Christopher Heaphy, PhD
Associate Professor, 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.
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
Education
- University of New Mexico School of Medicine, PhD
- University of New Mexico, BS
Publications
- Published on 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 on 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 - Published on 6/20/2024
Graham MK, Xu B, Davis C, Meeker AK, Heaphy CM, Yegnasubramanian S, Dyer MA, Zeineldin M. The TERT Promoter is Polycomb-Repressed in Neuroblastoma Cells with Long Telomeres. Cancer Res Commun. 2024 Jun 20; 4(6):1533-1547. PMID: 38837897.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 5/28/2024
Mori JO, Platz EA, Lu J, Brame A, Han M, Joshu CE, De Marzo AM, Meeker AK, Heaphy CM. Longer prostate stromal cell telomere length is associated with increased risk of death from other cancers. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024; 11:1390769. PMID: 38895181.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 2/9/2024
Pinto LM, Pailas A, Bondarchenko M, Sharma AB, Neumann K, Rizzo AJ, Jeanty C, Nicot N, Racca C, Graham MK, Naughton C, Liu Y, Chen CL, Meakin PJ, Gilbert N, Britton S, Meeker AK, Heaphy CM, Larminat F, Van Dyck E. DAXX promotes centromeric stability independently of ATRX by preventing the accumulation of R-loop-induced DNA double-stranded breaks. Nucleic Acids Res. 2024 Feb 09; 52(3):1136-1155. PMID: 38038252.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 1/18/2024
Mori JO, Keegan J, Flynn RL, Heaphy CM. Alternative lengthening of telomeres: mechanism and the pathogenesis of cancer. J Clin Pathol. 2024 Jan 18; 77(2):82-86. PMID: 37890990.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 10/31/2023
Mori JO, Elhussin I, Brennen WN, Graham MK, Lotan TL, Yates CC, De Marzo AM, Denmeade SR, Yegnasubramanian S, Nelson WG, Denis GV, Platz EA, Meeker AK, Heaphy CM. Prognostic and therapeutic potential of senescent stromal fibroblasts in prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol. 2024 May; 21(5):258-273. PMID: 37907729.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 10/17/2023
Ertunc O, Smearman E, Zheng Q, Hicks JL, Brosnan-Cashman JA, Jones T, Gomes-Alexandre C, Trabzonlu L, Meeker AK, De Marzo AM, Heaphy CM. Chromogenic detection of telomere lengths in situ aids the identification of precancerous lesions in the prostate. Prostate. 2024 Feb; 84(2):148-157. PMID: 37849074.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 7/16/2023
Neyaz A, Crotty R, Rickelt S, Pankaj A, Stojanova M, Michelakos TP, Sekigami Y, Kontos F, Parrack PH, Patil DT, Heaphy CM, Ferrone CR, Deshpande V. Predicting recurrence in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: role of ARX and alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Histopathology. 2023 Oct; 83(4):546-558. PMID: 37455385.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 4/6/2023
Ertunc O, Smearman E, Zheng Q, Hicks JL, Brosnan-Cashman JA, Jones T, Gomes-Alexandre C, Trabzonlu L, Meeker AK, De Marzo AM, Heaphy CM. Chromogenic detection of telomere lengths in situ aids the identification of precancerous lesions in the prostate. bioRxiv. 2023 Apr 06. PMID: 37066381.
Read at: PubMed
View 102 more publications: View full profile at BUMC