Christopher A. Klebanoff, MD

The ability to use a patient’s own immune system as a form of cancer treatment — immunotherapy — is revolutionizing how we attack many cancers. My goal is to bring these advances to people with breast cancer, a disease for which we are still discovering immunotherapy’s full potential. To this end, I am a member of the Center for Cell Engineering and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where I am involved in both clinical trials and laboratory research that aim to bring the most promising immunotherapies to our patients. My expertise is in cellular therapy and genetic engineering, immune-stimulating antibodies and hormones (also called cytokines), and cancer vaccines.

Like many others, my family has been impacted by cancer. I have firsthand experience with how devastating a cancer diagnosis can be, and this guides every interaction I have with my patients and their families. It’s my goal to provide them with a full understanding of the nature of their disease, the treatment options available, and the evidence that supports these options. I believe it’s critical to present what can be an overwhelming amount of information and medical jargon in a way that makes sense.

In addition to empowering my patients with knowledge and understanding, I also want to empower them by providing clear ways of accessing and communicating with me and other members of their care team throughout their treatment and follow-up care. I never want my patients to feel isolated or alone. This communication and collaboration helps us focus on making people feel physically better and confident that they are receiving a treatment plan tailored to their individual needs and goals.