Sobha Kurian, MD

Associate Professor

Organization:

West Virginia University WVU Cancer Institute

Department:

WVU Cancer Institute Clinics

Classification:

Clinical Faculty

Member

Organization:

West Virginia University WVU Cancer Institute

Department:

WVU Cancer Institute Research Programs

Classification:

Faculty

Associate Professor

Organization:

West Virginia University WVU Cancer Institute

Department:

Department of Medical Oncology

Classification:

Faculty

• MD, Medical College, Trivandrum, India

Most Recent:

Treatment and survival of Medicare beneficiaries with colorectal cancer: a comparative analysis between a rural state cancer registry and national data.
Rane PB, Madhavan SS, Sambamoorthi U, Sita K, Kurian S, Pan X.
Popul Health Manag. 2017; 20(1): 55-65.
PMC Journal - In Process

Radiation exposure from diagnostic procedures in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer.
Chaudhary LN, Knapp S, Wen S, Xiao J, Marano GD, Kurian S, Layne G, Jacobson GM, Abraham J.
J Community Support Oncol. 2015;13(1):27-29.

Exercise and dietary advice intervention for survivors of triple-negative breast cancer: effects on body fat, physical function, quality of life, and adipokine profile.
Swisher AK, Abraham J, Bonner D, Gilleland D, Hobbs GR, Kurian S, Yanosik MA, Vona-Davis LC.
Support Care Cancer. 2015;23(10):2995-3003.
PMC4624214.

Weight change associated with third-generation adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.
Chaudhary LN, Wen S, Xiao J, Swisher AK, Kurian S, Abraham J.
J Community Support Oncol. 2014;12(10):355-360.

Health behaviors among breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors: a US population-based case-control study, with comparisons by cancer type and gender.
Lemasters TJ, Madhavan SS, Sambamoorthi U, Kurian S.
J Cancer Surviv. 2014; [Epub ahead of print]

Breast cancer pathology, receptor status, and patterns of metastasis in a rural Appalachian population.
Vona-Davis LC, Rose DP, Gadiyaram V, Ducatman BS, Hobbs GR, Hazard HW, Kurian S, Abraham J.
J Cancer Epidemiol. 2014;2014:170634
PMC3913201.

Bone marrow osteoblast vulnerability to chemotherapy.
Gencheva M, Hare I, Kurian S, Fortney JE, Piktel D, Wysolmerski RB, Gibson LF.
Eur J Haematol. 2013;90(6):469-478.
PMC3662303.

A population-based study comparing HRQoL among breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors to propensity score matched controls, by cancer type, and gender.
Lemasters T, Madhavan SS, Sambamoorthi U, Kurian S.
Psychooncology. 2013;22(10):2270-2282.

Overcoming endocrine resistance in breast cancer: role of the PI3K and the mTOR pathways.
Provenzano A, Kurian S, Abraham J.
Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2013;13(2):143-147.

Initial clinical test of a breast-PET scanner.
Raylman RR, Abraham J, Hazard HW, Koren C, Filburn S, Schreiman JS, Kurian S, Majewski S, Marano GD.
J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2011;55(1):58-64.
PMC3081711.

Prognostic significance of the "surprise" question in cancer patients.
Moss AH, Lunney JR, Culp SL, Auber ML, Kurian S, Rogers JS, Dower JM, Abraham J.
J Palliat Med. 2010;13(7):837-840.
 

HONORS AND AWARDS

Distinction/Honors in Forensic Medicine- M.B.B.S, University of Kerala (1987).

Gold Medal for Best Student in Physics, St. Mary’s College, Trichur (1982).

Gold Medal for Best Student in Chemistry, St. Mary’s College, Trichur (1982)

State Merit Scholarship for Academic Excellence, Kerala State (1977-1980).

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

American Society of Hematology (ASH)

American college of Physicians (ACP)

Personal interests:  Traveling; reading; theatre and art

Sobha M. Kurian, MBBS is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Clinical Track in the Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology-Oncology at West Virginia University (WVU) School of Medicine in Morgantown, West Virginia, in the Section of Hematology-Oncology. Dr. Kurian is also a full-time practicing hematologist-oncologist at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Dr. Kurian earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from the University of Kerala. Dr. Kurian trained in Internal Medicine at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey. She then completed her Fellowship in Hematology-Oncology at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. Dr. Kurian is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, and Hematology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Kurian, since completing her training, has maintained a continuous clinical practice in the Section of Hematology-Oncology and on inpatient Oncology teaching wards, focusing on breast cancer and gastrointestinal malignancies. Dr. Kurian currently serves on the WVU Hospitals Anti-thrombotic Subcommittee and with various quality improvement projects. Over the years, she has taught and mentored countless learners as well as numerous young faculty and has been part of the Graduate Medical Education Committee with special focus in the area of health care disparity. she is part of the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Research Committee, mentoring research projects by current hematology-oncology fellows. In the WVU School of Medicine, she plays a role as clinical preceptor for medical students at the Morgantown campus for clinical rotations.

Dr. Kurian has devoted her medical career to providing outreach care to patients in her home state of West Virginia as well as internationally. Locally, Dr. Kurian has participated in Project MUSHROOM, providing access to care to homeless members of her community in Morgantown, West Virginia. Internationally, Dr. Kurian has participated in both providing educational teaching as well as direct clinical care. Dr. Kurian has provided medical oncology updates for physicians practicing internationally through Christian Medical Dental Association, having lectured at international meetings in Thailand and Kenya. Dr. Kurian has also lectured as part of the Global Health Curriculum at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. She has also participated as a supervising clinical faculty member for Internal Medicine residents completing a global health rotation in Honduras as part of West Virginia University School of Medicine’s Global Health program. During her personal time, Dr. Kurian has also participated in several medical outreach trips to Matamoros, Mexico and provided care to Hattian refuges in the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Kurian’s research interests include both clinical and translational research. She is currently serving as principal investigator and sub-investigator in multiple clinical trials focusing in the areas of breast cancer and gastrointestinal oncology. Her research findings, have culminated in a host of publications in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Kurian has a strong vision in the importance of collaboration for the advancement of cancer research and is currently focusing on building a multi-disciplinary team for the improved clinical management of gastro-esophageal malignancies. Dr. Kurian has garnered grant support for her research from academic institutions and industry, working in collaboration with faculty in the WVU School of Pharmacy and WVU Division of Physical Therapy.

At home, Dr. Kurian is the proud mom of two daughters who have followed her footsteps into clinical medicine and proud wife to Dr. Binu Chacko, a fellow faculty member at WVU Hospitals, currently working as an Internal Medicine physician in the department of Community Practice.

Breast Cancer

Funded Research

07/01/11-06/30/12   BCRP:  Breast cancer Collaborative Programmatic Development Grant.  Effect of a 12-week multidisciplinary weight loss program (Fit for the Fight) on BMI, functional capacity, quality of life, and markers of inflammation in overweight and obese women with triple-negative breast cancer:  Swisher (PI)  Goal: To help overweight survivors of hormone-negative breast cancers achieve healthy weight through a program of physical activity and dietary counseling.   Role: Co-Investigator

07/01/03 – 06/30/06  Investigator-initiated, Industry-supported (Merck and Co.)  Quantitative Determination of Substance P in Biological Fluids in Patients Treated with Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy.  The goal of this study was to determine whether changes in substance P levels correlated with the acute and delayed phases of emesis.  Higa (PI)  Role:  Co-Investigator

 6/2000-6/2012  Amgen fellowship Grant  Low dose Temozolomide and Chemoradiation in Glioblastoma- clinical  completed. Investigator initiated Protocol- phase II study, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.Review the safety of concurrent Temolzolamide use with radiation.

Additional Research:

Prevention of Oxaliplatin induced neuropathy through vitamin D Pathway : Role of Vitamin D  supplementation (Collaboration with G. Higa – School of Pharmacy, M. Auber) 2011-current

Effect of exercise in side effect management of Aromatase Inhibitors. Specific interventions to manage small joint symptoms.  (Collaboration with Ann Swisher, Physical therapy) 2011

Role of obesity and Diet in Triple negative Breast markers: Identification of predictive molecular markers and effect of life style modification (collaboration with V. Davis, Dept of surgery) 2010

Breast cancer Research Group-Neurocognitive side effects of chemotherapy in Breast cancer patients. DOD Grant study closed  ( PI: Dr. Abraham)

Medical Specialties

• Cancer / Oncology
• Medical Oncology (Cancer)

Board Certifications

• Hematology, American Board of Internal Medicine
• Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
• Medical Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine

Special Training

• Fellowship, Hematology/Oncology
  West Virginia University, School of Medicine, 2009
• Residency, Internal Mediciine
  Monmouth Medical Center, NJ, 1997