Cancer Associated Thrombosis | Dr. Gerald Soff

Gerald A. Soff, MD
Chief, Classical Hematology Service
University of Miami Health System/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

My career focus has been on the complex interrelationship and interactions of blood vessels, the constituents of the blood coagulation system, and cancer.  Beyond simply studying why patients with cancer are prone to thrombosis, I have studied how cancers utilize the coagulation system to enhance primary and metastatic growth.  I have conducted numerous clinical and translational studies in this area.

As Chief of the Classical Hematology Service at University of Miami Health System/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, my focus has been on the clinical and translational sciences of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia cancer.  I have published a number of practice-changing studies on Cancer-Associated Thrombosis (CAT) and Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia (CIT).  I have studied and reported on the safety and efficacy of the new Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC) rivaroxaban as an anticoagulant in cancer patients.  We have validated an anticoagulation dosing algorithm when cancer patients have both CAT and thrombocytopenia, and we have published on safe and effective use of pre-operative anticoagulation to reduce the risk of perioperative thrombosis.

My current research focus is to identify and characterize biomarkers of coagulation, platelet activation, and vascular injury that may elucidate the pathways that cancers coopt to facilitate primary and metastatic growth, which may provide key clinical benefit as prognostic markers, and possibly serve as novel targets for cancer-directed therapy.

Lastly, education has always been a major focus of my academic career.  I have mentored many students, residents, and fellows.  In particular, I am most proud of the number of past trainees who have gone on to productive careers in hematology.  I have been co-director of the MSKCC fellowship program, with specific responsibility for teaching hematology.  In this capacity, I have established a year-long course in benign hematology, which has now been developed into an international program (www.hematologyeducationonline.com).  This course, which covers the full curriculum of benign hematology, is being shared with fellows internationally, all for no charge.

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Dr. Soff’s objectives:

• • Explain the mechanisms of increased risk of thrombosis in cancer patients
  • Analyze the relationship of cancer type and thrombosis risk
  • Illustrate the choice of appropriate anticoagulant in cancer, as it relates to comorbidities

FACULTY DISCLOSURE:

Dr. Soff has indicated that he has the following financial relationships with commercial interests:

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Planning Committee Disclosure

Dr. Lekakis has indicated that he has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Target Audience

Faculty, Primary Care Physicians, APRNs, PharmD

Accreditation

The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.