Carmen Perez, MD, PhD

Overview

When children receive treatment for cancer, care teams must evaluate not only how effectively the therapy will treat the cancer, but how therapy will impact the child. Evaluating the long-term impact of radiotherapy is essential when predicting and minimizing treatment-related risks for children with cancer. My research aims to contribute to the growing body of work that examines the long-term effects of radiation therapy so we can effectively plan targeted treatment approaches that preserve a child’s quality of life.

Perez Research Summary

As treatment methods evolve, so must our understanding of their impact on the human body. As a clinical investigator, I have previously evaluated novel techniques to reduce treatment-related risks while simultaneously improving radiotherapy delivery. My evaluations included modifications to the radiotherapy treatment position and innovative changes in dose and size for treatment fields. My research contributes to an improved understanding of treatment-related toxicity when re-irradiation is used and when radiation-induced skin changes occur.

In the pediatric oncology arena, I work to ensure radiotherapeutic approaches are incorporated into developing clinical trials. As a sub-investigator on an upcoming ependymoma clinical trial, I provide input regarding radiotherapeutic details and contribute to accrual efforts and analysis of clinical data.

As I continue to grow my research focus at St. Jude, my aim is to foster and build internal and external collaborations that expand clinical trial accrual in both cooperative-group and department-initiated studies. Above all, I strive to contribute work that helps the field of radiation oncology deliver effective therapies that mitigate treatment-related risks for children with cancer.

Selected Publications

A radiation therapy contouring atlas for delineation of the level I and II axillae in the prone position: a single-institution experience

Purswani et al. Pract Radiat Oncol, 2024

Risk of radiation dermatitis in patients with skin of color who undergo radiation to the breast or chest wall with and without regional nodal irradiation

Purswani et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2023

Breast cancer screening in survivors of childhood cancer

Gao et al. Radiographics, 2023

Definitive radiation with nodal boost for patients with locally advanced breast cancer

Purswani et al. Pract Radiat Oncol, 2023

Early effectiveness and toxicity outcomes of reirradiation after breast conserving surgery for recurrent or new primary breast cancer

Hardy-Abeloos et al. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 2023

Radiation-induced skin changes after breast or chest wall irradiation in patients with breast cancer and skin of color: a systematic review

Purswani et al. Clin Breast Cancer, 2023

Five-fraction prone accelerated partial breast irradiation: Long-term oncologic, dosimetric, and cosmetic outcome.

Shah et al. Pract Radiat Oncol, 2022

A prospective trial to compare deep inspiratory breath hold with prone breast irradiation

Gerber et al. Pract Radiat Oncol, 2020

See all publications from Dr. Perez

About Carmen Perez

Dr. Carmen A. Perez is a radiation oncologist with nearly a decade of clinical experience as an Attending Physician in collaborative academic environments. She received both her MD and PhD (Biochemistry) from Vanderbilt University and completed residency in radiation oncology at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Perez’s career initially focused on breast cancer, where she co-led a disease management group with dual priorities in providing clinical care while contributing to clinical research at the Perlmutter Cancer Center – NYU Langone Health. Dr. Perez transitioned her career focus to pediatric cancers and joined the St. Jude faculty as an associate member in 2023.

Faculty bio