Nicholas Butowski MD
Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery
Director of Clinical Services, Division of Neuro-Oncology
Principal Investigator, Brain Tumor Research Center
Dr. Butowski specializes in novel therapeutic approaches to brain tumors, clinical trials, neuro-imaging, cognitive and rehabilitative neurology, medical education, and complementary therapy. His ultimate research goal is to develop novel and effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of patients with primary brain tumors. The most direct research application is the design and conduct of phase I, II, and III clinical trials, and Dr. Butowski is a co-investigator of National Cancer Institute-supported North American Brain Tumor Consortium clinical trials. As a member of the Brain Tumor Research Center at UCSF, his research goals have expanded to include the evaluation of novel imaging techniques and molecular profiling methods that may influence the selection of patients for treatment. His research interests also include methods and/or treatments to ensure good quality of life for patients with brain tumors and methods and/or treatments that may assist patients in recovering from or coping with brain injury. The majority of his clinical activities involve the assessment and management of adult patients with brain tumors.
Education, Training, and Previous Positions
- 1995: BA, Northwestern University
1999: MD, University of Illinois at Chicago
1999-2000: Surgical Intern, Evanston-Northwestern Hospital
2000-2003: Resident, Department of Neurology, UCSF
2003-2004: Neuro-Oncology Fellow, Department of Neurological Surgery, UCSF
2004: Clinical Instructor, Neurological Surgery, UCSF
Selected Professional Memberships and Appointments
- American Academy of Neurology
Society for Neuro-Oncology
American Society of Clinical Oncology
International Society of Neuro-Oncology
Selected Recent Publications
Chang EF, Smith JS, Chang SM, Lamborn KR, Prados MD, Butowski N, Barbaro NM, Parsa AT, Berger MS, McDermott MM. Preoperative prognostic classification system for hemispheric low-grade gliomas in adults. J Neurosurg 2008;109(5):817-24.
Butowski N, Lamborn KR, Lee BL, Prados MD, Cloughesy T, Deangelis LM, Abrey L, Fink K, Lieberman F, Mehta M, Ian Robins H, Junck L, Salazar AM, Chang SM. A North American brain tumor consortium phase II study of poly-ICLC for adult patients with recurrent anaplastic gliomas. Neurooncol 2009;91(2):183-9.
Butowski N, Chang SM, Junck L, Deangelis LM, Abrey L, Fink K, Cloughesy T, Lamborn KR, Salazar AM, Prados MD. A phase II clinical trial of poly-ICLC with radiation for adult patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastoma: a North American Brain Tumor Consortium (NABTC01-05). J Neurooncol 2009;91(2):175-82.
Liu R, Solheim K, Polley MY, Lamborn KR, Page M, Fedoroff A, Rabbitt J, Butowski N, Prados M, Chang SM. Quality of Life in Low-Grade Glioma Patients Receiving Temozolomide. Neuro Oncol 2008;[Epub ahead of print].
Aiken AH, Chang SM, Larson D, Butowski N, Cha S. Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Glioblastoma Multiforme Treated with Radiotherapy with or without Brachytherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2008;72(5):1340-6.
Butowski N, Lamborn KR, Berger MS, Prados MD, Chang SM. Historical controls for phase II surgically based trials requiring gross total resection of glioblastoma multiforme. J Neurooncol 2007;85(1):87-94.
Robins HI, Chang S, Butowski N, Mehta M. Therapeutic advances for glioblastoma multiforme: current status and future prospects [Review]. Curr Oncol Rep 2007;9(1):66-70.
Butowski NA, Chang SM. Glial tumors: the current state of scientific knowledge [Review]. Clin Neurosurg 2006;53:106-13.
Butowski NA, Sneed PK, Chang SM. Diagnosis and treatment of recurrent high-grade astrocytoma. J Clin Oncol 2006;24(8):1273-80.
Prados MD, Lamborn KR, Chang S, Burton E, Butowski N, Malec M, Kapadia A, Rabbitt J, Page MS, Fedoroff A, Xie D, Kelley SK. Phase 1 study of erlotinib HCl alone and combined with temozolomide in patients with stable or recurrent malignant glioma. Neuro-oncol 2006;8(1):67-78.
Chang SM, Butowski NA, Sneed PK, Garner IV. Standard treatment and experimental targeted drug therapy for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Neurosurg Focus 2006;20(4):E4.
Chang SM, Reynolds SL, Butowski N, Lamborn KR, Buckner JC, Kaplan RS, Bigner DD. GNOSIS: guidelines for neuro-oncology: standards for investigational studies-reporting of phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials. Neuro-oncol 2005;7(4):425-34.
Butowski N, Chang SM. Small molecule and monoclonal antibody therapies in neurooncology. Cancer Control 2005;12(2):116-24.
Butowski N, Prados MD, Lamborn KR, Larson DA, Sneed PK, Wara WM, Malec M, Rabbitt J, Page M, Chang SM. A phase II study of concurrent temozolomide and cis-retinoic acid with radiation for adult patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2005;61(5):1454-9.