Sumanta Kumar Pal

Dr. Sumanta Kumar Pal is a Professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. He serves as Co-director of the Kidney Cancer Program and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs. An internationally recognized leader in kidney cancer research, Dr. Pal has published over 550 PubMed-cited articles in prominent journals including The Lancet, Cancer Cell, and Nature Medicine. He maintains one of the largest portfolios of clinical trials for kidney cancer on the West Coast and has developed an integrated program focusing on collaborations with basic science researchers at the Beckman Research Institute and urologists in the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Pal entered college at age 13 and began medical school at UCLA at age 17. His educational background includes:

• M.D. from David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA (2003)
• B.Sc. Magna Cum Laude from California State University Los Angeles Early Entrance Program (1998)
• Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at City of Hope/Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (2006-2009)
• Residency in Internal Medicine at UCLA Medical Center (2004-2006)

Dr. Pal's research focuses on kidney cancer, particularly rare subtypes like papillary kidney cancer. He has pioneered techniques to modulate the gut microbiome to enhance cancer treatment efficacy. His work spans clinical trials, translational research, and collaborative efforts with basic science researchers. He is well known for his practice-defining work in rare types of kidney cancer and is a pioneer in techniques to modulate the gut microbiome to enhance the impact of cancer treatment.

His extensive publication record demonstrates a strong focus on kidney cancer therapeutics, immunotherapy combinations, and microbiome research. Many studies involve international collaborations and focus on translating laboratory findings into clinical applications for patients with advanced urologic malignancies. His work addresses unmet needs in renal cell carcinoma treatment, quality of life assessment, and biomarker development.

Dr. Pal has received numerous prestigious awards including:

• Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO, 2021)
• City of Hope 5 Star Rating Patient Satisfaction Award (2021, 2023-2025)
• 40 Under 40 in Cancer (2020)
• Los Angeles Business Journal Top Doctor (2020)
• City of Hope Clinical Teaching Award (2020)
• City of Hope Mentor of the Year Award (2018)

Dr. Pal leads multiple clinical trials ranging from early phase 1 to late-stage phase 3 studies. He has received research funding from the National Institute of Health, the Comprehensive Cancer Network, and SWOG Cancer Research Network. His mentorship has been recognized with the City of Hope Mentor of the Year Award, reflecting his commitment to training the next generation of oncologists. He sits on the editorial board for CA: A Journal for Clinicians and European Urology, and hosts the City of Hope podcast, 'On the Edge of Breakthrough: Voices of Cancer Research.'

Dr. Pal developed an integrated kidney cancer program that emphasizes collaboration between the Department of Surgery, urologists, and basic science researchers at the Beckman Research Institute. His goal is to stimulate collaborative research across multiple departments to discover novel therapeutic approaches for currently incurable diseases. He has active memberships in numerous professional organizations including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Society of Immunotherapy for Cancer, and Society of Urologic Oncology.