Dr. Raffit Hassan is a medical oncologist whose work focuses mostly on mesothelioma<\/a> \u2014 a rare kind of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.<\/p>\n As a leading researcher at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)<\/a>, Dr. Hassan is particularly focused on developing immunotherapy for patients with solid tumors. He hopes his research will prompt a cure for mesothelioma in the near future.<\/p>\n Dr. Hassan is currently chief of the Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch at the NCI. He is also the senior investigator of the Head, Thoracic and Solid Tumor Immunotherapy Section at the Center for Cancer Research.<\/p>\n Working for the NCI allows Dr. Hassan to investigate rare cancers. Researching diseases in government-operated agencies such as the NCI is often easier because surgeons do not need to wait for insurance companies to reimburse associated fees.<\/p>\n Clinical trials<\/a> can often run more smoothly and faster in publicly funded facilities than in privately managed cancer centers.<\/p>\n Dr. Hassan is a renowned researcher and published author. His career highlights include notable clinical trials focusing on developing targeted immunotherapy<\/a> and immunotoxins.<\/p>\n He also has experience investigating mesothelin-targeted agents for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dr. Hassan has worked extensively with SS1P, an anti-mesothelin immunotoxin. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown positive results with SS1P as a therapeutic target for cancer. He is dedicated to improving the effectiveness of SS1P in the hope that it can save thousands of lives in the U.S. each year.<\/p>\n Additionally, Dr. Hassan has worked on the CRS-2017 mesothelioma vaccine<\/a>. One main issue with immunotherapy is that the human body produces antibodies that fight off the new substances entering the body.<\/p>\n In this case, he has found that the immune system must be temporarily delayed during the procedure to give the antibodies a chance to fight mesothelioma tumors.<\/p>\n Find a mesothelioma specialist like Dr. Hassan near you with our Free Doctor Match<\/strong>.<\/p>\nDr. Hassan\u2019s Career Highlights<\/h2>\n