With over 30 years of experience in oncology, Dr. Chawla has built a reputation for advancing both patient care and cancer research. He has served on the clinical faculty of prestigious institutions like:

• UCLA
• USC
• The John Wayne Cancer Institute
• Stanford University
• The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

His extensive experience at these top centers has shaped his ability to provide expert, comprehensive care for patients with complex and rare cancers. He also practices at Cedars-Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center, bringing his expertise to many more patients.

A trailblazer in cancer care and research, Dr. Chawla revolutionized the treatment of osteosarcoma in the 1980s. He developed limb-sparing techniques for young patients, eliminating the need for amputation. Since then, he has continued to lead clinical research across a wide range of cancers, including pancreatic carcinoma, breast cancer, gynecologic tumors, glioblastoma, lung cancer, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and gastrointestinal tumors.

As the founder of the Cancer Center of Southern California, Dr. Chawla ensures that patients receive the latest advances in care through a combination of personalized treatment and access to cutting-edge therapies. The center is recognized as one of the nation’s leading facilities for enrolling patients in clinical trials, offering opportunities to participate in studies that may not be available elsewhere. 

Under Dr. Sant Chawla’s leadership, the focus at the center remains on innovative, patient-centered care that translates scientific breakthroughs into meaningful improvements in outcomes.

Dr. Chawla has conducted more than 60 clinical trials that have led to FDA and EMA approval of breakthrough cancer drugs, such as carboplatin, trabectedin (Yondelis), pazopanib, eribulin, aprepitant, and denosumab. 

Most recently, his leadership at the Sarcoma Oncology Center produced a landmark Phase II trial of Aldoxorubicin for soft tissue sarcomas. The study showed that patients lived longer without their cancer getting worse. They also had a better overall survival rate, without the heart damage often caused by standard treatments like doxorubicin. This was a major step forward in sarcoma care.

Dr. Chawla’s decades of clinical and research contributions have laid the foundation for new therapies that continue to shape the future of cancer treatment. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and also presented his work at leading medical conferences. Through these efforts, his research not only brings hope to patients facing rare and complex cancers but also sets new standards in oncology worldwide.