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NINO RAINUSSO

TitleAssociate Professor
InstitutionBaylor College of Medicine
DepartmentDepartment of Pediatrics
Address1102 BATES
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse awards and honors
    2007St.Baldrick's Foundation Fellowship, St.Baldrick's Foundation
    2009Young Investigator Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology
    2011Snowdrop Foundation Award in Pediatric Sarcomas, Snowdrop Foundation
    2013St.Baldrick's Scholar Award, St.Baldrick's Foundation
    2019Norton Rose Fulbright Faculty Excellence Award,, Baylor College of Medicine
    2022Star Faculty Award for Excellence in Patient Care, Baylor College of Medicine

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    I am a physician- scientist and a medical educator in pediatric oncology. My research focuses on the development of patient-derived tumor xenografts of pediatric cancers, particularly sarcomas. My research has been supported by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas and several private foundations. I have served as scientific reviewer in many research panels and committees.
    My clinical expertise lies in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric solid tumors, specifically pediatric sarcomas and thyroid cancer. I am also interested in the evaluation of the cardiovascular effects associated with cancer treatment in pediatric patients. I have several publications and presentations related to these topics. Currently, I am the Director of the Solid Tumor Program and the Co-Director of the Cardio-oncology Program at Texas Children's Hospital.
    My interest in medical education includes developing enduring education materials and promoting self-reflection as a tool for professional growth in trainees and faculty. I am member of the PREP Hematology-Oncology Editorial Board of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Academy of Distinguished Educators at Baylor College of Medicine.

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. McEvoy MT, Gruner S, Malatesta Muncher R, Brown A, Hicks J, Rainusso N. A Unique Case of Gross Hematuria in a Patient With Ewing Sarcoma. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2025 Feb 19. PMID: 40013828.
      Citations:    
    2. Ross AB, Puri K, Johnson TL, Correa LD, John TD, Friend B, Navai SA, Ahmed N, Hegde MG, Omer B, Heczey A, Salem BM, Tcharmtchi H, Rouce RH, Steffin DH, Krance RA, Rainusso NC, Bhar S. Cardiovascular Complications of Immune Effector Cell Therapies in Pediatric Hematological and Solid Tumors. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2025 Apr; 72(4):e31557. PMID: 39833487.
      Citations:    Fields:    
    3. Singh I, Rainusso N, Kurenbekova L, Nirala BK, Dou J, Muruganandham A, Yustein JT, Singh I, Rainusso N, Kurenbekova L, Nirala BK, Dou J, Muruganandham A, Yustein JT. Intrinsic Epigenetic State of Primary Osteosarcoma Drives Metastasis. Mol Cancer Res. 2024 09 04; 22(9):864-878. PMID: 38842581.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    4. Gupta A, Dietz MS, Riedel RF, Dhir A, Borinstein SC, Isakoff MS, Aye JM, Rainusso N, Armstrong AE, DuBois SG, Wagner LM, Rosenblum JM, Cohen-Gogo S, Albert CM, Zahler S, Chugh R, Trucco M. Consensus recommendations for systemic therapies in the management of relapsed Ewing sarcoma: A report from the National Ewing Sarcoma Tumor Board. Cancer. 2024 Dec 01; 130(23):4028-4039. PMID: 39182183.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. Bronk JK, McAleer MF, McGovern SL, Lassen-Ramshad Y, Safwat A, Daw NC, Rainusso N, Mahajan A, Grosshans DR, Paulino AC. Comprehensive radiotherapy for pediatric Ewing Sarcoma: Outcomes of a prospective proton study. Radiother Oncol. 2024 06; 195:110270. PMID: 38583721.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. Singh I, Rainusso N, Kurenbekova L, Nirala BK, Dou J, Muruganandham A, Yustein JT. Intrinsic epigenetic state of primary osteosarcoma drives metastasis. bioRxiv. 2023 Nov 13. PMID: 38014160; PMCID: PMC10680799.
      Citations:    
    7. Nirala BK, Patel TD, Kurenbekova L, Shuck R, Dasgupta A, Rainusso N, Coarfa C, Yustein JT. MYC regulates CSF1 expression via microRNA 17/20a to modulate tumor-associated macrophages in osteosarcoma. JCI Insight. 2023 07 10; 8(13). PMID: 37279073; PMCID: PMC10371352.
      Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    8. Sanchez Mejia AA, Pignatelli RH, Rainusso N, Lilje C, Sachdeva S, Tunuguntla HP, Doan TT, Gandhi AA, Walters NC, Trajtenberg DP, Loar RW. Correlating decline in left ventricular ejection fraction and longitudinal strain in pediatric cancer patients. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2023 Apr; 39(4):747-755. PMID: 36543913.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    9. Tsang SV, Rainusso N, Liu M, Nomura M, Patel TD, Nakahata K, Kim HR, Huang S, Rajapakshe K, Coarfa C, Man TK, Rao PH, Yustein JT. LncRNA PVT-1 promotes osteosarcoma cancer stem-like properties through direct interaction with TRIM28 and TSC2 ubiquitination. Oncogene. 2022 Dec; 41(50):5373-5384. PMID: 36348010.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    
    10. Ryan TD, Rainusso NC. Consensus-Based Cardiomyopathy Care in Childhood Cancer Survivors: When You Don't Have a Roadmap, Ask Directions. JACC CardioOncol. 2022 Sep; 4(3):368-370. PMID: 36213356; PMCID: PMC9537069.
      Citations:    
    11. Puri K, Denfield SW, Adachi I, Dreyer WJ, Price JF, Spinner JA, Choudhry S, Brackett J, Santucci G, Rainusso NC, Tunuguntla HP. Ventricular assist device support for children with chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy and advanced heart failure: Perspectives gained from a single-center experience. Pediatr Transplant. 2022 08; 26(5):e14286. PMID: 35474630.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    12. Rainusso N, Lemke D, Frug? E. A Simulation Workshop for Pediatric Residents Using Team-Based Reflective Practice to Communicate Life-Altering News. Cureus. 2022 Feb; 14(2):e22695. PMID: 35386176; PMCID: PMC8966956.
      Citations:    
    13. Garcia A, Desrosiers L, Scollon S, Gruner S, Reuther J, Gandhi I, Patil N, Fuller MY, Dai H, Muzny D, Gibbs RA, Bercaw-Pratt JL, Rao SL, Rainusso N, Fisher KE, Lin FY, Plon SE, Parsons DW, Roy A. Distinct somatic DICER1 hotspot mutations in three metachronous ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors in a patient with DICER1 syndrome. Cancer Genet. 2022 04; 262-263:53-56. PMID: 35026696; PMCID: PMC8920771.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    14. Jewell BE, Xu A, Zhu D, Huang MF, Lu L, Liu M, Underwood EL, Park JH, Fan H, Gingold JA, Zhou R, Tu J, Huo Z, Liu Y, Jin W, Chen YH, Xu Y, Chen SH, Rainusso N, Berg NK, Bazer DA, Vellano C, Jones P, Eltzschig HK, Zhao Z, Kaipparettu BA, Zhao R, Wang LL, Lee DF. Patient-derived iPSCs link elevated mitochondrial respiratory complex I function to osteosarcoma in Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. PLoS Genet. 2021 12; 17(12):e1009971. PMID: 34965247; PMCID: PMC8716051.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    15. Ting MA, Reuther J, Chandramohan R, Voicu H, Gandhi I, Liu M, Cortes-Santiago N, Foster JH, Hicks J, Nuchtern J, Scollon S, Plon SE, Chintagumpala M, Rainusso N, Roy A, Parsons DW. Genomic analysis and preclinical xenograft model development identify potential therapeutic targets for MYOD1-mutant soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood. J Pathol. 2021 09; 255(1):52-61. PMID: 34086347.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    16. Noel CV, Rainusso N, Robertson M, Romero J, Masand P, Coarfa C, Pautler R. Early detection of myocardial changes with and without dexrazoxane using serial magnetic resonance imaging in a pre-clinical mouse model. Cardiooncology. 2021 Jun 16; 7(1):23. PMID: 34134789; PMCID: PMC8207719.
      Citations: 3     
    17. Rainusso N, Frug? E. Comment on: Parents' responses to prognostic disclosure at diagnosis of a child with a high-risk brain tumor: Analysis of clinician-parent interactions and implications for clinical practice. The role of reflection in dealing with uncertainty. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2021 08; 68(8):e29057. PMID: 33844434.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    18. Dasgupta A, Sierra L, Tsang SV, Kurenbekova L, Patel T, Rajapakse K, Shuck RL, Rainusso N, Landesman Y, Unger T, Coarfa C, Yustein JT. Targeting PAK4 Inhibits Ras-Mediated Signaling and Multiple Oncogenic Pathways in High-Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer Res. 2021 01 01; 81(1):199-212. PMID: 33168646; PMCID: PMC7878415.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    19. Loar RW, Colquitt JL, Rainusso NC, Gramatges MM, Liu AM, Noel CV, Tunuguntla HP, Lilje C, Pignatelli RH. Assessing the left atrium of childhood cancer survivors. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2021 Jan; 37(1):155-162. PMID: 32803485.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Rainusso N, Gruner SE, Hernandez JA. Splenic embolization to continue chemotherapy in a child with hypersplenism-related thrombocytopenia. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2021 02; 68(2):e28613. PMID: 32790133.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. Cao F, Nguyen P, Hong B, DeRenzo C, Rainusso NC, Rodriguez Cruz T, Wu MF, Liu H, Song XT, Suzuki M, Wang LL, Yustein JT, Gottschalk S. Engineering Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus to redirect Macrophages to Tumor Cells. Adv Cell Gene Ther. 2021 Apr; 4(2). PMID: 33829146; PMCID: PMC8021125.
      Citations: 2     
    22. Loar RW, Pignatelli RH, Tunuguntla HP, Rainusso NC, Gramatges MM, Plana JC, Noel CV. Improving reproducibility of left ventricular ejection fraction in pediatric oncology patients: less is more. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2020 Oct; 36(10):1887-1895. PMID: 32488453.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    23. Young EP, Cheng WS, Bernhardt MB, Wang LL, Rainusso N, Foster JH. Risk factors associated with delayed methotrexate clearance and increased toxicity in pediatric patients with osteosarcoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020 04; 67(4):e28123. PMID: 31867853.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    24. Nomura M, Rainusso N, Lee YC, Dawson B, Coarfa C, Han R, Larson JL, Shuck R, Kurenbekova L, Yustein JT. Tegavivint and the ?-Catenin/ALDH Axis in Chemotherapy-Resistant and Metastatic Osteosarcoma. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2019 11 01; 111(11):1216-1227. PMID: 30793158; PMCID: PMC6855956.
      Citations: 28     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    25. Rainusso N, Seghers V, Egler R, Hicks J, Russell HV. Neuroblastoma of the Bone and Bone Marrow Without an Apparent Primary Site: Report of 4 Cases With Long-term Follow-up. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2019 Jul-Aug; 22(4):329-333. PMID: 30600764.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    26. Rainusso N, Cleveland H, Hernandez JA, Quintanilla NM, Hicks J, Vasudevan S, Marco RAW, Allen-Rhoades W, Wang LL, Yustein JT. Generation of patient-derived tumor xenografts from percutaneous tumor biopsies in children with bone sarcomas. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2019 04; 66(4):e27579. PMID: 30548185.
      Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. Allen-Rhoades W, Whittle SB, Rainusso N. Pediatric Solid Tumors in Children and Adolescents: An Overview. Pediatr Rev. 2018 Sep; 39(9):444-453. PMID: 30171055.
      Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    28. Fuja DG, Rainusso NC, Shuck RL, Kurenbekova L, Donehower LA, Yustein JT. Transglutaminase-2 promotes metastatic and stem-like phenotypes in osteosarcoma. Am J Cancer Res. 2018; 8(9):1752-1763. PMID: 30323968; PMCID: PMC6176192.
      Citations: 4     
    29. Allen-Rhoades W, Whittle SB, Rainusso N. Pediatric Solid Tumors of Infancy: An Overview. Pediatr Rev. 2018 Feb; 39(2):57-67. PMID: 29437125.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    30. Byrd TT, Fousek K, Pignata A, Szot C, Samaha H, Seaman S, Dobrolecki L, Salsman VS, Oo HZ, Bielamowicz K, Landi D, Rainusso N, Hicks J, Powell S, Baker ML, Sorensen PH, Deneen B, Ellis MJ, Lewis MT, Hegde M, Fletcher BS, St Croix B, Ahmed N, Wels WS, Koch J. TEM8/ANTXR1-Specific CAR T Cells as a Targeted Therapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Res. 2018 01 15; 78(2):489-500. PMID: 29183891; PMCID: PMC5771806.
      Citations: 56     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    31. Mohan AC, Venkatramani R, Okcu MF, Nuchtern JG, Vasudevan SA, Mahajan A, Rainusso NC, Allen-Rhoades W, Chintagumpala M, Paulino AC. Local therapy to distant metastatic sites in stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018 Feb; 65(2). PMID: 29049857.
      Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    32. Dasgupta A, Trucco M, Rainusso N, Bernardi RJ, Shuck R, Kurenbekova L, Loeb DM, Yustein JT. Metabolic modulation of Ewing sarcoma cells inhibits tumor growth and stem cell properties. Oncotarget. 2017 Sep 29; 8(44):77292-77308. PMID: 29100387; PMCID: PMC5652780.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    
    33. Rao PH, Zhao S, Zhao YJ, Yu A, Rainusso N, Trucco M, Allen-Rhoades W, Satterfield L, Fuja D, Borra VJ, Man TK, Donehower LA, Yustein JT. Coamplification of Myc/Pvt1 and homozygous deletion of Nlrp1 locus are frequent genetics changes in mouse osteosarcoma. Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2015 Dec; 54(12):796-808. PMID: 26355645.
      Citations: 10     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    34. Ahmed N, Brawley VS, Hegde M, Robertson C, Ghazi A, Gerken C, Liu E, Dakhova O, Ashoori A, Corder A, Gray T, Wu MF, Liu H, Hicks J, Rainusso N, Dotti G, Mei Z, Grilley B, Gee A, Rooney CM, Brenner MK, Heslop HE, Wels WS, Wang LL, Anderson P, Gottschalk S. Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) -Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Modified T Cells for the Immunotherapy of HER2-Positive Sarcoma. J Clin Oncol. 2015 May 20; 33(15):1688-96. PMID: 25800760; PMCID: PMC4429176.
      Citations: 373     Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsCTClinical Trials
    35. Allen-Rhoades W, Kurenbekova L, Satterfield L, Parikh N, Fuja D, Shuck RL, Rainusso N, Trucco M, Barkauskas DA, Jo E, Ahern C, Hilsenbeck S, Donehower LA, Yustein JT. Cross-species identification of a plasma microRNA signature for detection, therapeutic monitoring, and prognosis in osteosarcoma. Cancer Med. 2015 Jul; 4(7):977-88. PMID: 25784290; PMCID: PMC4529336.
      Citations: 38     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    36. Rainusso N, Wang LL, Yustein JT. The adolescent and young adult with cancer: state of the art -- bone tumors. Curr Oncol Rep. 2013 Aug; 15(4):296-307. PMID: 23690089.
      Citations: 45     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    37. Chow KK, Naik S, Kakarla S, Brawley VS, Shaffer DR, Yi Z, Rainusso N, Wu MF, Liu H, Kew Y, Grossman RG, Powell S, Lee D, Ahmed N, Gottschalk S. T cells redirected to EphA2 for the immunotherapy of glioblastoma. Mol Ther. 2013 Mar; 21(3):629-37. PMID: 23070117; PMCID: PMC3589173.
      Citations: 124     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    38. Rainusso N, Brawley VS, Ghazi A, Hicks MJ, Gottschalk S, Rosen JM, Ahmed N. Immunotherapy targeting HER2 with genetically modified T cells eliminates tumor-initiating cells in osteosarcoma. Cancer Gene Ther. 2012 Mar; 19(3):212-7. PMID: 22173710.
      Citations: 42     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    39. Rainusso N, Man TK, Lau CC, Hicks J, Shen JJ, Yu A, Wang LL, Rosen JM. Identification and gene expression profiling of tumor-initiating cells isolated from human osteosarcoma cell lines in an orthotopic mouse model. Cancer Biol Ther. 2011 Aug 15; 12(4):278-87. PMID: 21617384; PMCID: PMC3173730.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
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