Skip to main content

David Harold Harpole Jr.

George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Cancer
Surgery, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
Box 3627 Med Ctr, Durham, NC
MSRB I, Room 455-B, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


A. Non-small cell lung cancer
1. Evaluation of serum and tissue molecular biologic markers of recurrence in patients with a localize non-small cell lung cancer.
2. Molecular biologic staging of lymph nodes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
3. The evaluation of the clonality of metastatic tumors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

B. Clinical research activities
1. Creation of a prospective database for the Duke Thoracic Oncology Program.
2. A cost and satisfaction evaluation of thoracoscopy and open thoracotomy in patients.
3. Development of risk associated models of morbidity in patients undergoing general thoracic surgery procedures: The VA Cooperative Surgical Risk Study
4. A member of the Duke Gastrointestinal Malignancy Research Committee, developing esophageal cancer treatment protocols and outcome studies.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Cancer · 2022 - Present Surgery, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Surgery
Professor of Surgery · 2003 - Present Surgery, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Surgery
Professor in Pathology · 2018 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 1987 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published May 18, 2022
University Awards 24 New Distinguished Professorships

View All News

Recent Publications


TROPION-Lung12: A phase 3 study of adjuvant datopotamab deruxtecan and rilvegostomig in ctDNA-positive or high-risk pathology stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Conference J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · January 2026 BACKGROUND: Five-year disease recurrence rates for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) postsurgery are variable (15%-40%). There is an urgent need for novel biomarker strategies to identify high-risk patients who may benefit from adjuv ... Full text Link to item Cite

Response to Letter to the Editor.

Journal Article J Thorac Oncol · December 2025 Full text Link to item Cite

Surgical Outcomes With Neoadjuvant Durvalumab Plus Chemotherapy Followed by Adjuvant Durvalumab in Resectable NSCLC.

Conference J Thorac Oncol · November 2025 INTRODUCTION: In AEGEAN, perioperative durvalumab plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy, versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone, significantly improved event-free survival (p = 0.004) and pathologic complete response (p < 0.001; primary end points; modified intenti ... Full text Link to item Cite
View All Publications

Recent Grants


Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) - NIAID

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2018 - 2029

Duke Research Training Program in Surgical Oncology

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Cancer Institute · 2024 - 2029

View All Grants

Education, Training & Certifications


University of Virginia · 1984 M.D.