Ambuj Kumar, MD, MPH

Dr. Kumar’s research interest revolves around issues related to practice of evidence-based medicine. He has successfully applied the principles of evidence-based medicine to the practice of medicine by constantly evaluating the evidence of medical interventions.

• Miladinovic B, Mhaskar R, Hozo I, Kumar A, Mahony H, Djulbegovic B. Optimal information size in trial sequential analysis of time-to-event outcomes reveals potentially inconclusive results because of the risk of random error. J Clin Epidemiol. 2013 Jun;66(6):654-659. Pubmedid: 23403248.
• El-Jurdi N, Reljic T, Kumar A, Pidala J, Bazarbachi A, Djulbegovic B, Kharfan-Dabaja MA. Efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy with donor lymphocyte infusion in relapsed lymphoid malignancies. Immunotherapy. 2013 May;5(5):457-466. Pubmedid: 23638742.
• Miladinovic B, Kumar A, Hozo I, Mahony H, Djulbegovic B. Trial sequential analysis may be insufficient to draw firm conclusions regarding statistically significant treatment differences using observed intervention effects: A case study of meta-analyses of multiple myeloma trials. Contemp Clin Trials. 2013 Mar;34(2):257-261. Pubmedid: 23274403.
• Wao H, Mhaskar R, Kumar A, Miladinovic B, Djulbegovic B. Survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer without treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev. 2013;2:10. Pubmedid: 23379753. Pmcid: PMC3579762.
• Djulbegovic B, Kumar A, Miladinovic B, Reljic T, Galeb S, Mhaskar A, Mhaskar R, Hozo I, Tu D, Stanton HA, Booth CM, Meyer RM. Treatment success in cancer: industry compared to publicly sponsored randomized controlled trials. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58711. Pubmedid: 23555593.
• Kharfan-Dabaja MA, Pidala J, Kumar A, Terasawa T, Djulbegovic B. Comparing efficacy of reduced-toxicity allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation with conventional chemo-(immuno) therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL: a Markov decision analysis. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2012 Sep;47(9):1164-1170. Pubmedid: 22562081.
• Mhaskar R, Djulbegovic B, Magazin A, Soares HP, Kumar A. Published methodological quality of randomized controlled trials does not reflect the actual quality assessed in protocols. J Clin Epidemiol. 2012 Jun;65(6):602-609. Pubmedid: 22424985. Pmcid: PMC3637913.
• Kumar A, Mhaskar AR, Reljic T, Mhaskar RS, Kharfan-Dabaja MA, Anasetti C, Mohty M, Djulbegovic B. Antithymocyte globulin for acute-graft-versus-host-disease prophylaxis in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: a systematic review. Leukemia. 2012 Apr;26(4):582-588. Pubmedid: 22182922.
• Quinn GP, Pal T, Murphy D, Vadaparampil ST, Kumar A. High-risk consumers' perceptions of preimplantation genetic diagnosis for hereditary cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Genet Med. 2012 Feb;14(2):191-200. Pubmedid: 22261755.
• Djulbegovic B, Kumar A, Glasziou PP, Perera R, Reljic T, Dent L, Raftery J, Johansen M, Di Tanna GL, Miladinovic B, Soares HP, Vist GE, Chalmers I. New treatments compared to established treatments in randomized trials. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;10:MR000024. Pubmedid: 23076962. Pmcid: PMC3490226.
• Miladinovic B, Kumar A, Mhaskar R, Kim S, Schonwetter R, Djulbegovic B. A flexible alternative to the cox proportional hazards model for assessing the prognostic accuracy of hospice patient survival. PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e47804. Pubmedid: 23082220.
• Mhaskar R, Redzepovic J, Wheatley K, Clark OA, Miladinovic B, Glasmacher A, Kumar A, Djulbegovic B. Bisphosphonates in multiple myeloma: a network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;5:CD003188. Pubmedid: 22592688.
• Quinn GP, Pal T, Murphy D, Vadaparampil ST, Kumar A. High-risk consumers' perceptions of preimplantation genetic diagnosis for hereditary cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Genet Med. 2011 Sep. Pubmedid: 21918462.
• Wells KJ, Luque JS, Miladinovic B, Vargas N, Asvat Y, Roetzheim RG, Kumar A. Do community health worker interventions improve rates of screening mammography in the United States? A systematic review. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2011 Aug;20(8):1580-1598. Pubmedid: 21653645. Pmcid: PMC3153589.
• Djulbegovic B, Kumar A, Magazin A, Schroen AT, Soares H, Hozo I, Clarke M, Sargent D, Schell MJ. Optimism bias leads to inconclusive results-an empirical study. J Clin Epidemiol. 2011 Jun;64(6):583-593. Pubmedid: 21163620. Pmcid: PMC3079810.
• Kumar A, Hozo I, Wheatley K, Djulbegovic B. Thalidomide versus bortezomib based regimens as first-line therapy for patients with multiple myeloma: a systematic review. Am J Hematol. 2011 Jan;86(1):18-24. Pubmedid: 21120867.
• Kumar A, Galeb S, Djulbegovic B. Treatment of patients with multiple myeloma: an overview of systematic reviews. Acta Haematol. 2011 Jan;125(1-2):8-22. Pubmedid: 21150183.
• Miladinovic B, Kumar A, Hozo I, Djulbegovic B. Instrumental variable meta-analysis of individual patient data: application to adjust for treatment non-compliance. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2011;11:55. Pubmedid: 21510899.
• Lu B, Kumar A, Castellsagué X, Giuliano AR. Efficacy and safety of prophylactic vaccines against cervical HPV infection and diseases among women: a systematic review & meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis. 2011;11:13. Pubmedid: 21226933. Pmcid: PMC3034689.
• Pidala J, Djulbegovic B, Anasetti C, Kharfan-Dabaja M, Kumar A. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in first complete remission. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(10):CD008818. Pubmedid: 21975786.
• Mhaskar AR, Quinn G, Vadaparampil S, Djulbegovic B, Gwede CK, Kumar A. Timing of first-line cancer treatments - early versus late - a systematic review of phase III randomized trials. Cancer Treat Rev. 2010 Dec;36(8):621-628. Pubmedid: 20444550.
• Mhaskar R, Redzepovic J, Wheatley K, Clark OA, Miladinovic B, Glasmacher A, Kumar A, Djulbegovic B. Bisphosphonates in multiple myeloma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Mar;(3):CD003188. Pubmedid: 20238320.
• Kumar A, List AF, Hozo I, Komrokji R, Djulbegovic B. Decitabine versus 5-azacitidine for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome: adjusted indirect meta-analysis. Haematologica. 2010 Feb;95(2):340-342. Pubmedid: 19850902. Pmcid: PMC2817042.
• Kumar A, Mhaskar R. Response: Re: High-dose chemotherapy with auto transplantation in AL amyloidosis: A flawed meta-analysis. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2009 Sep. Pubmedid: 19761863.
• Kharfan-Dabaja MA, Mhaskar AR, Djulbegovic B, Cutler C, Mohty M, Kumar A. Efficacy of rituximab in the setting of steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2009 Sep;15(9):1005-1013. Pubmedid: 19660713.
• Mhaskar R, Kumar A, Behera M, Kharfan-Dabaja MA, Djulbegovic B. Role of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in primary systemic amyloidosis: a systematic review. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2009 Aug;15(8):893-902. Pubmedid: 19589478.
• Kumar A, Kharfan-Dabaja MA, Glasmacher A, Djulbegovic B. Tandem versus single autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for the treatment of multiple myeloma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009 Jan;101(2):100-106. Pubmedid: 19141779.
• Pal T, Permuth-Wey J, Kumar A, Sellers TA. Systematic review and meta-analysis of ovarian cancers: estimation of microsatellite-high frequency and characterization of mismatch repair deficient tumor histology. Clin Cancer Res. 2008 Nov;14(21):6847-6854. Pubmedid: 18980979. Pmcid: PMC2655731.
• Djulbegovic B, Kumar A. Multiple myeloma: detecting the effects of new treatments. Lancet. 2008 May;371(9625):1642-1644. Pubmedid: 18486726.
• Djulbegovic B, Kumar A, Soares HP, Hozo I, Bepler G, Clarke M, Bennett CL. Treatment success in cancer: new cancer treatment successes identified in phase 3 randomized controlled trials conducted by the National Cancer Institute-sponsored cooperative oncology groups, 1955 to 2006. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Mar;168(6):632-642. Pubmedid: 18362256. Pmcid: PMC2773511.
• Kong X, Wang X, Xu W, Behera S, Hellermann G, Kumar A, Lockey R, Mohapatra S, Mohapatra S. Natriuretic peptide receptor a as a novel anticancer target. Cancer Res. 2008 Jan;68(1):249-256. Pubmedid: 18172317.
• Perez-Casanova A, Husain K, Noel R, Rivera-Amill V, Kumar A. Interaction of SIV/SHIV infection and morphine on plasma oxidant/antioxidant balance in macaque. Mol Cell Biochem. 2008 Jan;308(1-2):169-175. Pubmedid: 17934700.
• Kharfan-Dabaja M, Kumar A, Behera M, Djulbegovic B. Systematic review of high dose chemotherapy and autologous haematopoietic stemcell transplantation for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: what is the publishedevidence. Br J Haematol. 2007 Oct;139(2):234-242. Pubmedid: 17897299.
• Perez-Casanova A, Noel R, Rivera-Amill V, Husain K, Kumar A. Morphine-mediated deterioration of oxidative stress leads to rapid disease progression in SIV/SHIV-infected macaques. Aids Res Hum Retroviruses. 2007 Aug;23(8):1004-1007. Pubmedid: 17725417.
• Kumar A, Soares H, Balducci L, Djulbegovic B. Treatment tolerance and efficacy in geriatric oncology: a systematic review of phase III randomized trials conducted by five National Cancer Institute-sponsored cooperative groups. J Clin Oncol. 2007 Apr;25(10):1272-1276. Pubmedid: 17401017.
• Behera M, Kumar A, Soares H, Sokol L, Djulbegovic B. Evidence-based medicine for rare diseases: implications for data interpretation and clinical trial design. Cancer Control. 2007 Apr;14(2):160-166. Pubmedid: 17387301.
• Noel RJ, Kumar A. SIV Vpr evolution is inversely related to disease progression in a morphine-dependent rhesus macaque model of AIDS. Virology. 2007 Mar;359(2):397-404. Pubmedid: 17064752. Pmcid: PMC2760771.
• Soares H, Kumar A, Djulbegovic B. Evidence profiles for breast cancer: Benefit/harms data based on the totality of randomized evidence. Cancer Treat Rev. 2007 Feb;33(1):87-89. Pubmedid: 17081695.
• Soares H, Kumar A, Djulbegovic B. Evidence profiles for lung cancer: benefit/harms data based on the totality of randomized evidence. Cancer Treat Rev. 2006 Dec;32(8):652-655. Pubmedid: 17008011.
• Djulbegovic B, Soares H, Kumar A. What kind of evidence do patients and practitioners need: Evidence profiles based on 5 key evidence-based principles to summarize data on benefits and harms. 2006 Nov;32(7):572-576. Pubmedid: 16914268.
• Kumar A, Soares H, Djulbegovic B. Evidence profiles for colo-rectal cancer: Benefit/harms data based on the totality of randomized evidence. 2006 Nov;32(7):577-580. Pubmedid: 16919883.
• Kumar A, Soares H. Salvage radiotherapy increases survival in people with residual disease after chemotherapy for advance diffuse large cell lymphoma. Cancer Treat Rev. 2006 Oct;32(6):487-90. Pubmedid: 16725265.
• Noel R, Marrero-Otero Z, Kumar R, Chompre-Gonz?!lez G, Verma A, Kumar A. Correlation between SIV Tat evolution and AIDS progression in cerebrospinal fluid of morphine-dependent and control macaques infected with SIV and SHIV. Virology. 2006 Jun;349(2):440-452. Pubmedid: 16643974.
• Kumar A, Djulbegovic B. Multiple myeloma. Clin Evid. 2006 Jun;(15):1-29. Pubmedid: 16973003.
• Noel R, Kumar A. Virus replication and disease progression inversely correlate with SIV tat evolution in morphine-dependent and SIV/SHIV-infected Indian rhesus macaques. Virology. 2006 Mar;346(1):127-138. Pubmedid: 16313937.
• Kumar A, Soares H, Wells R, Clarke M, Hozo I, Bleyer A, Reaman G, Chalmers I, Djulbegovic B. Are experimental treatments for cancer in children superior to established treatments? Observational study of randomised controlled trials by the Children's Oncology Group. BMJ. 2005 Dec;331(7528):1295. Pubmedid: 16299015. Pmcid: PMC1298846.
• Djulbegovic B, Kumar A. Allogeneic peripheral blood stem-cell compared with bone marrow transplantation in the management of hematologic malignancies: an individual patient data meta-analysis of nine randomized trials. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Aug;23(22):5074-5087. Pubmedid: 16051954.
• Kumar R, Perez-Casanova A, Tirado G, Noel R, Torres C, Rodriguez I, MartinezM, Staprans S, Kraiselburd E, Yamamura Y, Higley J, Kumar A. Increased viral replication in simian immunodeficiency virus/simian-HIV-infected macaques with self-administering model of chronic alcohol consumption. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005 Aug;39(4):386-390. Pubmedid: 16010157.
• Soares HP, Kumar A, Daniels S, Swann S, Cantor A, Hozo I, Clark M, Serdarevic F, Gwede C, Trotti A, Djulbegovic B. Evaluation of new treatments in radiation oncology: are they better than standard treatments?. JAMA. 2005 Feb;293(8):970-978. Pubmedid: 15728168. Pmcid: PMC1779758.
• Kumar A, Soares H, Serdarevic F. Totality of evidence: one of the keys to better oncology management. J Oncol Manag. 2005 Jan;14(1):12-14. Pubmedid: 15773599.
• Tirado G, Jove G, Kumar R, Noel R, Reyes E, Sepulveda G, Yamamura Y, Kumar A. Differential virus evolution in blood and genital tract of HIV-infected females: evidence for the involvement of drug and non-drug resistance-associated mutations. Virology. 2004 Jul;324(2):577-586. Pubmedid: 15207642.
• Tirado G, Jove G, Kumar R, Noel R, Reyes E, Sepulveda G, Yamamura Y, Kumar A. Compartmentalization of drug resistance-associated mutations in a treatment-naive HIV-infected female. Aids Res Hum Retroviruses. 2004 Jun;20(6):684-686. Pubmedid: 15242547.
• Soares HP, Daniels S, Kumar A, Clarke M, Scott C, Swann S, Djulbegovic B. Bad reporting does not mean bad methods for randomised trials: observational study of randomised controlled trials performed by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. BMJ. 2004 Jan;328(7430):22-24. Pubmedid: 14703540. Pmcid: PMC313900.
• Noel R, Chaudhary S, Rodriguez N, Kumar A, Yamamura Y. Phylogenetic relationships between Puerto Rico and continental USA HIV-1 polsequences: a shared HIV-1 infection. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-Le-Grand). 2003 Dec;(8):1193-1198. Pubmedid: 14983986.
• Kumar A, Loughran T, Alsina M, Durie B, Djulbegovic B. Management of multiple myeloma: a systematic review and critical appraisal of published studies. Lancet Oncol. 2003 May;4(5):293-304. Pubmedid: 12732167.
• Djulbegovic B, Seidenfeld J, Bonnell C, Kumar A. Nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem-cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies: a systematic review. Cancer Control. 2003;10(1):17-41. Pubmedid: 12598853.
• Kumar A, Djulbegovic B. Why evidence based oncology management. J Oncol Manag. 2002;11(6):13-16. Pubmedid: 12502287.
• Goodkin K, Shapshak P, Metsch L, McCoy C, Crandall K, Kumar M, FujimuraRK, McCoy V, Zhang B, Reyblat S, Xin K, Kumar A. Cocaine abuse and HIV-1 infection: epidemiology and neuropathogenesis. J Neuroimmunol. 1998 Mar;83(1-2):88-101. Pubmedid: 9610677 .