Stephen P. Hunger
· Professor of Pediatrics (Oncology)VerifiedUniversity of Pennsylvania · Rehabilitation Medicine
Active 1990–2026
About
Stephen P. Hunger, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics (Oncology) at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He serves as an Attending Physician and the Chief of the Division of Oncology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he is also the Director of the Center for Childhood Cancer Research. Additionally, he holds the position of Associate Director for Pediatric Research at the Abramson Cancer Center and is a member of its Executive Committee. His professional focus is on pediatric oncology, with a particular emphasis on childhood cancer research. His contributions include leadership roles in clinical and translational research initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for children with cancer. His work involves integrating genomic analysis, personalized digital health interventions, and innovative treatment strategies to advance pediatric cancer care.
Research topics
- Computer Science
- Medicine
- Internal medicine
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- Computational biology
- Genetics
- Biology
- Bioinformatics
- World Wide Web
- Pathology
Selected publications
Pediatric Blood & Cancer · 2026-01-05
articleBACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL) is impacted in children treated for leukemia. AALL0932 randomized reduction in vincristine/dexamethasone (VCR/DEX) pulses every 4 versus 12 weeks during maintenance in the average-risk subset of NCI standard risk B-ALL (NCI-SR AR B-ALL). We longitudinally assessed physical and emotional QOL, behavioral health, and school services by randomization. PROCEDURE: NCI-SR AR B-ALL English-speaking patients aged ≥4 years were evaluated at T1-T5 (∼2, 9, 18, 26 months [females treatment end], and 38 [males only] months from diagnosis) with parent-report. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-4.0 and school services survey were administered longitudinally, and the Behavior Assessment Scale for Children-2 at therapy end. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 420 consented and randomized participants (mean 6.0±1.6 years, 45.7% female). Impairment among randomized participants at T2 and T4, respectively, was 11.3% and 12.5% for physical, and 12.2% and 9.8% for emotional function. In longitudinal models adjusting for race/ethnicity, time, and baseline impairment, pulse frequency was not associated with impairment (physical odds ratio [OR] = 0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.5-1.8; emotional OR = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.5-1.7). T2 impairment was associated with increased risk of post-randomization impairment for physical (OR = 4.3, 95% CI: 1.9-9.9) and emotional (OR = 4.9, CI: 2.3-10.5) function. Approximately 73.8% reported one or more school-based service during treatment: special education/accommodations (67.6%) and physical/occupational therapy (8.8%). Depression (20%) and anxiety (19%) did not differ by pulse frequency. DISCUSSION: Children with NCI-SR AR B-ALL experience diminished QOL, despite reduced frequency of VCR/DEX maintenance pulses. Impairment begins early during ALL therapy and persists; interventions should commence early and continue throughout and after therapy.
Pediatric Blood & Cancer · 2026-04-10
articleOpen accessBlinatumomab has been shown to be highly effective for patients with pediatric B-ALL and has recently become standard of care therapy. Due to its past use in the clinical trial setting, there is limited information available about real-world administration. In this brief report, we describe our institutional experience administering blinatumomab during the first year as standard of care therapy, including initial challenges in providing access to patients without home health coverage. We describe our process for developing and implementing a process for hospital-dispensed blinatumomab, which reduced access barriers for patients.
Blood Advances · 2026-04-15
articleOpen accessPatients with central nervous system (CNS) disease at diagnosis on Children's Oncology Group (COG) B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) trials AALL0331 and AALL0232 had inferior outcomes, largely secondary to CNS relapse. In response, for patients with newly diagnosed B-ALL enrolled on COG studies AALL0932 and AALL1131, therapy was adjusted to incorporate additional intrathecal cytarabine during induction for patients with low level CNS involvement (CNS2). We evaluated the impact of this intervention. Event-free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) were compared among CNS2 patients pre- versus post-amendment, stratified by receipt of a 3-drug (SR) or 4-drug (HR) induction. Multivariable models were constructed to adjust for demographic and disease variables. When stratified by trial, pre- and post-amendment patients with CNS2 status did not differ significantly by demographic or disease factors. Additional intrathecal cytarabine doses during induction did not improve outcomes for patients with B-ALL. Multivariable analyses adjusting for disease prognosticators, race/ethnicity, and leukemia cytogenetics did not identify any subpopulation that significantly benefited from additional intrathecal cytarabine. Additional intrathecal cytarabine during induction for CNS2 patients did not improve outcomes or mitigate the adverse prognostic impact of CNS2 status in B-ALL. Future COG B-ALL studies will not include additional intrathecal cytarabine in induction for patients with CNS2 disease. Alternative treatment strategies are needed for patients with CNS2 disease.
Leukemia · 2026-04-29
articleOpen accessBlood Cancer Discovery · 2026-02-12
articleOpen accessIn the original version of this article (1), in Fig. 3B, patients with high-risk NGS but low-risk MRD and WBC were inadvertently misclassified as "adverse" rather than in the correct "intermediate" risk category.
Transplantation and Cellular Therapy · 2026-02-01
articleTransplantation and Cellular Therapy · 2026-02-01
articleBlood Advances · 2026-04-15
articleOpen accessJournal of Clinical Oncology · 2026-01-05
article2025-11-24
articleOpen access<p>Figure S1: Workflow for RNA-seq gene mapping and quantification</p>
Recent grants
NIH · $69k
NIH · $2.9M · 2017
NIH · $1.7M · 2012
Center for Pediatric Tumor Cell Atlas - Admin Supplement
NIH · $16.2M · 2023–2025
NIH · $30.1M · 2011
Frequent coauthors
- 1351 shared
Meenakshi Devidas
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- 1097 shared
Mignon L. Loh
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- 1047 shared
William L. Carroll
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- 905 shared
Elizabeth A. Raetz
NYU Langone Health
- 840 shared
Naomi J. Winick
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- 693 shared
Cheryl L. Willman
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- 641 shared
Michael J. Borowitz
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- 492 shared
Bruce M. Camitta
Medical College of Wisconsin
Education
- 1981
B.S., Applied Biology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- 1985
M.D.
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Awards & honors
- The ASPHO 2025 Distinguished Career Award
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