Christopher Heaphy, PhD

Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Christopher Heaphy is a dedicated cancer biologist whose research combines tissue-based, cell-based, and molecular approaches to investigate the role of telomere alterations in human diseases, with a primary focus on cancer, including prostate cancer, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, breast cancer, sarcomas, and gliomas. His lab conducts both basic and translational research aimed at understanding how these alterations contribute to the initiation and progression of cancer.

The overarching goal of Dr. Heaphy's research program is to leverage molecular insights from the tumor and its microenvironment to advance clinical applications. His work aims to develop strategies for accurately predicting cancer risk, prognosis, and the potential response to targeted therapies.

Dr. Heaphy earned his Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and completed postdoctoral training at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Medicine affiliated with Boston Medical Center and a member of the Boston University-Boston Medical Center (BU-BMC) Cancer Center.

Publications

  • Published 8/8/2025

    Wood-Trageser MA, Nichols CT, Hutchings DA, Bell D, Wald AI, Smith K, Hong SM, Luchini C, Brosens LAA, Verschuur AVD, Bevere M, Lawlor RT, Scarpa A, Keating S, Tucker J, O'Sullivan RJ, Liu TC, McGrath K, Fasanella K, Brand RE, Lennon AM, Das R, Singh H, Slivka A, Mahmood S, Hosmer AE, Khalid A, Romutis SL, Zureikat AH, Zeh HJ, Hogg ME, Lee KK, Paniccia A, Nunns G, Ongchin M, Park WG, Polanco PM, He J, Simeone DM, Ferrone CR, Hsu D, Zhang J, Gorantla V, Rhee J, Hruban RH, Singhi AH, Singhi SA, Wang CK, Shaker N, Bubar R, Grupillo M, Lai YT, Nikiforova MN, Heaphy CM, Waters KM, Singhi AD. Recurrent BEND2 Fusion Genes Identified by Whole Transcriptome Sequencing of Nonfunctional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Correlate With Poor Patient Prognosis. Mod Pathol. 2025 Aug 08; 38(10):100863. PMID: 40784487.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 7/24/2025

    Solivio C, Yuan G, Rizzo AJ, Graham MK, Shenker L, Vista W, Gil A, Singh H, Alexander E, Gonzalez-Aguirre A, Latzman J, Petre EN, Yarmohammadi H, Erinjeri JP, Covey A, Chan E, Russell J, Bodei L, Raj N, Reidy-Lagunes D, Heaphy CM, Ziv E. Loss of DAXX/ATRX Protein Expression Results in Ischemia Resistance and Radiation Sensitivity in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Cells and Is Associated with Improved Response to Trans-Arterial Radioembolization. Neuroendocrinology. 2025; 115(9):730-740. PMID: 40706576.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/4/2025

    Verschuur AVD, Chen L, Nieveen van Dijkum EJ, Luchini C, Halfdanarson TR, Hong SM, Singhi AD, Brosens LAA, Heaphy CM. Management of patients with small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors from a biomarker and surgical perspective. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2025 May 01; 32(5). PMID: 40117346.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/9/2024

    Heaphy CM, Patel S, Smith K, Wondisford AR, Lynskey ML, O'Sullivan RJ, Fuhrer K, Han X, Seethala RR, Liu TC, Cao D, Ertunc O, Zheng Q, Stojanova M, Zureikat AH, Paniccia A, Lee K, Ongchin MC, Pingpank JF, Zeh HJ, Hogg ME, Geller D, Marsh JW, Brand RE, Chennat JS, Das R, Fasanella KE, Gabbert C, Khalid A, McGrath K, Lennon AM, Sarkaria S, Singh H, Slivka A, Hsu D, Zhang JY, Nacev BA, Nikiforova MN, Wald AI, Vaddi N, De Marzo AM, Singhi AH, Bell PD, Singhi AD. Detection of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres via Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization for the Prognostication of PanNETs and Other Neoplasms. Mod Pathol. 2025 Mar; 38(3):100651. PMID: 39522643.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/28/2024

    Sung YN, Stojanova M, Shin S, Cho H, Heaphy CM, Hong SM. Gradual telomere shortening in the tumorigenesis of pancreatic and hepatic mucinous cystic neoplasms. Hum Pathol. 2024 Oct; 152:105653. PMID: 39214240.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 115 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Member, BU-BMC Cancer Center
    Boston University
  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University
  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Websites

Education

  • University of New Mexico School of Medicine, PhD
  • University of New Mexico, BS

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