Curriculum Vitae: Richard J. Bleicher, M.D.
EDUCATION
University of Pennsylvania, B.A. May 1990
Temple University School of Medicine, M.D. May 1994
POSTDOCTORAL EDUCATION
The Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Categorical General Surgery Internship July, 1994 - June, 1995
The Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Categorical General Surgery Resident July, 1994 - June, 2000
Basic Science Research Fellowship, Mercy Cancer Research Lab July, 1996 - June, 1997
The John Wayne Cancer Institute, Surgical Oncology Fellow July, 2000 - June, 2002
APPOINTMENTS
The John Wayne Cancer Institute, Chief Administrative Surgical Oncology Fellow July, 2002 - June, 2003
Attending Surgeon, Department of Surgery, The Palo Alto Medical Clinic August, 2003 - Present
Sutter Breast Cancer Leadership Committee, Sept 2003 - Present
Bay Area Physicians Sutter Clinical Integration Committee, Nov 2003 - Present
Primary Investigator, American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Trials for The Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Clinic Nov 2003 - Present
SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
American Medical Association
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons Oncology Group
American Association for Cancer Research
Southeastern Surgical Congress
Society of Surgical Oncology, Candidate Member
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Radium Society
American Society of Breast Surgeons
American College of Surgeons, Northern California Chapter
International Sentinel Node Society
PUBLICATIONS
Bothwell WN, Bleicher RJ, Dent TL. Prophylactic ureteral catheterization in colon surgery: A 5-year review. Dis Colon Rectum 37: 330-334, 1994.
Xia H, Bleicher RJ, Hu X, Srivastava SK, Gupta V, Zaren HA, Singh SV. Characterization of a BMS-181174-resistant human bladder cancer cell line. Br J Cancer 76(4): 461-466, 1997.
Xia H, Bleicher RJ, Gupta V, Zaren HA, Singh SV. Mechanism of increased sensitivity to etoposide in a mitomycin C-resistant human bladder cancer cell line. In. J Cancer 70: 606-611, 1997.
Bleicher RJ, Sherman HF, Latenser BA. Bilateral gluteal compartment syndrome. J. Trauma Inj Infec Crit Care 42 (1): 118-122, 1997.
Hu X, Benson PJ, Srivastava SK, Xia H, Bleicher RJ, Zaren HA, Gupta V, Awasthi S, Awasthi YC, Singh SV. Induction of glutathione S-transferase pi as a bioassay for the evaluation of potency of inhibitors of benzo(a)pyrene-induced cancer in a murine model. Int J Cancer 73: 897-902, 1997.
Hu X, O'Donnell R, Srivastava SK, Xia H, Zimniak P, Nanduri B, Bleicher RJ, Awasthi S, Awasthi YC, Ji X, and Singh SV. Active site architecture of polymorphic forms of human glutathione S-transferase P1-1 accounts for their enantioselectivity and disparate activity in the glutathione conjugation of 7ß,8 -dihydroxy-9 ,10 -oxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 235: 424-428, 1997.
Srivastava SK, Hu X, Xia H, Bleicher RJ, Zaren HA, Awasthi S, Singh SV. ATP-dependent transport of glutathione conjugate of 7ß-8 -dihydroxy-9 oxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene in murine hepatic canalicular plasma membrane vesicles. Biochem J 332: 799-805, 1998.
Bleicher RJ, Xia H, Zaren HA, Singh SV. Biochemical mechanism of cross-resistance to paclitaxel in a mitomycin c-resistant human bladder cancer cell line. Cancer Lett. 150: 129-135, 2000.
Essner R, Chung MH, Bleicher R, Hsueh E, Wanek L, Morton DL. Prognostic implications of thick (> 4 mm) melanoma in the era of intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy. Ann Surg Oncol 9:754-61, 2002.
Bitterman A, Bleicher RJ, Cabot MC, Liu YY, Giuliano AE. Sentinel lymphadenectomy: A new alternative for managing early breast cancer. Isr Med Assoc J: IMAJ. 4:803-9, 2002.
Bleicher RJ, Cabot MC. Glucosylceramide synthase and apoptosis. Biochim Biophys Acta 1585:172-8, 2002.
Bleicher RJ, Allegra, DP, Nora DT, Wood TF, Foshag LJ, Bilchik AJ. Radiofrequency ablation in 447 complex unresectable liver tumors: Lessons learned. Ann Surg Oncol 10:52-8, 2003.
Bleicher RJ, Essner R, Foshag LJ, Wanek LA, Morton DL. The role of sentinel lymphadenectomy in thin invasive cutaneous melanomas. J Clin Oncol 21:1326-31, 2003.
Bleicher RJ, Giuliano AE. The selective use of sentinel node biopsy in ductal carcinoma in situ. Arch Surg 138:489, 2003.
Litvak DA, Bleicher RJ, Bilchik AJ. Radiofrequency ablation of a refractory unresectable insulinoma of the pancreas. Contemp Surg 59:229-232, 2003.
Bleicher RJ, Giuliano AE. Skin-sparing mastectomies. Princ Pract Oncol Updates 2003;17,1.
Bleicher RJ, Hansen NM, Giuliano AE. Skin-sparing mastectomy: Skin Sparing Mastectomy: Specialty Bias and Worldwide Lack of Consensus. Cancer 98:2316-21, 2003.
Gouazé V, Yu JY, Bleicher RJ, Han TY, Liu YY, Wang H, Gottesman MM, Bitterman A, Giuliano AE, Cabot MC. Overexpression of glucosylceramide synthase and P-glycoprotein in cancer cells selected for resistance to natural product chemotherapy. Mol Cancer Ther 3: 633-640, 2004.
Faries MB, Bleicher RJ, Ye X, Essner R, Morton DL. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy for primary and metastatic pulmonary malignant neoplasms. Arch Surg 139: 870-7, 2004.
Bleicher RJ, Hansen NM, Giuliano AE. Skin-sparing mastectomy: Specialty Bias and Worldwide Lack of Consensus [Author Reply]. Cancer 101: 1100, 2004.
HONORS/AWARDS
1996-1997 Albert G. Marrangoni, MD Surgical Research Award in recognition of outstanding achievements
Apr, 1997 Research Award of Excellence: Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh Mercy Research Day: Biochemical mechanism of collateral sensitivity to etoposide (VP-16) in a mitomycin c-resistant human bladder cancer cell line
Apr, 1997 Research Award of Excellence: Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh Mercy Research Day: Mechanism of differential effectiveness of naturally occurring organosulfides from garlic in preventing benzo(a)pyrene-induced forestomach cancer in mice
Nov 5, 1997 American College of Surgeons Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter, 30th Annual Resident's Clinical Research Winner
1997-1998 Albert G. Marrangoni, MD Surgical Research Award in recognition of outstanding achievements
1997-1998 Adjunct Assistant Professorship, Duquesne University School of Physician Assistants
Apr 1998 Research Award of Excellence: Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh Mercy Research Day: A Randomized Prospective Trial of Rapid Mobilization of Patients with Skin Grafted Lower Extremity Burns
Mar 2002 American Society of Clinical Oncology Merit Award
Nov 2002 Sentinel Node 2002 Congress Young Investigator Award
PRESENTATIONS/ABSTRACTS/OTHER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Apr 24, 1997 Mercy Research Day 1997: Oral presentation: Biochemical mechanism of collateral sensitivity to etoposide (VP-16) in a mitomycin C-resistant human bladder cancer cell line
Apr 12-16, 1997 American Association of Cancer Research, 88th Annual Meeting: San Diego, CA. Poster presentation: Mechanism of Increased Sensitivity to VP-16 in a Mitomycin C-Resistant Human Bladder Cancer Cell Line. (H Xia, RJ Bleicher, V Gupta, HA Zaren, SV Singh)
Apr 12-16, 1997 American Association of Cancer Research, 88th Annual Meeting: San Diego, CA. Poster presentation: Induction of Glutathione S-Transferase Pi (GST-Pi) as a Bioassay for the Evaluation of Potency and Mechanism of Action of Chemoprotectors. (SV Singh, X Hu, PJ Benson, SK Srivastava, H Xia, RJ Bleicher, V Gupta, S Awasthi, YC Awasthi)
Apr 12-16, 1997 American Association of Cancer Research, 88th Annual Meeting: San Diego, CA. Poster presentation: Mechanism of Differential Efficacy of Naturally Occurring Organosulfides from Garlic in Preventing Benzo(a)pyrene-induced Forestomach Neoplasia in Mice. (S. Pan, H Xia, SK Srivastava, X Hu, PJ Benson, RJ Bleicher, HA Zaren, SV Singh)
Apr 12-16, 1997 American Association of Cancer Research, 88th Annual Meeting: San Diego, CA. Poster presentation: Mechanism of Resistance to BMS-181174, a Novel Analogue of Mitomycin C, in a Human Bladder Cancer Cell Line. (RJ Bleicher, H Xia, X Hu, SK Srivastava, V Gupta, HA Zaren, and SV Singh)
Sept 12, 1997 Eastern Great Lakes Burn Study Group: 25th Anniversary Meeting, Cleveland, OH. Oral Presentation: A Randomized Prospective Trial of Rapid Mobilization of Patients with Skin Grafted Lower Extremity Burns. (RJ Bleicher, HF Sherman, VL Landry, JR Varcelotti, BA Latenser, RR Barrette, LM Jones)
Nov 5, 1997 American College of Surgeons' Residents' Day Program, Verona, PA: Oral Presentation: A Randomized Prospective Trial of Rapid Mobilization of Patients with Skin Grafted Lower Extremity Burns (RJ Bleicher, HF Sherman, VL Landry, JR Varcelotti, BA Latenser, RR Barrette, LM Jones)
Nov 5, 1997 American College of Surgeons' Residents' Day Program, Verona, PA: Oral Presentation: Biochemical Mechanism of Cross-Resistance to Taxol in a Mitomycin C-Resistant Human Bladder Cancer Cell Line. (RJ Bleicher, H Xia, HA Zaren, SV Singh)
Nov 9-10, 1997 Mid-Atlantic Association of Burn Care Facilities, 20th Annual Meeting, Livingston, NJ: Oral Presentation: A Randomized Prospective Trial of Rapid Mobilization of Patients with Skin Grafted Lower Extremity Burns. (RJ Bleicher, HF Sherman, VL Landry, JR Varcelotti, BA Latenser, RR Barrette, LM Jones)
Feb 1-4, 1998 Southeastern Surgical Congress, 66th Annual Scientific Meeting: Poster Presentation: Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Administered by Surgical or Medical Oncologist: No Difference in Therapy. (RJ Bleicher, JM Tokarsky, HA Zaren, KA Dookeran)
Mar 26-29, 1998 Society of Surgical Oncology, 51st annual Cancer Symposium, San Diego, CA: Poster presentation: Biochemical Mechanism of Cross-Resistance to Taxol in a Mitomycin C-Resistant Human Bladder Cancer Cell Line. (RJ Bleicher, H Xia, HA Zaren, SV Singh)
Mar 28-Apr 1, 1998 American Association of Cancer Research, 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA: Poster presentation: ATP-Dependent Transport of the Glutathione Conjugate of Carcinogenic Diol Epoxide of Benzo(a)pyrene in Murine Hepatic Canalicular Plasma Membrane Vesicles. (SK Srivastava, X Hu, H Xia, RJ Bleicher, HA Zaren, JL Orchard, S Awasthi, SV Singh). Abstract #2689. Carcinogenesis 9, Metabolism and Genetic Susceptibility: Poster #18.
Mar 28-Apr 1, 1998 American Association of Cancer Research, 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA: Poster presentation: Biochemical Characterization of Cross-Resistance to Taxol in a Human Bladder Cancer Cell Line Selected for Resistance to Mitomycin C (RJ Bleicher, H Xia, HA Zaren, SV Singh). Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 16 - DNA Damaging Agents: Poster #15.
Apr 29, 1998 Mercy Research Day 1998: Poster presentation: A Randomized Prospective Trial of Rapid Mobilization of Patients with Skin Grafted Lower Extremity Burns (RJ Bleicher, HF Sherman, VL Landry, JR Varcelotti, BA Latenser, RR Barrette, LM Jones)
Apr 29, 1998 Mercy Research Day 1998: Oral presentation: Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Administered by Surgical or Medical Oncologist: No Difference in Therapy. (RJ Bleicher, JM Tokarsky, KA Dookeran, HA Zaren)
Apr 10-14, 1999 American Association of Cancer Research, 90th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA: Poster presentation: Transport of Glutathione Conjugate of (+)-anti-7,8-dihydroxy-9, 10-oxy-7, 8, 9, 10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene across human canalicular liver plasma membrane. (RJ Bleicher, SK Srivastava, X Hu, H Xia, S Awasthi, SV Singh). Abstract #348. Carcinogenesis 2, Carcinogen Metabolism: Poster #24.
Sept 16-18, 1999 American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, 1999 meeting, Boston, MA: Poster presentation: A Randomized Prospective Trial of Rapid Mobilization for Patients with Skin Grafted Lower Extremity Burns. (RJ Bleicher, HF Sherman, VL Landry, LM Jones, JR Varcelotti, BA Latenser, RR Barrette)
Mar 15-18, 2001 Society of Surgical Oncology, 2001 meeting, Washington, DC: Poster presentation: Sentinel Node Positivity & Characteristics of Thin Invasive Cutaneous Melanomas. (RJ Bleicher, LJ Foshag, R Essner, LA Wanek, DL Morton)
Mar 14-17, 2002 Society of Surgical Oncology, 2002 meeting, Denver, CO: Plenary Session Oral Presentation: Radiofrequency Ablation in 447 Complex Unresectable Liver Tumors: Lessons Learned. (RJ Bleicher, DP Allegra, DT Nora, TF Wood, LJ Foshag, AJ Bilchik) Abstract #3.
Mar 14-17, 2002 Society of Surgical Oncology, 2002 meeting, Denver, CO: Poster Presentation: Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Mucous Membranes: The John Wayne Cancer Institute Experience. (AS Kadison, R Essner, RJ Bleicher, DT Nora, SD Trocha, LA Wanek, DL Morton) Abstract #P133.
May 18-21, 2002 American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2002 meeting, Orlando, FL: Oral Presentation: The Role of Sentinel Lymphadenectomy in Thin Cutaneous Melanomas. (RJ Bleicher, R Essner, LJ Foshag, LA Wanek, DL Morton) Abstract #1355.
May 18-21, 2002 American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2002 meeting, Orlando, FL: Poster Presentation: Primary Mucosal Melanoma: The Role of Lymphatic Mapping. (AS Kadison, R Essner, RJ Bleicher, DT Nora, SD Trocha, LA Wanek, DL Morton) Abstract #1365.
Nov 16-18, 2002 Third International Sentinel Node Congress, Pacifico Yokohama, Japan: Poster Presentation: Sentinel Lymphadenectomy After Neoadjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer. (RJ Bleicher, BJ Grube, NM Hansen, AE Giuliano). Abstract #P82.
Jan 24-26, 2003 American College of Surgeons, Southern California Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting: Poster Presentation: Chronic Management of Recurrent Hepatic Tumors Using Sequential Radiofrequency Ablation. (AJ Bilchik, RJ Bleicher, R Krasne, DP Allegra) Abstract #009.
Feb 15-18, 2003 Pacific Coast Surgical Association, 2003 meeting, Monterey, CA: Poster Presentation: Prognostic Significance of Nodal Metastases as Assessed by Intraoperative Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Lymphadenectomy in Patients with Melanoma Metastatic to the Lung. (MB Faries, RJ Bleicher, K Yao, DL Morton).
Mar 6-9, 2003 Society of Surgical Oncology, 2003 meeting, Los Angeles, CA: Poster Presentation: Glucosylceramide Synthase Upregulation - A New Potential Target for Doxorubicin Resistance in Breast Cancer. (RJ Bleicher, YY Liu, H Wang, V Gouazé, JY Yu, AE Giuliano, MC Cabot). Abstract #P1.
Apr 11-15, 2003 Experimental Biology; American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2003 meeting, San Diego, CA: Poster Presentation: Enhanced Ceramide Glycosylation Through Upregulated Gene Expression in Cancer Cells Selected for Resistance to Vinblastine and Adriamycin. (RJ Bleicher, TY Han, YY Liu, H Wang, V Gouazé, M Gottesman, A Bitterman, AE Giuliano, MC Cabot). Abstract #4655, Program #845.15, Posterboard #D71.
May 1-4, 2003 American Society of Breast Surgeons, 2003 meeting, Atlanta, GA: Poster Presentation: Skin Sparing Mastectomy: Specialty Bias and a Worldwide Lack of Consensus. (RJ Bleicher, NM Hansen, AE Giuliano). Abstract #19.
May 31-June 3, 2003 American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2003 meeting, Chicago, IL: Poster Discussion: Lymphatic Mapping in Intrapulmonary Malignancies. (MB Faries, RJ Bleicher, DL Morton). Abstract #2554.
LECTURES
Feb, 1997 Invited speaker, lecture series, Physical Diagnosis course: "The Abdomen." Duquesne University School of Physician Assistants
June 14, 1997 General Surgery Grand Rounds Presentation, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh: Investigations in Tumor Xenobiotic Resistance
Dec 6, 1997 General Surgery Grand Rounds Presentation, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh: A Randomized Prospective Trial of Rapid Mobilization of Patients with Skin Grafted Lower Extremity Burns
Nov 9, 1998 General Surgery Grand Rounds Presentation, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh: Jejunoileal Bypass
Feb 12, 1999 General Surgery Grand Rounds Presentation, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh: Abdominal Wound Closure
May 14, 1999 General Surgery Grand Rounds Presentation, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh: Nonsurgical Pneumoperitoneum
Nov 29, 1999 University of Pittsburgh Surgical Oncology Journal Club presentation and debate: The Merits of Secondary Debulking in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Feb 2, 2000 General Surgery Grand Rounds Presentation, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh: Management of Colonic Polyps
June 2, 2001 Invited speaker "Lymphatic Mapping in Colon and Melanoma: Case Studies." in Lymphatic Mapping in the 21st Century: A Course for Sentinel Node Biopsy in Melanoma, Breast & Colon Cancer: Santa Monica, CA
GRANTS/PROTOCOLS/BOOK CHAPTERS
Seed Grant, Pittsburgh Mercy Foundation 1997-1998: The Role of the Glutathione Conjugate Transporter (GS-X) Pump in Cellular Drug Resistance. Bleicher RJ, Xia H, Srivastava S, Hu X, Singh SV.
Somatostatin Receptor Status as a Predictor of Octreotide Scan Utility in Medullary Thyroid Cancer (Protocol). John Wayne Cancer Institute. Bleicher RJ, Singer FR, Sassoon AF, Hansen NM, Giuliano AE. Approved/In progress.
Program Project Grant (Protocol), New Advances in Surgical Oncology: Melanoma Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial II Protocol. John Wayne Cancer Institute. Approved/In progress.
Bleicher RJ, Bilchik AJ. "Complications of hepatic radiofrequency ablation: Lessons learned" in Radiofrequency Ablation for Cancer: Current Indications, Techniques and Outcomes. (Ellis, LM, Curley SA, and Tanabe KK eds.) Springer-Verlag, New York; 2003, 121-134.
MEDIA
June 20, 2000 "LA Medical," Medical documentary pilot episode on cryoablation with Leland J. Foshag, MD, for Discovery Health Channel
May 20, 2002 ASCO Daily News, p. 6A: Full page interview and oral presentation coverage "Lymphatic Mapping of Thin Melanomas." (Text-only version online at http://www.asco.org/prof/adn/2002/mon/lym.htm)
May 23, 2002 Behind the Cancer Headlines - Website from the Mid-Atlantic Breast Cancer Information Exchange "Lymphatic Mapping of Thin Melanomas." (http://www.mabcie.com/May_23,_2002_skin_cancer.html)
Nov 1, 2002 Radio Broadcast: Station KRJC: Elko, Nevada - Telephone Interview about The John Wayne Cancer Institute.