Susan L. Cohn, MD

  • Professor of Pediatrics
    Committee on Cancer Biology
    Committee on Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics
  • Clinical Interests: Neuroblastoma, Pediatric Hematology, Pediatric Oncology, Solid Tumors in Children, Stem cell transplantation/bone marrow transplantation
  • Research and Scholarly Interests: Biomarkers, Clinical Trials as Topic, Epigenetics, Neuroblastoma, pediatric oncology
  • Websites: Research Network Profile
  • Contact: scohn1@uchicago.edu
  • Graduate Programs: Cancer Biology, UChicago Biosciences

Our long-term research interest is to improve the outcome for children with neuroblastoma. We are conducting laboratory-based research focused on understanding the cellular pathways that drive clinically aggressive neuroblastoma growth in order to identify actionable mutations that can be targeted and tested in clinical trials. We have an active collaboration with Drs. Chuan He and Lucy Godley investigating the epigenetic landscape of neuroblastoma. We are also collaborating with Dr. Sam Volchenboum and Dr. Robert Grossman to build an International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) Data Commons that contain phenotype data on a large cohort of neuroblastoma patients diagnosed around the world. The database was built with technology that allows connections with other databases that contain clinical and genomic information on patients with neuroblastoma diagnosed around the world. These data are available to investigators for data mining studies. Currently, clinical information on >20,000 patients with neuroblastoma are included in the INRG Data Commons. More than 20 research projects have been performed, and many of which would not have been possible with smaller patient cohorts.

Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois
- Fellow in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
1987

Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois
- Resident in Pediatrics
1984

University of Illinois Medical School
Chicago, Illinois
MD
1980

Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinoins
BA - Biology
1976

Impact of Risk-Based therapy on late morbidity and mortality in neuroblastoma survivors: a report from the childhood cancer survivor study.
Impact of Risk-Based therapy on late morbidity and mortality in neuroblastoma survivors: a report from the childhood cancer survivor study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2024 Mar 09.
PMID: 38460547

Factors influencing parents' choice of palliative treatment goals for children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma: A multi-site longitudinal survey study.
Factors influencing parents' choice of palliative treatment goals for children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma: A multi-site longitudinal survey study. Cancer. 2024 04 01; 130(7):1101-1111.
PMID: 38100619

In Memoriam: Sharon B. Murphy, MD (1943-2023).
In Memoriam: Sharon B. Murphy, MD (1943-2023). Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2024 Feb; 71(2):e30797.
PMID: 38037198

Adrenergic and mesenchymal signatures are identifiable in cell-free DNA and correlate with metastatic disease burden in children with neuroblastoma.
Adrenergic and mesenchymal signatures are identifiable in cell-free DNA and correlate with metastatic disease burden in children with neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2024 Jan; 71(1):e30735.
PMID: 37859597

Adrenergic and mesenchymal signatures are identifiable in cell-free DNA and correlate with metastatic disease burden in children with neuroblastoma.
Adrenergic and mesenchymal signatures are identifiable in cell-free DNA and correlate with metastatic disease burden in children with neuroblastoma. bioRxiv. 2023 Sep 01.
PMID: 37693610

Persistence of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Risk and Survival for Patients with Neuroblastoma over Two Decades.
Persistence of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Risk and Survival for Patients with Neuroblastoma over Two Decades. EJC Paediatr Oncol. 2023 Dec; 2.
PMID: 38213818

T-cell inflammation is prognostic of survival in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma enriched for an adrenergic signature.
T-cell inflammation is prognostic of survival in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma enriched for an adrenergic signature. bioRxiv. 2023 Jun 28.
PMID: 37425883

Survival of Patients With Neuroblastoma After Assignment to Reduced Therapy Because of the 12- to 18-Month Change in Age Cutoff in Children's Oncology Group Risk Stratification.
Survival of Patients With Neuroblastoma After Assignment to Reduced Therapy Because of the 12- to 18-Month Change in Age Cutoff in Children's Oncology Group Risk Stratification. J Clin Oncol. 2023 06 10; 41(17):3149-3159.
PMID: 37098238

Multimodality treatment for recurrent neuroblastoma in the central nervous system.
Multimodality treatment for recurrent neuroblastoma in the central nervous system. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2023 04; 70(4):e30227.
PMID: 36720647

Long-Term Morbidity and Mortality Among Survivors of Neuroblastoma Diagnosed During Infancy: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.
Long-Term Morbidity and Mortality Among Survivors of Neuroblastoma Diagnosed During Infancy: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Clin Oncol. 2023 03 10; 41(8):1565-1576.
PMID: 36525618

View All Publications

AACR-Joseph H. Burchenal Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research
University of Chicago
2019

The Samuel Spector Award for Mentorship, Department of Pediatrics
University of Chicago
2018

American Society of Clinical Oncology Pediatric Oncology Award
2016

Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO)
2016

Senior Faculty Scholar in the Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence
University of Chicago
2014

Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Chicago Innovator Award
2012

Treasurer, American Society of Clinical Oncology
2012 - 2015

Pritzker Scholar
University of Chicago
2012