Rachel Catherine Blitzblau

Rachel Catherine Blitzblau
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Clinical Science Departments 2016
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers 2010

Contact Information

Duke University/Radiation Onco, Box 3085, Durham, NC 27710
Morris Bldg White Zone Subbase, Box 3085, Durham, NC 27710
rachel.blitzblau@duke.edu (919) 668-5213

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Chief Resident, Radiation Oncology, Yale University 2009 - 2010
- Resident, Radiation Oncology, Yale University 2006 - 2010
- Intern (PGY1), Radiation Oncology, Harvard University 2005 - 2006
- MD./PhD., Tufts University 2005
Duke Appointment History
- Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Clinical Science Departments 2010 - 2016
Recognition
In the News
- DEC 30, 2014 NPR’s “All Things Considered”
  
  Doctors not cutting back on radiation for breast cancer patients
- DEC 8, 2014 NPR
  
  Doctors are slow to adopt changes in breast cancer treatment
- DEC 8, 2014
  
  Older Breast Cancer Patients Still Get Radiation Despite Limited Benefit
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Lane, WO, Thomas, SM, Blitzblau, RC, Plichta, JK, Rosenberger, LH, Fayanju, OM, Hyslop, T, Hwang, ES, and Greenup, RA. "Surgical Resection of the Primary Tumor in Women With De Novo Stage IV Breast Cancer: Contemporary Practice Patterns and Survival Analysis." Annals of Surgery 269, no. 3 (March 2019): 537-544. Full Text
  - Blitzblau, RC, and Horton, JK. "First, Do No Harm." International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 103, no. 2 (February 2019): 295-296. (Letter) Full Text
  - Natarajan, B, Spiegel, D, Nichols, EM, Feigenberg, S, Blitzblau, R, Broadwater, G, Duffy, EA, Baker, JA, and Horton, JK. "Findings on Surveillance Imaging After Preoperative Partial Breast Irradiation for Early Stage Breast Cancer." International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 102, no. 4 (November 2018): 1374-1381. Full Text
  - Park, TS, Thomas, SM, Rosenberger, LH, Fayanju, OM, Plichta, JK, Blitzblau, RC, Ong, CT, Hyslop, T, Hwang, ES, and Greenup, RA. "The Association of Extent of Axillary Surgery and Survival in Women with N2-3 Invasive Breast Cancer." Annals of Surgical Oncology 25, no. 10 (October 2018): 3019-3029. Full Text
  - Bichakjian, CK, Olencki, T, Aasi, SZ, Alam, M, Andersen, JS, Blitzblau, R, Bowen, GM, Contreras, CM, Daniels, GA, Decker, R, Farma, JM, Fisher, K, Gastman, B, Ghosh, K, Grekin, RC, Grossman, K, Ho, AL, Lewis, KD, Loss, M, Lydiatt, DD, Messina, J, Nehal, KS, Nghiem, P, Puzanov, I, Schmults, CD, Shaha, AR, Thomas, V, Xu, YG, Zic, JA, Hoffmann, KG, and Engh, AM. "Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Version 1.2018, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology." Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : Jnccn 16, no. 6 (June 2018): 742-774. Full Text
  - Smith, BD, Bellon, JR, Blitzblau, R, Freedman, G, Haffty, B, Hahn, C, Halberg, F, Hoffman, K, Horst, K, Moran, J, Patton, C, Perlmutter, J, Warren, L, Whelan, T, Wright, JL, and Jagsi, R. "Radiation therapy for the whole breast: Executive summary of an American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) evidence-based guideline." Practical Radiation Oncology 8, no. 3 (May 2018): 145-152. Full Text
  - Greenup, RA, Obeng-Gyasi, S, Thomas, S, Houck, K, Lane, WO, Blitzblau, RC, Hyslop, T, and Hwang, ES. "The Effect of Hospital Volume on Breast Cancer Mortality." Annals of Surgery 267, no. 2 (February 2018): 375-381. Full Text
  - Wright, J, and Blitzblau, R. "Cardiac Morbidity and Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer." International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 100, no. 2 (February 2018): 283-286. Full Text
  - Ong, CT, Thomas, SM, Blitzblau, RC, Fayanju, OM, Park, TS, Plichta, JK, Rosenberger, LH, Hyslop, T, Shelley Hwang, E, and Greenup, RA. "Patient Age and Tumor Subtype Predict the Extent of Axillary Surgery Among Breast Cancer Patients Eligible for the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Trial Z0011." Annals of Surgical Oncology 24, no. 12 (November 2017): 3559-3566. Full Text
  - Greenup, RA, Blitzblau, RC, Houck, KL, Sosa, JA, Horton, J, Peppercorn, JM, Taghian, AG, Smith, BL, and Hwang, ES. "Cost Implications of an Evidence-Based Approach to Radiation Treatment After Lumpectomy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer." Journal of Oncology Practice 13, no. 4 (April 2017): e283-e290. Full Text
  - Sheng, Y, Li, T, Yoo, S, Yin, FF, Blitzblau, RC, Horton, JK, Palta, M, Hahn, CA, Ge, Y, and Wu, QR. "Development of an Ultra-Fast, High-Quality Whole-Breast Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning System." International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics 96, no. 2S (October 2016): S228-. Full Text
  - Spiegel, D, Marcom, PK, Peterson, B, Force, J, Howie, L, Palta, M, Blitzblau, RC, and Horton, JK. "Acute Toxicity in Patients With HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Treated With Adjuvant Radiation Therapy and Concurrent Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab." International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics 96, no. 2S (October 2016): E9-E10. Full Text
  - Yoo, S, Horton, JK, Yin, FF, and Blitzblau, RC. "Dosimetric Effect of the Breast Board and Couch Top for Whole-Breast Radiation Therapy in the Prone Position." International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics 96, no. 2S (October 2016): E46-E47. Full Text
  - Chino, F, and Blitzblau, RC. "Metastatic Tumor Volume and Extranodal Tumor Extension: Clinical Significance in Patients with Stage II Breast Cancer Drinka E, Allen P, McBride A, et al (Univ of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Ctr, Houston; Univ of Arizona School of Medicine, Phoenix) Arch Pathol Lab Med 139:1288-1294, 2015." Breast Diseases 27, no. 2 (January 1, 2016): 154-155. Full Text
  - Kent, C, Horton, J, Blitzblau, R, and Koontz, BF. "Whose Disease Will Recur After Mastectomy for Early Stage, Node-Negative Breast Cancer? A Systematic Review." Clinical Breast Cancer 15, no. 6 (December 2015): 403-412. (Review) Full Text
  - Tseng, YD, Uno, H, Hughes, ME, Niland, JC, Wong, Y-N, Theriault, R, Blitzblau, RC, Moy, B, Breslin, T, Edge, SB, Hassett, MJ, and Punglia, RS. "Biological Subtype Predicts Risk of Locoregional Recurrence After Mastectomy and Impact of Postmastectomy Radiation in a Large National Database." International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics 93, no. 3 (November 2015): 622-630. Full Text
  - Blitzblau, RC, Arya, R, Yoo, S, Baker, JA, Chang, Z, Palta, M, Duffy, E, and Horton, JK. "A phase 1 trial of preoperative partial breast radiation therapy: Patient selection, target delineation, and dose delivery." Practical radiation oncology 5, no. 5 (September 2015): e513-e520. Full Text
  - Arya, R, Siamakpour-Reihani, S, Palta, M, Massa, L, Broadwater, G, Blitzblau, RC, and Horton, JK. "Exercise behavior and patient-reported outcomes in women with early breast cancer receiving locoregional radiation therapy." Practical radiation oncology 5, no. 4 (July 2015): e275-e281. Full Text
  - Horton, JK, Blitzblau, RC, Yoo, S, Geradts, J, Chang, Z, Baker, JA, Georgiade, GS, Chen, W, Siamakpour-Reihani, S, Wang, C, Broadwater, G, Groth, J, Palta, M, Dewhirst, M, Barry, WT, Duffy, EA, Chi, J-TA, and Hwang, ES. "Preoperative Single-Fraction Partial Breast Radiation Therapy: A Novel Phase 1, Dose-Escalation Protocol With Radiation Response Biomarkers." International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics 92, no. 4 (July 2015): 846-855. Full Text
  - Yoo, S, Blitzblau, R, Yin, F-F, and Horton, JK. "Dosimetric comparison of preoperative single-fraction partial breast radiotherapy techniques: 3D CRT, noncoplanar IMRT, coplanar IMRT, and VMAT." Journal of applied clinical medical physics 16, no. 1 (January 8, 2015): 5126-. Full Text
  - Mowery, YM, and Blitzblau, RC. "The UK HeartSpare Study (Stage IB): Randomised comparison of a voluntary breath-hold technique and prone radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery." Breast Diseases 26, no. 3 (January 1, 2015): 237-239. Full Text
  - Palta, M, Palta, P, Bhavsar, NA, Horton, JK, and Blitzblau, RC. "The use of adjuvant radiotherapy in elderly patients with early-stage breast cancer: Changes in practice patterns after publication of Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9343." Cancer 121, no. 2 (January 1, 2015): 188-193. Full Text
  - Yoo, S, Blitzblau, R, Yin, FF, and Horton, JK. "Dosimetric comparison of preoperative single-fraction partial breast radiotherapy techniques: 3D CRT, noncoplanar IMRT, coplanar IMRT, and VMAT." Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics 16, no. 1 (January 1, 2015): 183-191.
  - Mowery, YM, and Blitzblau, RC. "Whole-breast radiation therapy: the long and short of it." International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 90, no. 5 (December 2014): 990-992. Full Text
  - Nath, SK, Chen, ZJ, Rowe, BP, Blitzblau, RC, Aneja, S, Grube, BJ, Horowitz, NR, and Weidhaas, JB. "A PHASE II TRIAL OF BALLOON-CATHETER PARTIAL BREAST BRACHYTHERAPY OPTIMIZATION IN THE TREATMENT OF STAGE 0, I AND IIA BREAST CARCINOMA." Journal of radiation oncology 3, no. 4 (December 2014): 371-378. Full Text
  - Blitzblau, RC. "Local recurrence patterns in breast cancer patients treated with oncoplastic reduction mammaplasty and radiotherapy." Breast Diseases 25, no. 3 (January 1, 2014): 257-258. Full Text
  - Blitzblau, RC, and Horton, JK. "Radiotherapy After Mastectomy." Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America (2013). Full Text
  - Blitzblau, RC, and Horton, JK. "Radiotherapy After Mastectomy." Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America 22, no. 3 (2013): 563-577. Full Text
  - Blitzblau, RC, and Horton, JK. "Treatment planning technique in patients receiving postmastectomy radiation therapy." Practical Radiation Oncology 3, no. 4 (2013): 241-248. Full Text
  - Blitzblau, RC, and Horton, JK. "Treatment planning technique in patients receiving postmastectomy radiation therapy." Practical Radiation Oncology (2012). Full Text
  - Blitzblau, RC, and Horton, JK. "Evaluation of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the p53 binding protein 1 (TP53BP1) gene in breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving surgery and whole-breast irradiation (BCS+RT)." Breast Diseases: a Year Book Quarterly 23, no. 1 (January 2012): 44-45. Full Text
  - Pelletier, C, Speed, WC, Paranjape, T, Keane, K, Blitzblau, R, Hollestelle, A, Safavi, K, Ouweland, AVD, Zelterman, D, Slack, FJ, Kidd, KK, and Weidhaas, JB. "Rare BRCA1 haplotypes including 3′UTR SNPs associated with breast cancer risk." Cell Cycle 10, no. 1 (2011): 90-99. Full Text
  - Blitzblau, RC, and Weidhaas, JB. "MicroRNA binding-site polymorphisms as potential biomarkers of cancer risk." Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy 14, no. 6 (December 2010): 335-342. (Review) Full Text
  - Ratner, E, Lu, L, Boeke, M, Barnett, R, Nallur, S, Chin, LJ, Pelletier, C, Blitzblau, R, Tassi, R, Paranjape, T, Hui, P, Godwin, AK, Yu, H, Risch, H, Rutherford, T, Schwartz, P, Santin, A, Matloff, E, Zelterman, D, Slack, FJ, and Weidhaas, JB. "A KRAS-variant in ovarian cancer acts as a genetic marker of cancer risk." Cancer Research 70, no. 16 (August 2010): 6509-6515. Full Text
  - Yu, JB, Blitzblau, RC, Patel, SC, Decker, RH, and Wilson, LD. "Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database analysis of microcystic adnexal carcinoma (sclerosing sweat duct carcinoma) of the skin." American Journal of Clinical Oncology 33, no. 2 (April 2010): 125-127. Full Text
  - Blitzblau, R, Storer, EK, and Jacob, MH. "Dystrophin and utrophin isoforms are expressed in glia, but not neurons, of the avian parasympathetic ciliary ganglion." Brain Res 1218 (July 7, 2008): 21-34. Full Text Link to Item
  - Yu, JB, Blitzblau, RC, Decker, RH, Housman, DM, and Wilson, LD. "Analysis of primary CD30+ cutaneous lymphoproliferative disease and survival from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database." J Clin Oncol 26, no. 9 (March 20, 2008): 1483-1488. Full Text Link to Item
  - Rosenberg, MM, Blitzblau, RC, Olsen, DP, and Jacob, MH. "Regulatory mechanisms that govern nicotinic synapse formation in neurons." J Neurobiol 53, no. 4 (December 2002): 542-555. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Chen, W, Aoki, C, Mahadomrongkul, V, Gruber, CE, Wang, GJ, Blitzblau, R, Irwin, N, and Rosenberg, PA. "Expression of a variant form of the glutamate transporter GLT1 in neuronal cultures and in neurons and astrocytes in the rat brain." The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience 22, no. 6 (March 2002): 2142-2152. Full Text
  - Sinor, JD, Du, S, Venneti, S, Blitzblau, RC, Leszkiewicz, DN, Rosenberg, PA, and Aizenman, E. "NMDA and glutamate evoke excitotoxicity at distinct cellular locations in rat cortical neurons in vitro." The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience 20, no. 23 (December 2000): 8831-8837. Full Text
  - Temburni, MK, Blitzblau, RC, and Jacob, MH. "Receptor targeting and heterogeneity at interneuronal nicotinic cholinergic synapses in vivo." J Physiol 525 Pt 1 (May 15, 2000): 21-29. (Review) Link to Item
  - Blitzblau, R, Gupta, S, Djali, S, Robinson, MB, and Rosenberg, PA. "The glutamate transport inhibitor L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate indirectly evokes NMDA receptor mediated neurotoxicity in rat cortical cultures." Eur J Neurosci 8, no. 9 (September 1996): 1840-1852. Link to Item
  - Speliotes, EK, Hartnett, KA, Blitzblau, RC, Aizenman, E, and Rosenberg, PA. "Comparison of the potency of competitive NMDA antagonists against the neurotoxicity of glutamate and NMDA." J Neurochem 63, no. 3 (September 1994): 879-885. Link to Item
- Conference Papers
  - Sheng, Y, Li, T, Yoo, S, Yin, FF, Blitzblau, RC, Sr, HJK, Palta, M, Hahn, CA, Ge, Y, and Wu, QRJ. "Development of an Ultra-Fast, High-Quality Whole-Breast Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning System." October 1, 2016. Full Text Link to Item
  - Spiegel, D, Marcom, K, Peterson, B, Force, J, Howie, L, Palta, M, Blitzblau, RC, and Sr, HJK. "Acute Toxicity in Patients With HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Treated With Adjuvant Radiation Therapy and Concurrent Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab." October 1, 2016. Full Text Link to Item
  - Yoo, S, Sr, HJK, Yin, FF, and Blitzblau, RC. "Dosimetric Effect of the Breast Board and Couch Top for Whole-Breast Radiation Therapy in the Prone Position." October 1, 2016. Full Text Link to Item
  - Arya, R, Jones, LW, Blitzblau, RC, Palta, M, Massa, L, Broadwater, G, and Horton, JK. "Abstract P2-12-07: The association between exercise behavior and patient-reported outcomes in women with early breast cancer receiving locoregional radiation therapy." : American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), May 1, 2015. Full Text
  - Mowery, YM, Greenup, RA, Houck, K, Palta, M, Horton, JK, Hwang, E-SS, Sosa, JA, and Blitzblau, RC. "Abstract P1-15-10: Low utilization of hypofractionated radiotherapy for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer in the US." : American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), May 1, 2015. Full Text
  - Palta, M, Palta, P, Bhavsar, NA, Horton, JK, and Blitzblau, RC. "The use of adjuvant radiotherapy in elderly patients with early-stage breast cancer: changes in practice patterns after publication of Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9343." January 2015. Full Text
  - Horton, J, Blitzblau, R, Yoo, S, Georgiade, G, Geradts, J, Baker, J, Chang, Z, Broadwater, G, Barry, W, Duffy, E, and Hwang, E. "Abstract P5-14-04: Preoperative single-fraction partial breast radiotherapy – Initial results from a novel phase I dose-escalation protocol with exploration of radiation response biomarkers." December 15, 2013. Full Text
  - Horton, JK, Blitzblau, RC, Yoo, S, Georgiade, GS, Geradts, J, Baker, JA, Chang, Z, Duffy, E, and Hwang, ES. "Preoperative Single-Fraction Partial Breast Radiation Therapy: A Novel Phase 1 Dose-Escalation Protocol and Exploration of Breast Cancer Radiation Response." : Elsevier BV, October 2013. Full Text
  - Perez, BA, Patel, PR, Yoo, S, O'Neill, L, Livengood, KP, Catalano, S, Chollet, CT, and Blitzblau, RC. "Evaluating Radiation Dose to the Heart With Left Whole Breast Radiation Therapy in Prone, Supine Breath-Hold, and Supine Free-Breathing Positions." : Elsevier BV, October 2013. Full Text
  - Blitzblau, RC, Yu, JB, Wilson, LD, and Roberts, KB. "Analysis of Gastric MALT Lymphomas Identified in the SEER Database." : Elsevier BV, November 2007. Full Text
  - Patel, SC, Yu, JB, Decker, RH, Blitzblau, RC, Housman, DM, and Wilson, LD. "Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database Analysis of Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma (Sclerosing Sweat Duct Carcinoma) of the Skin." : Elsevier BV, November 2007. Full Text
  - Roberts, KB, Blitzblau, RC, and Wilson, LD. "Characterization of Non-Gastric MALT Lymphomas Identified in the SEER Database." : Elsevier BV, November 2007. Full Text
  - Yu, JB, Blitzblau, RC, Decker, RH, Housman, DM, and Wilson, LD. "Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database Analysis of Stage IE Primary CD30+ Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (PCCTCL)." : Elsevier BV, November 2007. Full Text

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

In the News

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Conference Papers