Your Cancer Team

Cancer Center of Southern California Physicians

Dr. Chawla is the Director of the Cancer Center of Southern California, a treatment and clinical research facility specializing in advanced cancer therapies. Dr. Chawla and his staff are internationally recognized for their innovative work and ability to help patients for whom standard treatments have proven ineffective. The Center has conducted innovative and ground-breaking clinical research in targeted gene therapy, intra-arterial chemotherapy, the role of oncogenes, the role of monoclonal antibodies in diagnosis and treatment and antiemetics.

Also on staff at the Center is Dr. Doris Quon, who received her M.D./PhD from UCLA, where she also completed her residency, and is board certified in oncology, hematology and internal medicine.
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The physicians and staff at the Cancer Center have helped numerous patients with innovative, life-saving cancer treatments and combine commitment, passion and dedication in their efforts. The doctors are frequent presenters at international conferences, including ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology), and they have published or contributed to articles on cancer treatment for more than 100 research publications in leading national and international peer-reviewed journals.

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Sant P. Chawla M.D., FRACP

Sant Chawla

Sant P. Chawla, M.D. holds medical licensures in both Texas and California, and he is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. He is a pioneering physician whose work in sarcoma oncology has brought him several accolades and recognition as one of the world’s leading authorities in medical treatment and clinical research for bone and soft-tissue sarcomas and sarcoma therapy. Dr. Chawla heads the Sarcoma Oncology Center in Santa Monica, CA where he leads clinical cancer research efforts and conducted groundbreaking clinical research in pancreatic carcinoma, gynecologic tumors, breast cancer, glioblastoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, lung cancer and gastrointestinal tumors.

Dr. Chawla serves on the clinical faculty of numerous prestigious cancer centers, including UCLA, USC, John Wayne Cancer Institute at St. John’s Hospital; he has been an adjunct associate professor at Stanford University and is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; and he is a medical oncologist at Cedars Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center. Over his 30 years of medical and clinical research experience, Dr. Chawla’s research has been a foundation for further breakthroughs in cancer treatment.

Dr. Chawla’s pioneering work in cancer research began in the 1980s when he contributed to breakthroughs in the treatment of young patients with osteosarcoma. He innovated limb-saving treatment for these young patients where amputation was previously the only option. Since that time, he has conducted over 60 clinical trials for cancer drugs now approved by the FDA and EMA, including carboplatin, trabectedin (Yondalis), pazopanib, eribulin, aprepitant and denosumab. Most recently, the Center completed a breakthrough Phase II trial for Aldoxorubicin (second line for soft tissue sarcomas). The groundbreaking research reported that patients treated with Aldoxorubicin had significantly increased progression-free and overall survival rates without any observed cardiotoxicity – unlike standard anthracyclines or doxorubicin.

Dr. Chawla received his medical degree and completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. From there, he went on to the Auckland Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand to begin his specialty training in medical oncology. He also completed his fellowship in medical oncology in New Zealand, at the Fellow Royal Australasian College of Physicians (F.R.A.C.P.). Recognized for his outstanding academic accomplishments, he was invited to continue his fellowship in oncology at the prestigious M.D. Anderson Cancer Center of the University of Texas. In the last 60 years, M.D. Anderson has built an international reputation of excellence in cancer patient care, research, education, and prevention. M.D. Anderson is the top-ranked cancer hospital in the United States, making numerous and extraordinary research-based contributions that have benefited people everywhere. In this way, M.D. Anderson has established itself as the leader in innovative cancer therapy, and it is here that Dr. Chawla learned and enhanced his own understanding of the disease, preparing him for a pioneering career in the treatment of sarcomas.

Doris V. Quon, MD, PhD

Doris QuonDoris V. Quon, MD, PhD is board-certified in Hematology and Internal Medicine She obtained her Ph.D. in Microbiology & Immunotherapy as well as her M.D. at the UCLA School of Medicine, and did her Residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Hematology-Oncology at Medical Center at UCLA. Dr. Quon first began at the Hemophilia Treatment Center at Orthopaedic Hospital in 2003 where, within a few years, she was appointed Associate Director, followed by the position of Director of the Hemophilia Treatment Center in 2009. Dr. Quon is the Associate Medical Director at the Sarcoma Oncology Center. She has an active role in coordinating the federally funded (Western States/Region IX) Hemophilia activities of the center and is the current Medical Director of the Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California. Dr. Quon has published numerous papers and has been the Principal Investigator of clinical trial studies including hemophilia gene therapy, in addition to receiving numerous awards and honors including ASCO Young Investigator Award, AOA Medical Student Research Award and Alumni Association Graduate Student Distinguished Scholar Award.

Steven G. Wong, MD

Steven G. Wong, MD, is a board-certified Hematologist and Medical Oncologist, who received his medical degree from UCLA School of Medicine. He went on to complete his residency and fellowship at UCLA as well. He initially began his clinical journey as a researcher studying the HER2 gene, a gene that plays a vital role in HER2 positive breast cancer. Due to his discoveries, we now have multiple treatment options that began with Herceptin. By utilizing these drugs, patients who were once given mere months to live are now successfully beating cancer with an improved quality of life. Since the publication of his research, there continues to be new and improved therapies that aids in improving the lives of many cancer patients.

Dr. Wong was an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine and Urology in the Division of Hematology Oncology and Department of Urology at The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. He continues to hold privileges at UCLA Medical Center and Providence Saint John’s Medical Center. Additionally, he remains an active member of the UCLA Endocrine Team for adrenal tumors and pheochromocytoma. Currently, Dr. Wong’s practice consists of both clinical and research work. He participates in many clinical research studies serving as a Principal and Subprincipal Investigator at the Cancer Center of Southern California, Sarcoma Oncology Research Center, and The Pancreatic Cancer Center of Los Angeles. These trials encompass various cancer diagnoses including sarcomas, genitourinary cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, and breast cancer. He helps to oversee treatments which use novel chemotherapies, immunotherapies, and biologic therapies.

Contact the Cancer Center Specialists Today

Cancer Center of Southern California specialists are dedicated to providing their patients with a treatment solution for the best outcome possible. If you have been diagnosed with cancer recently or seek another opinion about your cancer treatment, please contact us at 310-552-9999 to schedule a consultation for a private conversation.

Learn more about treatment methodology at the Cancer Center.