Dr. Robert A. Kratzke

Doctor Overview

Dr. Robert A. Kratzke is an associate professor of medicine in the division of hematology, oncology, and transplantation at the University of Minnesota located in Minneapolis. He also serves on the staff of the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Clinic as a medical oncologist. Prior to assuming his current position at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Kratzke was an assistant professor of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland and a staff physician at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Section of Hematology/Oncology.

Dr. Kratzke is board-certified in internal medicine and oncology and cites his areas of expertise as cancer, lung and esophageal cancer and medical oncology. Dr. Kratzke is a member of the Thoracic Oncology Program at the University of Minnesota, which promotes integrated care for all of its lung cancer and mesothelioma patients. This model of care involves a combination of surgery, medicine, and radiation aimed at achieving the best possible outcomes for patients.

Dr. Kratzke was the first individual to be honored with the prestigious John Skoglund Chair in Lung Cancer Research in 2004 at the University of Minnesota. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Federation for Medical Research (AFMR). Dr. Kratzke’s research interests are focused upon the development (preclinical and clinical) of innovative targets for the treatment of lung cancer and mesothelioma. In particular, he has investigated molecular abnormalities in mesothelioma and lung cancer and gene replacement therapy for mesothelioma. Dr. Kratzke has authored or coauthored nearly 80 scientific articles. His work has been published in such journals as The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, among others.

Doctor Fast Facts

Main Specialty: Oncology

Other Interests & Specialties: General oncology, hematologic oncology, mesothelioma, clinical trials for malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Certifications, Awards & Accolades: American Board of Internal Medicine Certifications in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology Member

Education & Experience:

• Residency for Internal Medicine at University of Wisconsin
• Medical Degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine

Publications

Cap-dependent translational control of oncolytic measles virus infection in malignant mesothelioma. Oncotarget. June 2017;8(38):63096-63109. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.18656

Detection of mesothelioma remains a conundrum. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. February 2013;105(4):254-5. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djs651

miR-1 induces growth arrest and apoptosis in malignant mesothelioma. Chest. November 2013;144(5):1632-43. doi: 10.1378/chest.12-2770

Molecular pathways in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Cancer Letters. August 2006;239(2):183-9. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.08.010

Oncolytic Viral Therapy for Mesothelioma. Frontiers in Oncology. August 201724;7:179. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00179

Small-molecule inhibition of oncogenic eukaryotic protein translation in mesothelioma cells. Investigational New Drugs. August 2014;32(4):598-603. doi: 10.1007/s10637-014-0076-7