Clint T. Allen, M.D.

Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute

Building 10 - Clinical Center, Room 7N240C
Bethesda, MD 20892
301-827-5620
clint.allen@nih.gov

Senior Investigator

Surgical Oncology Program

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Dr. Allen’s research centers on immunologic aspects of head and neck cancer and neoplasm development, progression and treatment. Dr. Allen leads a scientific laboratory and clinical research program that focuses on developing novel treatment approaches for human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and -negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as well as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). Through close relationships with academic partners in the National Capitol Region community and throughout the country, Dr. Allen maintains a robust referral network for patients interested in prospective immunotherapy clinical trials for newly diagnosed head and neck cancer and RRP.

Board certification:
American Board of Otolaryngology

Areas of Expertise

Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy

The Tumor Microenvironment

Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Otolaryngology

Clinical Trials
Research
Publications
Biography
Job Vacancies
News

Open - Recruiting

Phase 2

Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC) Alone or in Combination With Immunotherapy Vaccine PRGN-2009 in Subjects With Newly Diagnosed HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal (Head and Neck) Cancer
Learn if you qualify for this trial

Trial ID
IRB001730

Trial Lead
Clint T. Allen, M.D.

Who to Contact for Questions

Email NCI Medical Oncology Referral Office

Call 888-624-1937
Open - Recruiting

Biospecimen Procurement for Head and Neck Disorders
Learn if you qualify for this trial

Trial ID
18-DC-0051

Trial Lead
Clint T. Allen, M.D.

Who to Contact for Questions

Email NCI Medical Oncology Referral Office

Call 888-624-1937

Research

Current standard of care treatments for head and neck cancer unrelated to human papillomavirus (including oral cavity cancer and larynx cancer) fail to provide long-term cures for many patients. Through the integration of immunotherapy into these treatments based on solid research laboratory evidence, we aim to improve disease-free survival for head and neck cancer patients. The study of tumor biopsies before and after treatment allows our team to understand exactly what is happening to the immune system during these treatments and determine how to optimize these treatments to be as safe and powerful as possible. Our team is also applying important lessons learned from studying these types of cancers to other problematic head and neck neoplasms, such as tonsil cancers, caused by chronic infection with specific types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, caused by other types of HPV. Our comprehensive scientific and clinical research program is one of the few worldwide to study the immunologic aspects of both cancerous and papillomatous lesions of the head and neck.

Publications

Enhanced neoepitope-specific immunity following neoadjuvant PD-L1 and TGF-b blockade in HPV-unrelated head and neck cancer

Redman JM, Friedman J, Robbins Y, Sievers C, Yang X, Lassoued W, Sinkoe A, Papanicolau-Sengos A, Lee CR, Marte JL, Turkbey EB, Mydlarz W, Joshi AS, London NR Jr, Pierce M, Taylor RJ, Hong S, Nguyen A, Soon-Shiong P, Schlom J, Gulley JL, Allen CT.

J Clin Invest. Jun 21 (online ahead of print): e161400, 2022. [ Journal Article ]

Cure of syngeneic carcinomas with targeted IL-12 through obligate reprogramming of lymphoid and myeloid immunity

Hong Y, Robbins Y, Yang X, Mydlarz WK, Sowers A, Mitchell JB, Gulley JL, Schlom J, Gameiro SR, Sievers C, Allen CT.

JCI Insight. 7(5): e157448, 2022. [ Journal Article ]

Comprehensive multiomic characterization of human papillomavirus-driven recurrent respiratory papillomatosis reveals distinct molecular subtypes

Sievers C, Robbins Y, Bai K, Yang X, Clavijo PE, Friedman J, Sinkoe A, Norberg SM, Hinrichs C, Van Waes C, Allen CT.

Commun Biol. 4(1): 1416, 2021. [ Journal Article ]

Chimeric antigen receptor engineered NK cellular immunotherapy overcomes the selection of T-cell escape variant cancer cells

Lee MY, Robbins Y, Sievers C, Friedman J, Abdul Sater H, Clavijo PE, Judd N, Tsong E, Silvin C, Soon-Shiong P, Padget MR, Schlom J, Hodge J, Hinrichs C,
Allen C.

J Immunother Cancer. 9(3): e002128, 2021. [ Journal Article ]

Neoadjuvant PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Blockade Reverses Functional Immunodominance among Tumor Antigen-Specific T Cells

Friedman J, Moore EC, Zolkind P, Robbins Y, Clavijo PE, Sun L, Greene S, Morisada MV, Mydlarz WK, Schmitt N, Hodge JW, Schreiber H, Van Waes C, Uppaluri R, Allen C.

Clin Cancer Res. 26(3): 679-689, 2020. [ Journal Article ]

Biography

Senior Investigator

Clint T. Allen, M.D.

Dr. Allen graduated from the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and is an alumnus of the Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP) at the NIH Clinical Center. After medical school, he received otolaryngology surgical training at Washington University in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital and sub-specialty fellowship training in laryngological surgery at the University of Washington. While maintaining a laryngology practice and faculty position at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Allen’s initial appointment to the NIH was through the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) Otolaryngology Surgeon Scientist Program. After five years of joint Johns Hopkins and NIH faculty appointments, Dr. Allen transitioned to a full-time NIH position within the NIDCD where, in 2020, he was tenured and named Chief of the Section on Translational Tumor Immunology. After serving as Acting Head and Neck Surgery Branch Chief and NIDCD Acting Clinical Director for a period, he transitioned to the Head and Neck Section of the Surgical Oncology Program at CCR. Dr. Allen has received numerous specialty society awards and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications.