Dr. Wellers’ major research interests are the design and analysis of studies. Research project experience include pre-clinical experiments and phase I-III clinical trials, institutional chart reviews as well as large database analysis. She is also interested in the clinical informatics required to support research and has experience teaching in various forums.
Research Background
Dr. Weller joined Boston Children’s Hospital in 2016 as the Director of the Biostatistics and Research Design Center. She has over 20 years of experience working on various research studies and directing large, multidisciplinary research projects as the Biostatistics Leader for the National Institute of Health/National Cancer Institute P01s (Core PI for 16 years) and SPORE (Core PI for 12 years) grants as well as the Principal Investigator of a Lymphoma Foundation Grant (10 years).
Publications
Development of extramedullary myeloma in the era of novel agents: no evidence of increased risk with lenalidomide-bortezomib combinations. Br J Haematol. 2015 Jun; 169(6):843-50. View Abstract
Incidence and clinical features of extramedullary multiple myeloma in patients who underwent stem cell transplantation. Br J Haematol. 2015 Jun; 169(6):851-8. View Abstract
Impact of informative censoring on the Kaplan-Meier estimate of progression-free survival in phase II clinical trials. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Sep 20; 32(27):3068-74. View Abstract
Outcomes in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in a phase I study of everolimus in combination with lenalidomide. Br J Haematol. 2014 Aug; 166(3):401-9. View Abstract
The reliability of immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor microenvironment in follicular lymphoma: a validation study from the Lunenburg Lymphoma Biomarker Consortium. Haematologica. 2014 Apr; 99(4):715-25. View Abstract
A phase 2 trial of lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed and relapsed/refractory myeloma. Blood. 2014 Mar 06; 123(10):1461-9. View Abstract
Disabling immune tolerance by programmed death-1 blockade with pidilizumab after autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: results of an international phase II trial. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Nov 20; 31(33):4199-206. View Abstract
Conservative management of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws: staging and treatment outcomes. Oral Oncol. 2013 Sep; 49(9):977-983. View Abstract
Vaccination with dendritic cell/tumor fusions following autologous stem cell transplant induces immunologic and clinical responses in multiple myeloma patients. Clin Cancer Res. 2013 Jul 01; 19(13):3640-8. View Abstract
Results of a phase 2 trial of the single-agent histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat in patients with relapsed/refractory Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Blood. 2013 Feb 21; 121(8):1296-303. View Abstract
Endothelial stress products and coagulation markers in patients with multiple myeloma treated with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone: an observational study. Br J Haematol. 2013 Feb; 160(3):351-8. View Abstract
Activity of topotecan 21-day infusion in patients with previously treated large cell lymphoma: long-term follow-up of an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study (E5493). Leuk Lymphoma. 2012 Jun; 53(6):1137-42. View Abstract
The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. Am J Hematol. 2011 Jul; 86(7):567-72. View Abstract
Prognostic significance of immunohistochemical biomarkers in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a study from the Lunenburg Lymphoma Biomarker Consortium. Blood. 2011 Jun 30; 117(26):7070-8. View Abstract
The role of serum immunoglobulin free light chain in response and progression in waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. Clin Cancer Res. 2011 May 01; 17(9):3013-8. View Abstract
Weekly bortezomib in combination with temsirolimus in relapsed or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma: a multicentre, phase 1/2, open-label, dose-escalation study. Lancet Oncol. 2011 Mar; 12(3):263-72. View Abstract
Vaccination with dendritic cell/tumor fusion cells results in cellular and humoral antitumor immune responses in patients with multiple myeloma. Blood. 2011 Jan 13; 117(2):393-402. View Abstract
Comparison of conventional prognostic indices in patients older than 60 years with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP in the US Intergroup Study (ECOG 4494, CALGB 9793): consideration of age greater than 70 years in an elderly prognostic index (E-IPI). Br J Haematol. 2010 Oct; 151(2):143-51. View Abstract
Phase II trial of weekly bortezomib in combination with rituximab in untreated patients with Waldenström Macroglobulinemia. Am J Hematol. 2010 Sep; 85(9):670-4. View Abstract
Lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone combination therapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Blood. 2010 Aug 05; 116(5):679-86. View Abstract
Expression of p21 protein predicts clinical outcome in DLBCL patients older than 60 years treated with R-CHOP but not CHOP: a prospective ECOG and Southwest Oncology Group correlative study on E4494. Clin Cancer Res. 2010 Apr 15; 16(8):2435-42. View Abstract
Activin A promotes multiple myeloma-induced osteolysis and is a promising target for myeloma bone disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Mar 16; 107(11):5124-9. View Abstract
Phase II trial of weekly bortezomib in combination with rituximab in relapsed or relapsed and refractory Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Mar 10; 28(8):1422-8. View Abstract
Clinical and translational studies of a phase II trial of the novel oral Akt inhibitor perifosine in relapsed or relapsed/refractory Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Clin Cancer Res. 2010 Feb 01; 16(3):1033-41. View Abstract
Multicenter, phase I, dose-escalation trial of lenalidomide plus bortezomib for relapsed and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Dec 01; 27(34):5713-9. View Abstract
High-dose zoledronic acid impacts bone remodeling with effects on osteoblastic lineage and bone mechanical properties. Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Sep 15; 15(18):5829-39. View Abstract
Single-agent bortezomib in previously untreated multiple myeloma: efficacy, characterization of peripheral neuropathy, and molecular correlations with response and neuropathy. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Jul 20; 27(21):3518-25. View Abstract
Maintenance rituximab after cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone prolongs progression-free survival in advanced indolent lymphoma: results of the randomized phase III ECOG1496 Study. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Apr 01; 27(10):1607-14. View Abstract
Serum immunoglobulin free light chain correlates with tumor burden markers in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. Leuk Lymphoma. 2008 Jun; 49(6):1104-7. View Abstract
Clinical, radiographic, and biochemical characterization of multiple myeloma patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw. Clin Cancer Res. 2008 Apr 15; 14(8):2387-95. View Abstract
Phase II study of denileukin diftitox for previously treated indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma: final results of E1497. Leuk Lymphoma. 2007 Dec; 48(12):2397-402. View Abstract
Anti-CS1 humanized monoclonal antibody HuLuc63 inhibits myeloma cell adhesion and induces antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in the bone marrow milieu. Blood. 2008 Aug 15; 112(4):1329-37. View Abstract
Immunohistochemical prognostic markers in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: validation of tissue microarray as a prerequisite for broad clinical applications--a study from the Lunenburg Lymphoma Biomarker Consortium. J Clin Oncol. 2007 Mar 01; 25(7):805-12. View Abstract
Differential epitope mapping of antibodies to PDC-E2 in patients with hematologic malignancies after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and primary biliary cirrhosis. Blood. 2007 Mar 01; 109(5):2001-7. View Abstract
A randomized phase 2 study of lenalidomide therapy for patients with relapsed or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Blood. 2006 Nov 15; 108(10):3458-64. View Abstract
Rituximab-CHOP versus CHOP alone or with maintenance rituximab in older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Jul 01; 24(19):3121-7. View Abstract
Rituximab, bevacizumab and CHOP (RA-CHOP) in untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: safety, biomarker and pharmacokinetic analysis. Leuk Lymphoma. 2006 Jun; 47(6):998-1005. View Abstract
Association of indoor nitrogen dioxide with respiratory symptoms in children: application of measurement error correction techniques to utilize data from multiple surrogates. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2006 Jul; 16(4):342-50. View Abstract
Prognostic significance of Bcl-6 protein expression in DLBCL treated with CHOP or R-CHOP: a prospective correlative study. Blood. 2006 Jun 01; 107(11):4207-13. View Abstract
Home endotoxin exposure and wheeze in infants: correction for bias due to exposure measurement error. Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Jan; 114(1):135-40. View Abstract
Graft-versus-tumor response in patients with multiple myeloma is associated with antibody response to BCMA, a plasma-cell membrane receptor. Blood. 2005 May 15; 105(10):3945-50. View Abstract
Thalidomide for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma after high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation: results of an open-label multicenter phase 2 study of efficacy, toxicity, and biological activity. Mayo Clin Proc. 2004 Jul; 79(7):875-82. View Abstract
Chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy in limited-stage diffuse aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study 1484. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Aug 01; 22(15):3032-8. View Abstract
A phase II trial of interleukin-12 in patients with advanced cervical cancer: clinical and immunologic correlates. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study E1E96. Gynecol Oncol. 2004 Mar; 92(3):957-64. View Abstract
Complete response to donor lymphocyte infusion in multiple myeloma is associated with antibody responses to highly expressed antigens. Blood. 2004 Jan 15; 103(2):656-63. View Abstract
Viral antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses are impaired in multiple myeloma. Br J Haematol. 2003 Jun; 121(6):842-8. View Abstract
Immunomodulatory drug CC-5013 overcomes drug resistance and is well tolerated in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. Blood. 2002 Nov 01; 100(9):3063-7. View Abstract
Comparison of T-cell-depleted and non-T-cell-depleted unrelated donor transplantation for hematologic diseases: clinical outcomes, quality of life, and costs. Blood. 2002 Oct 15; 100(8):2697-702. View Abstract
Second malignancy after Hodgkin disease treated with radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy: long-term risks and risk factors. Blood. 2002 Sep 15; 100(6):1989-96. View Abstract
2-Methoxyestradiol overcomes drug resistance in multiple myeloma cells. Blood. 2002 Sep 15; 100(6):2187-94. View Abstract
The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor PTK787/ZK222584 inhibits growth and migration of multiple myeloma cells in the bone marrow microenvironment. Cancer Res. 2002 Sep 01; 62(17):5019-26. View Abstract
Phase 2 trial of infusional cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide in patients with poor-prognosis, intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial (E3493). Blood. 2002 Sep 01; 100(5):1634-40. View Abstract
Risk factors for cytomegalovirus reactivation after CD6+ T-cell-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Transplantation. 2002 Jul 15; 74(1):49-54. View Abstract
Immunologic effects of prophylactic donor lymphocyte infusion after allogeneic marrow transplantation for multiple myeloma. Blood. 2002 Jun 15; 99(12):4610-7. View Abstract
Long-term survival and competing causes of death in patients with early-stage Hodgkin's disease treated at age 50 or younger. J Clin Oncol. 2002 Apr 15; 20(8):2101-8. View Abstract
Comparable outcome with T-cell-depleted unrelated-donor versus related-donor allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2002; 8(11):601-7. View Abstract