Dr. Richard Alexander, M.D.

Bio

H. Richard Alexander, M.D., doesn’t spend much time looking at the past to see what will work best for a patient with peritoneal mesothelioma. He looks to the future to see what will work better.

Alexander, a surgical oncologist and clinical researcher at the University of Maryland’s Greenebaum Cancer Center, has earned a reputation as an innovator, avoiding the one-size-fits-all approach.

The best approach to successfully treat mesothelioma is highly individualized, based on a patient’s circumstances. No one formula or approach is necessarily best for all.

After 16 years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Alexander came to Greenebaum in his search of more cutting-edge treatment options – and to feed his passion for finding answers.

MPM (malignant peritoneal mesothelioma) is a fascinating disease. In many ways, it has a very predictable biological behavior, but in many other ways, it behaves unpredictably.”

At the NIH's National Cancer Institute, Alexander became the leader in developing isolated hepatic perfusion treatment, a technique to circulate high doses of chemotherapy directly into the liver of patients with inoperable cancer. With a “closed loop” method, it protects other organs in the body and allows patients to avoid the most serious side effects that would come with such high doses of the drugs.

There is no better testament to his work than his patients.

“He’s always thinking outside the box,” said Larry Davis, a recent mesothelioma surgery patient from South Florida, who was diagnosed five years ago. “We think alike.”

“He doesn’t go by the book, like a lot of them,” Davis continued. “He’s the only one I’d trust. He’s not there to disappoint anyone, and neither am I. He’s a big reason why I’ve lasted as long as I have. This is his life, not his hobby.”

Alexander thrives on finding novel treatments for patients with very difficult cancer diagnoses. It’s why he relishes his role as both a researcher and a surgeon.

His clinical practice focuses on advanced cancers of the liver and peritoneal cavity, which includes mesothelioma. His research is related to developing new therapies for advanced solid organ cancers.

Before coming to the University of Maryland, he held the title of deputy director at the National Cancer Institute's Center for Cancer Research. At Greenebaum, he is both a top surgeon and the associate chairman for clinical research.

Much of the work he does now, like assessing the molecular profiles of the tumors that stem from mesothelioma, he started at the National Institutes of Health. It’s how he is able to tailor treatment to each individual.

His advice to someone who has recently been diagnosed is pretty simple.

“Take the initiative to find out where to go for experienced and expert advice,” he said. “I am still amazed at the number of people who do not get referred to a specialty center.”

Publications

Alexander has contributed to the 2011 journal article "Surgery for Peritoneal Mesothelioma", which appears in Current Treatment Options Oncology. He has published over 80 of additional articles discussing metastatic cancer and its surgical treatment.