Yasmin Khakoo, MD

Along with my colleagues in the Brain Tumor Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering, I am involved in several clinical trials. We are evaluating novel approaches to treating people who are newly diagnosed or have brain tumors that have come back after earlier treatment. I received funding from the Cycle for Survival Foundation to study low-grade gliomas in children as the principal investigator. My MSK colleagues Neal Rosen, Ingo Mellinghoff, and Jeffrey Greenfield and I obtained tumor tissue samples from people having low-grade gliomas surgically removed. In the laboratory, we studied the effects of novel medications on this tumor tissue and helped identify a new drug to treat these tumors.

I am also conducting research on the development of cerebellar mutism (also called posterior fossa syndrome). This complication is seen in people who have had surgery for medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor in children. People with this syndrome are unable to speak and may have trouble walking, chewing, eating, and swallowing. I also investigate paraneoplastic syndromes in people with neuroblastoma (opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome) and other childhood cancers. Such syndromes may impair walking, talking, and eye movements, resulting from these cancers or their treatment. 

I specialize in research and the care of children with a rare neurologic condition called neurocutaneous melanocytosis. It is sometimes seen in people with large birthmarks (congenital melanocytic nevi). We recently received funding from the Nevus Outreach advocacy group to maintain a registry of these patients. The goal is to identify those at high risk and better understand why some of them develop melanoma of the central nervous system.

Along with J. J. Boelens and other colleagues in the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Service, I am developing novel treatments for genetic and metabolic diseases that affect the central nervous system. These include adrenoleukodystrophy and metachromatic leukodystrophy.

In addition to my clinical and research responsibilities, I teach and supervise residents and fellows. In 2005, I founded MSK’s Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Fellowship, which I directed from 2005 to 2014. I continue to be heavily involved in running the fellowship. Fellows who train at MSK have the benefit of encountering a large volume of patients cared for by an experienced team of leading clinicians.

I was recently awarded admission into a year-long mentorship program through the American Academy of Neurology. This opportunity will enable me to hone my leadership skills and take the MSK Kids Child Neurology Program to the next level.