About

Jarrod D. Predina, MD, MTR, is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is an active surgeon affiliated with Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, Cpl. Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Biology from Case Western Reserve University, and both an MD and a Master of Science in Translational Research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His research and clinical work focus on thoracic surgery, with a particular emphasis on lung cancer and intraoperative molecular imaging techniques. Dr. Predina has contributed to multiple publications in the field, including studies on molecular imaging, tumor vaccination, and lung cancer management.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Radiology
• Surgery
• Cancer research
• Pathology

Selected publications

• L16. Lipid Nanoparticles Encapsulating mRNA Coding For p53 Upregulated Modulator of Apoptosis Catalyze Local and Systemic Anti-Tumor Effects in Murine Models of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

  Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery · 2026-04-24

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• In Situ Tumor Vaccination Using Lipid Nanoparticles to Deliver Interferon-β mRNA Cargo

  Vaccines · 2025-02-13 · 5 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Background: In situ cancer vaccination is a therapeutic approach that involves stimulating the immune system in order to generate a polyclonal, anti-tumor response against an array of tumor neoantigens. Traditionally, in situ vaccination approaches have utilized adenoviral vectors to deliver immune-stimulating genes directly to the tumor microenvironment. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mediated delivery methods offer several advantages over adenoviral delivery approaches, including increased safety, repeated administration potential, and enhanced tumor microenvironment activation. Methods: To explore in situ vaccination using LNPs, we evaluated LNP-mediated delivery of a reporter gene, mCherry, and an immune-stimulating gene, IFNβ, in several in vitro and in vivo models of lung cancer. Results: In vitro experiments demonstrated successful transfection of murine cancer cell lines with LNPs carrying both mCherry and IFN-β mRNA, resulting in high expression levels and IFNβ production. In vivo studies using LLC.ova flank tumors showed that intratumoral injection of IFNβ-mRNA LNPs led to significant IFNβ production within the tumor microenvironment, with minimal systemic exposure. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by injecting established LLC.ova flank tumors with IFNβ-mRNA LNPs bi-weekly for two weeks. Treated tumors showed significant growth inhibition compared to controls. Flow cytometric analysis of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes revealed that tumors injected with IFNβ-mRNA LNPs were associated with an increased CD8:CD4 T-cell ratio among lymphocytes, more CD69-expressing CD8 T-cells, and an increased presence of M1 macrophages. Efficacy and an abscopal effect were confirmed in a squamous cell carcinoma model, MOC1. No toxicity was observed. Conclusions: These findings show that intratumoral LNP delivery of immune-stimulating mRNA transcripts, such as IFNβ, can effectively stimulate local anti-tumor immune responses and warrants further investigation as a potential immunotherapeutic approach for cancer.

  PublisherDOI

• PER ORAL TRANSTHORACIC RENDEZVOUS FOR ENDOSCOPIC CLOSURE OF PERSISTENT GASTROPLEURAL FISTULA THAT FAILED SURGICAL MANAGEMENT

  VideoGIE · 2025-05-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Neoadjuvant intratumoral immune stimulation using gene-mediated cytotoxic immunotherapy for resectable non−small cell lung cancer: 5-Year outcomes

  JTCVS Open · 2025-11-20 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  <h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Objectives</h3> Safety and immunologic priming using neoadjuvant, intratumoral gene-mediated cytotoxic immunotherapy (GMCI) has been established in a phase 1 clinical trial involving patients with resectable non−small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here we examine long-term clinical outcomes of this cohort and compare the results with a comparable contemporaneous control group. <h3>Methods</h3> We performed a retrospective review of a prospective database involving our trial cohort. We then identified comparable patients in a ratio of 5:1 considering pathologic stage, histology, resection extent, and age. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated. Differences in disease-free and overall survival were measured by log-rank test. <h3>Results</h3> Intratumoral GMCI was delivered to 12 patients with NSCLC by endobronchial ultrasound (n = 11) or video-assisted thoracic surgery (n = 1). Among patients receiving GMCI and control patients, more than 70% had stage II or stage III disease. Median follow-up for the surviving patients enrolled was 6.0 years (interquartile range, 5.2-6.7 years). Median diseases-free survival was significantly increased among patients receiving GMCI relative to control (2.4 years vs 1.0 year; <i>P</i> = .04). Median OS in the GMCI group was not reached (8 of 12 patients remain alive) versus 3.0 years in controls and was significant by log-rank at 2-7 years (<i>P</i> = .013-.035). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Neoadjuvant immune stimulation induces local and systemic immune activation, is safe when combined with modern systemic therapies, and may confer long-term oncologic advantages. These data provide a foundation for additional trials exploring intratumoral immunotherapy for patients with NSCLC, especially in conjunction with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A dual diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) alpha/zeta inhibitor augments the activity of human tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in <i>in vivo</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> models

  OncoImmunology · 2025-12-29

  articleOpen access

  in precision-cut tumor slices of both head and neck cancer and NSCLC patient samples. After stimulation of the TILs with anti-CD3 antibodies, we found that the DGKi enhanced gene and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Finally, we demonstrated that the DGKi could augment T cell activation in human tumor slices that were stimulated by an anti-EGFR/anti-CD3 bispecific T cell engager (BiTE). These data demonstrate strong activity of the DGKi in human TILs and highlight promising potential avenues for clinical translation.

  PublisherDOI

• EMBER-Lung: Electronic medical record boosting molecular testing in early stage NSCLC.

  Journal of Clinical Oncology · 2025-05-28

  article

  8075 Background: Actionable alterations are identified in 30-40% of patients with advanced non-squamous (NSq) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although previous efforts focused on testing for actionable alterations in the metastatic setting, the emergence of adjuvant targeted therapies and perioperative chemoimmunotherapy has made it imperative to perform molecular testing in the early stage setting as well. We present a prospective clinical trial evaluating an electronic medical record (EMR)-based nudge intervention to promote timely completion of molecular testing in patients (pts) with early stage NSq NSCLC. Methods: The EMBER-Lung trial prospectively enrolled pts undergoing surgical resection in the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The intervention included an EMR-based nudge at the time of the 1 st post-operative visit prompting the clinician to accept an order for comprehensive molecular testing based on NCCN guidelines. A reflex alert detailing therapeutic options was sent to the pt’s care team provided that the pt had at least one actionable alteration detected and tissue was consistent with NSq NSCLC. The primary endpoint was the proportion of pts who underwent comprehensive molecular testing in the pre and post intervention cohorts. Secondary outcomes included the delivery of appropriate adjuvant targeted therapy if a targetable alteration was detected. Clinical characteristics of the pre- and post-intervention cohorts were compared using the Chi-square test or Z score. Results: Between July 2021 and November 2023, 460 pts were included: 243 pts in the post-, and 217 pts in the pre-intervention cohorts. Median age was 68.4 years, 64.3% female; 74.1% were former or current smokers, and mostly stage I (I/II/III; 75.9%, 14.1%, 10.0%, respectively). Pt demographics, smoking, tumor stage, and histology were similar in the pre- and post-intervention cohorts. The proportion of pts with any molecular testing improved after the intervention (101/217, 46.5% vs 208/243, 85.6%, p&lt;0.00001). Moreover, the proportion of pts whose molecular testing was comprehensive also increased post-intervention (80/217, 36.9% vs 197/243, 81.1%, p&lt;0.00001); and this increase was observed across all stages (I-III). A greater proportion of pts with classical EGFR mutations were detected in the post-intervention setting (14/217, 6.5% vs 41/243, 16.9%, p&lt;0.001). No ALK fusions were detected in the pre-intervention cohort, while 5/243 (2.1%) were detected in the post-intervention cohort. Of note, a higher proportion of KRAS G12C mutations were also found post intervention (12/217, 5.5%, vs 33/243, 13.6%, p&lt;0.01). Conclusions: An EMR-based nudge intervention during the post-operative visit after resection of early stage NSCLC improved the proportion of patients with molecular testing. The intervention was feasible, and future research will incorporate this strategy earlier to inform neoadjuvant therapy.

  PublisherDOI

• Red blood cells function as reservoirs of tumor DNA

  American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology · 2024-03-26 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access

  We present a novel method for lung cancer detection by revealing RBCs as a reservoir for tumor DNA, overcoming the limitations of current circulating tumor ctDNA methodologies. By demonstrating that RBCs can capture tumor DNA, including critical mutations found in lung cancer, we provide a promising, biopsy-free avenue for early cancer diagnostics. This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for developing RBC-based diagnostic tools, significantly enhancing the sensitivity and clinical utility of noninvasive cancer detection.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Phase 2 Multicenter Clinical Trial of Intraoperative Molecular Imaging of Lung Cancer with a pH-Activatable Nanoprobe

  Molecular Imaging and Biology · 2024-07-11 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Intraoperative Molecular Imaging With Pafolacianine in Resection of Occult Pulmonary Malignancy in the ELUCIDATE Trial

  The Annals of Thoracic Surgery · 2024-10-21 · 7 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Clinical studies have demonstrated that intraoperative molecular imaging (IMI) with pafolacianine identifies occult pulmonary lesions that are not identified by preoperative computed tomography or by intraoperative inspection techniques in ∼20% of patients. This study describes occult lesion clinical data and evaluates characteristics so that surgeons can better incorporate this emerging technology into clinical decision making. METHODS: Participants (n = 100) enrolled in a phase 3 trial of IMI with pafolacianine during pulmonary resection (Enabling Lung Cancer Identification Using Folate Receptor Targeting [ELUCIDATE]; NCT04241315) were identified. Participants underwent preoperative computed tomography with 1.25-mm slices. Patient and lesion characteristics were analyzed. Positive predictive value and false positive rates were tabulated for IMI fluorescent lesions, with predictors of malignant vs benign occult lesions described. RESULTS: IMI identified 29 occult lesions in 23 (23%) participants. Seventeen of 29 (58%) lesions were identified within the same lobe as known lesions; 12 of 29 (42%) were identified in a different lobe from the suspicious nodule known by preoperative assessment. Twenty-three of 29 (79%) of occult lesions found by IMI were resected with an additional wedge resection. Ten of 29 (34%) lesions identified by IMI were malignant. There was no additional morbidity in participants with lesions resected. With pafolacianine, 7 participants had a synchronous primary stage I lung cancer identified, and 1 participant had additional metastases identified. CONCLUSIONS: IMI with pafolacianine identifies occult malignant lesions during pulmonary resection despite thorough preoperative imaging and intraoperative assessment by experienced surgeons.

  PublisherDOI

• Heart Transplantation for Uhl Anomaly in an Adult

  JACC Case Reports · 2024-04-04 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Uhl anomaly is characterized by the morphologic absence of right ventricular myocardium and is an exceedingly rare cause of nonischemic cardiomyopathy. We report the first case of a successful heart transplantation in a 41-year-old patient who presented in cardiogenic shock from Uhl anomaly causing decompensated right ventricular failure.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant F32CA210409

  NIH · $132k · 2018

Frequent coauthors

• Sunil Singhal

  78 shared

• Andrew D. Newton

  The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

  40 shared

• Veena Kapoor

  National Cancer Institute

  20 shared

• Steven Μ. Albelda

  19 shared

• Leilei Xia

  18 shared

• Philip S. Low

  Purdue University West Lafayette

  16 shared

• Jane Keating

  Lancaster General Hospital

  15 shared

• Brendan F. Judy

  Johns Hopkins Medicine

  14 shared

Education

• MTR

  University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

  2012

• MD

  University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

  2012

• BA, Biology, Chemistry

  Case Western Reserve

  2006