Title(s):
Associate Professor of Surgery
Associate Professor of Oncology
Associate Professor of Oncology
Director of Sarcoma and Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program
Chief, Mixed Tumor Services
Chief, Mixed Tumor Services
Appointment Phone:
443-997-1508
Primary Location:
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Expertise:
Colorectal Cancer, Cytoreductive Surgery, Gastric Cancer, Gastrointestinal Cancers, General Surgery, Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, Pancreatic Cancer, Retroperitoneal Sarcomas, Sarcoma, Whipple Procedure
Education and Experience
Training
- Duke University School of Medicine (Durham NC)/ (1993)
Residencies
- The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore MD)/ Surgery (2002)
Certifications
- Surgery, American Board of Surgery (2003)
Locations
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
600 N. Wolfe Street
Hospital Main Entrance - Sheikh Zayed Tower
Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410-955-5020
Appointment Phone: 443-997-1508
Location Map
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
4940 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: 410-955-5020
Appointment Phone: 443-997-1508
Location Map
Department / Division
-
Surgery - Surgical Oncology
Centers/Institutes
Centers / Institutes
- Colon Cancer Center
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Bio
Biography
Dr. Nita Ahuja has been a member of the surgical faculty team at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions since 2003. Her surgical specialization is in gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric, rectal and pancreatic cancers. Dr. Ahuja also directs an active cancer research laboratory studying molecular markers important in early diagnosis and prognosis of gastrointestinal cancer.
Physician Title
Director of Sarcoma and Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program
Chief, Mixed Tumor Services
Chief, Mixed Tumor Services
Expertise
- Colorectal Cancer
- Cytoreductive Surgery
- Gastric Cancer
- Gastrointestinal Cancers
- General Surgery
- Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Retroperitoneal Sarcomas
- Sarcoma
- Whipple Procedure
Research
Research and Publications
Research Summary
Dr. Ahuja''s research is focused on the role of DNA methylation in tumorigenesis and exploring the translational potential of these methylation changes. Current studies in the laboratory include the development of biomarkers for early detection of cancer and to predict recurrence in breast and colorectal cancers. Her laboratory has recently shown that DNA methylation changes can be used in stool DNA as a very sensitive and specific marker for early detection of colorectal cancer. The laboratory is currently focused on the development of markers for early detection of cancer using serum. In addition, the laboratory has an interest in studying inflammatory bowel disease associated cancers and has a large tissue bank in collaboration with the surgical specialists who treat these conditions. The laboratory is developing epigenetic therapies for gastrointestinal malignancies and has an ongoing Phase 2 trial in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancers. Dr. Ahuja''s laboratory works in close collaborations with Drs. Stephen Baylin and James Herman in the Division of Tumor Biology in the Cancer Center as a multidisciplinary team.
Journal Citations
Pawlik, T.M.; Ahuja, N.; Herman, J.M. The role of radiation in retroperitoneal sarcomas: a surgical perspective. Curr Opin Oncol. 2007 Jul;19(4):359-366.
Riojas, M.A.; Guo, M.; Glockner, S.C.; Machida, E.O.; Baylin, S.B.; Ahuja, N. Methylation-Induced Silencing of ASC/TMS1, a Pro-Apoptotic Gene, is a Late-Stage Event in Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Biol Ther. 2007 Aug 3;6(11):1710-1716.
Schuebel, K.E.; Chen, W.; Cope, L.; Glockner, S.C.; Suzuki, H.; Yi, J.M.; Chan, T.A.; Van Neste, L.; Van Criekinge, W.; van den Bosch, S.; van Engeland, M.; Ting, A.H.; Jair, K.; Yu, W.; Toyota, M.; Imai, K.; Ahuja, N.; Herman, J.G.; Baylin, S.B. Comparing the DNA hypermethylome with gene mutations in human colorectal cancer. PLoS Genet. 2007 Sep;3(9):1709-1723.
Chan, T.A.; Glockner, S.; Yi, J.M.; Chen, W.; Van Neste, L.; Cope, L.; Herman, J.G.; Velculescu, V.; Schuebel, K.E.; Ahuja, N.; Baylin, S.B. Convergence of mutation and epigenetic alterations identifies common genes in cancer that predict for poor prognosis. PLoS Med. 2008 May 27;5(5):e114.
Dhir, M.; Montgomery, E.A.; Glockner, S.C.; Schuebel, K.E.; Hooker, C.M.; Herman, J.G.; Baylin, S.B.; Gearhart, S.L.; Ahuja, N. Epigenetic regulation of WNT signaling pathway genes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) associated neoplasia. J Gastrointest Surg. 2008 Oct;12(10):1745-1753.
Duffield, A.S.; Jarrar, P.; Shum, C.; Ahuja, N.; Yeo, C.J.; Sokoll, L.J. Retroperitoneal masses with associated human chorionic gonadotropin production: Report of two cases. Clin Chim Acta. 2008 Sep;395(1-2):166-169.
Hueman, M.T.; Ahuja, N. Soft tissue sarcomas. Preface. Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;88(3):xiii-xvii.
Hueman, M.T.; Herman, J.M.; Ahuja, N. Management of retroperitoneal sarcomas. Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;88(3):583-597, vii.
Hueman, M.T.; Thornton, K.; Herman, J.M.; Ahuja, N. Management of extremity soft tissue sarcomas. Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;88(3):539-557, vi.
Jain, A.; Haisfield-Wolfe, M.E.; Lange, J.; Ahuja, N.; Khouri, N.; Tsangaris, T.; Zhang, Z.; Balch, C.; Jacobs, L.K. The role of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of axillary nodes in the staging of breast cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Feb;15(2):462-471.
Meguid, R.A.; Ahuja, N.; Chang, D.C. What constitutes a "high-volume" hospital for pancreatic resection? J Am Coll Surg. 2008 Apr;206(4):622 e621-629.
Meguid, R.A.; Slidell, M.B.; Wolfgang, C.L.; Chang, D.C.; Ahuja, N. Is there a difference in survival between right- versus left-sided colon cancers? Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Sep;15(9):2388-2394.
Reddy, S.; Edil, B.H.; Cameron, J.L.; Pawlik, T.M.; Herman, J.M.; Gilson, M.M.; Campbell, K.A.; Schulick, R.D.; Ahuja, N.; Wolfgang, C.L. Pancreatic resection of isolated metastases from nonpancreatic primary cancers. Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Nov;15(11):3199-3206.
Rosson, G.D.; Singh, N.K.; Ahuja, N.; Jacobs, L.K.; Chang, D.C. Multilevel analysis of the impact of community vs patient factors on access to immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy in Maryland. Arch Surg. 2008 Nov;143(11):1076-1081; discusion 1081.
Yi, J.M.; Tsai, H.C.; Glockner, S.C.; Lin, S.; Ohm, J.E.; Easwaran, H.; James, C.D.; Costello, J.F.; Riggins, G.; Eberhart, C.G.; Laterra, J.; Vescovi, A.L.; Ahuja, N.; Herman, J.G.; Schuebel, K.E.; Baylin, S.B. Abnormal DNA methylation of CD133 in colorectal and glioblastoma tumors. Cancer Res. 2008 Oct 1;68(19):8094-8103.
Zhang, W.; Glockner, S.C.; Guo, M.; Machida, E.O.; Wang, D.H.; Easwaran, H.; Van Neste, L.; Herman, J.G.; Schuebel, K.E.; Watkins, D.N.; Ahuja, N.; Baylin, S.B. Epigenetic inactivation of the canonical Wnt antagonist SRY-box containing gene 17 in colorectal cancer. Cancer Res. 2008 Apr 15;68(8):2764-2772.
Chang, D.C.; Zhang, Y.; Mukherjee, D.; Wolfgang, C.L.; Schulick, R.D.; Cameron, J.L.; Ahuja, N. Variations in referral patterns to high-volume centers for pancreatic cancer. J Am Coll Surg. 2009 Dec;209(6):720-726.
Glockner, S.C.; Dhir, M.; Yi, J.M.; McGarvey, K.E.; Van Neste, L.; Louwagie, J.; Chan, T.A.; Kleeberger, W.; de Bruine, A.P.; Smits, K.M.; Khalid-de Bakker, C.A.; Jonkers, D.M.; Stockbrugger, R.W.; Meijer, G.A.; Oort, F.A.; Iacobuzio-Donahue, C.; Bierau, K.; Herman, J.G.; Baylin, S.B.; Van Engeland, M.; Schuebel, K.E.; Ahuja, N. Methylation of TFPI2 in stool DNA: a potential novel biomarker for the detection of colorectal cancer. Cancer Res. 2009 Jun 1;69(11):4691-4699.
Nathan, H.; Raut, C.P.; Thornton, K.; Herman, J.M.; Ahuja, N.; Schulick, R.D.; Choti, M.A.; Pawlik, T.M. Predictors of survival after resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma: a population-based analysis and critical appraisal of the AJCC staging system. Ann Surg. 2009 Dec;250(6):970-976.
Reddy, S.; Cameron, J.L.; Scudiere, J.; Hruban, R.H.; Fishman, E.K.; Ahuja, N.; Pawlik, T.M.; Edil, B.H.; Schulick, R.D.; Wolfgang, C.L. Surgical management of solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas (Franz or Hamoudi tumors): a large single-institutional series. J Am Coll Surg. 2009 May;208(5):950-957; discussion 957-959.
Angster, K.; Shridharani, S.M.; Rad, A.N.; Ahuja, N.; Rosson, G.D. Intraabdominal tissue expanders to prevent radiation enteritis: preliminary report. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Apr;125(4):177e-179e
Dhir, M.; Yachida, S.; Van Neste, L.; Glockner, S.C.; Jeschke, J.; Pappou, E.P.; Montgomery, E.A.; Herman, J.G.; Baylin, S.B.; Iacobuzio-Donahue, C.; Ahuja, N. Sessile serrated adenomas and classical adenomas: An epigenetic perspective on premalignant neoplastic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Int J Cancer. 2010 Dec 10.
Downing, S.; Ahuja, N.; Oyetunji, T.A.; Chang, D.; Frederick, W.A. Disparity in limb-salvage surgery among sarcoma patients. Am J Surg. 2010 Apr;199(4):549-553.
Downing, S.R.; Datoo, G.; Oyetunji, T.A.; Fullum, T.; Chang, D.C.; Ahuja, N. Asian race/ethnicity as a risk factor for bile duct injury during cholecystectomy. Arch Surg. 2010 Aug;145(8):785-787.
Hayanga, A.J.; Mukherjee, D.; Chang, D.; Kaiser, H.; Lee, T.; Gearhart, S.; Ahuja, N.; Freischlag, J. Teaching hospital status and operative mortality in the United States: tipping point in the volume-outcome relationship following colon resections? Arch Surg. 2010 Apr;145(4):346-350
Poultsides, G.A.; Reddy, S.; Cameron, J.L.; Hruban, R.H.; Pawlik, T.M.; Ahuja, N.; Jain, A.; Edil, B.H.; Iacobuzio-Donahue, C.A.; Schulick, R.D.; Wolfgang, C.L. Histopathologic basis for the favorable survival after resection of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm-associated invasive adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Ann Surg. 2010 Mar;251(3):470-476.
Stojadinovic, A.; Ahuja, N.; Nazarian, S.M.; Segev, D.L.; Jacobs, L.; Wang, Y.; Eberhardt, J.; Zeiger, M.A. Translational research in surgical disease. Arch Surg. 2010 Feb;145(2):187-196.
van Vlodrop, I.J.; Baldewijns, M.M.; Smits, K.M.; Schouten, L.J.; van Neste, L.; van Criekinge, W.; van Poppel, H.; Lerut, E.; Schuebel, K.E.; Ahuja, N.; Herman, J.G.; de Bruine, A.P.; van Engeland, M. Prognostic significance of Gremlin1 (GREM1) promoter CpG island hypermethylation in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Am J Pathol. 2010 Feb;176(2):575-584.
Dr. Ahuja''s research is focused on the role of DNA methylation in tumorigenesis and exploring the translational potential of these methylation changes. Current studies in the laboratory include the development of biomarkers for early detection of cancer and to predict recurrence in breast and colorectal cancers. Her laboratory has recently shown that DNA methylation changes can be used in stool DNA as a very sensitive and specific marker for early detection of colorectal cancer. The laboratory is currently focused on the development of markers for early detection of cancer using serum. In addition, the laboratory has an interest in studying inflammatory bowel disease associated cancers and has a large tissue bank in collaboration with the surgical specialists who treat these conditions. The laboratory is developing epigenetic therapies for gastrointestinal malignancies and has an ongoing Phase 2 trial in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancers. Dr. Ahuja''s laboratory works in close collaborations with Drs. Stephen Baylin and James Herman in the Division of Tumor Biology in the Cancer Center as a multidisciplinary team.
Journal Citations
Pawlik, T.M.; Ahuja, N.; Herman, J.M. The role of radiation in retroperitoneal sarcomas: a surgical perspective. Curr Opin Oncol. 2007 Jul;19(4):359-366.
Riojas, M.A.; Guo, M.; Glockner, S.C.; Machida, E.O.; Baylin, S.B.; Ahuja, N. Methylation-Induced Silencing of ASC/TMS1, a Pro-Apoptotic Gene, is a Late-Stage Event in Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Biol Ther. 2007 Aug 3;6(11):1710-1716.
Schuebel, K.E.; Chen, W.; Cope, L.; Glockner, S.C.; Suzuki, H.; Yi, J.M.; Chan, T.A.; Van Neste, L.; Van Criekinge, W.; van den Bosch, S.; van Engeland, M.; Ting, A.H.; Jair, K.; Yu, W.; Toyota, M.; Imai, K.; Ahuja, N.; Herman, J.G.; Baylin, S.B. Comparing the DNA hypermethylome with gene mutations in human colorectal cancer. PLoS Genet. 2007 Sep;3(9):1709-1723.
Chan, T.A.; Glockner, S.; Yi, J.M.; Chen, W.; Van Neste, L.; Cope, L.; Herman, J.G.; Velculescu, V.; Schuebel, K.E.; Ahuja, N.; Baylin, S.B. Convergence of mutation and epigenetic alterations identifies common genes in cancer that predict for poor prognosis. PLoS Med. 2008 May 27;5(5):e114.
Dhir, M.; Montgomery, E.A.; Glockner, S.C.; Schuebel, K.E.; Hooker, C.M.; Herman, J.G.; Baylin, S.B.; Gearhart, S.L.; Ahuja, N. Epigenetic regulation of WNT signaling pathway genes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) associated neoplasia. J Gastrointest Surg. 2008 Oct;12(10):1745-1753.
Duffield, A.S.; Jarrar, P.; Shum, C.; Ahuja, N.; Yeo, C.J.; Sokoll, L.J. Retroperitoneal masses with associated human chorionic gonadotropin production: Report of two cases. Clin Chim Acta. 2008 Sep;395(1-2):166-169.
Hueman, M.T.; Ahuja, N. Soft tissue sarcomas. Preface. Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;88(3):xiii-xvii.
Hueman, M.T.; Herman, J.M.; Ahuja, N. Management of retroperitoneal sarcomas. Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;88(3):583-597, vii.
Hueman, M.T.; Thornton, K.; Herman, J.M.; Ahuja, N. Management of extremity soft tissue sarcomas. Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;88(3):539-557, vi.
Jain, A.; Haisfield-Wolfe, M.E.; Lange, J.; Ahuja, N.; Khouri, N.; Tsangaris, T.; Zhang, Z.; Balch, C.; Jacobs, L.K. The role of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of axillary nodes in the staging of breast cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Feb;15(2):462-471.
Meguid, R.A.; Ahuja, N.; Chang, D.C. What constitutes a "high-volume" hospital for pancreatic resection? J Am Coll Surg. 2008 Apr;206(4):622 e621-629.
Meguid, R.A.; Slidell, M.B.; Wolfgang, C.L.; Chang, D.C.; Ahuja, N. Is there a difference in survival between right- versus left-sided colon cancers? Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Sep;15(9):2388-2394.
Reddy, S.; Edil, B.H.; Cameron, J.L.; Pawlik, T.M.; Herman, J.M.; Gilson, M.M.; Campbell, K.A.; Schulick, R.D.; Ahuja, N.; Wolfgang, C.L. Pancreatic resection of isolated metastases from nonpancreatic primary cancers. Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Nov;15(11):3199-3206.
Rosson, G.D.; Singh, N.K.; Ahuja, N.; Jacobs, L.K.; Chang, D.C. Multilevel analysis of the impact of community vs patient factors on access to immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy in Maryland. Arch Surg. 2008 Nov;143(11):1076-1081; discusion 1081.
Yi, J.M.; Tsai, H.C.; Glockner, S.C.; Lin, S.; Ohm, J.E.; Easwaran, H.; James, C.D.; Costello, J.F.; Riggins, G.; Eberhart, C.G.; Laterra, J.; Vescovi, A.L.; Ahuja, N.; Herman, J.G.; Schuebel, K.E.; Baylin, S.B. Abnormal DNA methylation of CD133 in colorectal and glioblastoma tumors. Cancer Res. 2008 Oct 1;68(19):8094-8103.
Zhang, W.; Glockner, S.C.; Guo, M.; Machida, E.O.; Wang, D.H.; Easwaran, H.; Van Neste, L.; Herman, J.G.; Schuebel, K.E.; Watkins, D.N.; Ahuja, N.; Baylin, S.B. Epigenetic inactivation of the canonical Wnt antagonist SRY-box containing gene 17 in colorectal cancer. Cancer Res. 2008 Apr 15;68(8):2764-2772.
Chang, D.C.; Zhang, Y.; Mukherjee, D.; Wolfgang, C.L.; Schulick, R.D.; Cameron, J.L.; Ahuja, N. Variations in referral patterns to high-volume centers for pancreatic cancer. J Am Coll Surg. 2009 Dec;209(6):720-726.
Glockner, S.C.; Dhir, M.; Yi, J.M.; McGarvey, K.E.; Van Neste, L.; Louwagie, J.; Chan, T.A.; Kleeberger, W.; de Bruine, A.P.; Smits, K.M.; Khalid-de Bakker, C.A.; Jonkers, D.M.; Stockbrugger, R.W.; Meijer, G.A.; Oort, F.A.; Iacobuzio-Donahue, C.; Bierau, K.; Herman, J.G.; Baylin, S.B.; Van Engeland, M.; Schuebel, K.E.; Ahuja, N. Methylation of TFPI2 in stool DNA: a potential novel biomarker for the detection of colorectal cancer. Cancer Res. 2009 Jun 1;69(11):4691-4699.
Nathan, H.; Raut, C.P.; Thornton, K.; Herman, J.M.; Ahuja, N.; Schulick, R.D.; Choti, M.A.; Pawlik, T.M. Predictors of survival after resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma: a population-based analysis and critical appraisal of the AJCC staging system. Ann Surg. 2009 Dec;250(6):970-976.
Reddy, S.; Cameron, J.L.; Scudiere, J.; Hruban, R.H.; Fishman, E.K.; Ahuja, N.; Pawlik, T.M.; Edil, B.H.; Schulick, R.D.; Wolfgang, C.L. Surgical management of solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas (Franz or Hamoudi tumors): a large single-institutional series. J Am Coll Surg. 2009 May;208(5):950-957; discussion 957-959.
Angster, K.; Shridharani, S.M.; Rad, A.N.; Ahuja, N.; Rosson, G.D. Intraabdominal tissue expanders to prevent radiation enteritis: preliminary report. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Apr;125(4):177e-179e
Dhir, M.; Yachida, S.; Van Neste, L.; Glockner, S.C.; Jeschke, J.; Pappou, E.P.; Montgomery, E.A.; Herman, J.G.; Baylin, S.B.; Iacobuzio-Donahue, C.; Ahuja, N. Sessile serrated adenomas and classical adenomas: An epigenetic perspective on premalignant neoplastic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Int J Cancer. 2010 Dec 10.
Downing, S.; Ahuja, N.; Oyetunji, T.A.; Chang, D.; Frederick, W.A. Disparity in limb-salvage surgery among sarcoma patients. Am J Surg. 2010 Apr;199(4):549-553.
Downing, S.R.; Datoo, G.; Oyetunji, T.A.; Fullum, T.; Chang, D.C.; Ahuja, N. Asian race/ethnicity as a risk factor for bile duct injury during cholecystectomy. Arch Surg. 2010 Aug;145(8):785-787.
Hayanga, A.J.; Mukherjee, D.; Chang, D.; Kaiser, H.; Lee, T.; Gearhart, S.; Ahuja, N.; Freischlag, J. Teaching hospital status and operative mortality in the United States: tipping point in the volume-outcome relationship following colon resections? Arch Surg. 2010 Apr;145(4):346-350
Poultsides, G.A.; Reddy, S.; Cameron, J.L.; Hruban, R.H.; Pawlik, T.M.; Ahuja, N.; Jain, A.; Edil, B.H.; Iacobuzio-Donahue, C.A.; Schulick, R.D.; Wolfgang, C.L. Histopathologic basis for the favorable survival after resection of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm-associated invasive adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Ann Surg. 2010 Mar;251(3):470-476.
Stojadinovic, A.; Ahuja, N.; Nazarian, S.M.; Segev, D.L.; Jacobs, L.; Wang, Y.; Eberhardt, J.; Zeiger, M.A. Translational research in surgical disease. Arch Surg. 2010 Feb;145(2):187-196.
van Vlodrop, I.J.; Baldewijns, M.M.; Smits, K.M.; Schouten, L.J.; van Neste, L.; van Criekinge, W.; van Poppel, H.; Lerut, E.; Schuebel, K.E.; Ahuja, N.; Herman, J.G.; de Bruine, A.P.; van Engeland, M. Prognostic significance of Gremlin1 (GREM1) promoter CpG island hypermethylation in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Am J Pathol. 2010 Feb;176(2):575-584.
Research Interests
- Prognostic molecular markers in early detection and prognosis of cancers
- Early detection of cancers using novel biomarkers
- Identification of molecular profiles for recurrence of early-stage colorectal cancers
- Epigenetic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer
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