Program Leader-Radiation Research and Translational Biology
Phase I program
Director of Experimental Radiation Oncology

Dr. Dicker is Professor of Radiation Oncology and Director of the Division of Experimental Radiation Oncology in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University. He leads the Radiation Research and Translational Biology Program at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and is responsible for phase I trials with novels agents.

Dr. Dicker graduated from Columbia College and received his MD and PhD from Cornell University Medical College. He completed an internship in Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and completed his residency in Department of Radiation Oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

His laboratory research funded by the National Cancer Institute involves studying the role of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and tumor microenvironment in solid tumors. His research evaluates radiosensitization by EGFR blockade through an understanding of survival signals derived from extracellular matrix (ECM). His recent work studies deregulated NF-KB signaling and its role in cancer biology. Dr. Dicker’s other research effort builds on the use of zebrafish as a model organism to study molecular mechanisms of damage by radiation and chemotherapy. Dr. Dicker's laboratory program uses this model organism in conjunctional with nanotechnology drugs (nanoparticles) to identify novel radiation protectors/mitigators.

In the field of prostate cancer, over the past decade, Dr. Dicker and his colleagues have contributed a number of original papers in the field of prostate brachytherapy. These papers have focused on the definition and evaluation of post-implant dosimetry and its effect on the actual dose to the prostate, urethra and rectum. More recently, this group has focused on quality life issues after prostate brachytherapy and predictive factors that will help the guide the physician and individualize the appropriate therapy for treatment of prostate cancer for the respective patient. Dr. Dicker and his colleagues have recently published a comprehensive text, "Basic and Advanced Techniques in Prostate Brachytherapy", Frances & Taylor, 2005 that reviews in detail all aspects of prostate cancer and brachytherapy, with particular attention to practical techniques and issues that can be incorporated into daily practice.

Dr. Dicker serves as the Vice Chair for Translational Research and Chair of the Translational Research Committee in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) a National Cancer Institute sponsored cooperative group. Dr. Dickers programmatic involvement in experimental radiation oncology has lead to a number of "first in human" clinical developmental therapeutic trials involving novel signal transduction agents at Thomas Jefferson University, of which he is the principal investigator. Dr. Dicker is Chair of the ASTRO Radiation Biology and Cancer Committee and also serves as the only radiation oncologist on the National Cancer Institute - Investigational Drug Steering Committee of CTEP.

Dr. Dicker is a board certified radiation oncologist. Among other honors, he has received an American Cancer Society Fellowship and an ASTRO/ESTRO Travel Grant.

If you have any questions or would like to refer a patient to Dr. Dicker please contact him at:

Department of Radiation Oncology
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
111 South 11th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5097
Phone (215)-955-6527
Fax (215)-955-0412
E-mail: adam.dicker@mail.tju.edu