Overview
Dr. Andrew Nixon is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine/Division of Medical Oncology at Duke University. He holds a BS in chemistry from Miami University, a PhD in biochemistry from Wake Forest University, and an MBA with a focus on healthcare management from Duke University/Fuqua School of Business. He is a nationally recognized expert in the development of cancer biomarkers and correlative science, with extensive experience leading large multi-center biomarker analyses. Dr. Nixon serves in various leadership roles within the National Cancer Institute (NCI), working with diverse multi-disciplinary teams focused on improving cancer patient outcomes through biomarker science. He serves as the national co-chair for the NCI Core Correlative Sciences Committee which adjudicates the use of biospecimens collected throughout the NCI National Clinical Trial Network (NCTN). Within the NCI-NCTN Alliance cooperative group, Dr. Nixon has multiple leadership positions including serving on the Alliance Board of Directors, co-chair of the Immuno-Oncology Committee, co-chair for Gastrointestinal Correlative Research, and has been an executive member of the Translational Research Program since its inception. Additionally, within the NCI-NCTN NRG cooperative group, he serves as a member of the Gynecologic Translational Science Committee and on the Gynecological Oncology Group - Partners Investigator Council Translational Research Subcommittee. Dr. Nixon is an American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Ambassador and has chaired various committees and led scientific and educational sessions at national conferences. Recently, Dr. Nixon has focused his research on cellular senescence and biomarkers of aging and early carcinogenesis. He serves as Principal Investigator for a large multi-center NIH grant to develop high-resolution tissue maps and biomarkers of cellular senescence as a part of the Senescence Network (SenNet) Consortium.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
A phase II, multicenter, single-arm study of pemigatinib in patients with metastatic or unresectable colorectal cancer harboring FGFR alterations.
Journal Article Oncologist · June 4, 2025 BACKGROUND: FGFR alterations are known to be driver alterations in several tumor types. We aimed to assess the efficacy of pemigatinib, an oral FGFR1-3 inhibitor, in patients with metastatic or unresectable colorectal cancer whose tumors harbored FGF/FGFR ... Full text Link to item CitePrognostic and predictive analyses of circulating plasma biomarkers in men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer treated with docetaxel/prednisone with or without bevacizumab.
Journal Article Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis · June 2025 BACKGROUND: CALGB 90401 (Alliance) was a phase III trial of 1050 patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) comparing docetaxel, prednisone, bevacizumab (DP+B) versus DP alone. While this trial did not show an improvement in over ... Full text Link to item CiteA pilot study investigating the effect of pembrolizumab on the tumoral immunoprofile of newly diagnosed mullerian cancers.
Journal Article Gynecol Oncol Rep · June 2025 OBJECTIVE: This pilot window of opportunity study was conducted to assess feasibility, toxicity, and changes in immune parameters in response to one dose of the PD-1 inhibitor, pembrolizumab, in patients newly diagnosed with mullerian epithelial cancers. M ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Targeting Hepatocyte Senescence to Improve NAFLD
ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2024 - 2029Drug Development for Dystonia
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2023 - 2027Duke ACS Institutional Research Grant
ResearchSignificant Contributor · Awarded by American Cancer Society, Inc. · 2024 - 2026View All Grants