Dr. David Newton Danforth Jr., MD, MS

Media Releases

Get to know Surgical Oncologist Dr. David N. Danforth Jr., who serves patients in Bethesda, Maryland.

Well-versed in the field of surgical oncology, Dr. Danforth is an Associate Research Physician with the Surgery Branch at the National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research. His areas of expertise include molecular characteristics of breast epithelium, breast cancer disparities, breast carcinogenesis, breast cancer management, and breast cancer prevention.

Working alongside Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg, Dr. Danforth’s research efforts are focused primarily on the molecular characteristics of early breast carcinogenesis which are present in normal breast epithelium and their use to develop a molecular signature for risk assessment, and to develop new targets for breast cancer prevention. An important second area of interest of Dr. Danforth are the disparities in breast cancer outcomes between Caucasian, African American and Hispanic women, especially the molecular basis for these disparities and how they are influenced by health care, socioeconomic and other non-biological factors. A model has been developed to describe these relationships.

The Center for Cancer Research is the largest division of the National Cancer Institute’s intramural research program with nearly 250 basic and clinical research groups located on two campuses just outside of Washington, D.C. It is home to an extraordinary group of scientists and clinicians exploring the cutting-edge of cancer and HIV/AIDS research. They work on a wide spectrum of biological and biomedical problems ranging from visualizing and understanding the structure of individual genes and proteins, developing novel methods for drug discovery, to inventing biomedical devices and technology and creating innovative ways to treat patients in the NIH Clinical Center.

Regarding his educational background, Dr. Danforth received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University, his medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and his Master of Science degree in Physiology from the University of New Mexico. He completed his surgical residency at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in New York City, and received fellowship training in surgical oncology at the Surgery Branch of the National Cancer Institute, and at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Additional research training included a senior staff fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Marc Lippman, NCI.

Surgical oncology is the branch of surgery applied to oncology. It focuses on the surgical management of tumors, especially cancerous tumors. A surgical oncologist removes the tumor and nearby tissue during surgery. He or she also performs certain types of biopsies to help diagnose cancer.

Recommended Articles

• The Science Behind Depression: What Happens in Your Brain

  Although the causes of depression are often associated with tragic life events, pregnancy, retirement, or conflicts in a relationship, this complex disorder is scientifically believed to be caused by a chemical imbalance. This chemical imbalance can be a result of a genetic vulnerability,...

• Mickey Rowe Is First Actor with Autism to Play Lead in "Curious Incident of the Dog"

  Mickey Rowe is hitting the Indiana Repertory Theatre staring in the Tony-winning Best Play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a 2003 novel that has become a Broadway smash hit. Rowe has autism spectrum disorder, and will be the first person with ASD to play the role.A new...

• Have You Heard About the Various Types of Depression?

  Depression is a state of mind wherein people feel sad, anxious, and upset all the time. It is a mental condition that affects the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Depression happens when people's thoughts turn completely negative and they later become distant avoiding any form of social...

• This College Graduate with Autism Is an Inspiration

  For this young man, college was never a question. Many may think that's not that special, but in this case, it is. Paris King has autism, and many teens with autism might not have the same courage to go through with what he accomplished.Autism involves a social disability that may affect someone's...

• How This Barber Caters to Those with Autism

  Frankel Antoine, a 24-year-old licensed barber, gives free haircuts to people with autism. He is passionate about his work, which was inspired by his brother, 19-year-old Amos, who has autism and does not speak. In the beginning, Antoine would give his brother haircuts at their home, understanding...

• Everything you Need to Know About Psychotherapy

  What is psychotherapy?Sometimes simply known as therapy, psychotherapy is a form of treatment which involves two parties, that is, the therapist and you the patient. It can also be referred to as an interpersonal relation intervention by a highly trained individual (therapist) to assist in the...