About

Benjamin Cooper, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and serves as the Site Director at PCC 34th campus, as well as the Director of Proton Therapy Services. His interest in radiation oncology was sparked by a patient with prostate cancer who experienced spinal cord compression and subsequently regained full use of his legs after radiation therapy. Dr. Cooper manages skin cancers, primarily melanoma and squamous cell cancer, as well as lung cancer. He also cares for children with solid tumors such as brain cancer, sarcoma, and Wilms tumor. His approach includes offering several types of radiation therapy, including stereotactic body radiation therapy, which delivers precise doses in fewer sessions than traditional methods. As the director of proton therapy services, he provides targeted radiation treatment using proton therapy, which employs electrically charged particles called protons to destroy tumor cells with greater focus, reducing damage to healthy tissue. Dr. Cooper collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to expedite patient care and emphasizes mutual decision-making with his patients to maximize their quality of life. His research includes studying the potential of combining immunotherapy with radiation to improve treatment success rates for various cancers, and he received a Merit Award from Conquer Cancer, the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s foundation, in 2015 for his work on gastrointestinal cancer.

Research topics

• Nursing
• Psychiatry
• Medical education
• Pathology
• Psychology
• Surgery
• Medicine
• Physical therapy
• Medical physics

Selected publications

• Corrigendum to ‘Advances in the Basic Sciences in Thoracic Oncology in the Last 20 Years and Their Translational Impact’ [Journal of Thoracic Oncology Volume 21 Issue 1 (2026) 41-76]

  Journal of Thoracic Oncology · 2026-02-13

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Advances in the Basic Sciences in Thoracic Oncology in the Last 20 Years and Their Translational Impact

  Journal of Thoracic Oncology · 2026-01-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• TIP-15. Trial in progress: phase IB study of concurrent Azeliragon, a RAGE inhibitor, with craniospinal irradiation in patients with leptomeningeal metastases

  Neuro-Oncology · 2025-11-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) can cause debilitating neurologic symptoms and are associated with a poor prognosis. Compared to involved-field radiation therapy, craniospinal irradiation (CSI) improves progression free survival and overall survival. Recent studies have shown that inhibiting the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) may mitigate tumorigenesis, neuroinflammation, and potentiate response to radiation. This trial assesses the safety of concurrent Azeliragon, an oral RAGE inhibitor, with CSI. We designed a single institution, open-label, phase IB trial assessing the safety of concurrent Azeliragon with CSI in patients with LM (NCT06724926). Patients with KPS ≥60 and progressive radiographic and/or CSF cytologic diagnosis of LM from a solid tumor or primary CNS high-grade glioma are eligible. In the dose finding phase, a 3 + 3 design is used to determine the recommended dose of Azeliragon. In this phase, 6-18 patients will be enrolled and given a loading dose of Azeliragon 7 days prior to starting 14 days of concurrent Azeliragon and CSI, followed by 7 days of adjuvant Azeliragon. Once the recommended dose is identified, an additional 14 patients will be enrolled in the dose expansion phase. CSI will be delivered with protons or VMAT photons to a dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions per investigator’s choice. The primary objective is to determine the safety profile of concurrent Azeliragon and CSI. The secondary objective is to estimate CNS progression free survival and overall survival. Time-to event outcomes will be analyzed with Kaplan-Meier curves. Patient and disease characteristics will be analyzed descriptively. This study was activated on 2/19/2025 with 6 patients (2 patients with metastatic solid tumors and 4 patients with high grade gliomas) enrolled at time of submission.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Expedited multidisciplinary pain management in patients with metastatic cancer.

  JCO Oncology Practice · 2025-10-01

  article

  319 Background: Pain from metastatic cancer is often debilitating, undertreated, and requires multimodality care. Unfortunately, complex coordination and scheduling limitations can delay treatment. We implemented a pilot program that expedited pain management for patients with metastatic cancer experiencing significant pain. Methods: A rapid pain response team (RPRT) was assembled, including medical, radiation and supportive oncology. Patients with metastatic cancer who reported a pain score of 7 or higher out of 10 to their oncologist were referred to the RPRT pilot for consultation with supportive and radiation oncology within 48 hours. The pilot included patients with metastatic cancer, primarily lung, breast and prostate cancers. Patients who received multimodality care were followed, with pain scores and opioid use tracked weekly for four weeks after the last radiation treatment. Results were compared to a retrospective control cohort of patients with metastatic cancer who had a radiation oncology consultation in 2023 and a pain score of 7 or greater. Differences between the groups were analyzed using a Student’s t-test. Results: Between September 2024 and April 2025, 27 patients were enrolled in the pilot. Most were male (N = 15) with a median age of 65 years old (41-90) and had non-small cell lung cancer (N = 17). Eighteen patients received multimodality care, 15 of which completed 4 week follow-up. The control group included 29 patients, of which 13 received multimodality care, and 16 had pain scores available 4 weeks after radiation. The mean time from referral to supportive oncology and radiation oncology consultation was significantly decreased in pilot patients, 0.4 vs 11.7 days (p < 0.001), and 1.3 vs 8.0 days (p < 0.001) respectively. The mean time from referral to the start of radiotherapy was also significantly shorter in the pilot, 6.7 vs 27.6 days (p < 0.001). The mean initial pain scores were similar between cohorts, pilot 8.6 vs control 8.1 (p = 0.07). For pilot and control patients who had pain scores available at 4 weeks after radiation, final pain scores also were similar, 1.9 pilot vs 2.9 control (p = 0.36). In the pilot, pain scores decreased during the 4 weeks after radiation. Patients’ mean pain scores were 4.5 at week 1, 3.1 at week 2, 2.9 at week 3 and 1.9 at week 4. For pilot patients who completed follow up, 6 (40%) patients had stable opioid use, 9 (60%) patients had decreased opioid use, 4 (26.7%) of which discontinued all opioid use. Conclusions: Compared to the control cohort, patients in this pilot experienced expedited pain relief and on average started radiation 3 weeks earlier from time of referral. Further, pilot patients reported pain score improvement and stable to decreased use of opioids by 4 weeks post radiation. Given the limited life expectancy of this population, prompt pain management is extraordinarily valuable.

  PublisherDOI

• Data from Phase 1b Study of Dazostinag plus Pembrolizumab after Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Patients with Select Advanced Solid Tumors

  2025-12-31

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  <div>AbstractPurpose:<p>We present the preclinical rationale and clinical data from a phase 1b trial investigating the STING agonist dazostinag plus pembrolizumab following hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), or squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) whose disease had progressed on prior checkpoint inhibitors (CPI; NCT04879849).</p>Patients and Methods:<p>Eligible patients received radiation (8 Gy × 3 fractions) followed (≥40 hours) by pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks and dazostinag in escalating doses (0.2–5.0 mg). Primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints included preliminary antitumor activity in irradiated and nonirradiated lesions, pharmacokinetic analyses, and pharmacodynamic analyses.</p>Results:<p>Preclinical studies demonstrated tumor control and enhanced intratumoral immune activation in mice treated with dazostinag plus radiation. Thirty-four patients (NSCLC: 15, SCCHN: 10, and TNBC: 9) with a median number of six prior treatments were enrolled. Thirty-three (97.1%) patients reported treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE), none were dose-limiting toxicities; the most common were fatigue (52.9%), constipation (26.5%), and cough (20.6%). Dazostinag-related TEAEs occurred in 17 patients (50.0%); the most common were fatigue (26.5%), chills (8.8%), diarrhea, arthralgia, and myalgia (5.9% each). Antitumor activity, per RECIST v.1.1, was confirmed in two (7.1%) patients (one complete response and one partial response). Pharmacodynamic analyses indicated activation of STING and IFNγ pathways across multiple dose levels and induced immune responses, consistent with preclinical studies.</p>Conclusions:<p>Dazostinag, combined with pembrolizumab after RT, was well tolerated and demonstrated clinical activity in some patients with advanced/metastatic tumors whose disease had progressed on CPIs.</p>Significance:<p>Dazostinag, an intravenous STING agonist, combined with radiation, demonstrated tumor control and enhanced intratumoral immune activation, preclinically. In phase 1b, dazostinag plus pembrolizumab following RT had a manageable safety profile and provided clinical benefit for some heavily pretreated patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors whose disease had progressed on CPIs.</p></div>

  PublisherDOI

• Modern Targeted Radiation in Patients With Brain Metastases From Small Cell Lung Cancer

  Journal of Clinical Oncology · 2025-08-12

  editorial1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Supplemental Table S2 from Phase 1b Study of Dazostinag plus Pembrolizumab after Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Patients with Select Advanced Solid Tumors

  2025-12-31

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  <p>Preclinical pharmacodynamic evaluation (groups)</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Phase 1b Study of Dazostinag plus Pembrolizumab after Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Patients with Select Advanced Solid Tumors

  Cancer Research Communications · 2025-11-26 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  PURPOSE: We present the preclinical rationale and clinical data from a phase 1b trial investigating the STING agonist dazostinag plus pembrolizumab following hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), or squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) whose disease had progressed on prior checkpoint inhibitors (CPI; NCT04879849). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients received radiation (8 Gy × 3 fractions) followed (≥40 hours) by pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks and dazostinag in escalating doses (0.2-5.0 mg). Primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints included preliminary antitumor activity in irradiated and nonirradiated lesions, pharmacokinetic analyses, and pharmacodynamic analyses. RESULTS: Preclinical studies demonstrated tumor control and enhanced intratumoral immune activation in mice treated with dazostinag plus radiation. Thirty-four patients (NSCLC: 15, SCCHN: 10, and TNBC: 9) with a median number of six prior treatments were enrolled. Thirty-three (97.1%) patients reported treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE), none were dose-limiting toxicities; the most common were fatigue (52.9%), constipation (26.5%), and cough (20.6%). Dazostinag-related TEAEs occurred in 17 patients (50.0%); the most common were fatigue (26.5%), chills (8.8%), diarrhea, arthralgia, and myalgia (5.9% each). Antitumor activity, per RECIST v.1.1, was confirmed in two (7.1%) patients (one complete response and one partial response). Pharmacodynamic analyses indicated activation of STING and IFNγ pathways across multiple dose levels and induced immune responses, consistent with preclinical studies. CONCLUSIONS: Dazostinag, combined with pembrolizumab after RT, was well tolerated and demonstrated clinical activity in some patients with advanced/metastatic tumors whose disease had progressed on CPIs. SIGNIFICANCE: Dazostinag, an intravenous STING agonist, combined with radiation, demonstrated tumor control and enhanced intratumoral immune activation, preclinically. In phase 1b, dazostinag plus pembrolizumab following RT had a manageable safety profile and provided clinical benefit for some heavily pretreated patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors whose disease had progressed on CPIs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Supplemental Figure S2 from Phase 1b Study of Dazostinag plus Pembrolizumab after Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Patients with Select Advanced Solid Tumors

  2025-12-31

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  <p>Supplementary Figure S2</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Figure 3 from Phase 1b Study of Dazostinag plus Pembrolizumab after Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Patients with Select Advanced Solid Tumors

  2025-12-31

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  <p>scRNA-seq data from a single patient with tumor biopsy prior to and after dazostinag and pembrolizumab administration following RT. <b>A,</b> UMAP of lymphocytes colored by cell type (left) and sampling time (right). <b>B,</b> Cell type ratio to total lymphocytes in screen and C1D15 samples, with NK and NKT-like cells highlighted in dashed box. <b>C,</b> Hallmark GSEA of upregulated genes in lymphocytes comparing C1D15 with screen samples. <b>D,</b> UMAP of myeloid cells colored based on sampling time (left), and Hallmark GSEA of upregulated genes in myeloid cells comparing C1D15 with screen samples (right). CD, cluster of differentiation; KRAS, Kirsten rat sarcoma virus; mTORC1, mTOR complex 1; NA, not applicable; STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription; Treg, regulatory T cell.</p>

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Claudia I. Henschke

  Mount Sinai Hospital

  17 shared

• Sydney Kantor

  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  16 shared

• Carly Wallace

  Augusta University

  15 shared

• Matthias A. Karajannis

  Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

  13 shared

• David F. Yankelevitz

  13 shared

• Raja M. Flores

  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  13 shared

• Daniel Gorovets

  12 shared

• Leslie J. Kohman

  SUNY Upstate Medical University

  12 shared

Awards & honors

• Merit Award from Conquer Cancer, the American Society of Cli…