Denise Damek, MD

Professional Titles

• Professor of Neurology

Publications

• Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Damek DM. The imaging and neuropathological effect of Bevacizumab (Avastin) in patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Journal of Neuro-Oncology 96:375-384, 2010.
• Damek DM. Cerebral edema, altered mental status, seizures, acute stroke, leptomeningeal metastases, and paraneoplastic syndrome. Hematology/Oncology Clin North Am 24:515-535, 2010.
• Fields EC, Damek D, Gaspar LE, Liu AK, Kavanagh BD, Waziri A, Lillehei K, Chen C. Phase I Dose Escalation Trial of Vandetanib With Fractionated Radiosurgery in Patients With Recurrent Malignant Gliomas. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Vol__:1-7, 2010.
• Chen C, Damek D, Gaspar LE, Waziri A, Lillehei K, Kleinschmidt-Demasters BK, Robischon M, Stuhr K, Rusthoven KE, Kavanagh BD. Phase I Trial of Hypofractionated Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy with Temozolomide Chemotherapy for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Vol _:1-9, 2010.
• Schmidt Y, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Aisner DL, Lillehei KO, Damek DM. Anaplastic PXA in adults: case series with clinicopathologic and molecular features. J Neurooncol. 2013; 111(1):59-69.
• Reddy K, Gaspar, LE, Kavanagh BD, Waziri A, Damek DM, Ney D, Lillehei KO, Chen C. Prospective evaluation of health-related quality of life in patients with glioblastoma multiforme treated on a phase II trial of hypofractionated IMRT with temozolomide. J Neurooncol. 2013;114:111-116, 2013.
• Rusthoven CG, Carlson JA, Waxweiler TV, Dally MJ, Barón AE, Yeh N, Gaspar LE, Liu AK, Ney DE, Damek DM, Lillehei KO, Kavanagh BD. The impact of adjuvant radiation therapy for high-grade gliomas by histology in the United States population. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2014 Nov 15;90(4):894-902. PubMed PMID: 25585784
• Ney DE, Carlson JA, Damek DM, Gaspar LE, Kavanagh BD, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Waziri AE, Lillehei KO, Reddy K, Chen C. Phase II trial of hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy combined with temozolomide and bevacizumab for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. J Neurooncol. 2014 Dec 19. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25524817
• Damek DM. Leptomeningeal enhancement in a 58-year-old woman. Oncology (Williston Park). 2014 May;28(5):438, 440. PubMed PMID: 25004660
• Poonia S, Berge EM, Aisner DL, Damek D, Doebele RC. EGFR exon 19 deletion mutations and systemic/central nervous system miliary metastasis: clinical correlations and response to therapy. Clin Lung Cancer. 2014 Sep;15(5):387-9. PubMed PMID: 24894944
• Carlson JA, Reddy K, Gaspar LE, Ney D, Kavanagh BD, Damek D, Lillehei K, Chen C. Hypofractionated-intensity modulated radiotherapy (hypo-IMRT) and temozolomide (TMZ) with or without bevacizumab (BEV) for newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM): a comparison of two prospective phase II trials. J Neurooncol. 2015 Jun;123(2):251-7. PubMed PMID: 25920710
• Ney DE, Carlson JA, Damek DM, Gaspar LE, Kavanagh BD, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Waziri AE, Lillehei KO, Reddy K, Chen C. Phase II trial of hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy combined with temozolomide and bevacizumab for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. J Neurooncol. 2015 Mar;122(1):135-43. PubMed PMID: 25524817
• Amini A, Atloos B, Karam S, Waxwelier T, Rusthoven C, Gaspar L, Honce J, Damek D, Ney D, Ormond D, Lillehei K, Chen C, Kavanagh B, Liu A. Outcomes of symptomatic compared to asymptomatic recurrences in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). J Radiat Oncol. Oct 2015
• Amini A, Altoos B, Karam SD, Waxweiler TV, Rusthoven CG, Gaspar LE, Honce JM, Damek DM, Ney DE, Ormond DR, Lillehei KO, Chen C, Kavanagh BD, Liu AK. Outcomes of symptomatic compared to asymptomatic recurrences in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Journal of Radiation Oncology 5:33-39, 2016.
• Trusheim J, Dunbar E, Battiste J, Iwamoto F, Mohile N, Damek D, Bota DA, Connelly J. A state-of-the-art review and guidelines for tumor treating fields treatment planning and patient follow-up in glioblastoma. CNS Oncol. 2016 Sep 15. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27628854
• Trusheim J, Dunbar E, Battiste J, Iwamoto F, Mohile N, Damek D, Bota DA, Connelly J. A state-of-the-art review and guidelines for tumor treating fields treatment planning and patient follow-up in glioblastoma. CNS Oncol. 2017 Jan;6(1):29-43. PubMed PMID: 27628854
• Oushy S, Sillau SH, Ney DE, Damek DM, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. New-onset seizure during and after brain tumor excision: a risk assessment analysis. J Neurosurg. 2017 Jul 28;:1-6. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28753117
• Damek DM. Melanoma. In: Cancer Neurology in Clinical Practice 2nd Edition (Wen P, Schiff D eds), Humana Press, Inc. Totowa, New Jersey. In Press.
• Rusthoven KE, Olsen C, Franklin W, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters B.K., Kavanagh BD, Gaspar LE, Lillehei KO, Waziri A, Damek DM, Chen C. Favorable Prognosis in Patients with High-Grade Glioma with Radiation Necrosis: The University of Colorado Denver Re-operation Series. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010 Aug 21 [Epub ahead of print]
• Rusthoven KE, Olsen C, Franklin W, Kleinschmidt-Demasters BK, Kavanagh BD, Gaspar LE, Lillehei K, Waziri A, Damek DM, Chen C. Favorable Prognosis in Patients with High-Grade Glioma with Radiation Necrosis: The University of Colorado Reoperation Series. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 81(1):211-217, 2011.
• Oushy S, Sillau SH, Ney DE, Damek DM, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. New-onset seizure during and after brain tumor excision: a risk assessment analysis. J Neurosurg. 2018 Jun;128(6):1713-1718. PubMed PMID: 28753117
• Ung TH, Ney DE, Damek D, Rusthoven CG, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. The Neurologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) Scale as an Assessment Tool for Survival in Patients With Primary Glioblastoma. Neurosurgery. 2018 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29618103
• Chen C, Damek D, Gaspar LE, Waziri A, Lillehei K, Kleinschmidt-Demasters BK, Robischon M, Stuhr K, Rusthoven KE, Kavanagh BD. Phase I Trial of Hypofractionated Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy with Temozolomide Chemotherapy for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 81(4):1066-1074, 2011.
• Fields EC, Damek D, Gaspar LE, Liu AK, Kavanagh BD, Waziri A, Lillehei K, Chen C. Phase I Dose Escalation Trial of Vandetanib With Fractionated Radiosurgery in Patients With Recurrent Malignant Gliomas. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 82(1):51-57, 2012.
• Schmidt Y, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Aisner D, Lillehei KO, Damek D. BRAF V600E mutation is seen in 50% of adult pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma with anaplastic features but does not predict prognosis for individual patients: The University of Colorado, Departments of Pathology, Neurosurgery, and Neurology. Presented in abstract format at the 101st annual United States and Canadian Pathology meeting, Vancouver, B.C., March, 2012.
• Ung TH, Ney DE, Damek D, Rusthoven CG, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. The Neurologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) Scale as an Assessment Tool for Survival in Patients With Primary Glioblastoma. Neurosurgery. 2019 Mar 1;84(3):687-695. PubMed PMID: 29618103
• Nielsen AS, Damek DM. Window of opportunity: Flexion myelopathy after drug overdose. J Emerg Med 2012 Jan; 42:36-39. [Epub 2008 Dec 11].
• Serracino H, Khalil A, Damek DM, Ney DE, Lillehei KO, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Gliomas arising in patients with multiple sclerosis have no distinctive genetic features. Presented in poster format at the 101st annual United States and Canadian Pathology meeting, Vancouver, B.C., March, 2012.
• Nielsen AS, Damek DM. Window of opportunity: Flexion myelopathy after drug overdose. J Emerg Med. 2012;42(1):36-39. [Epub 2008/12/17].
• Khalil A, Serracino H, Damek DM, Ney D, Lillehei KO, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Genetic characterization of gliomas arising in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Neurooncol. 2012;109(2):261-72 [Epub 2012/05/02].
• Cloughesy TF, Petrecca K, Walbert T, Butowski N, Salacz M, Perry J, Damek D, Bota D, Bettegowda C, Zhu J-J, Iwamoto F, Placantonakis D, Kim L, Elder B, Kaptain G, Cachia D, Moshel Y, Brem S, Piccioni D, Landolfi J, Chen CC, Gruber H, Rao A, Hogan D, Accomando W, Ostertag D, Montellano TT, Kheoh T, Kabbinavar F, Vogelbaum MA. Vocimagene amiretrorepvec in combination with Toca FC in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma. Submitted to JAMA Oncology March 2020.
• Reddy K, Damek D, Gaspar LE, Ney D, Waziri A, Lillehei K, Stuhr K, Kavanaugh BD, Chen C. Phase II trial of hypofractionated IMRT with Temozolomide for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012;84(3):655-60 [Epub 2012/04/10].
• Schmidt Y, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Aisner DL, Lillehei KO, Damek DM. Anaplastic PXA in adults: case series with clinicopathologic and molecular features. J Neurooncol. 2013; 111(1):59-69. [Epub 2012/10/25].
• Tatman PD, Wroblewski TH, Fringuello AR, Scherer SR, Foreman WB, Damek DM, Lillehei K, Youssef AS, Jensen RL, Graner MW, Ormond DR. High-Throughput Mechanistic Screening of Epigenetic Compounds for the Potential Treatment of Meningiomas. J Clin Med. 2021 Jul 16;10(14). PubMed PMID: 34300316
• Belanger K, Ung TH, Damek D, Lillehei KO, Ormond DR. Concomitant Temozolomide plus radiotherapy for high-grade and recurrent meningioma: a retrospective chart review. BMC Cancer. 2022 Apr 7;22(1):367. PubMed PMID: 35392834
• Tatman PD, Wroblewski TH, Fringuello AR, Scherer SR, Foreman WB, Damek DM, Lillehei KO, Jensen RL, Youssef AS, Ormond DR, Graner MW. Targeting DNA Methyl Transferases with Decitabine in Cultured Meningiomas. World Neurosurg. 2022 Jun;162:e99-e119. PubMed PMID: 35248772
• Brastianos PK, Twohy EL, Gerstner ER, Kaufmann TJ, Iafrate AJ, Lennerz J, Jeyapalan S, Piccioni DE, Monga V, Fadul CE, Schiff D, Taylor JW, Chowdhary SA, Bettegowda C, Ansstas G, De La Fuente M, Anderson MD, Shonka N, Damek D, Carrillo J, Kunschner-Ronan LJ, Chaudhary R, Jaeckle KA, Senecal FM, Kaley T, Morrison T, Thomas AA, Welch MR, Iwamoto F, Cachia D, Cohen AL, Vora S, Knopp M, Dunn IF, Kumthekar P, Sarkaria J, Geyer S, Carrero XW, Martinez-Lage M, Cahill DP, Brown PD, Giannini C, Santagata S, Barker FG 2nd, Galanis E. Alliance A071401: Phase II Trial of Focal Adhesion Kinase Inhibition in Meningiomas With Somatic NF2 Mutations. J Clin Oncol. 2022 Oct 26;:JCO2102371. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36288512
• Tatman PD, Wroblewski TH, Fringuello AR, Scherer SR, Foreman WB, Damek DM, Lillehei K, Youssef AS, Jensen RL, Graner MW, Ormond DR. High-Throughput Mechanistic Screening of Epigenetic Compounds for the Potential Treatment of Meningiomas. J Clin Med. 2021 Jul 16;10(14). PubMed PMID: 34300316
• Brastianos PK, Twohy EL, Gerstner ER, Kaufmann TJ, Iafrate AJ, Lennerz J, Jeyapalan S, Piccioni DE, Monga V, Fadul CE, Schiff D, Taylor JW, Chowdhary SA, Bettegowda C, Ansstas G, De La Fuente M, Anderson MD, Shonka N, Damek D, Carrillo J, Kunschner-Ronan LJ, Chaudhary R, Jaeckle KA, Senecal FM, Kaley T, Morrison T, Thomas AA, Welch MR, Iwamoto F, Cachia D, Cohen AL, Vora S, Knopp M, Dunn IF, Kumthekar P, Sarkaria J, Geyer S, Carrero XW, Martinez-Lage M, Cahill DP, Brown PD, Giannini C, Santagata S, Barker FG 2nd, Galanis E. Alliance A071401: Phase II Trial of Focal Adhesion Kinase Inhibition in Meningiomas With Somatic NF2 Mutations. J Clin Oncol. 2023 Jan 20;41(3):618-628. PubMed PMID: 36288512
• Tatman PD, Wroblewski TH, Fringuello AR, Scherer SR, Foreman WB, Damek DM, Youssef AS, Lillehei KO, Jensen RL, Graner MW, Ormond DR. High-Throughput Screening of Epigenetic Inhibitors in Meningiomas Identifies HDAC, G9a, and Jumonji-Domain Inhibition as Potential Therapies. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2023 Oct;84(5):452-462. PubMed PMID: 37671294

Professional Memberships

• Society for Neuro-Oncology, Member
• American Academy of Neurology, Member
• American Medical Association, Member

Practice Locations

University of Colorado Cancer Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1665 Aurora Ct
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0300

UCHealth Brain and Spine Tumor Multidisciplinary Clinic - Anschutz Medical Campus
1665 Aurora Court, Anschutz Cancer Pavilion, 2nd Floor, Suite 2004
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0300

UCHealth Neurosciences Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
4th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2080

Hospital Affiliation

• University of Colorado Hospital

Center Affiliations

• University of Colorado Cancer Center

Specialty Information

Specialties

• Neurology, Board Certification (1998)
• Neuro-Oncology
• United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, Specialized Training (2008)

Conditions & Treatments

• Brain and Nervous System - Spine Diseases and Conditions
• Cancers
• Brain and Nervous System
• Brain and Nervous System - Brain Tumors