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Roger Edwin McLendon

Professor of Pathology
Pathology
Duke Box 3712, Durham, NC 27710
MSRB1, Room 181, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Brain tumors are diagnosed in more than 20,000 Americans annually. The most malignant neoplasm, glioblastoma, is also the most common. Similarly, brain tumors constitute the most common solid neoplasm in children and include astrocytomas of the cerebellum, brain stem and cerebrum as well as medulloblastomas of the cerebellum.  My colleagues and I have endeavored to translate the bench discoveries of genetic mutations and aberrant protein expressions found in brain tumors to better understand the processes involved in the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of brain tumors.  Using the resources of the Preston Robert Brain Tumor Biorepository at Duke, our team, consisting of Henry Friedman, Allan Friedman, and Hai Yan and lead by Darell Bigner, have helped to identify mutations in Isocitrate Dehydrogenase (IDH1 and IDH2) as a marker of good prognosis in gliomas of adults.  This test is now offered at Duke as a clinical test.  Working with the Molecular Pathology Laboratory at Duke, we have also brought testing for TERT promoter region mutations as another major test for classifying gliomas in adults.  Our collaboration with the Toronto Sick Kids Hospital has resulted in prognostic testing for childhood medulloblastomas, primitive neuroectodermal tumors, and ependymomas at Duke.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Pathology · 2001 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Neurosurgery · 2018 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 1992 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

Education, Training & Certifications


Medical College of Georgia · 1982 M.D.
Emory University · 1979 B.A.