Etan Orgel

Etan Orgel, MD is an attending physician in the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. His clinical expertise focuses on higher-risk and rare malignant hematology, with international recognition in Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia (MPAL) treatment.

His educational background includes a Master of Science in Clinical and Biomedical Investigations from USC's Department of Preventive Medicine, complementing his medical training in pediatric hematology-oncology.

Dr. Orgel leads a translational research program dedicated to cancer control through toxicity reduction, with two primary focus areas: (1) developing novel otoprotective strategies against cisplatin-induced hearing loss using agents like sodium thiosulfate and dexamethasone thermosensitive gel, and (2) investigating obesity's impact on chemotherapy efficacy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His work examines how adipose tissue influences chemoresistance through mechanisms like fatty acid provision to leukemia cells and altered drug pharmacokinetics.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong emphasis on clinical implementation of toxicity prediction models, multi-institutional practice pattern assessments, and pragmatic trials addressing real-world challenges in pediatric oncology supportive care. His research consistently bridges laboratory findings with clinical applications through Children's Oncology Group collaborations.

As principal investigator of multiple investigator-initiated studies, Dr. Orgel secures research funding focused on improving treatment delivery and quality of life. His leadership extends to the Children's Oncology Group Cancer Control and Supportive Care Committee, where he shapes national research priorities in symptom management.

He directs translational research initiatives at CHLA examining metabolic factors in leukemia treatment response, with particular attention to obesity-related mechanisms of chemoresistance and the development of dietary interventions like the IDEAL trial to optimize chemotherapy outcomes.