Christine M. Heske, M.D.

Christine M. Heske, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Investigator
Pediatric Oncology Branch
Head, Translational Sarcoma Biology Group

Dr. Heske is a physician scientist with a research focus on preclinical and clinical investigation of novel therapeutic agents in pediatric sarcomas. Specifically, she seeks to identify and evaluate new therapeutic targets for Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and osteosarcoma. In addition, her efforts include understanding the mechanisms behind therapeutic resistance in pediatric sarcomas and developing strategies to overcome such resistance.

Areas of Expertise
1) pediatric sarcoma 2) molecular oncology 3) experimental therapeutics

Contact Info

Christine M. Heske, M.D.
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute
Building 10-CRC, Room 1-3816
Bethesda, MD 20892-1104
Ph: 240-760-6197
christine.heske@nih.gov
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Dr. Heske's focus is on translational and clinical research in the area of pediatric sarcomas as it relates to the identification and evaluation of new therapeutic targets and overcoming mechanisms of resistance. Patients with metastatic or relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma continue to have poor outcomes, despite advances in therapy. Hence, finding new targets for these diseases and understanding the potential mechanisms of resistance relating to those targets is essential to improving outcomes for patients.

Her current laboratory projects include the identification of novel combination therapies in Ewing sarcoma, understanding the metabolic vulnerabilities of Ewing sarcoma, and exploiting DNA repair pathways in rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma..

In addition to conducting preclinical research, Dr. Heske is invested in translating promising laboratory findings into clinical trials. She is currently running a phase I/II trial for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma using combination therapy with an IGF-1 antibody and a Src family kinase inhibitor, and is an investigator for a phase I/II trial investigating PEN-866, an HSP90-SN-38 drug conjugate in sarcomas, which is based on work from her lab.

Scientific Focus Areas:
Cancer Biology, Clinical Research

Selected Recent Publications

  1. Matrix Screen Identifies Synergistic Combination of PARP Inhibitors and Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) Inhibitors in Ewing Sarcoma.
    Heske CM, Davis MI, Baumgart JT, Wilson K, Gormally MV, Chen L, Zhang X, Ceribelli M, Duveau DY, Guha R, Ferrer M, Arnaldez FI, Tran HL, Zhang Y, Mendoza A, Helman LJ, Thomas CJ.
    Clinical Cancer Research. 23(23): 7301-7311, 2017. [ Journal Article ]
  2. The role of PDGFR-β activation in acquired resistance to IGF-1R blockade in preclinical models of rhabdomyosarcoma.
    Heske CM, Yeung C, Mendoza A, Baumgart JT, Edessa LD, Wan X, Helman LJ
    Translational Oncology. 9(6): 540-547, 2016. [ Journal Article ]
  3. STA-8666, a novel HSP90 inhibitor/SN-38 drug conjugate, causes complete tumor regression in preclinical mouse models of pediatric sarcoma.
    Heske CM, Mendoza A, Edessa LD, Baumgart JT, Lee S, Trepel J, Proia DA, Neckers L, Helman LJ
    Oncotarget. 7(40): 65540-65552., 2016. [ Journal Article ]
  4. IGF-1R inhibition activates a YES/SFK Bypass Resistance Pathway: Rational Basis for Co-Targeting IGF-1R and Yes/SFK Kinase in Rhabdomyosarcoma.
    Wan X, Yeung C, Heske C, Mendoza A, Helman LJ.
    Neoplasia. 17: 358-366, 2015. [ Journal Article ]

After completing her undergraduate work at Harvard University, Dr. Heske received her M.D. from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2008. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at Brown University/Hasbro Children's Hospital, followed by her fellowship training at the combined National Cancer Institute-Johns Hopkins University Pediatric Hematology and Oncology program, where she served as Chief Fellow.

Dr. Heske is board certified in General Pediatrics (2011) and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (2015) and is currently an Assistant Clinical Investigator in the POB.

Name Position
Choh Yeung B.S. Biologist
Victor Collins B.S. Postbaccalaureate Fellow (CRTA)
Anna Gibson B.S. Postbaccalaureate Fellow (CRTA)
Grace McKay-Corkum B.A. Medical Research Scholar