Wafik S. El-Deiry
MD, PhD, FACP
American Cancer Society Professor
Director, Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University
Associate Dean for Oncologic Sciences, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University
Chair, Worldwide Innovative Network (WIN) Consortium in Cancer Personalized Medicine (Dec 17, 2023–Present)
About Wafik
Wafik S. El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP is an American Cancer Society Professor, Associate Dean for Oncologic Sciences at the Warren Alpert Medical School, and Director of the Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University. He is the elected Chair of the Worldwide Innovative Network (WIN) Consortium in Cancer Personalized Medicine (Dec 17, 2023–Present). He discovered p21(WAF1) as a p53 target gene and tumor suppressor, identified DR5 as a p53 target, and discovered TIC10/ONC201, which advanced to U.S. FDA approval in 2025 for recurrent H3K27M-mutated diffuse glioma (dordaviprone, Modeyso). His prior leadership includes Deputy Director for Translational Research at Fox Chase Cancer Center and Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology at Penn State.
Roles/affiliations
Roles that define Wafik's work
Publication
Featured publication
WAF1, a potential mediator of p53 tumor suppression (Cell, 1993)
Defined p21 as a p53-inducible checkpoint gene linking DNA damage to cell-cycle control and tumor suppression.
Induction of the TRAIL receptor KILLER/DR5 in p53-dependent apoptosis but not growth arrest (Oncogene, 1999)
Established DR5 as a p53-regulated death receptor induced in apoptotic contexts, connecting p53 signaling to extrinsic apoptosis.
Identification of TRAIL-inducing compounds highlights small molecule ONC201/TIC10 as a unique anti-cancer agent that activates the TRAIL pathway (Molecular Cancer, 2015)
Established DR5 as a p53-regulated death receptor induced in apoptotic contexts, connecting p53 signaling to extrinsic apoptosis.
Clinical Efficacy of ONC201 in H3K27M-Mutant Diffuse Midline Gliomas Is Driven by Disruption of Integrated Metabolic and Epigenetic Pathways (Cancer Discovery, 2023)
Integrated clinical outcomes with molecular correlates supporting ONC201 activity in H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma.
Small-Molecule ONC201/TIC10 Targets Chemotherapy-Resistant Colorectal Cancer Stem-like Cells in an Akt/Foxo3a/TRAIL-Dependent Manner (Cancer Research, 2015)
Demonstrated targeting of colorectal cancer stem-like cells and TRAIL-dependent anti-tumor effects with ONC201/TIC10 in vitro and in vivo.