6=Zhou|first6=Lanlan|last7=Olson|first7=Gary L.|last8=Nallaganchu|first8=Bhaskara Rao|last9=Benes|first9=Cyril H.|date=2017-10-02|title=Preclinical evaluation of the imipridone family, analogs of clinical stage anti-cancer small molecule ONC201, reveals potent anti-cancer effects of ONC212|journal=Cell Cycle|volume=16|issue=19|pages=1790–1799|doi=10.1080/15384101.2017.1325046|issn=1538-4101|pmid=28489985|pmc=5628644}}{{Cite journal|last1=Lev|first1=Avital|last2=Lulla|first2=Amriti R.|last3=Wagner|first3=Jessica|last4=Ralff|first4=Marie D.|last5=Kiehl|first5=Joshua B.|last6=Zhou|first6=Yan|last7=Benes|first7=Cyril H.|last8=Prabhu|first8=Varun V.|last9=Oster|first9=Wolfgang|date=2017-09-12|title=Anti-pancreatic cancer activity of ONC212 involves the unfolded protein response (UPR) and is reduced by IGF1-R and GRP78/BIP|journal=Oncotarget|volume=8|issue=47|pages=81776–81793|doi=10.18632/oncotarget.20819|pmid=29137221|pmc=5669847|issn=1949-2553}} ONC212 has preclinical activity in pancreatic cancer, liver cancer and melanoma. In 2021, Dr. El-Deiry was invited to speak about the impact of his research and the development of the Cancer Center at Brown University.{{Citation|title=By Faculty for Faculty: Professor Wafik El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP| date=23 April 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOOtQUr33bE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/aOOtQUr33bE |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-08-05}}{{cbignore}}

As an American Cancer Society Research Professor,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cancer.org/research/acs-researchers/research-clinical-research-professors-bio.html|title=American Cancer Society Research and Clinical Research Professors}} El-Deiry was introduced and spoke at a Relay for Life event in Pennsylvania in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI2oofbqU6A |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/kI2oofbqU6A |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Dr. El-Deiry being introduced at 2017 American Cancer Society Relay-for-Life event in Philadelphia|website=YouTube |date=20 May 2017 }}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agb4p_UhhVs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/agb4p_UhhVs |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Dr. Wafik El-Deiry speaks at 2017 American Cancer Society Relay-for Life event in Philadelphia|website=YouTube |date=20 May 2017 }}{{cbignore}}

In 2001, El-Deiry became the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed journal Cancer Biology and Therapy.{{Cite news|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/kcbt20/current|title=Cancer Biology & Therapy|newspaper=Taylor & Francis }}

El-Deiry is a member of the F1000 faculty.{{Cite web|url=https://f1000.com/prime/thefaculty/member/1044046327254498|title=Wafik El-Deiry}} He serves as a Member of the editorial board of the oncology newspaper HemOnc Today.{{Cite web|url=https://www.healio.com/footer/healio-dot-com/editorial-board#HOT|title=Editorial Board|website=www.healio.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-03}}

In 2005, El-Deiry became a member of the Interurban Clinical Club,{{Cite web|url=http://interurbanclinicalclub.org/|title=Interurban Clinical Club}} and served as its president in 2013–2014. He is also a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (1999), the Association of American Physicians (2008), is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (2012), and a member of the Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars (2014).{{Cite web|url=https://hub.jhu.edu/gazette/2014/may-june/workplace-society-of-scholars-inducted/|title=Society of Scholars inducts new members|date=2014-05-06}}{{Cite journal|title=Cancer Biology & Therapy Editor-in-Chief, Wafik S El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP, inducted into the Society of Scholars of the Johns Hopkins University on April 7, 2014 | pmc=4026066 | pmid=24717728 | doi=10.4161/cbt.28843 | volume=15 | issue=5 | year=2014 | journal=Cancer Biol Ther | pages=479–480}}

In June, 2015 El-Deiry described the developments in liquid biopsy for the American Association for Cancer Research's blog CancerResearch Catalyst.{{Cite web|url=http://blog.aacr.org/exciting-precision-medicine-possibilities-for-liquid-biopsy/|title=Exciting Precision Medicine Possibilities for Liquid Biopsy|date=2015-06-24}} In August, 2015 El-Deiry gave an interview to Yahoo Lifestyle about former President Carter's melanoma that had spread to his brain.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/jimmy-carter-the-39th-president-of-the-united-127161776392.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma|title=Melanoma Found in Jimmy Carter's Brain: How Can a Skin Cancer Develop Inside The Body?|date=20 August 2015 }} He also spoke with Health News Reporter Ali Gorman at Fox Chase in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 8-20-15 regarding President Jimmy Carter's Diagnosis of metastatic melanoma.{{Cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/foxchasecancercenter/videos/10153452768105630/|title=Dr. Wafik El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP, talks to Ali Gorman about President Jimmy Carter's cancer prognosis on 6ABC Action News at 5 p.m. on August 20, 2015.}}

In February, 2016 he spoke with U.S. News & World Report about targeted cancer therapy for genetic discoveries.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-02-24/genetic-discoveries-prompt-lazarus-like-recoveries-in-cancer-patients|title=Genetic Discoveries Prompt Lazarus-Like Recoveries in Cancer Patients}} El-Deiry commented for the Washington Post in June, 2016 about the Cancer Moonshot spearheaded by then Vice President Joseph Biden,{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/biden-holding-cancer-summit-to-pump-up-support-for-moonshot-effort/2016/06/28/a936e0d4-3ceb-11e6-80bc-d06711fd2125_story.html|title=Biden holding cancer summit to pump up support for 'moonshot' effort}} and organized an event in Philadelphia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxchase.org/blog/cancer-moonshot-summit-fox-chase-watch-it-here|title=Cancer Moonshot Summit at Fox Chase: Watch it Here|date=2018-07-19}} El-Deiry advocated for broadening clinical trial enrollment criteria to be more inclusive.{{Cite news|url=https://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/practice-management/news/print/hemonc-today/%7Be03bfa42-8016-4edc-9d37-c51da625c1bb%7D/despite-successful-first-year-cancer-moonshots-mission-nowhere-near-complete?page=5|title=Despite successful first year, cancer moonshot's mission 'nowhere near' complete}}

As a medical oncologist El-Deiry specializes in the care of patients with colorectal cancer. His clinical research demonstrated variability in 5-fluorouracil plasma levels in patients with colorectal cancer.{{Cite journal|last1=Kline|first1=Christina Leah|last2=Sheikh|first2=Hassan S.|last3=Scicchitano|first3=Angelique|last4=Gingrich|first4=Rebecca|last5=Beachler|first5=Cheryl|last6=Finnberg|first6=Niklas K.|last7=Liao|first7=Jason|last8=Sivik|first8=Jeffrey|last9=El-Deiry|first9=Wafik S.|date=2011-10-01|title=Preliminary observations indicate variable patterns of plasma 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) levels during dose optimization of infusional 5-FU in colorectal cancer patients|journal=Cancer Biology & Therapy|volume=12|issue=7|pages=557–568|issn=1555-8576|pmid=21931273|doi=10.4161/cbt.12.7.18059|doi-access=free}} El-Deiry showed that pharmacokinetically guided dosing of 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy is associated with lower levels of toxicity among patients with stage II/III as well as stage IV colorectal cancer.{{Cite journal|last1=Kline|first1=Christina Leah B.|last2=Schiccitano|first2=Angelique|last3=Zhu|first3=Junjia|last4=Beachler|first4=Cheryl|last5=Sheikh|first5=Hassan|last6=Harvey|first6=Harold A.|last7=Mackley|first7=Heath B.|last8=McKenna|first8=Kevin|last9=Staveley-O'Carroll|first9=Kevin|title=Personalized Dosing via Pharmacokinetic Monitoring of 5-Fluorouracil Might Reduce Toxicity in Early- or Late-Stage Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated With Infusional 5–Fluorouracil-Based Chemotherapy Regimens|journal=Clinical Colorectal Cancer|volume=13|issue=2|pages=119–126|doi=10.1016/j.clcc.2013.11.001|pmid=24461492|year=2014}}{{Cite journal|last1=Kline|first1=Christina Leah B.|last2=El-Deiry|first2=Wafik S.|date=2013-08-21|title=Personalizing Colon Cancer Therapeutics: Targeting Old and New Mechanisms of Action|journal=Pharmaceuticals|language=en|volume=6|issue=8|pages=988–1038|doi=10.3390/ph6080988|pmid=24276379|pmc=3817731|doi-access=free}} Toxicity from chemotherapy is associated with worse quality of life in patients with cancer. In 2017, his group showed that the tumor suppressor protein p53 represses the DPYD gene in 5-fluorouracil-treated cells and that tumor cells with mutated p53 have higher levels of DPYD thereby becoming resistant to 5-fluorouracil.{{Cite journal|last1=Gokare|first1=Prashanth|last2=Finnberg|first2=Niklas K.|last3=Abbosh|first3=Phillip H.|last4=Dai|first4=Jenny|last5=Murphy|first5=Maureen E.|last6=El-Deiry|first6=Wafik S.|date=2017-08-29|title=P53 represses pyrimidine catabolic gene dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) expression in response to thymidylate synthase (TS) targeting|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=7|issue=1|pages=9711|doi=10.1038/s41598-017-09859-x|pmc=5575263|pmid=28851987|bibcode=2017NatSR...7.9711G}} DPYD is involved in the metabolism of 5-fluorouracil and patients with DPD-deficiency have predictable toxicity from 5-fluorouracil. El-Deiry advises adopting a healthy diet including cutting back on pro-inflammatory foods to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/gastrointestinal-cancer/news/in-the-journals/%7B45c6fff0-2be4-42fb-9e91-760d03efa053%7D/certain-diets-increase-risk-for-colorectal-cancer|title=Certain diets increase risk for colorectal cancer}} He discusses in detail and endorses findings that tree nut consumption reduces the risk of recurrence and promotes improved survival in patients with stage III colon cancer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/gastrointestinal-cancer/news/in-the-journals/%7Bf5997374-abf1-412d-8d93-ebf16097191a%7D/eating-nuts-may-improve-colon-cancer-survival|title=Eating nuts may improve colon cancer survival|website=www.healio.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-03}} El-Deiry spoke about the benefits of tree nut consumption with a Philadelphia CBS local news station that shared the news.{{Cite news|url=http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2018/03/01/nuts-beat-colon-cancer/|title=Study: Eating Nuts Improves Survival Rate For Colon Cancer|date=2018-03-01|access-date=2018-03-03|language=en}} He further argues for the use of CEA as an inexpensive and useful blood-based marker to follow when possible to monitor colorectal cancer disease burden and progress after surgery or chemotherapy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/gastrointestinal-cancer/news/in-the-journals/%7Bc0f21fa2-5f24-4678-b7ca-1455c09622d0%7D/elevated-biomarker-level-postoperatively-increases-colon-cancer-recurrence-risk|title=Elevated biomarker level postoperatively increases colon cancer recurrence risk}} He provides his perspective on the use of maintenance chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyoncology/coloncancer/70800|title=No Survival Benefit with Bevacizumab Maintenance in CRC}}

El-Deiry is the scientific Founder of Oncoceutics.{{Cite web|url=http://oncoceutics.com/scientific-advisory-board/|title=Scientific Founder, Oncoceutics}}

El-Deiry is a husband to wife Evelyn, and father to four kids James, John, Jennifer and Julie.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

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• [http://www.in-cites.com/scientists/dr-wafik-el-deiry.html An interview with Dr Wafik El-Deiry]

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Category:Living people

Category:University of Pennsylvania faculty

Category:American medical researchers

Category:Egyptian oncologists

Category:Egyptian biologists

Category:Howard Hughes Medical Investigators

Category:1961 births

Category:Brown University faculty

Category:Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine alumni

Category:Fox Chase Cancer Center people

Category:Arab biologists