Manish K. Aghi MD, PhD

Professor in Residence of Neurological Surgery

Principal Investigator, BTRC

Maydan Family Endowed Faculty

Attending Neurosurgeon, California Center for Pituitary Disorders

Co-Director, Center for Minimally Invasive Skull Base Surgery

Faculty Member, UCSF Graduate Division in Biomedical Sciences

 

Dr. Aghi is a neurosurgeon-scientist specializing in adult brain tumors, including pituitary tumors, gliomas, chorodomas, and meningiomas. Dr. Aghi leads a large nationwide clinical reserach team that has published several dozen award winning publications on the resection of pituitary tumors and tumors of the anterior skull base through an endoscopic endonasal approach, and is currently leading a Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) taskforce to formulate national guidelines for the neurosurgical management of pituitary tumors.  Dr. Aghi's work on glioblastoma spans from the bench to the operating room. Dr. Aghi leads a scientific laboratory studying how the tumor microenviornment contributes to therapeutic resistance in glioblastoma.  The Aghi lab has been awarded an R01 researach grant from the NIH and large grants from the American Cancer Society and James McDonnell foundation. Read about Dr. Aghi's basic science research laboratory in the UCSF Brain Tumor Research Center (BTRC) here. These laboratory efforts synergize with Dr. Aghi's neurosurgical care of glioblastoma patients, which uses intraoperative mapping of brain function and 5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) to optimize tumor resection.  Dr. Aghi is also principal investigator of a phase I clinical trial studying convection-enhanced delivery of a replicating retrovirus for recurrent glioblastoma, a gene therapy strategy featured on ABC News.

Education, Training, and Previous Positions

1993: BS, MS, Stanford University

2000: MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School

2000-2007: Residency, Neurological Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital

2007: Instructor, Department of Neurological Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School

2008-2012: Assistant Professor in Residence, Department of Neurological Surgery, UCSF
2012-present: Associate Professor in Residence, Department of Neurological Surgery, UCSF

Selected Professional Memberships and Appointments

Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO)

Pituitary Network Association (PNA)
International Society of Pituitary Surgeons (ISPS)

American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)

Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)

AANS and CNS, Joint Section for Tumors

North American Skull Base Society

American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)

Selected Honors and Awards

2004: Preuss Resident Research Award, American Association of Neurologic Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons

2005: Ronald L. Bittner Award, American Association of Neurologic Surgeons (AANS)

2005: William Scoville Resident Research Award, New England Neurosurgery meeting

2005: Congress of Neurologic Surgeons (CNS) Resident Research Award

2005: American Academy of Neurologic Surgeons Resident Research Award

2006: Mahaley Award, American Association of Neurologic Surgeons

2006: Integra Foundation Award, Congress of Neurologic Surgeons

2007: Synthes Skull Base Award, Congress of Neurologic Surgeons
2009: American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) Young Investigator Award, Congress of Neurologic Surgeons 

2011: Harold Rosegay Teaching Award, UCSF Neurological Surgery

2013: Young Investigator Award, Society for Neuro-Oncology

Selected Recent Publications

Jahangiri A, Carbonell WS, Aghi MK. Beta1 integrin: critical path to antiangiogenic therapy resistance. Cancer Research, In Press.

Jahangiri A, Potts M, Kunwar S, Blevins L, El-Sayed IH, Aghi MK. Extended endoscopic endonasal approach for suprasellar Rathke's cleft cysts. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, In Press.

Jahangiri A, Wagner J, Tran MT, Miller LM, Tom MW, Kunwar S, Blevins L Jr, Aghi MK. Factors predicting postoperative hyponatremia and efficacy of hyponatremia management strategies after more than 1000 pituitary operations [published online ahead of print August 23, 2013]. J Neurosurg. doi:10.3171/2013.7.JNS13273

Jahangiri A, Clark AJ, Han SJ, Kunwar S, Blevins LS Jr, Aghi MK. Socioeconomic factors associated with pituitary apoplexy [published online ahead of print July 26, 2013]. J Neurosurg. doi: 10.3171/2013.6.JNS122323

Jahangiri A, Wagner JR, Pekmezci M, Hiniker A, Chang EF, Kunwar S, Blevins L, Aghi MK. A comprehensive long-term retrospective analysis of silent corticotrophic adenomas vs hormone-negative adenomas. Neurosurgery 2013;73(1):8-18.

Carbonell WS, DeLay M, Jahangiri A, Park CC, Aghi MK. β1 integrin targeting potentiates antiangiogenic therapy and inhibits the growth of bevacizumab-resistant glioblastoma. Cancer Res 2013;73(10):3145-54.

Clark AJ, Jahangiri A, Garcia RM, George JR, Sughrue ME, McDermott MW, El-Sayed IH, Aghi MK. Endoscopic surgery for tuberculum sellae meningiomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosurg Rev 2013;36(3):349-59.

Jahangiri A, De Lay M, Miller LM, Carbonell WS, Hu YL, Lu K, Tom MW, Paquette J, Tokuyasu TA, Tsao S, Marshall R, Perry A, Bjorgan KM, Chaumeil MM, Ronen SM, Bergers G, Aghi MK. Gene expression profile identifies tyrosine kinase c-Met as a targetable mediator of antiangiogenic therapy resistance. Clin Cancer Res 2013;19(7):1773-83.

Lu KV, Chang JP, Parachoniak CA, Pandika MM, Aghi MK, Meyronet D, Isachenko N, Fouse SD, Phillips JJ, Cheresh DA, Park M, Bergers G. VEGF inhibits tumor cell invasion and mesenchymal transition through a MET/VEGFR2 complex. Cancer Cell 2012;22(1):21-35.

Hu YL, Jahangiri A, De Lay M, Aghi MK. Hypoxia-induced tumor cell autophagy mediates resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. Autophagy 2012;8(6):979-81.

De Lay M, Jahangiri A, Carbonell WS, Hu Y-L, Tsao S, Tom MW, Paquette J, Tokuyasu TA, Aghi MK. Microarray analysis verifies two distinct phenotypes of glioblastomas resistant to anti-angiogenic therapy. Clin Cancer Res 2012;18(10):2930-42.

Hu YL, Jahangiri A, DeLay M, Aghi MK. Tumor cell autophagy as an adaptive response mediating resistance to treatments like anti-angiogenic therapy. Cancer Res 2012;72(17):4294-9.

Clark AJ, Lamborn KR, Butowski NA, Chang SM, Prados MD, Clarke JL, McDermott MW, Parsa AT, Berger MS, Aghi MK. Neurosurgical management and prognosis of patients with glioblastoma that progress during bevacizumab treatment. Neurosurgery 2012;70:361-70.

Jahangiri A, Lamborn KR, Blevins L, Kunwar S, Aghi MK. Factors associated with delay to pituitary adenoma diagnosis in patients with visual loss. J Neurosurg 2012;116(2):283-9.

Aghi MK, Vogelbaum MA, Jost S, Heimberger AB, Sampson JH, Wen PY, Macdonald DR, Van den Bent MJ, Chang SM. Application of novel response/progression measures for surgically delivered therapies for gliomas. Neurosurgery 2012;70(1):234-43.

Hu YL, DeLay M, Rose SD, Carbonell WS, Aghi MK. Hypoxia-induced autophagy promotes tumor cell survival and adaptation to anti-angiogenic treatment in glioblastoma. Cancer Res 2012;72:1-11.

Potts MB, Jahangiri A, Lamborn KR, Blevins LS, Kunwar S, Aghi MK. Suprasellar Rathke's Cleft Cysts: Clinical presentation and treatment outcomes. Neurosurgery 2011;69:1058-69.

Kaur G, Bloch O, Jian BJ, Kaur R, Sughrue ME, Aghi MK, McDermott MW, Berger MS, Chang SM, Parsa AT. A critical evaluation of cystic features in primary glioblastoma as a prognostic factor for survival. Journal of Neurosurgery 2011;115:754-759.

Jahangiri A, Aghi MK. Biomarkers predicting tumor response and evasion to anti-angiogenic therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta 2011;1825:86-100.

Sughrue ME, Chang EF, Gabriel RA, Aghi MK, Blevins LS. Excess mortality for patients with residual disease following resection of pituitary adenomas. Pituitary 2011;14(3):276-83.

Rose SD, Aghi MK. Mechanisms of evasion to antiangiogenic therapy in glioblastoma. Clin Neurosurg 2010;57:123-8.

Clark AJ, Butowski NA, Chang SM, Prados MD, Clarke J, Polley MY, Sughrue ME, McDermott MW, Parsa AT, Berger MS, Aghi MK. Impact of bevacizumab chemotherapy on craniotomy wound healing. J Neurosurg 2011;114(6):1609-16.

Oh MC, Aghi MK. Dopamine agonist-resistant prolactinomas. J Neurosurg 2011;114(5):1369-79.

Tate MC, Jahangiri A, Blevins L, Kunwar S, Aghi MK. Infected Rathke cleft cysts: distinguishing factors and factors predicting recurrence. Neurosurgery 2010;67(3):762-9.

Sughrue ME, Aghi MK. Reconstruction of dural defects of the endonasal skull base. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2010;21(4):637-41, vi.

Yang I, Aghi MK. New advances that enable identification of glioblastoma recurrence. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2009;6(11):648-57.

Tate MC, Aghi MK.  Biology of angiogenesis and invasion in glioma.  Neurotherapeutics 2009; 6: 447-457.

Aghi MK, Blevins LS Jr.  Recent advances in the treatment of acromegaly.  Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2009; 16: 304-307.

Aghi MK, Batchelor TT, Louis DN, Barker FG, Curry WT.  Decreased rate of infection in glioblastoma patients with allelic loss of chromosome 10q.  Journal of Neuro-oncology 2009; 93: 115-120. 

Aghi MK, Petit J, Chapman P, Loeffler J, Klibanski A, Biller BMK, Swearingen B.  Management of recurrent and refractory Cushing's disease with reoperation and/or proton beam radiosurgery.  Clin Neurosurg 2009; 55: 141-144.

Aghi MK, Carter BS, Cosgrove GR, Ojemann RS, Amin-Hanjani S, Martuza RL, Curry WT, Barker FG.  Long-term recurrence rates of atypical meningiomas after gross total resection without or with postoperative adjuvant radiation.  Neurosurgery 2009; 64: 56-60.

Aghi MK, Chiocca EA.  Phase Ib trial of oncolytic herpes virus G207 shows safety of multiple injections and documents viral replication.  Mol Ther 2009; 17: 8-9. 

Aghi MK, Liu TC, Rabkin S, Martuza RL. Hypoxia Enhances the Replication of Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus. Mol Ther 2008; 17: 51-56. 

Aghi MK. Management of recurrent and refractory Cushing disease. Nat Clin Pract Endocrin Metab 2008;4(10):560-8.

Aghi M, Visted T, Depinho RA, Chiocca EA.Oncolytic herpes virus with defective ICP6 specifically replicates in quiescent cells with homozygous genetic mutations in p16. Oncogene 2008;27(30):4249-54.

Aghi MK, Eskandar EN, Carter BS, Curry WT Jr, Barker FG 2nd. Increased prevalence of obesity and obesity-related postoperative complications in male meningioma patients. Clin Neurosurg 2007;54:236-40.

Aghi M, Rabkin SD, Martuza RL. Angiogenic response caused by oncolytic herpes simplex virus-induced reduced thrombospondin expression can be prevented by specific viral mutations or by administering a thrombospondin-derived peptide. Cancer Res 2007;67(2):440-4.

Aghi M, Rabkin S, Martuza RL. Effect of chemotherapy-induced DNA repair on oncolytic herpes simplex viral replication.J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98(1):38-50.
 
Aghi M, Cohen KS, Klein RJ, Scadden DT, Chiocca EA. Tumor stromal-derived factor-1 recruits vascular progenitors to mitotic neovasculature, where microenvironment influences their differentiated phenotypes. Cancer Res 2006;66(18):9054-64.
 
Aghi M, Kluwe L, Webster MT, Jacoby LB, Barker FG 2nd, Ojemann RG, Mautner VF, MacCollin M. Unilateral vestibular schwannoma with other NF2-related tumors: clinical and molecular study of a unique phenotype.  J Neurosurg 2006;104(2):201-7.
 
Aghi M, Chiocca EA. Gene therapy for glioblastoma. Neurosurg Focus 2006;20(4):E18.
 
Aghi M, Barker FG 2nd. Benign adult brain tumors: an evidence-based medicine review. Prog Neurol Surg 2006;19:80-96.
 
Aghi M, Kiehl TR, Brisman JL. Breast adenocarcinoma metastatic to epidural cervical spine meningioma: case report and review of the literature [Review]. J Neurooncol 2005;75(2):149-55.
 
Aghi M, Gaviani P, Henson JW, Batchelor TT, Louis DN, Barker FG 2nd. Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics predict epidermal growth factor receptor amplification status in glioblastoma. Clin Cancer Res 2005;11(24 Pt 1):8600-5.
 
Aghi M, Chiocca EA. Contribution of bone marrow-derived cells to blood vessels in ischemic tissues and tumors. Mol Ther 2005;12(6):994-1005.
 
Aghi M, Martuza RL. Oncolytic viral therapies - the clinical experience. Oncogene 2005;24(52):7802-16.
   
Aghi M, Chou TC, Suling K, Breakefield XO, Chiocca EA. Multimodal cancer treatment mediated by a replicating oncolytic virus that delivers the oxazaphosphorine/rat cytochrome P450 2B1 and ganciclovir/herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene therapies. Cancer Res 1999;59(16):3861-5.
 
Aghi M, Kramm CM, Breakefield XO. Folylpolyglutamyl synthetase gene transfer and glioma antifolate sensitivity in culture and in vivo. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999;91(14):1233-41.
 
Aghi M, Kramm CM, Chou TC, Breakefield XO, Chiocca EA. Synergistic anticancer effects of ganciclovir/thymidine kinase and 5-fluorocytosine/cytosine deaminase gene therapies. J Natl Cancer Inst 1998;90(5):370-80.