Bruce Pawel, MD

Bruce R. Pawel, M.D. is a Clinical Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, and the Chief of Anatomic Pathology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Pawel’s main research interest is in the diagnoses of childhood solid tumors, such as neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumor of childhood. These solid tumors can be devastating to young children, and chances for cure are small when these tumors have become disseminated. Dr. Pawel is committed to team-based translational research, using his expertise in histology, immunohistochemistry, tissue microarray construction, digital pathology and pathologic analysis of murine tumor models to assist and complement the efforts of physician-scientist colleagues. His current research efforts are focused on 1) immunohistochemical validation of candidate proteins in tumor tissue that can be targeted for therapy and 2) histo-morphometric analysis of neuroblastoma.

Dr. Pawel serves on the Editorial Boards of Pediatric and Developmental Pathology and Modern Pathology and sits on the executive committee of the International Paediatric Pathology Association (IPPA), also serving as current Resident Tutor for the annual IPPA Advanced Course in Pediatric Pathology. He is the COG Responsible Investigator for pathology at CHLA, a COG reviewer and an active mentor in the COG Young Investigator Program. A recipient of a Certificate of Appreciation from the American Board of Pathology in 2018, Bruce served for 10 years on the Pediatric Pathology Test Development Advisory Committee.

Dr. Pawel received his medical degree from Rutgers University (New Jersey Medical School), where he also completed his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology. He completed a fellowship in pediatric pathology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH, and is board certified in Pediatric Pathology.

• Low Survival Rates for Pediatric Patients with Tumor Thrombus in Sarcoma. J Clin Med. 2026 Feb 27; 15(5).. View in PubMed
• High Recurrence Rates of Osteoid Osteoma Treated With Open Surgery and Radiofrequency Ablation. J Surg Oncol. 2026 Apr; 133(5):616-620.. View in PubMed
• D3-GPC2-Directed CAR T Cells Are Safe and Efficacious in Preclinical Models of Neuroblastoma and Small Cell Lung Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Dec 15; 31(24):5276-5293.. View in PubMed
• Factors Associated With Primary Site Local Therapy in Patients With Nonmetastatic Ewing Sarcoma Treated With Interval-Compressed Chemotherapy: A Report From the Children’s Oncology Group. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2026 Jun 01; 125(2):521-529.. View in PubMed
• Pediatric Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma: An Integrated Study of Clinicopathological Features, Pan-cancer Targeted Next-generation Sequencing, and Chromosomal Microarray Analysis from a Single Institution. Virchows Arch. 2025 Aug 14.. View in PubMed
• Recurrence in Patients With Chondroblastoma Is Not Associated With Use of Surgical Adjuvants: A Single Center Retrospective Review. J Surg Oncol. 2025 Sep; 132(3):522-528.. View in PubMed
• A Retrospective Review of Autopsy Data From 6 North American Institutions Indicates Practice Variations That Could Be Leveraged to Address Declining Autopsy Rates. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2025 Sep-Oct; 28(5):435-437.. View in PubMed
• Phase I Study of 131I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine With Dinutuximab ± Vorinostat for Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma: A New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2025 08; 43(22):2490-2501.. View in PubMed
• Preoperative Radiotherapy in Patients With Localized Ewing Sarcoma Enrolled on AEWS1031: A Report From the Children’s Oncology Group. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2025 Aug; 72(8):e31820.. View in PubMed
• A proteogenomic surfaceome study identifies DLK1 as an immunotherapeutic target in neuroblastoma. Cancer Cell. 2024 Nov 11; 42(11):1970-1982.e7.. View in PubMed
• Nuclear factor-κB activation by transforming growth factor-β1 drives tumour microenvironment-mediated drug resistance in neuroblastoma. Br J Cancer. 2024 Jul; 131(1):90-100.. View in PubMed
• Histone H3 trimethylation on lysine 27 immunostaining pattern in DICER1-associated tumors. Transl Pediatr. 2024 Apr 30; 13(4):624-633.. View in PubMed
• A proteogenomic surfaceome study identifies DLK1 as an immunotherapeutic target in neuroblastoma. bioRxiv. 2024 Jan 07.. View in PubMed
• An Exome Capture-Based RNA-Sequencing Assay for Genome-Wide Identification and Prioritization of Clinically Important Fusions in Pediatric Tumors. J Mol Diagn. 2024 02; 26(2):127-139.. View in PubMed
• Comparative Clinicopathologic and Genomic Analysis of Hepatocellular Neoplasm, Not Otherwise Specified, and Hepatoblastoma. Mod Pathol. 2024 02; 37(2):100385.. View in PubMed
• Pediatric Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumors of the Ovary: An Integrated Study of Clinicopathological Features, Pan-cancer-Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Chromosomal Microarray Analysis From a Single Institution. Am J Surg Pathol. 2024 Feb 01; 48(2):194-203.. View in PubMed
• Norepinephrine transporter and vesicular monoamine transporter 2 tumor expression as a predictor of response to 131 I-MIBG in patients with relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2024 Jan; 71(1):e30743.. View in PubMed
• Use of Surgical Adjuvants Does Not Decrease Recurrence of Aneurysmal Bone Cysts in Surgical Intervention With Pediatric Patients. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024 Jan 01; 44(1):e79-e83.. View in PubMed
• Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Localized Ewing Sarcoma Treated With Interval-Compressed Chemotherapy on Children’s Oncology Group Study AEWS0031. J Clin Oncol. 2023 10 20; 41(30):4724-4728.. View in PubMed
• “Oncocytoid Renal Cell Carcinomas After Neuroblastoma” Represent TSC -mutated Eosinophilic Solid and Cystic Renal Cell Carcinomas : Association With Prior Childhood Malignancy and Multifocality With Therapeutic Implications. Am J Surg Pathol. 2023 12 01; 47(12):1335-1348.. View in PubMed
• Lorlatinib with or without chemotherapy in ALK-driven refractory/relapsed neuroblastoma: phase 1 trial results. Nat Med. 2023 05; 29(5):1092-1102.. View in PubMed
• Fibroblasts and macrophages cooperate to create a pro-tumorigenic and immune resistant environment via activation of TGF-β/IL-6 pathway in neuroblastoma. Oncoimmunology. 2022; 11(1):2146860.. View in PubMed
• Potential methylation-regulated genes and pathways in hepatocellular neoplasm, not otherwise specified. Front Oncol. 2022; 12:952325.. View in PubMed
• Preclinical Development of [211At]meta- astatobenzylguanidine ([211At]MABG) as an Alpha Particle Radiopharmaceutical Therapy for Neuroblastoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2022 09 15; 28(18):4146-4157.. View in PubMed
• Intraoperative Diagnosis for Pediatric Brain Tumors. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2022 Jan-Feb; 25(1):10-22.. View in PubMed
• Phase III Trial Adding Vincristine-Topotecan-Cyclophosphamide to the Initial Treatment of Patients With Nonmetastatic Ewing Sarcoma: A Children’s Oncology Group Report. J Clin Oncol. 2021 12 20; 39(36):4029-4038.. View in PubMed
• PLAG1 Immunohistochemical Staining Is a Surrogate Marker for PLAG1 Fusions in Lipoblastomas. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2022 Mar-Apr; 25(2):134-140.. View in PubMed
• More Than Meets the Eye? A Cautionary Tale of Malignant Ectomesenchymoma Treated as Low-risk Orbital Rhabdomyosarcoma. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2021 08 01; 43(6):e854-e858.. View in PubMed
• A GPC2 antibody-drug conjugate is efficacious against neuroblastoma and small-cell lung cancer via binding a conformational epitope. Cell Rep Med. 2021 07 20; 2(7):100344.. View in PubMed
• Primary Adrenal Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor in a 14-Year-Old Female: A Case Report and Literature Review. Int J Surg Pathol. 2022 Apr; 30(2):172-176.. View in PubMed
• XPO1 inhibition with selinexor synergizes with proteasome inhibition in neuroblastoma by targeting nuclear export of IkB. Transl Oncol. 2021 Aug; 14(8):101114.. View in PubMed
• Image-Guided Biopsy for Relapsed Neuroblastoma: Focus on Safety, Adequacy for Genetic Sequencing, and Correlation of Tumor Cell Percent With Quantitative Lesion MIBG Uptake. JCO Precis Oncol. 2021; 5.. View in PubMed
• SWI/SNF complex heterogeneity is related to polyphenotypic differentiation, prognosis, and immune response in rhabdoid tumors. Neuro Oncol. 2020 06 09; 22(6):785-796.. View in PubMed
• CAMKV Is a Candidate Immunotherapeutic Target in MYCN Amplified Neuroblastoma. Front Oncol. 2020; 10:302.. View in PubMed
• Phase I Clinical Trial of the Wee1 Inhibitor Adavosertib (AZD1775) with Irinotecan in Children with Relapsed Solid Tumors: A COG Phase I Consortium Report (ADVL1312). Clin Cancer Res. 2020 03 15; 26(6):1213-1219.. View in PubMed
• Targeting PARP-1 with Alpha-Particles Is Potently Cytotoxic to Human Neuroblastoma in Preclinical Models. Mol Cancer Ther. 2019 07; 18(7):1195-1204.. View in PubMed
• An antibody-drug conjugate directed to the ALK receptor demonstrates efficacy in preclinical models of neuroblastoma. Sci Transl Med. 2019 03 13; 11(483).. View in PubMed
• Systemic manifestations of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma associated with a novel t(2;22)(q34;q12) EWS translocation in a child and a review of the literature. Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2018 Oct – Nov; 35(7-8):434-441.. View in PubMed
• Relationship of DNA methylation to mutational changes and transcriptional organization in fusion-positive and fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma. Int J Cancer. 2019 06 01; 144(11):2707-2717.. View in PubMed
• Diffuse Strong BCOR Immunoreactivity Is a Sensitive and Specific Marker for Clear Cell Sarcoma of the Kidney (CCSK) in Pediatric Renal Neoplasia. Am J Surg Pathol. 2018 08; 42(8):1128-1131.. View in PubMed
• SMARCB1-deficient Tumors of Childhood: A Practical Guide. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2018 Jan-Feb; 21(1):6-28.. View in PubMed
• Identification of GPC2 as an Oncoprotein and Candidate Immunotherapeutic Target in High-Risk Neuroblastoma. Cancer Cell. 2017 09 11; 32(3):295-309.e12.. View in PubMed
• Xanthogranulomatous osteomyelitis of the humerus in a pediatric patient with Alagille syndrome: a case report and literature review. Skeletal Radiol. 2017 Oct; 46(10):1447-1452.. View in PubMed
• Assessment of programmed death-ligand 1 expression and tumor-associated immune cells in pediatric cancer tissues. Cancer. 2017 Oct 01; 123(19):3807-3815.. View in PubMed
• Frequency and pathogenesis of central liver nodules in Alagille syndrome patients: Reply to Libbrecht and Cassiman. Pediatr Radiol. 2017 07; 47(8):1025.. View in PubMed
• Advancing Clinicopathologic Diagnosis of High-risk Neuroblastoma Using Computerized Image Analysis and Proteomic Profiling. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2017 Sep-Oct; 20(5):394-402.. View in PubMed
• Pediatric Cystic Nephroma Is Morphologically, Immunohistochemically, and Genetically Distinct From Adult Cystic Nephroma. Am J Surg Pathol. 2017 Apr; 41(4):472-481.. View in PubMed
• Multimodality imaging findings of massive ovarian edema in children. Pediatr Radiol. 2017 May; 47(5):576-583.. View in PubMed
• Fetal Lymphatic Malformations: More Variable Than We Think? J Ultrasound Med. 2017 May; 36(5):1051-1058. Oliver ER, Coleman BG, DeBari SE, Victoria T, Looney DM, Horii SC, Moldenhauer JS, Langer JE, H . View in PubMed
• Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis Manifesting as a Nephrocutaneous Fistula in a 5-Year-Old Female. Urology. 2017 Jul; 105:24-28.. View in PubMed
• Giant hepatic regenerative nodules in Alagille syndrome. Pediatr Radiol. 2017 Feb; 47(2):197-204.. View in PubMed
• The ‘hole’ story of a lung: Answers. Pediatr Nephrol. 2017 05; 32(5):777-779.. View in PubMed
• The ‘hole’ story of a lung: Questions. Pediatr Nephrol. 2017 05; 32(5):773-775.. View in PubMed
• Identification of CASZ1 NES reveals potential mechanisms for loss of CASZ1 tumor suppressor activity in neuroblastoma. Oncogene. 2017 01 05; 36(1):97-109.. View in PubMed
• Histone H3K36 mutations promote sarcomagenesis through altered histone methylation landscape. Science. 2016 May 13; 352(6287):844-9.. View in PubMed
• Polyamine Antagonist Therapies Inhibit Neuroblastoma Initiation and Progression. Clin Cancer Res. 2016 Sep 01; 22(17):4391-404.. View in PubMed
• T cells targeting NY-ESO-1 demonstrate efficacy against disseminated neuroblastoma. Oncoimmunology. 2016; 5(1):e1040216.. View in PubMed
• Hypertension and proteinuria-the needle in the haystack?: Questions. Pediatr Nephrol. 2016 09; 31(9):1455-6.. View in PubMed
• Hypertension and proteinuria-the needle in the haystack?: Answers. Pediatr Nephrol. 2016 09; 31(9):1457-8.. View in PubMed
• Asparagine plays a critical role in regulating cellular adaptation to glutamine depletion. Mol Cell. 2014 Oct 23; 56(2):205-218.. View in PubMed
• Serine catabolism regulates mitochondrial redox control during hypoxia. Cancer Discov. 2014 Dec; 4(12):1406-17.. View in PubMed
• Significant immunohistochemical expression of human chorionic gonadotropin in high-grade osteosarcoma is rare, but may be associated with clinically elevated serum levels. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2014 Jul-Aug; 17(4):278-85.. View in PubMed
• Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the bladder and ganglioglioma in a 14 year-old male with a germline 22q11.2 deletion. Cancer Genet. 2014 Sep; 207(9):415-9.. View in PubMed
• Acquired isochromosome 12p, somatic TP53 and PTEN mutations, and a germline ATM variant in an adolescent male with concurrent acute megakaryoblastic leukemia and mediastinal germ cell tumor. Cancer Genet. 2014 Apr; 207(4):153-9.. View in PubMed
• High ALK mRNA expression has a negative prognostic significance in rhabdomyosarcoma. Br J Cancer. 2013 Dec 10; 109(12):3084-91.. View in PubMed
• Dual CDK4/CDK6 inhibition induces cell-cycle arrest and senescence in neuroblastoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2013 Nov 15; 19(22):6173-82.. View in PubMed
• Mutations in the ABCC6 gene as a cause of generalized arterial calcification of infancy: genotypic overlap with pseudoxanthoma elasticum. J Invest Dermatol. 2014 Mar; 134(3):658-665.. View in PubMed
• Acanthosis nigricans associated with an adrenocortical tumor in a pediatric patient. Case Rep Endocrinol. 2013; 2013:174593.. View in PubMed
• Immunohistochemical expression of glypican-3 in pediatric tumors: an analysis of 414 cases. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2013 Jul-Aug; 16(4):272-7.. View in PubMed
• Combination therapy targeting the Chk1 and Wee1 kinases shows therapeutic efficacy in neuroblastoma. Cancer Res. 2013 Jan 15; 73(2):776-84.. View in PubMed
• Randomized controlled trial of interval-compressed chemotherapy for the treatment of localized Ewing sarcoma: a report from the Children’s Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Nov 20; 30(33):4148-54.. View in PubMed
• Epithelioid sarcoma is associated with a high percentage of SMARCB1 deletions. Mod Pathol. 2013 Mar; 26(3):385-92.. View in PubMed
• Evaluation of Norepinephrine Transporter Expression and Metaiodobenzylguanidine Avidity in Neuroblastoma: A Report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Int J Mol Imaging. 2012; 2012:250834.. View in PubMed
• Clonal trisomy 4 cells detected in the ossifying renal tumor of infancy: study of 3 cases. Mod Pathol. 2013 Feb; 26(2):275-81.. View in PubMed
• Common variation at BARD1 results in the expression of an oncogenic isoform that influences neuroblastoma susceptibility and oncogenicity. Cancer Res. 2012 Apr 15; 72(8):2068-78.. View in PubMed
• Antibody targeting of anaplastic lymphoma kinase induces cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma. Oncogene. 2012 Nov 15; 31(46):4859-67.. View in PubMed
• Claudin-6 is a nonspecific marker for malignant rhabdoid and other pediatric tumors. Am J Surg Pathol. 2012 Jan; 36(1):73-80.. View in PubMed
• Expression of therapeutic targets in Ewing sarcoma family tumors. Hum Pathol. 2012 Jul; 43(7):1077-83.. View in PubMed
• Malignant rhabdoid tumors express stem cell factors, which relate to the expression of EZH2 and Id proteins. Am J Surg Pathol. 2011 Oct; 35(10):1463-72.. View in PubMed
• Polyps and masses of the pediatric urinary bladder: a 21-year pathology review. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2011 Nov-Dec; 14(6):438-44.. View in PubMed
• p16INK4A and p14ARF tumor suppressor pathways are deregulated in malignant rhabdoid tumors. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2011 Jul; 70(7):596-609.. View in PubMed
• Investigation of the insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathway in localized Ewing sarcoma: a report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Cancer. 2011 Nov 01; 117(21):4966-76.. View in PubMed
• Eosinophilic fasciitis mimicking angioedema and treatment response to infliximab in a pediatric patient. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2011 May; 106(5):444-5.. View in PubMed
• EWSR1-POU5F1 fusion in soft tissue myoepithelial tumors. A molecular analysis of sixty-six cases, including soft tissue, bone, and visceral lesions, showing common involvement of the EWSR1 gene. Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2010 Dec; 49(12):1114-24.. View in PubMed
• Combinatorial regulation of neuroblastoma tumor progression by N-Myc and hypoxia inducible factor HIF-1alpha. Cancer Res. 2010 Dec 15; 70(24):10351-61.. View in PubMed
• Congenital epulis. Ear Nose Throat J. 2010 Jul; 89(7):299-300.. View in PubMed
• Congenital peribronchial myofibroblastic tumor: comparison of fetal and postnatal morphology. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2011 Mar-Apr; 14(2):124-9.. View in PubMed
• Serial transcriptome analysis and cross-species integration identifies centromere-associated protein E as a novel neuroblastoma target. Cancer Res. 2010 Apr 01; 70(7):2749-58.. View in PubMed
• Lipoprotein lipase deficiency with visceral xanthomas. Pediatr Radiol. 2010 Aug; 40(8):1440-2.. View in PubMed
• High expression of the PAX3-FKHR oncoprotein is required to promote tumorigenesis of human myoblasts. Am J Pathol. 2009 Dec; 175(6):2600-8.. View in PubMed
• Interferon-gamma-dependent infiltration of human T cells into neuroblastoma tumors in vivo. Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Nov 01; 15(21):6602-8.. View in PubMed
• Mcl1 downregulation sensitizes neuroblastoma to cytotoxic chemotherapy and small molecule Bcl2-family antagonists. Cancer Biol Ther. 2009 Aug; 8(16):1587-95.. View in PubMed
• ALK expression in rhabdomyosarcomas: correlation with histologic subtype and fusion status. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2009 Jul-Aug; 12(4):275-83.. View in PubMed
• Thyroid transcription factor-1 expression in normal gynecologic tissues and its potential significance. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2009 Jul; 28(4):301-7.. View in PubMed
• ODC1 is a critical determinant of MYCN oncogenesis and a therapeutic target in neuroblastoma. Cancer Res. 2008 Dec 01; 68(23):9735-45.. View in PubMed
• Loss of INI1 expression defines a unique subset of pediatric undifferentiated soft tissue sarcomas. Mod Pathol. 2009 Jan; 22(1):142-50.. View in PubMed
• Recurrent pedal hobnail (Dabska-retiform) hemangioendothelioma with forefoot reconstructive surgery using a digital fillet flap. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2008 Sep-Oct; 47(5):487-93.. View in PubMed
• Primary cardiac sarcomas: a clinicopathologic analysis of a series with follow-up information in 17 patients and emphasis on long-term survival. Hum Pathol. 2008 Sep; 39(9):1385-95.. View in PubMed
• Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) isoform expression is associated with neuroblastoma differentiation status. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2008 Jul; 51(1):10-6.. View in PubMed
• CHD5, a tumor suppressor gene deleted from 1p36.31 in neuroblastomas. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2008 Jul 02; 100(13):940-9.. View in PubMed

• Biegel, Jaclyn
• Asgharzadeh, Shahab
• Lenz, Heinz-Josef
• Marachelian, Araz
• Declerck, Yves
• Daneshmand, Siamak