Affiliations/other offices held: University of Minnesota, University of Illinois at Chicago

Joined the Institute: 2016

Education and training: MD, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland; internal medicine residency, Pinnacle Health Hospitals, Harrisburg, PA; fellowship in hematology and oncology, University of Minnesota.

Overview/research interests: Dr. Dudek has been published more than 100 times in peer-reviewed medical journals for his work in lung cancer, melanoma and kidney cancer. In addition, he has written several editorials and book chapters on topics such as tumor biology and targeted cancer therapies. He serves as a research and clinical mentor to graduate students, junior faculty and clinicians.

Dr. Dudek discovered his calling to become a medical oncologist very early in medical school. He found cancer to be one of the most challenging human diseases, requiring the physician to have broad knowledge of all other medical disciplines and an understanding of cellular and molecular biology. The need for development of better therapies for cancer has led Dr. Dudek to look for novel cancer therapeutics and provide them to his patients who participate in cancer clinical trials in the early-phase clinical trials program at Regions Hospital.

Research activities and funding:

Phase Ib and Phase II Studies of anti-PD-1 Antibody MK-3475 in Combination with Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium BTCRC-GU14-003.

Source: Investigator Initiated Trial, supported by Merck.

Role: Principal Investigator          06/30/2017-06/29/2020

Phase II Study of Nivolumab and Ramucirumab for Patients with Previously-Treated Mesothelioma: HCRN LUN15-299

Source: Investigator Initiated Trial, supported by Eli Lilly and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Role: Study Chair  10/30/2018-06/29/2021

The primary objective is to evaluate activity of nivolumab immunotherapy in combination with antiangiogenic therapy in patients with unresectable malignant mesothelioma progressing after first line therapy.

A Phase 1/2 Trial of X4P-001 as Single Agent and in Combination with Axitinib in Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Source: X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Role: Site Principal Investigator  06/30/2017-06/29/2020

The primary objective is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of escalating dose levels of X4P-001, both in combination with axitinib and as single agent, in patients with advanced clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC).

Anti-programmed Death – Ligand 1 Antibody, MEDI4736, in Combination with Chemotherapy for the First Line Treatment of Unresectable Mesothelioma

Source: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP

Role: Site Principal Investigator  05/01/2017-05/01/2027

This is a clinical trial for patients with mesothelioma. Patients with pleural mesothelioma that cannot be surgically removed will receive durvalumab, in combination with standard chemotherapy as first-line treatment.

A Phase 3 Study of Androgen Annihilation in High-Risk Biochemically Relapsed Prostate Cancer

Source: Alliance Foundation Trials, LLC (AFT)

Role: Site Principal Investigator  03/04/01/2017-04/01/2027

This randomized trial provides dentists with simulated patients posing evidence-based challenges of effective treatment and build in treatment-specific decision support. We will assign HealthPartners dentists into a usual-care and simulation group and measure their treatment-planning patterns after the simulation group is exposed to evidence-based simulations and feedback support. We expect to find that the dentists exposed to the simulation encounters will exhibit practice patterns more congruent with successful patterns practiced in the simulation. While conducting this project, we will also plan the distribution of the simulation tool to the broader dental community.

An Open-label, Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter, Phase II Study Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Intratumorally Administered Intuvax Pre-Nephrectomy Followed by Sunitinib Post-Nephrectomy, Compared to Sunitinib Post-Nephrectomy in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients

Source: Immunicum AB

Role: Site Principal Investigator  12/21/2016-06/01/2019

The company sponsoring this study, Immunicum AB, has developed an investigational vaccine called Intuvax that is injected directly into the kidney tumor. This vaccine consists of a type of white blood cells from healthy blood donors that have been pre-activated. It is hoped that by injecting these cells into a kidney tumor, a natural strong tumor and patient specific immune system response will start in order to fight the specific renal cancer cells throughout the kidney. This response may slow the progression of the renal cancer.

A Phase 1b/2 Study of ARRY-382 in Combination with Pembrolizumab, a Programmed Cell Death Receptor 1 (PD-1) Antibody, for the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

Source: Array BioPharma, Inc.

Role: Site Principal Investigator  09/01/2016-08/31/2018

The purpose of this study is to see how safe ARRY-382 (the study drug) is when given at different doses in combination with pembrolizumab (a drug for treatment of certain types of cancer) and to find the highest dose that can be given without causing unacceptable side effects.

Completed Research Support (within the last 3 years)

Phase I Study of Aurora A Kinase Inhibitor Alisertib (MLN8237) Given in Combination with Selective VEGFR Inhibitor Pazopanib (Votrient) for Therapy of Solid Tumors

Source: Millennium

Role: Site Principal Investigator  05/01/2013-05/31/2016