Behzad Amoozgar

Dr. Behzad Amoozgar


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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17 January 2025 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
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Ayrton Ilolo BangoloAyrton Ilolo Bangolo
Ayrton Ilolo Bangolo
BABehzad Amoozgar
Behzad Amoozgar
CMCharlene Mansour Mansour
Charlene Mansour Mansour
LZLili Zhang
Lili Zhang
SGSarvarinder Gill
Sarvarinder Gill
CCChristina Cho
Christina Cho
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (or CAR-T) therapy and bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies, offering new options for relapsed or refractory cases. However, these therapies carry risks of early complications, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), and delayed issues like graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), infections, and secondary cancers. Effective management requires early diagnosis using advanced biomarkers and imaging, along with prompt interventions involving immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, and cytokine inhibitors. A multidisciplinary approach is essential, integrating hematologists, oncologists, and infectious disease specialists, with emerging strategies like targeted biologics and personalized medicine showing promise in balancing efficacy with toxicity management. Ongoing research is critical to refine diagnostics and treatments, ensuring that these therapies not only extend survival but also improve patients’ quality of life. This review provides critical insights for healthcare professionals to quickly recognize and treat complications of CAR-T and BsAbs therapies. By focusing on early detection through biomarkers and imaging and outlining timely therapeutic interventions, it aims to equip the multidisciplinary care team with the knowledge necessary to manage the challenges of these advanced treatments effectively, ultimately optimizing patient outcomes.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BABehzad Amoozgar
Behzad Amoozgar
Ayrton Ilolo BangoloAyrton Ilolo Bangolo
Ayrton Ilolo Bangolo
MHMaryam Habibi
Maryam Habibi
CCChristina Cho
Christina Cho
AGAndre Henri Goy
Andre Henri Goy
Multispecific antibodies have redefined the immunotherapeutic landscape in hematologic malignancies. Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), which redirect cytotoxic T cells toward malignant targets via dual antigen engagement, are now established components of treatment for diseases such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and multiple myeloma (MM). Clinical trials of agents like blinatumomab, glofitamab, mosunetuzumab, and teclistamab have demonstrated deep and durable responses in heavily pretreated populations. Trispecific antibodies (TsAbs), although still investigational, represent the next generation of immune redirection therapies, incorporating additional tumor antigens or co-stimulatory domains (e.g., CD28, 4-1BB) to mitigate antigen escape and enhance T-cell persistence. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of BsAbs and TsAbs across hematologic malignancies, detailing molecular designs, mechanisms of action, therapeutic indications, resistance pathways, and toxicity profiles including cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), cytopenias, and infections. We further discuss strategies to mitigate adverse effects and resistance, such as antigen switching, checkpoint blockade combinations, CELMoDs, and construct optimization. Notably, emerging platforms such as tetrafunctional constructs, checkpoint-integrated multispecifics, and protease-cleavable masking designs are expanding the therapeutic index of these agents. Early clinical evidence also supports the feasibility of applying multispecific antibodies to solid tumors. Finally, we highlight the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in multispecific antibody development, including antigen discovery, biomarker-driven treatment selection, toxicity prediction, and therapeutic optimization. Together, BsAbs and TsAbs illustrate the convergence of molecular precision, clinical innovation, and AI-driven personalization, establishing a new paradigm for immune-based therapy across hematologic and potentially solid tumor malignancies.

19 August 2025 in Biomedicines
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Journal Article
Open access
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Ayrton Ilolo BangoloAyrton Ilolo Bangolo
Ayrton Ilolo Bangolo
BABehzad Amoozgar
Behzad Amoozgar
LZLili Zhang
Lili Zhang
SGSarvarinder Gill
Sarvarinder Gill
DMDaniel Lushimba Milolo
Daniel Lushimba Milolo
KMKelley B Mowatt-Pesce
Kelley B Mowatt-Pesce
Hemophilias and hemoglobinopathies—including hemophilias A and B, sickle cell disease (SCD), and β-thalassemia—are debilitating genetic disorders associated with significant global health burdens. While traditional management has centered on factor replacement and transfusions, these approaches remain palliative, with limited access and durability in many regions. Recent advances in immune-based therapeutics (e.g., emicizumab, concizumab, crizanlizumab), viral vector-mediated gene addition (e.g., Roctavian, Hemgenix), and gene-modified autologous stem cell therapies (e.g., Zynteglo, Casgevy) have ushered in a new era of disease-modifying and potentially curative interventions. These therapies offer durable efficacy and improved quality of life, particularly in adult populations. However, implementation remains uneven across global health systems due to high costs, limited infrastructure, and regulatory heterogeneity. Additionally, ethical considerations such as long-term surveillance, informed consent in vulnerable populations, and social perceptions of genetic modification present ongoing challenges. Innovations such as multiplex genome editing, immune-evasive donor platforms, synthetic biology, and AI-driven treatment modeling are poised to expand therapeutic horizons. Equitable access, particularly in regions bearing the highest disease burden, will require collaborative funding strategies, regional capacity building, and inclusive regulatory frameworks. This review summarizes the current landscape of curative therapy, outlines implementation barriers, and calls for coordinated international action to ensure that transformative care reaches all affected individuals worldwide.

23 June 2025 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BABehzad Amoozgar
Behzad Amoozgar
Ayrton Ilolo BangoloAyrton Ilolo Bangolo
Ayrton Ilolo Bangolo
AMAbdifitah Mohamed
Abdifitah Mohamed
CMCharlene Mansour Mansour
Charlene Mansour Mansour
DEDaniel Elias
Daniel Elias
SRSiddhartha Reddy
Siddhartha Reddy
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a significant barrier to the success of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), contributing to long-term morbidity and non-relapse mortality in both pediatric and adult populations. Central to GVHD pathophysiology is the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway, where JAK2 mediates key pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF. These cytokines promote donor T cell activation, effector differentiation, and target organ damage. The introduction of ruxolitinib, a selective JAK1/2 inhibitor, has transformed the treatment landscape for steroid-refractory acute and chronic GVHD, leading to improved response rates and durable symptom control. However, its limitations—such as cytopenias, infectious complications, and incomplete responses—have catalyzed the development of next-generation agents. In 2024, the FDA approved axatilimab, a CSF-1R inhibitor that targets monocyte-derived macrophages in fibrotic chronic GVHD, and remestemcel-L, an allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cell therapy, for pediatric steroid-refractory acute GVHD. Both agents offer mechanistically distinct and clinically meaningful additions to the therapeutic armamentarium. In parallel, emerging combination strategies involving JAK2 inhibitors and novel biologics show promise in enhancing immune tolerance while preserving graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effects. Recent advances in biomarker development, such as the MAGIC Algorithm Probability (MAP), are enabling early risk stratification and response prediction. The integration of these tools with organ-specific and personalized approaches marks a shift toward more precise, durable, and tolerable GVHD therapy. This review highlights the current state and future direction of JAK2 inhibition and complementary therapies in the evolving GVHD treatment paradigm.

25 January 2025 in Diseases
Verified
Journal Article
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Ayrton Ilolo BangoloAyrton Ilolo Bangolo
Ayrton Ilolo Bangolo
VNVignesh Krishnan Nagesh
Vignesh Krishnan Nagesh
HTHadrian Hoang-Vu Tran
Hadrian Hoang-Vu Tran
BSBrooke Sens
Brooke Sens
DEDaniel Elias
Daniel Elias
JKJohn Bukasa kakamba
John Bukasa kakamba
Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), a malignancy originating from the epithelial cells of bile ducts, has shown a notable rise in its incidence over the years. It ranks as the second most frequent primary liver cancer after hepatocellular carcinoma. This study investigates how independent prognostic factors, specifically, age and tumor stage, interact to impact mortality in ICC patients. Furthermore, it examines the clinical features, survival rates, and prognostic indicators of ICC cases diagnosed between 2010 and 2017. Methods: Using data from 5083 patients obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, this study evaluated demographic and clinical factors alongside overall mortality (OM) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM). Variables achieving a p-value below 0.1 in univariate Cox regression analysis were incorporated into multivariate Cox regression models to identify independent prognostic factors. Hazard ratios (HRs) exceeding 1 were interpreted as markers of poor prognosis. Additionally, this study explored the interaction between age and tumor stage in shaping survival outcomes. Results: The multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated higher OM in males (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12–1.26, p < 0.01) and residents of metropolitan counties with populations exceeding 250,000 (HR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01–1.31, p < 0.05). Conversely, lower OM was observed in individuals aged 40–59 years (HR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.38–0.89, p < 0.05), those aged 60–79 years (HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43–0.98, p < 0.05), and patients who received radiation therapy (HR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.72–0.85, p < 0.01), chemotherapy (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.51–0.58, p < 0.01), or surgery (HR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.26–0.31, p < 0.01). For CSM, males exhibited higher risks (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10–1.25, p < 0.01), as did individuals in metropolitan counties with populations over 250,000 (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.03–1.35, p < 0.05). Reduced CSM was observed in patients aged 40–59 years (HR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.34–0.79, p < 0.01), those aged 60–79 years (HR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.38–0.86, p < 0.01), and those undergoing radiation therapy (HR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.70–0.83, p < 0.01), chemotherapy (HR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.51–0.59, p < 0.01), or surgery (HR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.25–0.30, p < 0.01). When examining the interaction between age and tumor stage, higher OM was observed in patients aged 40–59 with tumors involving lymph nodes (HR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.14–2.67, p < 0.05). Similarly, CSM was elevated in patients aged 40–59 with lymph node involvement alone (HR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.26–5.36, p < 0.05) or with direct spread (HR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.04–7.61, p < 0.05). Among those aged 60–79, higher CSM was noted in cases with lymph node involvement only (HR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.11–4.50, p < 0.05) or lymph node involvement accompanied by direct extension (HR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.10–7.82, p < 0.05). Conclusions: This retrospective analysis, utilizing data from the SEER database, provides new insights into mortality patterns in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). This study identifies a significant interplay between two key prognostic factors, emphasizing their collective role in influencing mortality outcomes. Despite the predominance of advanced-stage diagnoses, our analysis underscores the substantial survival benefits associated with treatment interventions, with surgical procedures demonstrating the most pronounced impact. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing patients who may benefit from timely and intensive therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, the results underscore the need for future prospective randomized studies to deepen our understanding of these interactions in ICC, particularly as advancements in precision oncology continue to refine patient care.

31 October 2024 in Medical Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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Ayrton Ilolo BangoloAyrton Ilolo Bangolo
Ayrton Ilolo Bangolo
BABehzad Amoozgar
Behzad Amoozgar
ATAbhishek Thapa
Abhishek Thapa
Wardah BajwaWardah Bajwa
Wardah Bajwa
VNVignesh Krishnan Nagesh
Vignesh Krishnan Nagesh
SWSimcha Weissman
Simcha Weissman
Background: Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML) is a rare and aggressive form of leukemia with characteristics of both myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs). This study aims to explore the clinical features, survival outcomes, and prognostic factors in CMML patients over the past 20 years using a large sample. Methods: The study data from 4124 patients diagnosed with CMML between 2000 and 2017 were sourced from the SEER database. Demographic and clinical characteristics, along with overall and cancer-specific mortality, were examined. Factors with a p-value < 0.01 in univariate Cox regression were included in the multivariate Cox model to identify independent prognostic factors, with hazard ratios (HRs) greater than one indicating adverse outcomes. Results: The majority of the cohort were male (61.57%), and most diagnoses occurred between ages 60–79 (55.16%), with a small percentage under 40 (1.41%). Non-Hispanic whites represented the largest racial group (79.03%). Multivariate analysis showed higher mortality in males, those aged 80+, residents in metropolitan areas with populations between 250,000 and 1 million, single or widowed individuals, and those who underwent chemotherapy. Conversely, lower mortality was associated with an annual income of $75,000+. Conclusions: CMML remains a rare and highly aggressive hematologic disorder. This U.S.-based retrospective cohort study identified male gender, advanced age, single or widowed status, and chemotherapy as independent poor prognostic factors. While it is expected that older patients and those requiring chemotherapy would have a poorer prognosis, the higher mortality risk in single or widowed patients, as well as males, warrants further investigation. The early involvement of family and community support may help reduce mortality in these groups, suggesting a need for larger prospective studies to explore these associations further.