Sameh Gaballa, MD

Cancer Focus:
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Hodgkin Lymphoma, Leukemia, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Dr. Sameh Gaballa is an Associate Member in the Moffitt Cancer Center Department of Malignant Hematology. Dr. Gaballa earned his MD from Aims Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency and a Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then completed a Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Gaballa previously practiced in the Thomas Jefferson University, Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Dr. Gaballa’s clinical interests are treating patients with lymphoid malignancies, including Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He is also interested in incorporating novel approaches such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. His research focuses on developing novel targeted agents for treating patients with indolent (slow growing) lymphomas such as follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma and lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas. 

Clinical Trial 20831
A Phase 1b/3 Double-Blind, Randomized,Active-Controlled, 3-Stage, Biomarker Adaptive Study of Tazemetostat or Placebo in Combination with Lenalidomide Plus Rituximab in Subjects with Relapsed/Refractory Follicular Lymphoma
Condition: Malignant Hematology
Intervention: CC-5013 (Lenalidomide); EPZ-6438 (Tazemetostat); Lenalidomide (Revlimid); Rituxan (rituximab); Tazemetostat (); Tazemetostat/Placebo (); rituximab ()
Status: OPEN (SUSPENDED)

Clinical Trial 21122
A Multicenter, Phase 1, Open-label, Dose-escalation and Expansion Study of AZD0486, a Bispecific Antibody Targeting CD19 in Subjects with Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Condition: Malignant Hematology
Intervention: AZD0486 (); TNB-486 ()
Status: Open

Clinical Trial 22005
A Phase 2 Open-Label, Multicenter Study of Rituximab and Zanubrutinib in Patients with indolent B-cell Lymphomas
Condition: Malignant Hematology
Intervention: Rituxan (rituximab); Rituximab Subq (); Zanubrutinib (); rituximab ()
Status: Open

Clinical Trial 22469
A Modular Phase II, Single-arm, Multicenter, Open-label Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of AZD0486 in Participants with Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (SOUNDTRACK-B)
Condition: Malignant Hematology
Intervention: AZD0486 ()
Status: Open

Clinical Trial 23198
CCT5065: Optimizing ctDNA-based MRD assessment in DLBCL, MCL, and FL patients undergoing CAR Therapy
Condition: Malignant Hematology
Status: Open

Clinical Trial 23454
A Phase 1b/2, Open-Label, Dose Finding and Expansion Study of BGB-16673 in Combination with Other Agents in Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Malignancies
Condition: Malignant Hematology
Intervention: BGB-16673 (); Glofitamab (); Mosunetuzumab (); Sonrotoclax (); Zanubrutinib ()
Status: Open

Clinical Trial 23643
A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Epcoritamab + Rituximab and Lenalidomide (R2) Compared to Chemoimmunotherapy in Previously Untreated Follicular Lymphoma (EPCORE FL-2)
Condition: Malignant Hematology
Intervention: Adriamycin (doxorubicin); Bendamustine (); CC-5013 (Lenalidomide); Epcoritamab (); GEN3013 (Epcoritamab); Lenalidomide (Revlimid); Obinutuzumab (); Rituxan (rituximab); Vincristine (); cyclophosphamide (); cytoxan (cyclophosphamide); doxorubicin (); prednisone (); rituximab ()
Status: Open

If you believe you are eligible for one of these trials or studies, please call
813-745-6100 or toll-free 1-800-679-0775.

• Gaballa S, Khanal M, Chen Y, Bhandari NR, Winfree KB, Abhyankar S, Hess LM. Continuity of care for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: an analysis of real-world data. J Med Econ. 2025 Dec.28(1):1500-1511. Pubmedid: 40880070.
• Logothetis CN, Horvat NP, Kurian T, Bello C, Chavez J, Isenalumhe L, Shah B, Sokol L, Saeed H, Pinilla J, Gaballa S. Bendamustine and rituximab as frontline therapy in extranodal marginal zone lymphoma: a single-institution experience. Oncol Res. 2024 May.32(6):1031-1036. Pubmedid: 38827319. Pmcid: PMC11136690.
• Dong N, Zhang H, Song J, Mammadova J, Shah B, Saeed H, Gaballa S, Grajales-Cruz A, Isenalumhe L, Bello C, Sokol L, Pinilla J, Chavez J. B-cell maturation antigen expression and clinical features of plasmablastic lymphoma. EJHaem. 2024 Feb.5(1):285-289. Pubmedid: 38406544. Pmcid: PMC10887266.
• Wierda WG, Brown J, Abramson JS, Awan F, Bilgrami SF, Bociek G, Brander D, Cortese M, Cripe L, Davis RS, Eradat H, Fakhri B, Fletcher CD, Gaballa S, Hamid MS, Hill B, Kaesberg P, Kahl B, Kamdar M, Kipps TJ, Ma S, Mosse C, Nakhoda S, Parikh S, Schorr A, Schuster S, Seshadri M, Siddiqi T, Stephens DM, Thompson M, Ujjani C, Valdez R, Wagner-Johnston N, Woyach JA, Sundar H, Dwyer M. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, Version 2.2024. J Natl Compr Canc Ne. 2024 Apr.22(3):175-204. Pubmedid: 38626800.
• Bowers JT, Anna JL, Bair SM, Annunzio K, Epperla N, Joy Pullukkara J, Gaballa S, Spinner MA, Li S, Messmer MR, Nguyen JDK, Ayers EC, Wagner C, Hu B, Di M, Huntington SF, Furqan F, Shah NN, Chen C, Ballard HJ, Hughes ME, Chong EA, Nasta SD, Barta SK, Landsburg DJ, Svoboda J. Brentuximab vedotin plus AVD for Hodgkin lymphoma: incidence and management of peripheral neuropathy in a multisite cohort. Blood Adv. 2023 Nov.7(21):6630-6638. Pubmedid: 37595053. Pmcid: PMC10628810.
• Shah NN, Castillo-Tokumori F, Whiting J, Boulware D, Sandoval-Sus J, Knepper TC, Hussaini M, Tao J, Chavez JC, Isenalumhe L, Gaballa S, Saeed H, Bello C, Sokol L, Pinilla-Ibarz J, Shah BD. Frontline treatment approaches in TP53-aberrant mantle cell lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma. 2023 Jan.64(1):230-233. Pubmedid: 36301721.
• Azem A, Caddell R, Nelson R, Isenalumhe L, Gaballa S, Chavez J, Bello C, Pinilla J, Sokol L, Shah B, Saeed H. Toxicity of a Modified PEG-Asparaginase-Based SMILE Regimen Is Comparable to L-Asparaginase-Based SMILE in a Non-Asian Population. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2023 Aug.23(8):606-609. Pubmedid: 37210271.
• Lee D, Jordan AI, Menges MA, Lazaryan A, Nishihori T, Gaballa SR, Shah BD, Pinilla-Ibarz J, Baluch A, Klinkova OV, Chavez JC, Jain MD, Locke FL. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Does Not Induce Humoral Response When Administrated Within the Six Months After CD19 CAR T-Cell Therapy. Transplant Cell Ther. 2023 Apr.29(4):277.e1-277.e9. Pubmedid: 35970303.
• Wierda WG, Brown J, Abramson JS, Awan F, Bilgrami SF, Bociek G, Brander D, Chanan-Khan AA, Coutre SE, Davis RS, Eradat H, Fletcher CD, Gaballa S, Ghobadi A, Hamid MS, Hernandez-Ilizaliturri F, Hill B, Kaesberg P, Kamdar M, Kaplan LD, Khan N, Kipps TJ, Ma S, Mato A, Mosse C, Schuster S, Siddiqi T, Stephens DM, Ujjani C, Wagner-Johnston N, Woyach JA, Ye JC, Dwyer MA, Sundar H. NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, Version 3.2022. J Natl Compr Canc Ne. 2022 Jun.20(6):622-634. Pubmedid: 35714675.
• Perez A, Johnson G, Patel K, Arciola B, Wood A, Bachmeier CA, Chavez JC, Shah BD, Khimani F, Nishihori T, Lazaryan A, Davila ML, Mhaskar R, Locke FL, Gaballa S, Jain MD. Primary progression during frontline CIT associates with decreased efficacy of subsequent CD19 CAR T-cell therapy in LBCL. Blood Adv. 2022 Jul.6(13):3970-3973. Pubmedid: 35816359. Pmcid: PMC9278282.
• Lynes J, Rubino S, Rogers A, Gaballa S, Liu HD, Arrington JA, Peguero E, Liu JKC. Spontaneous Spinal Subdural Hematoma Secondary to Hemophilia A and Zanubrutinib. J Neurol Surg Rep. 2022 Jan.83(1):e19-e22. Pubmedid: 35273899. Pmcid: PMC8920709.
• Wood AC, Perez AP, Arciola B, Patel K, Johnson G, DiMaggio E, Bachmeier CA, Reid K, Carallo S, Vargas MH, Faramand R, Chavez JC, Shah B, Gaballa S, Khimani F, Elmariah H, Nishihori T, Lazaryan A, Freeman C, Davila ML, Locke FL, Mhaskar R, Bassil C, Jain MD. Outcomes of CD19-Targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Patients with Reduced Renal Function Including Dialysis. Transplant Cell Ther. 2022 Dec.28(12):829.e1-829.e8. Pubmedid: 36174934. Pmcid: PMC9791940.
• Alderuccio JP, Arcaini L, Watkins MP, Beaven AW, Shouse G, Epperla N, Spina M, Stefanovic A, Sandoval-Sus J, Torka P, Alpert AB, Olszewski AJ, Kim SH, Hess B, Gaballa S, Ayyappan S, Castillo JJ, Argnani L, Voorhees TJ, Saba R, Chowdhury SM, Vargas F, Reis IM, Kwon D, Alexander JS, Zhao W, Edwards D, Martin P, Cencini E, Kamdar M, Link BK, Logothetis CN, Herrera AF, Friedberg JW, Kahl BS, Luminari S, Zinzani PL, Lossos IS. An international analysis evaluating frontline bendamustine with rituximab in extranodal marginal zone lymphoma. Blood Adv. 2022 Apr.6(7):2035-2044. Pubmedid: 35196377. Pmcid: PMC9006265.
• Gaballa S, Pinilla-Ibarz J. BTK Inhibitors in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Curr Hematol Malig Rep. 2021 Oct.16(5):422-432. Pubmedid: 34599723.
• Pan J, Ghimire S, Alpdogan SO, Chapman A, Carabasi M, DiMeglio M, Gong J, Martinez-Outschoorn U, Rose L, Ramirez M, Wagner JL, Weiss M, Flomenberg N, Pro B, Porcu P, Filicko-OHara J, Gaballa S. Phase I/II study of bendamustine in combination with ofatumumab, carboplatin, etoposide (BOCE) for relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma. 2021 Mar.62(3):590-597. Pubmedid: 33146052.
• Tan E, Tran ND, Peguero E, Robinson T, Gaballa S. Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma manifesting as a cervical spine mass with Parkinson-like symptoms treated with ibrutinib. Current Problems in Cancer: Case Reports. 2021 Mar.3.
• Svoboda J, Bair SM, Landsburg DJ, Nasta SD, Nagle SJ, Barta SK, Khan N, Filicko-O'Hara J, Gaballa S, Strelec L, Chong E, Mitnick S, Waite TS, King C, Ballard H, Youngman M, Gerson J, Plastaras JP, Maity A, Bogusz AM, Hung SS, Nakamura H, Nejati R, Steidl C, Lim M, Ruella M, Schuster SJ. Brentuximab vedotin in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone as frontline treatment for patients with CD30-positive B-cell lymphomas. Haematologica. 2021 Jun.106(6):1705-1713. Pubmedid: 32414850. Pmcid: PMC8168499.
• Stephens DM, Boucher K, Kander E, Parikh SA, Parry EM, Shadman M, Pagel JM, Cooperrider J, Rhodes J, Mato A, Winter A, Hill B, Gaballa S, Danilov A, Phillips T, Brander DM, Smith SM, Davids M, Rogers K, Glenn MJ, Byrd JC. Hodgkin lymphoma arising in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: outcomes from a large multi-center collaboration. Haematologica. 2020 Nov.106(11):2845-2852. Pubmedid: 33054118. Pmcid: PMC8561295.
• Grosso D, Leiby B, Carabasi M, Filicko-O'Hara J, Gaballa S, O'Hara W, Wagner JL, Flomenberg N. The Presence of a CMV Immunodominant Allele in the Recipient Is Associated With Increased Survival in CMV Positive Patients Undergoing Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Front Oncol. 2019 Sep.9:888. Pubmedid: 31608225. Pmcid: PMC6758597.
• Ciurea SO, Shah MV, Saliba RM, Gaballa S, Kongtim P, Rondon G, Chen J, Wallis W, Cao K, Konopleva M, Daver N, Cortes J, Ravandi F, Alousi A, Ahmed S, Popat U, Parmar S, Bashir Q, Betul O, Hosing C, Shpall EJ, Rezvani K, Khouri IF, Kebriaei P, Champlin RE. Haploidentical Transplantation for Older Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Biol Blood Marrow Tr. 2018 Jun.24(6):1232-1236. Pubmedid: 28918304. Pmcid: PMC7172017.
• Casulo C, Friedberg JW, Ahn KW, Flowers C, DiGilio A, Smith SM, Ahmed S, Inwards D, Aljurf M, Chen AI, Choe H, Cohen J, Copelan E, Farooq U, Fenske TS, Freytes C, Gaballa S, Ganguly S, Jethava Y, Kamble RT, Kenkre VP, Lazarus H, Lazaryan A, Olsson RF, Rezvani AR, Rizzieri D, Seo S, Shah GL, Shah N, Solh M, Sureda A, William B, Cumpston A, Zelenetz AD, Link BK, Hamadani M. Autologous Transplantation in Follicular Lymphoma with Early Therapy Failure: A National LymphoCare Study and Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Analysis. Biol Blood Marrow Tr. 2018 Jun.24(6):1163-1171. Pubmedid: 29242111. Pmcid: PMC5993598.
• Sato R, Jacob J, Gaballa S. Rapid flare of immune thrombocytopenia after stopping ibrutinib in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma. 2018 Jul.59(7):1738-1741. Pubmedid: 29081253.
• McCurdy SR, Zhang MJ, St Martin A, Al Malki MM, Bashey A, Gaballa S, Keesler DA, Hamadani M, Norkin M, Perales MA, Reshef R, Rocha V, Romee R, Solh M, Urbano-Ispizua A, Waller EK, Fuchs EJ, Eapen M. Effect of donor characteristics on haploidentical transplantation with posttransplantation cyclophosphamide. Blood Adv. 2018 Feb.2(3):299-307. Pubmedid: 29440002. Pmcid: PMC5812334.
• Bashey A, Zhang MJ, McCurdy SR, St Martin A, Argall T, Anasetti C, Ciurea SO, Fasan O, Gaballa S, Hamadani M, Munshi P, Al Malki MM, Nakamura R, O'Donnell PV, Perales MA, Raj K, Romee R, Rowley S, Rocha V, Salit RB, Solh M, Soiffer RJ, Fuchs EJ, Eapen M. Mobilized Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Versus Unstimulated Bone Marrow As a Graft Source for T-Cell-Replete Haploidentical Donor Transplantation Using Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Sep.35(26):3002-3009. Pubmedid: 28644773. Pmcid: PMC5590802.
• Geethakumari PR, Leiby B, Nair R, Alpdogan SO, Carabasi M, Filicko-O'Hara J, Gaballa S, Kasner M, Klumpp T, Martinez-Outschoorn U, Palmisiano N, Wagner JL, Porcu P, Flomenberg N, Grosso D. Higher rates of relapse in maternal recipients of haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from adult offspring donors for AML and myelodysplastic syndrome. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2017 Oct.52(10):1465-1467. Pubmedid: 28759027.
• Rhoades R, Gaballa S. The Role of B Cell Targeting in Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease. Biomedicines. 2017 Oct.5(4). Pubmedid: 29039818. Pmcid: PMC5744085.
• Brammer JE, Saliba RM, Jorgensen JL, Ledesma C, Gaballa S, Poon M, Maziarz RT, Champlin RE, Hosing C, Kebriaei P. Multi-center analysis of the effect of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia subtype and minimal residual disease on allogeneic stem cell transplantation outcomes. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2017 Jan.52(1):20-27. Pubmedid: 27618682.
• Gaballa S, Saliba R, Oran B, Brammer JE, Chen J, Rondon G, Alousi AM, Kebriaei P, Marin D, Popat UR, Andersson BS, Shpall EJ, Jabbour E, Daver N, Andreeff M, Ravandi F, Cortes J, Patel K, Champlin RE, Ciurea SO. Relapse risk and survival in patients with FLT3 mutated acute myeloid leukemia undergoing stem cell transplantation. Am J Hematol. 2017 Apr.92(4):331-337. Pubmedid: 28052408. Pmcid: PMC5352512.
• Grosso D, Johnson E, Colombe B, Alpdogan O, Carabasi M, Filicko-O'Hara J, Gaballa S, Kasner M, Klumpp T, Martinez-Outschoorn U, Wagner JL, Weiss M, Wang Z, Flomenberg N. Acquired uniparental disomy in chromosome 6p as a feature of relapse after T-cell replete haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using cyclophosphamide tolerization. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2017 Apr.52(4):615-619. Pubmedid: 28067885.
• Gaballa S, Saliba RM, Srour S, Lu G, Brammer JE, Shah N, Bashir Q, Patel K, Bock F, Parmar S, Hosing C, Popat U, Delgado R, Rondon G, Shah JJ, Manasanch EE, Orlowski RZ, Champlin R, Qazilbash MH. Outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma with TP53 deletion after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Am J Hematol. 2016 Oct.91(10):E442-E447. Pubmedid: 27420405. Pmcid: PMC5031524.
• Hassanein M, Almahayni MH, Ahmed SO, Gaballa S, El Fakih R. FLT3 Inhibitors for Treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2016 Oct.16(10):543-549. Pubmedid: 27450971.
• Gaballa S, Ge I, El Fakih R, Brammer JE, Kongtim P, Tomuleasa C, Wang SA, Lee D, Petropoulos D, Cao K, Rondon G, Chen J, Hammerstrom A, Lombardi L, Alatrash G, Korbling M, Oran B, Kebriaei P, Ahmed S, Shah N, Rezvani K, Marin D, Bashir Q, Alousi A, Nieto Y, Qazilbash M, Hosing C, Popat U, Shpall EJ, Khouri I, Champlin RE, Ciurea SO. Results of a 2-arm, phase 2 clinical trial using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease in haploidentical donor and mismatched unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Cancer. 2016 Nov.122(21):3316-3326. Pubmedid: 27404668. Pmcid: PMC5459484.
• Brammer JE, Khouri I, Gaballa S, Anderlini P, Tomuleasa C, Ahmed S, Ledesma C, Hosing C, Champlin RE, Ciurea SO. Outcomes of Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma with Melphalan-Based Conditioning. Biol Blood Marrow Tr. 2016 Mar.22(3):493-498. Pubmedid: 26497906.
• Kongtim P, Popat U, Jimenez A, Gaballa S, El Fakih R, Rondon G, Chen J, Bueso-Ramos C, Borthakur G, Pemmaraju N, Garcia-Manero G, Kantarjian H, Alousi A, Hosing C, Anderlini P, Khouri IF, Kebriaei P, Andersson BS, Oran B, Rezvani K, Marin D, Shpall EJ, Champlin RE, Ciurea SO. Treatment with Hypomethylating Agents before Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Improves Progression-Free Survival for Patients with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia. Biol Blood Marrow Tr. 2016 Jan.22(1):47-53. Pubmedid: 26343946. Pmcid: PMC4892364.
• Gaballa S, Palmisiano N, Alpdogan O, Carabasi M, Filicko-O'Hara J, Kasner M, Kraft WK, Leiby B, Martinez-Outschoorn U, O'Hara W, Pro B, Rudolph S, Sharma M, Wagner JL, Weiss M, Flomenberg N, Grosso D. A Two-Step Haploidentical Versus a Two-Step Matched Related Allogeneic Myeloablative Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Tr. 2016 Jan.22(1):141-148. Pubmedid: 26415558.
• Bock F, Lu G, Srour SA, Gaballa S, Lin HY, Baladandayuthapani V, Honhar M, Stich M, Shah ND, Bashir Q, Patel K, Popat U, Hosing C, Korbling M, Delgado R, Rondon G, Shah JJ, Thomas SK, Manasanch EE, Isermann B, Orlowski RZ, Champlin RE, Qazilbash MH. Outcome of Patients with Multiple Myeloma and CKS1B Gene Amplification after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Tr. 2016 Dec.22(12):2159-2164. Pubmedid: 27638366. Pmcid: PMC5911156.
• Grosso D, Gaballa S, Alpdogan O, Carabasi M, Filicko-O'Hara J, Kasner M, Martinez-Outschoorn U, Wagner JL, O'Hara W, Rudolph S, Chervoneva I, Colombe B, Farley PC, Flomenberg P, Pro B, Sharma M, Shi W, Weiss M, Flomenberg N. A two-step approach to myeloablative haploidentical transplantation: low nonrelapse mortality and high survival confirmed in patients with earlier stage disease. Biol Blood Marrow Tr. 2015 Apr.21(4):646-652. Pubmedid: 25542159.
• Baz R, Fanning S, Kunkel L, Gaballa S, Karam MA, Reed J, Kelly M, Hussein M. Combination of rituximab and oral melphalan and prednisone in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Leuk Lymphoma. 2007 Dec.48(12):2338-2344. Pubmedid: 18067008.