Pallawi Torka, MD

I have trained at some of the best medical institutes in India, and my goal in coming to the United States was to contribute to the remarkable advances happening in oncology. I was fortunate to train at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (RPCCC) in Buffalo, New York, which is among the two oldest cancer institutes in the US, along with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). I joined RPCCC as an assistant professor of oncology specializing in the care of patients with lymphoma and CLL. I spent seven years there serving the community and studying various aspects of lymphoma.

While at RPCCC, I was selected among the top doctors in Buffalo for three consecutive years and presented my research at numerous national and international conferences. I served on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) panel for Hodgkin lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, and primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma and also contributed to national guidelines for these diseases.

At MSK, my goal is to apply my expertise and experience to continue providing compassionate, state-of-the-art care to patients and families dealing with lymphoma. My research is geared towards developing novel therapeutic strategies in patients with aggressive lymphomas, especially in adults over 60 years of age. Older adults have not benefited from advances in cancer therapy as much as their younger counterparts. My research focuses on understanding the reasons behind these disparities and systematically addressing them.

I believe that the introduction of newer treatment modalities (such as targeted therapies given with oral agents and immunotherapy given with bispecific antibodies) early in the course of disease can help older patients get better outcomes without the toxicities of traditional chemotherapy. I also think that it is extremely important to consider the biological age rather than just the chronological age while personalizing treatment for older adults. Patients’ actual age is just a number; it is important to comprehensively evaluate each patient’s fitness to assess their “biological age” before deciding on therapy. I intend to study aging biology to identify biomarkers of response and tolerance to treatments that can be implemented in clinical practice in lymphoma. These biomarkers may also be able to predict long-term side effects of cancer treatment.

I am passionate about patient and trainee education and have served as the associate program director of the hematology-oncology fellowship program at Roswell Park/University of Buffalo. I like to empower my patients and their families with as much information as possible so that together, we can make the best choice for them. Being part of a comprehensive cancer center such as MSK gives me the privilege of applying novel research principles and using promising drugs for my patients long before these therapies are available anywhere else. Every day, I strive to improve the lives of people with lymphoma and hope to see the end of this disease in my lifetime.

Outside of the clinic, I like to read fiction. I used to be a voracious reader of science and fantasy fiction and an avid painter, but life has become busy with two daughters who keep me on my toes. I love biking and yoga when I can, but most days are spent enjoying time and traveling with my family. We love exploring new places and cultures.