American Head & Neck Society

Advancing Education, Research, and Quality of Care for the Head and Neck oncology patient.

Robert Saddawi-Konefka – Houston TX

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Robert Saddawi-Konefka

MD Anderson Cancer Center

  • Head and Neck Research
  • Head and Neck Surgeon

1515 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX 77030
United States
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Robert Saddawi-Konefka, MD, PhD is a head and neck surgeon-scientist whose research investigates how regional lymphatics—particularly sentinel lymph nodes—coordinate host immune responses to immunotherapy. His work has helped define the “immune migratome” from tumor to lymph node and demonstrated that preserving tumor-draining lymphatics is critical for effective and durable antitumor immunity. Through translational models and clinical trial design, he aims to develop biomarker-guided, lymphatic-preserving strategies to optimize immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Dr. Saddawi-Konefka will begin an ablative fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2025.

Peer-Reviewed Publications              (h-index 15)

  1. Robert Saddawi-Konefka** & T O’Sullivan** et al. Cancer immunoediting by the innate immune system in the absence of adaptive immunity. JEM 2012; 209:1869-82 ** co-first author
  2. O’Sullivan T, Robert Saddawi-Konefka et al. Interleukin-17D mediates tumor rejection through recruitment of NK cells. Cell Reports 2014; 7:989-98
  3. Robert Saddawi-Konefka et al. Nrf2 Induces IL-17D to Mediate Tumor and Virus Surveillance. Cell Reports 2016; 16 (9), 2348–2358.
  4. Robert Saddawi-Konefka et al. Inverted schneiderian papilloma of the supraglottis: Case report. Laryngoscope 2017; 5, 96–3.
  5. Brittany N. Burton, Sapideh Gilani, Milli Desai, Robert Saddawi-Konefka et al. Perioperative Risk Factors Associated with Outcomes Following Pediatric Inpatient Sinus Surgery. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology 2018; 128, 504-521
  6. Robert Saddawi-Konefka et al. Expression and Significance of IL-17D and CD163 in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. J Gyn Obstet 2018; 2 (1:027).
  7. Ruth Seelige, Robert Saddawi-Konefka et al. IL-17D and Nrf2 expression protects from MCMV infection. Nature Scientific Reports 2018; 8, 13670-84
  8. Parthasarathy, V., Snyder, B., & Robert Saddawi-Konefka. A Lot to Choke on: Case of Adult Epiglottitis with Concurrent Peritonsillar Abscess in a Patient with a Sore Throat. JEM 2018; 55 (6), 841–844
  9. Robert Saddawi-Konefka et al. Transient Abducens Nerve Palsy After SP Block Following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. JAMA-OHNS, 2019; e1–2.
  10. Stramiello, J. A., Saddawi-Konefka, R et al. The role of 3D printing in pediatric airway obstruction_ A systematic review. IJPO 2020; 132, 109923
  11. Finegersh, A, Moss, WJ, Saddawi‐Konefka, R, et al. Meta‐analysis of risk of occult lymph node metastasis in the irradiated, clinically N0 neck. Head & Neck2020; 1– 9.
  12. Klebaner, D., Saddawi-Konefka, R et al. Immunotherapy in sinonasal melanoma: treatment patterns and outcomes compared to cutaneous melanoma. IFAR 2020; 5, 739–9
  13. Wang, Z.… Saddawi-Konefka, R* et al. Disruption of the HER3-PI3K-mTOR oncogenic signaling axis and PD-1 blockade as a multimodal precision immunotherapy in head and neck cancer. Nat Commun. 2021; 12, 2383. *co-corresponding author
  14. Paradis, , Acosta, M., Saddawi-Konefka, R et al. Synthetic Lethal Screens Reveal Co-Targeting FAK and MEK as a Multimodal Precision Therapy for GNAQ-Driven Uveal Melanoma. CCR 2021; 20-3363
  15. Gilardi, M., Saddawi-Konefka, R. et al. Microneedle-mediated intratumoral delivery of anti-CTLA-4 promotes cDC1-dependent eradication of oral squamous cell carcinoma with limited irAEs. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21-0234.
  16. Saddawi-Konefka, R* et al. Lymphatic-Preserving Treatment Sequencing Unleashes cDC1-Dependent Antitumor Immunity in HNSCC. Nat Commun. 2022; 13, 4298 *co-corresponding author
  17. Wu, V. H… Saddawi-Konefka, R et al. The GPCR–Gαs–PKA signaling axis promotes T cell dysfunction and cancer immunotherapy failure. Nat Immunol 2023; 1–13
  18. Monte, O. A. L. … Saddawi-Konefka, R et al. Simulation‐based workshop for emergency preparedness in otolaryngology. LIO 2023; 1139
  19. Arang, N., Ceribelli, M., Rigiracciolo, D., Saddawi-Konefka, R. High throughput chemogenetic drug screening reveals therapeutic signaling vulnerabilities in GNAQ-driven uveal melanoma. Cell Rep Med. 2023; 13
  20. Yun, J., Saddawi-Konefka, R. et al. CHMP2A regulates broad immune cell-mediated antitumor activity in an immunocompetent in vivo head and neck squamous cell carcinoma model. JITC 2024; 12
  21. Saddawi-Konefka, R.*, Schokrpur, S. & Gutkind, J. S*. Let it be: Preserving tumor-draining lymph nodes in the era of immuno-oncology. Cancer Cell. 2024; 42, 930–933 *co-corresponding author
  22. Ferry, A…Saddawi-Konefka, R. The XCL1-XCR1 axis supports intestinal intestinal tissue residency and anti-tumor immunity. 2025; 222
  23. Sen, P…Saddawi-Konefka, R. CBD promotes antitumor activity by modulating tumor immune microenvironment in HPV associated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Frontiers Immunology. 2025; 16

 

Reviews and Book Chapters

  1. Robert Saddawi-Konefka, Crawford, J. R. Chronic viral infection and primary central nervous system malignancy. J NeuroI Pharm 2010; 5:387–403
  2. Robert Saddawi-Konefka et al. Tumor-expressed IL-17D recruits NK cells to reject tumors. Oncoimmunology 2014; 3:12
  3. Robert Saddawi-Konefka, Bui JD. Chapter 29: Tumor Antigen Profiling. Cancer Immunotherapy Principles and Practice. 2017; 489–502.
  4. Robert Saddawi-Konefka, Watson, D. Nonsurgical Treatment of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars. Facial Plast Surg; 2019 35, 260–266.
  5. Robert Saddawi-Konefka, Bui JD. Chapter 29: Tumor Antigen Profiling. Cancer Immunotherapy Principles and Practice, 2nd Edition. 2021; 498–510
  6. Robert Saddawi-Konefka, et al. Defining the Role of Immunotherapy in the Curative Treatment of Locoregionally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: Promises, Challenges, and Opportunities. Frontiers in Oncology. 2021; 11, 738626
  1. Robert Saddawi-Konefka*, et al. HER2 and HER3 as Therapeutic Targets in Head and Neck Cancer. The Cancer Journal: The Journal of Principles & Practice of Oncology. 2022; 28, 339-345 *co-corresponding author