Mokenge P. Malafa, MD

BOARD CERTIFICATION:
          •  Surgery

FELLOWSHIP:
          •  City of Hope National Medical Center - Surgical Oncology
          •  City of Hope National Medical Center - Surgical Oncology

RESIDENCY:
          •  Medical College of Ohio - General Surgery
          •  Medical College of Ohio, Toledo - General Surgery

MEDICAL SCHOOL:
          •  University of Wisconsin, Madison - MD

• Chuong MD, Springett GM, Freilich JM, Park CK, Weber JM, Mellon EA, Hodul PJ, Malafa MP, Meredith KL, Hoffe SE, Shridhar R. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced and Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer Is Effective and Well Tolerated. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2013 Apr. Pubmedid: 23562768.


• Zhang L, Sotomayor EM, Papenhausen PR, Shao H, Moscinski LC, Sandin RL, Caceres G, Valenica H, Malafa M, List AF, Sokol L. Unusual concurrence of T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia with Franklin disease (gamma heavy chain disease) manifested with massive splenomegaly. Leuk Lymphoma. 2013 Jan;54(1):205-208. Pubmedid: 22694793.


• Hodul PJ, Dong Y, Husain K, Pimiento JM, Chen J, Zhang A, Francois R, Pledger WJ, Coppola D, Sebti SM, Chen DT, Malafa MP. Vitamin E ?-Tocotrienol Induces p27(Kip1)-Dependent Cell-Cycle Arrest in Pancreatic Cancer Cells via an E2F-1-Dependent Mechanism. PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e52526. Pubmedid: 23393547.


• Lengacher CA, Kip KE, Barta M, Post-White J, Jacobsen P, Groer M, Lehman B, Moscoso MS, Kadel R, Le N, Loftus L, Stevens CA, Malafa MP, Shelton MM. A pilot study evaluating the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychological status, physical status, salivary cortisol, and interleukin-6 among advanced-stage cancer patients and their caregivers. J Holist Nurs. 2012 Sep;30(3):170-185. Pubmedid: 22442202.


• Helm J, Coppola D, Ganapathy V, Lloyd M, Centeno BA, Chen DT, Malafa MP, Park JY. SLC5A8 Nuclear Translocation and Loss of Expression are Associated With Poor Outcome in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Pancreas. 2012 Aug;41(6):904-909. Pubmedid: 22450368.


• Siegel EM, Jacobsen PB, Malafa M, Fulp W, Fletcher M, Lee JH, Smith JC, Brown R, Levine R, Cartwright T, Abesada-Terk G, Kim G, Alemany C, Faig D, Sharp P, Markham MJ, Shibata D. Evaluating the Quality of Colorectal Cancer Care in the State of Florida: Results From the Florida Initiative for Quality Cancer Care. J Oncol Pract. 2012 Jul;8(4):239-245. Pubmedid: 23180990. Pmcid: PMC3396822.


• Kucera S, Centeno BA, Springett G, Malafa MP, Chen YA, Weber J, Klapman J. Cyst Fluid Carcinoembryonic Antigen Level Is not Predictive of Invasive Cancer in Patients with Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas. JOP. 2012 Jul;13(4):409-413. Pubmedid: 22797397.


• Jacobsen PB, Wells KJ, Meade CD, Quinn GP, Lee JH, Fulp WJ, Gray JE, Baz RC, Springett GM, Levine RM, Markham MJ, Schreiber FJ, Cartwright TH, Burke JM, Siegel RD, Malafa MP, Sullivan D. Effects of a brief multimedia psychoeducational intervention on the attitudes and interest of patients with cancer regarding clinical trial participation: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Jul;30(20):2516-2521. Pubmedid: 22614993.


• Tempero MA, Arnoletti JP, Behrman SW, Ben-Josef E, Benson AB, Casper ES, Cohen SJ, Czito B, Ellenhorn JD, Hawkins WG, Herman J, Hoffman JP, Ko A, Komanduri S, Koong A, Ma WW, Malafa MP, Merchant NB, Mulvihill SJ, Muscarella P, Nakakura EK, Obando J, Pitman MB, Sasson AR, Tally A, Thayer SP, Whiting S, Wolff RA, Wolpin BM, Freedman-Cass DA, Shead DA. Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma, Version 2.2012: Featured Updates to the NCCN Guidelines. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2012 Jun;10(6):703-713. Pubmedid: 22679115.


• Husain K, Francois RA, Yamauchi T, Perez M, Sebti SM, Malafa MP. Vitamin E ?-tocotrienol augments the antitumor activity of gemcitabine and suppresses constitutive NF-?B activation in pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer Ther. 2011 Dec;10(12):2363-2372. Pubmedid: 21971120. Pmcid: PMC3237822.


• Almhanna K, Strosberg J, Malafa M. Targeting AKT protein kinase in gastric cancer. Anticancer Res. 2011 Dec;31(12):4387-4392. Pubmedid: 22199303.


• Tanvetyanon T, Corman M, Lee JH, Fulp WJ, Schreiber F, Brown RH, Levine RM, Cartwright TH, Abesada-Terk G, Kim GP, Alemany C, Faig D, Sharp PV, Markham MJ, Bepler G, Siegel E, Shibata D, Malafa M, Jacobsen PB. Quality of Care in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Findings From 11 Oncology Practices in Florida. J Oncol Pract. 2011 Nov;7(6):e25-e31. Pubmedid: 22379428.


• Jacobsen PB, Shibata D, Siegel EM, Lee JH, Fulp WJ, Alemany C, Abesada-Terk G, Brown R, Cartwright T, Faig D, Kim G, Levine R, Markham MJ, Schreiber F, Sharp P, Malafa M. Evaluating the quality of psychosocial care in outpatient medical oncology settings using performance indicators. Psychooncology. 2011 Nov;20(11):1221-1227. Pubmedid: 20878724.


• Patel M, Hoffe S, Malafa M, Hodul P, Klapman J, Centeno B, Kim J, Helm J, Valone T, Springett G. Neoadjuvant GTX chemotherapy and IMRT-based chemoradiation for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. J Surg Oncol. 2011 Aug;104(2):155-161. Pubmedid: 21520097. Pmcid: PMC3347705.


• Cheng A, Guo J, Henderson-Jackson E, Kim D, Malafa M, Coppola D. I?B Kinase ? expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Am J Clin Pathol. 2011 Jul;136(1):60-66. Pubmedid: 21685032.


• Chuong MD, Hayman TJ, Patel MR, Russell MS, Malafa MP, Hodul PJ, Springett GM, Choi J, Shridhar R, Hoffe SE. Comparison of 1-, 2-, and 3-Dimensional Tumor Response Assessment After Neoadjuvant GTX-RT in Borderline-Resectable Pancreatic Cancer. Gastrointest Cancer Res. 2011 Jul;4(4):128-134. Pubmedid: 22368736. Pmcid: PMC3283109.


• Gray JE, Laronga C, Siegel EM, Lee JH, Fulp WJ, Fletcher M, Schreiber F, Brown R, Levine R, Cartwright T, Abesada-Terk G, Kim G, Alemany C, Faig D, Sharp P, Markham MJ, Shibata D, Malafa M, Jacobsen PB. Degree of Variability in Performance on Breast Cancer Quality Indicators: Findings From the Florida Initiative for Quality Cancer Care. J Oncol Pract. 2011 Jul;7(4):247-251. Pubmedid: 22043190.


• Suber J, Malafa M, Smith P, Laronga C. Prosthetic breast reconstruction after implant-sparing mastectomy in patients with submuscular implants. Ann Plast Surg. 2011 May;66(5):546-550. Pubmedid: 21451381.


• Nasir A, Helm J, Turner L, Chen DT, Strosberg J, Hafez N, Henderson-Jackson EB, Hodul P, Bui MM, Nasir NA, Hakam A, Malafa MP, Yeatman TJ, Coppola D, Kvols LK. RUNX1T1: a novel predictor of liver metastasis in primary pancreatic endocrine neoplasms. Pancreas. 2011 May;40(4):627-633. Pubmedid: 21499216.


• Coppola D, Helm J, Ghayouri M, Malafa MP, Wang HG. Down-regulation of Bax-interacting factor 1 in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Pancreas. 2011 Apr;40(3):433-437. Pubmedid: 21283040. Pmcid: PMC3063470.


• Turaga KK, Malafa MP, Jacobsen PB, Schell MJ, Sarr MG. Suicide in patients with pancreatic cancer. Cancer. 2011 Feb;117(3):642-647. Pubmedid: 20824626.


• Park JY, Helm J, Coppola D, Kim D, Malafa M, Kim SJ. MicroRNAs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 2011 Feb;17(7):817-827. Pubmedid: 21412491. Pmcid: PMC3051132.


• Tempero MA, Arnoletti JP, Behrman S, Ben-Josef E, Benson AB, Berlin JD, Cameron JL, Casper ES, Cohen SJ, Duff M, Ellenhorn JD, Hawkins WG, Hoffman JP, Kuvshinoff BW, Malafa MP, Muscarella P, Nakakura EK, Sasson AR, Thayer SP, Tyler DS, Warren RS, Whiting S, Willett C, Wolff RA. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2010 Sep;8(9):972-1017. Pubmedid: 20876541. Pmcid: PMC3135380.


• Jacobsen PB, Shibata D, Siegel EM, Lee JH, Alemany CA, Brown R, Cartwright TH, Levine RM, Smith JC, Abesada-Terk G, Malafa MP. Initial evaluation of quality indicators for psychosocial care of adults with cancer. Cancer Control. 2009 Oct;16(4):328-334. Pubmedid: 19910919.


• Malafa MP, Corman MM, Shibata D, Siegel EM, Lee JH, Jacobsen PB. The Florida Initiative for Quality Cancer Care: a regional project to measure and improve cancer care. Cancer Control. 2009 Oct;16(4):318-327. Pubmedid: 19910918.


• Helm J, Centeno BA, Coppola D, Melis M, Lloyd M, Park JY, Chen DT, Malafa MP. Histologic characteristics enhance predictive value of American Joint Committee on Cancer staging in resectable pancreas cancer. Cancer. 2009 Sep;115(18):4080-4089. Pubmedid: 19626671.


• Sparano JA, Moulder S, Kazi A, Coppola D, Negassa A, Vahdat L, Li T, Pellegrino C, Fineberg S, Munster P, Malafa M, Lee D, Hoschander S, Hopkins U, Hershman D, Wright JJ, Kleer C, Merajver S, Sebti SM. Phase II trial of tipifarnib plus neoadjuvant doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide in patients with clinical stage IIB-IIIC breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Apr;15(8):2942-2948. Pubmedid: 19351752. Pmcid: PMC2785076.


• Husain K, Francois RA, Hutchinson SZ, Neuger AM, Lush R, Coppola D, Sebti S, Malafa MP. Vitamin E delta-tocotrienol levels in tumor and pancreatic tissue of mice after oral administration. Pharmacology. 2009;83(3):157-163. Pubmedid: 19142032. Pmcid: PMC2834260.


• Helm J, Centeno B, Coppola D, Druta M, Park J, Chen D, Hodul P, Kvols LK, Yeatman T, Carey L, Karl R, Malafa M. Outcomes following resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: 20-year experience at a single institution. Cancer Control. 2008 Oct;15(4):288-294. Pubmedid: 18813196.


• Klapman J, Malafa M. Early detection of pancreatic cancer: why, who, and how to screen. Cancer Control. 2008 Oct;15(4):280-287. Pubmedid: 18813195.


• Nair R, Siegel E, Chen D, Fulp W, Yeatman T, Malafa M, Marcet J, Shibata D. Long-Term Results of Transanal Excision After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for T2 and T3 Adenocarcinomas of the Rectum. J Gastrointest Surg. 2008 Oct;12(10):1797-1805. Pubmedid: 18709419.


• Malafa M. New insights and gains in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Control. 2008 Oct;15(4):276-277. Pubmedid: 18813194.


• Nair R, Barthel J, Centeno B, Choi J, Klapman J, Malafa M. Interdisciplinary management of an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas. Cancer Control. 2008 Oct;15(4):322-333. Pubmedid: 18813200.


• Farma J, Santillan A, Melis M, Walters J, Belinc D, Chen D, Eikman E, Malafa M. PET/CT Fusion Scan Enhances CT Staging in Patients with Pancreatic Neoplasms. Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Sep;15(9):2465-2471. Pubmedid: 18551347.


• Park J, Helm J, Zheng W, Ly Q, Hodul P, Centeno B, Malafa M. Silencing of the candidate tumor suppressor gene solute carrier family 5 member 8 (SLC5A8) in human pancreatic cancer. Pancreas. 2008 May;36(4):e32-e39. Pubmedid: 18437076.


• Nasir A, Gardner N, Strosberg J, Ahmad N, Choi J, Malafa M, Coppola D, Kwekkeboom D, Teunissen J, Kvols L. Multimodality management of a polyfunctional pancreatic endocrine carcinoma with markedly elevated serum vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and calcitonin levels. Pancreas. 2008 Apr;36(3):309-313. Pubmedid: 18362846.


• Husain K, Vazquez M, Ansari R, Malafa M, Lalla J. Chronic alcohol-induced oxidative endothelial injury relates to angiotensin II levels in the rat. Mol Cell Biochem. 2008 Jan;307(1-2):51-58. Pubmedid: 17721810.


• Tempero M, Alasadi R, Arnoletti J, Behrman S, Ben-Josef E, Benson AB 3rd, Bhargava P, Cameron J, Casper E, Hoffman J, Kim P, Koh W, Kuvshinoff B, Malafa M, Muscarella P 2nd, Nakakura E, Sasson A, Shibata S, Shrieve D, Talamonti M, Tyler D, Wang H, Warren R, Willett C, Wolff R. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2007 Nov;5(10):998-1033. Pubmedid: 18053426.


• Sagatys E, Garrett CR, Boulware D, Kelley S, Malafa M, Cheng JQ, Sebti S, Coppola D. Activation of the serine/threonine protein kinase Akt during the progression of Barrett neoplasia. Hum Pathol. 2007 Oct;38(10):1526-1531. Pubmedid: 17640711.


• Saglam O, Garrett CR, Boulware D, Sayegh Z, Shibata D, Malafa M, Yeatman T, Cheng JQ, Sebti S, Coppola D. Activation of the serine/threonine protein kinase AKT during the progression of colorectal neoplasia. Clin Colorectal Cancer. 2007 Sep;6(9):652-656. Pubmedid: 17945038.


• Jacobsen PB, Shibata D, Siegel EM, Druta M, Lee JH, Marshburn J, Davenport L, Cruse H, Levine R, Gondi A, Brown R, Malafa M. Measuring quality of care in the treatment of colorectal cancer: the moffitt quality practice initiative. J Oncol Pract. 2007 Mar;3(2):60-65. Pubmedid: 20859375.


• Jensen E, Kvols L, McLoughlin J, Lewis J, Alvarado M, Yeatman T, Malafa M, Shibata D. Biomarkers Predict Outcomes Following Cytoreductive Surgery for Hepatic Metastases from Functional Carcinoid Tumors. Ann Surg Oncol. 2007 Feb;14(2):780-785. Pubmedid: 17146740.


• Jacobsen P, Shibata D, Siegel E, Mihaela D, Lee J, Marshburn J, Davenport J, Cruse H, Richard L, Gondi A, Brown R, Malafa M. Measuring quality of care in the treatment of colorectal cancer: The Moffitt Quality Pracice Initiative. J Oncol Manag. 2007;3:60-65.


• Kumar N, Shibata D, Helm J, Coppola D, Malafa M. Green tea polyphenols in the prevention of colon cancer. Front Biosci. 2007;12:2309-2315. Pubmedid: 17127241.


• Sparano J, Moulder S, Kazi A, Vahdat L, Li T, Pellegrino C, Munster P, Malafa M, Lee D, Hoschander S, Hopkins U, Hershman D, Wright J, Sebti S. Targeted inhibition of farnesyltransferase in locally advanced breast cancer: a phase I and II trial of tipifarnib plus dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Jul;24(19):3013-3018. Pubmedid: 16769985.


• Malafa M, Fokum F, Andoh J, Neitzel L, Bandyopadhyay S, Zhan R, IiizumiM, Furuta E, Horvath E, Watabe K. Vitamin E succinate suppresses prostate tumor growth by inducing apoptosis. Int J Cancer. 2006 May;118(10):2441-2447. Pubmedid: 16380976.


• Osborne D, Zervos E, Strosberg J, Boe B, Malafa M, Rosemurgy A, Yeatman TJ, Carey L, Duhaine L, Kvols L. Improved outcome with cytoreduction versus embolization for symptomatic hepatic metastases of carcinoid and neuroendocrine tumors. Ann Surg Oncol. 2006 Apr;13(4):572-581. Pubmedid: 16511671.


• Donapaty S, Louis S, Horvath E, Kun J, Sebti SM, Malafa MP. RRR-alpha-tocopherol succinate down-regulates oncogenic Ras signaling. Mol Cancer Ther. 2006 Feb;5(2):309-316. Pubmedid: 16505104.


• Nasir A, Stridsberg M, Strosberg J, Su P, Livingston S, Malik H, Kelley ST, Centeno B, Coppola D, Malafa M, Yeatman T, Kvols L. Somatostatin receptor profiling in hepatic metastases from small intestinal and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: immunohistochemical approach with potential clinical utility. Cancer Control. 2006 Jan;13(1):52-60. Pubmedid: 16508627.


• McLoughlin J, Jensen E, Malafa M. Resection of colorectal liver metastases: current perspectives. Cancer Control. 2006 Jan;13(1):32-41. Pubmedid: 16508624.


• Hodul P, Malafa M, Choi J, Kvols L. The role of cytoreductive hepatic surgery as an adjunct to the management of metastatic neuroendocrine carcinomas. Cancer Control. 2006 Jan;13(1):61-71. Pubmedid: 16508628.


• Malafa M. Liver metastases: enhancing outcomes in 2006. Cancer Control. 2006;13:4-4. Pubmedid: 16508620.


• Ellis R, Seifert P, Neal C, Pavolka K, Mann J, Malafa M, WichtermanKA, Ross D, Dunnington G. Periareolar injection for localization of sentinel nodes in breast cancer patients. Breast J. 2004;10(2):94-100. Pubmedid: 15009034.


• Malafa MP, Fokum FD, Smith L, Louis A. Inhibition of angiogenesis and promotion of melanoma dormancy by vitamin E succinate. Ann Surg Oncol. 2002 Dec;9(10):1023-1032. Pubmedid: 12464597.


• Malafa M, Fokum F, Mowlavi A, Abusief M, King M. Vitamin E inhibits melanoma growth in mice. Surgery. 2002;131(1):85-91. Pubmedid: 11812968.


• Barnett K, Fokum F, Malafa M. Vitamin E succinate inhibits colon cancer liver metastases. J Surg Res. 2002;106(2):292-298. Pubmedid: 12175981.


• Mowlavi A, Malafa MP. Angiogenesis in primary tumor cells of metastatic and nonmetastatic malignant melanoma. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000 Aug;106(2):514. Pubmedid: 10946963.


• Husain K, Centeno BA, Chen DT, Fulp WJ, Perez M, Zhang Lee G, Luetteke N, Hingorani SR, Sebti SM, Malafa MP. Prolonged survival and delayed progression of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in LSL-KrasG12D/+;Pdx-1-Cre mice by vitamin E ?-tocotrienol. Carcinogenesis. 2013 Apr;34(4):858-863. Pubmedid: 23302291.

Dr. Mokenge Malafa is department chair and program leader, Gastrointestinal Oncology, and head of the section of Hepatopancreatobiliary Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center.  He is an associate professor in the Department of Oncologic Sciences at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
Dr. Malafa’s research interest focuses on pancreatic cancer, in particular the discovery, identification and characterization of the role of bioactive vitamin E compounds in regulating biological processes in cancer cells.
Dr. Malafa received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin Medical School and completed his surgery residency at Medical College of Ohio where he was chief resident his last year.  He pursued additional training through a research fellowship in surgical oncology, followed by a clinical fellowship in surgical oncology at City of Hope National Medical Center, Beckman Research Institute in California.
Before joining Moffitt in 2002, Dr. Malafa was on the faculty of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, IL., where he was associate professor of surgery, section chief of surgical oncology and vice chair for research in the department of surgery.
Dr. Malafa is widely published in peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous awards, including the undergraduate research mentor award from USF, outstanding faculty teaching award from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and nomination for AAMC Humanism in Medicine Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges.