Alix E. Seif, MD, MPH

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Alix E. Seif, MD, MPH, is an Attending Physician specializing in blood and marrow transplant and hematologic malignancies. She holds the Richard and Sheila Sanford Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology.

Areas of Expertise: Hematologic malignancies, Blood and marrow transplantation
Locations: Main Hospital
Appointments and Referrals: 1-800-TRY-CHOP (1-800-879-2467)

Background

I am an attending physician in both the Blood and Marrow Transplantation and the Hematologic Malignancies sections and holder of the Richard and Sheila Sanford Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology. In addition to caring for patients, I am also interested in finding ways to stimulate the immune system to treat pediatric leukemias.

My research is in the development of a controlled method of immune stimulation that allows the body’s own immune defense system to recognize and kill leukemia cells. Some patients whose leukemia does not respond to chemotherapy go into remission following an infection. We certainly try hard to protect children from infection during cancer therapy; however, those children who develop infections and then go on to have spontaneous remissions are sending us an important message about how powerful the immune system can be in treating leukemia.

Immune stimulation may help children with chemotherapy-resistant leukemia and improve the effectiveness of current treatments without adding long-lasting toxicity. Furthermore, if we stimulate a child’s immune system to recognize leukemia, long-term immune memory may act like a vaccine, recognizing leukemia cells and preventing relapse for his or her lifespan. We are working with a national group to bring these treatments into clinical trials and continue to look for new ways to help the immune system fight leukemia.

While research is a very important and fulfilling part of my job, the reason I became a doctor is to help care for sick children. A cancer diagnosis turns a family’s world upside down and comes with a flood of new information that can feel overwhelming. I believe in open, honest communication with patients and parents, including being clear about when we don’t know the answers, what we can do to find out, and that we are here to support families through every step of the way. What I love most about working at CHOP are the interactions between patients, families, and staff – we work together to give our children the best possible care. We also have the tremendous privilege of working side-by-side with the world’s leaders in nearly every pediatric specialty.

I am fortunate to be a part of two wonderful subspecialty teams within Oncology. The Hematologic Malignancies (leukemia and lymphoma) and Transplant teams meet weekly to discuss every currently active patient to ensure that each child in our care has the benefit of many eyes, ears and minds. We are always thinking about ways we can improve patient care. CHOP is a very special place where state-of-the-art research meets comprehensive, family-centered patient care, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Education and Training

Medical School

MD - Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR

Residency

Pediatrics - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Fellowship

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Board Certification

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
Pediatrics

Graduate Degree

MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics - Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR
MA in Linguistics - McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Titles and Academic Titles

Attending Physician

Richard and Sheila Sanford Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology

Assistant Professor, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Conditions Treated

Departments and Services

Publications

Papers

2016

Heneghan MB, Rheingold SR, Li Y, Seif AE, Huang YS, McLeod L, Wells L, Fisher BT, Aplenc R: Treatment of osteonecrosis in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 16(4): 223-229.e2, Apr 2016 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.clml.2015.12.009.

Miller TP, Li Y, Kavcic M, Troxel AB, Huang YV, Sung L, Alonzo TA, Gerbing R, Hall M, Daves MH, Horton TM, Pulsipher MA, Pollard JA, Bagatell R, Seif AE, Fisher BT, Luger S, Gamis AS, Adamson PC, Aplenc R: Accuracy of Adverse Event Ascertainment in Clinical Trials for Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Journal of Clinical Oncology February 2016 Notes:  pii: JCO655860. [Epub ahead of print]

Bride KL, Vincent T, Smith-Whitley K, Lambert MP, Bleesing JJ, Seif AE, Manno CS, Casper J, Grupp SA, Teachey DT. Sirolimus is effective in relapsed/refractory autoimmune cytopenias: results of a prospective multi-institutional trial. Blood. 2016 Jan 7;127(1):17-28

Miller Tamara P, Getz Kelly D, Kavcic Marko, Li Yimei, Huang Yuan-Shun V, Sung Lillian, Alonzo Todd A, Gerbing Robert, Daves Marla, Horton Terzah M, Pulsipher Michael A, Pollard Jessica, Bagatell Rochelle, Seif Alix E, Fisher Brian T, Gamis Alan S, Aplenc Richard: A comparison of discharge strategies after chemotherapy completion in pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a report from the Children's Oncology Group. Leukemia & lymphoma Page: 1-8, Jan 2016.

Desai Ami V, Seif Alix E, Li Yimei, Getz Kelly, Fisher Brian T, Huang Vera, Mante Adjoa, Aplenc Richard, Bagatell Rochelle: Resource Utilization and Toxicities After Carboplatin/Etoposide/Melphalan and Busulfan/Melphalan for Autologous Stem Cell Rescue in High-Risk Neuroblastoma Using a National Administrative Database. Pediatric blood & cancer Jan 2016.

2015

Li Y, Hall M, Fisher BT, Seif AE, Huang YS, Bagatell R, Getz KD, Alonzo TA, Gerbing RB, Sung L, Adamson PC, Gamis A, Aplenc R: Merging Children's Oncology Group Data with an External Administrative Database Using Indirect Patient Identifiers: A Report from the Children's Oncology Group. PLOSOne 10(11): e0143480, Nov 2015. PMCID: PMC4659568

Miller TP, Troxel AB, Li Y, Huang YS, Alonzo TA, Gerbing RB, Hall M, Torp K, Fisher BT, Bagatell R, Seif AE, Sung L, Gamis A, Rubin D, Luger S, Aplenc R: Comparison of Administrative/Billing Data to Expected Protocol-Mandated Chemotherapy Exposure in Children with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Report from the Children's Oncology Group. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2015 Jul;62(7):1184-9.

Li Y, Hall M, Fisher BT, Seif AE, Huang YS, Bagatell R, Getz KD, Alonzo TA, Gerbing RB, Sung L, Adamson PC, Gamis A, Aplenc R: Merging Children's Oncology Group Data with an External Administrative Database Using Indirect Patient Identifiers: A Report from the Children's Oncology Group. PLOSOne 10(11): e0143480, Nov 2015. PMCID: PMC46595.

2014

Fisher BT, Sammons JS, Li Y, de Blank P, Seif AE, Huang YS, Kavcic M, Klieger S, Harris T, Torp K, Rheam D, Shah A, Aplenc R.: Variation in Risk of Hospital-Onset Clostridium difficile Infection Across β-Lactam Antibiotics in Children With New-Onset Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 3(4): 329-35, Dec 2014.

Lee GE, Fisher BT, Xiao R, Coffin SE, Feemster K, Seif AE, Bagatell R, Li Y, Huang YSV, Aplenc R: Burden of Influenza-Related Hospitalizations and Attributable Mortality in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2015 Dec;4(4):290-6.

Goodman Elizabeth K, Reilly Anne F, Fisher Brian T, Fitzgerald Julie, Li Yimei, Seif Alix E, Huang Yuan-Shung, Bagatell Rochelle, Aplenc Richard: Association of Weekend Admission With Hospital Length of Stay, Time to Chemotherapy, and Risk for Respiratory Failure in Pediatric Patients With Newly Diagnosed Leukemia at Freestanding US Children's Hospitals. JAMA pediatrics 168(10): 925-31, Aug 2014 Notes: doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.1023.

Desai Ami V, Kavcic Marko, Huang Yuan-Shung, Herbst Nicole, Fisher Brian T, Seif Alix E, Li Yimei, Hennessy Sean, Aplenc Richard, Bagatell Rochelle: Establishing a high-risk neuroblastoma cohort using the Pediatric Health Information System Database. Pediatric blood & cancer 61(6): 1129-31, Jun 2014.

Seif Alix E, Fisher Brian T, Li Yimei, Torp Kari, Rheam Douglas P, Huang Yuan-Shung V, Harris Tracey, Shah Ami, Hall Matthew, Fieldston Evan S, Kavcic Marko, Vujkovic Marijana, Bailey L Charles, Kersun Leslie S, Reilly Anne F, Rheingold Susan R, Walker Dana M, Aplenc Richard: Patient and hospital factors associated with induction mortality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pediatric blood & cancer 61(5): 846-52, May 2014. PMCID: PMC3951664

Seif Alix E,* Walker Dana M,* Li Yimei, Huang Yuan-Shung V, Kavcic Marko, Torp Kari, Bagatell Rochelle, Fisher Brian T, Aplenc Richard: Dexrazoxane exposure and risk of secondary acute myeloid leukemia in pediatric oncology patients. Pediatric blood & cancer Page: doi: 10.1002/pbc.25043. [Epub ahead of print] Mar 2014.

Maude Shannon L, Fitzgerald Julie C, Fisher Brian T, Li Yimei, Huang Yuan-Shung, Torp Kari, Seif Alix E, Kavcic Marko, Walker Dana M, Leckerman Kateri H, Kilbaugh Todd J, Rheingold Susan R, Sung Lillian, Zaoutis Theoklis E, Berg Robert A, Nadkarni Vinay M, Thomas Neal J, Aplenc Richard: Outcome of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients receiving intensive care in the United States. Pediatric critical care medicine : a journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies 15(2): 112-20, Feb 2014.

Fisher Brian T, Kavcic Marko, Li Yimei, Seif Alix E, Bagatell Rochelle, Huang Yuan-Shung, Zaoutis Theoklis, Torp Kari, Leckerman Kateri H, Aplenc Richard: Antifungal prophylaxis associated with decreased induction mortality rates and resources utilized in children with new-onset acute myeloid leukemia. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 58(4): 502-8, Feb 2014. PMCID: PMC3905759

Fisher Brian T, Singh Sonia, Huang Yuan-Shung, Li Yimei, Gregory John, Walker Dana, Seif Alix E, Kavcic Marko, Aplenc Richard: Induction mortality, ATRA administration, and resource utilization in a nationally representative cohort of children with acute promyelocytic leukemia in the United States from 1999 to 2009. Pediatric blood & cancer 61(1): 68-73, Jan 2014. PMCID: PMC3927454

Fisher Brian T, Harris Tracey, Torp Kari, Seif Alix E, Shah Ami, Huang Yuan-Shung V, Bailey L Charles, Kersun Leslie S, Reilly Anne F, Rheingold Susan R, Walker Dana, Li Yimei, Aplenc Richard: Establishment of an 11-year cohort of 8733 pediatric patients hospitalized at United States free-standing children's hospitals with de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia from health care administrative data. Medical care 52(1): e1-6, Jan 2014. PMCID: PMC3381055

2013

Cytokine release syndrome after blinatumomab treatment related to abnormal macrophage activation and ameliorated with cytokine-directed therapy. Teachey DT, Rheingold SR, Maude SL, Zugmaier G, Barrett DM, Seif AE, Nichols KE, Suppa EK, Kalos M, Berg RA, Fitzgerald JC, Aplenc R, Gore L, Grupp SA. Blood. 2013 Jun 27;121(26):5154-7.

Abstracts

2016

Hudgins E, Li Y, Smith EC, Smith LT, Bunin NJ, Seif AE: Low Body Mass Index and a Composite Nutritional Risk Variable Predict High-Grade Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease (aGVHD) and Early Mortality in Pediatric Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (alloHSCT). 2016 BMT Tandem Meeting 2016.

Freedman JL, Wang Y, Li Y, Monos D, Barrett D, Seif AE, Teachey DT, Grupp SA, Bunin NJ: Unrelated and Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) using TCR-αβ+CD3+ Depletion in Pediatric Patients with Hematologic Malignancies. 2016 BMT Tandem Meetings 2016.

Bride KL, Freedman JL, Bunin NJ, Hunger SP, Rheingold SR, Seif AE: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in FirstRemission (CR1): A Single-Institution Retrospective Cohort Study Demonstrating Excellent Event-Free (EFS) and Overall Survival (OS). 2016 BMT Tandem Meeting 2016.

2015

Seif AE, Jo S, Barrett DM, Grupp SA, Reid GSD: Durable immune control of acute lymphoblastic leukemia requires a multi-antigen immune response. 4th International Conference on Immunotherapy in Pediatric Oncology (CIPO2015) 2015.

2014

Wilkes JJ, Hennessy S, Xiao R, Rheingold S, Seif A, Huang YSV, Vendetti N, Li Y, Bagatell R, Aplenc R, Fisher B: Pediatric Hospital Volume and Induction Mortality in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). American Society of Hematology 2014.

Seif AE, Jo S, Altman J, Bassiri H, Barrett DM, Grupp SA, Reid GSD: Epitope spreading Is required for long-term protection against acute lymphoblastic leukemia. American Society of Hematology 2014.

Rao P, Li Y, Alonzo TA, Sung L, Gerbing RB, Getz KD, Seif AE, Miller TP, Huang YS, Bagatell R, Hall M, Fisher BT, Gamis AS, Aplenc R: Patient Factors Associated with Enrollment on an Acute Myeloid Leukemia Phase III Clinical Trial: A Report from the Children's Oncology Group. American Society of Hematology 2014.

Goodman EK, Li Y, Fisher BT, Fitzgerald J, Seif AE, Huang YS, Bagatell R, Aplenc R: Treatment Toxicity and Supportive Care Utilization in Children with Down Syndrome and Acute Lymphoid Leukemia at Free-Standing Pediatric Hospitals in the United States. American Society of Hematology 2014.

Getz KD, Miller TP, Seif AE, Li Y, Huang YS, Bagatell R, Fisher BT, Aplenc R: Comparison of Resource Utilization in Children Discharged Versus Children That Remain Hospitalized Following Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. American Society of Hematology 2014.

DiNofia A*, Seif AE*, Devidas M, Li Y, Hall M, Huang YSV, Bagatell R, Carroll WL, Winick N, Hunger SP, Fisher BT, Larsen EC, Aplenc R.: Resource Utilization and Cost Analysis By Treatment Arm on the Children's Oncology Group AALL0232 Phase 3 High-Risk B-Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Trial: A Report from the Children's Oncology Group. American Society of Hematology 2014.

Books

Chapters
2012

Seif AE, Biegel J, Lange BJ, Nichols KE: Heritable predispositions to childhood hematologic malignancies. Childhood Leukemias, 3rd Ed. C.H. Pui (eds.). Cambridge University Press, 2012.

Posters and Presentations

2016

AE, Li Y, Aplenc R, Barrett DM, Casper JT, Freedman JL, Grupp SA, Margolis DA, Olson TS, Teachey DT, Wang Y, Talano JM, Bunin NJ: Favorable Chronic Graft-Versus-Host-Disease (GVHD), Event-Free (EFS), and Overall Survival (OS) Rates Following Partially CD3-Depleted Alternative Donor Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation (PSCT) for Pediatric Hematologic Malignancies [oral presentation]. 2016 BMT Tandem Meeting; 2016.

Seif AE. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in First Remission (CR1): A Single-Institution Retrospective Cohort Study Demonstrating Excellent Event-Free (EFS) and Overall Survival (OS) [platform presentation]. 2016 ASBMT/CIBMTR Tandem Meetings; 2016 Feb.

2015

Seif AE. Durable immune control of acute lymphoblastic leukemia requires a multi-antigen immune response [platform presentation]. 4th International Conference on Immunotherapy in Pediatric Oncology (CIPO2015); 2015 Sep. 

Seif AE, Jo S, Barrett DM, Grupp SA, Reid GSD. Recognition of Multiple Tumor Antigens is required for Durable Immune Control of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia [platform presentation]. First Annual Immuno-Oncology Young Investigators' Forum 2015.

Seif AE. Recognition of Multiple Tumor Antigens is required for Durable Immune Control of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia [platform presentation]. First Annual Immuno-Oncology Young Investigators' Forum; 2015 May.

Bride KL, Freedman JL, Bunin NJ, Hunger SP, Rheingold SR, Seif AE: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in FirstRemission (CR1): A Single-Institution Retrospective Cohort Study Demonstrating Excellent Event-Free (EFS) and Overall Survival (OS). 2016 BMT Tandem Meeting 2016.

Invited Lectures
2015

Seif A. A fever reigns in the blood:_ generating durable immunity_ against acute leukemia [invited lecture]. Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Seattle Children's Hospital; 2015 Nov; Seattle, WA.

2014

Seif AE. Summon up the blood: generating durable immunity to acute lymphoblastic leukemia [invited lecture]. Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University; 2014 Oct; Nashville, TN.

Seif AE. Immunology of Relapse after Transplant for ALL [invited lecture]. Children's Oncology Group breakout session: SCT in ALL; 2014 Sep; Dallas, TX.

Seif AE. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [invited lecture]. OPTUMHealth: Advances in the Management of Oncology, Stem Cell and Solid Organ Transplant Patients; 2014 May; San Diego, CA.

Awards and Honors

2010, Canuso Foundation Innovation Award

2010, American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation/Robert A. Good New Investigator Award

2009, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Young Investigator Award

2008, Joseph E. Stokes, Jr. Research Institute Excellence in Translational Research Award

2008, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Young Investigator Travel Award

2006, American Association of Immunologists Introductory Course Scholarship Award

2005, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Anne E. Dyson Advocacy Award

2005, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Resident Humanitarian Award

2002, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society

2000, American Heart Association Student Scholar in Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke

2000, N.L. Tartar Trust Fellow

1999-2000, Oregon Health Sciences University Laurel Scholar

1992, McGill University - University Scholar

1990-1991, McGill University - University Scholar

Editorial and Academic Positions

Editorial positions
Ad hoc reviewer

2014-present, Bone Marrow Transplantation
2014-present, Anti-Cancer Drugs
2014-present, Journal of Hospital Medicine
2013, Leukemia
2013, CDC/NCEH/ATSDR Final Reports Publications
2013-present, Pediatric Blood & Cancer
2008-present, Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Academic positions

2015-present, Infectious Diseases Fellowship Oversight Committee
2015-present, Division of Oncology & Center for Childhood Research Strategic Planning Process Steering Committee
2011-present, Clinical Research Quality Assurance Committee, Center for Childhood Cancer Research
2009-present, Pediatric Protocol Review Committee, Center for Childhood Cancer Research
2009-present, Leukemia & Lymphoma Clinical Committee, Division of Oncology
2008-present, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Clinical Committee, Division of Oncology

Leadership and Memberships

Memberships in Professional Organizations

2006-present, American Association for Cancer Research

2006-present, American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

2006-present, American Society of Clinical Oncology

2006-present, American Society of Hematology

2006-present, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology