Vaia Florou,
MD
Languages Spoken: English, Modern Greek (1453-)
Vaia Florou is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Oncology at Huntsman Cancer Institute of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her clinical and research interests are focused on sarcomas and gastrointestinal malignancies, with an emphasis on immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Dr. Florou received her medical degree from the University of Patras in Patras, Greece. Prior to her clinical training, she was a research fellow at the University of Cologne in Germany, where she studied the B-cell receptor signaling in CLL. She then completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson/Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey with an additional year as Chief Medical Resident. She pursued a Hematology and Oncology fellowship at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida where she graduated from in 2019.
She is involved in clinical trials aiming to improve immunotherapy efficacy in sarcomas and gastrointestinal malignancies. Her research has been presented at various national and international conferences including ASCO, AACR, SITC, ISTH and CTOS. She is also a member of several professional organizations like the American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society for Medical Oncology, Connective Tissue Oncology Society and Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer.
Specialties
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Internal Medicine
-
Assistant Professor (Clinical) |
| Academic Divisions | Oncology |
| Board Certification | American Board of Internal Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Medical Oncology) |
Patient Rating
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Likelihood of recommending care provider
4.9/ 5
Care provider's explanation of condition/problem
4.9/ 5
Care provider's effort to include me in decisions
4.9/ 5
Wait time at clinic
4.7/ 5
Care provider's concern for questions & worries
4.9/ 5
Patient Comments
Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survery and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
UofU Patient
October 30, 2022
Huntsman Cancer Institute
The doctor is great!
UofU Patient
October 30, 2022
Huntsman Cancer Institute
I was impressed with Dr Florou's professionalism, knowledge and patience. She took the time to answer all my questions.
UofU Patient
October 21, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Florou and Dr Decesaris have both been fantastic during all of my visits.
UofU Patient
October 10, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Very professional and kindest
UofU Patient
September 26, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
September 19, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Foreau is great
UofU Patient
September 16, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Florou is a wonderful person, right to the point. She has made me feel very comfortable. I am so glad she is treating me in Oncology.
UofU Patient
September 12, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Very professional, polite, practical language for understanding the patient situation
UofU Patient
September 06, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
My doctor was informative and patient with my questions.
UofU Patient
September 02, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Florou is an excellent Doctor
UofU Patient
August 28, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
The doctor is a wonderful person, politely and respectful,
UofU Patient
August 21, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Care provider is a straight shooter with information
UofU Patient
August 15, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
August 13, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Very good
UofU Patient
August 02, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
July 23, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
July 20, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr. Florou had reviewed my history thoroughly and had an amazing recall of my on-going (8 year) challenge with cancer. I look forward to a good working relationship with her and Breanna.
UofU Patient
July 19, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
June 27, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
June 05, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
May 23, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
May 22, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Florou changed every aspect of my treatment and understanding of my cancer. We tell everyone we know how different the care is at Huntsman. We have great hospitals closer to our home, but she guided us to the right surgeon and speeded up the process.
UofU Patient
May 09, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
April 28, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
With the technology, I could only see the top of Dr. Florou's head.
UofU Patient
April 19, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Dr Florou is always good to explain any care decisions and options. I struggle to make decisions sometimes and I am glad she can do that for me when I can't decide what is best. She is kind and caring always to me
UofU Patient
April 17, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Feel like my concerns wasn't heard
UofU Patient
March 29, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
March 14, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
UofU Patient
March 10, 2022
HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
Good
Vaia Florou is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Oncology at Huntsman Cancer Institute of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her clinical and research interests are focused on sarcomas and gastrointestinal malignancies, with an emphasis on immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Dr. Florou received her medical degree from the University of Patras in Patras, Greece. Prior to her clinical training, she was a research fellow at the University of Cologne in Germany, where she studied the B-cell receptor signaling in CLL. She then completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson/Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey with an additional year as Chief Medical Resident. She pursued a Hematology and Oncology fellowship at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida where she graduated from in 2019.
She is involved in clinical trials aiming to improve immunotherapy efficacy in sarcomas and gastrointestinal malignancies. Her research has been presented at various national and international conferences including ASCO, AACR, SITC, ISTH and CTOS. She is also a member of several professional organizations like the American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society for Medical Oncology, Connective Tissue Oncology Society and Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer.
Academic Locations
Huntsman Cancer Institute Research South
801-585-0255
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Internal Medicine
-
Assistant Professor (Clinical) |
| Academic Divisions | Oncology |
| Board Certification | American Board of Internal Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Medical Oncology) |
Education History
| Graduate Training | University of Utah Biomedical Informatics M.S., 2022 |
| Fellowship | Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Hematology/Oncology Clinical Fellow, 2019 |
| Chief Resident | Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/Saint Peter’s University Hospital Internal Medicine Chief Resident, 2016 |
| Residency | Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/Saint Peter’s University Hospital Internal Medicine Resident, 2015 |
| Graduate Training | Rutgers University/Saint Peter’s University Hospital Strategic Healthcare Management Program Mini-M.B.A., 2013 |
| Research Fellow | University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine Hematology/Oncology Research Fellow, 2012 |
| Professional Medical | University of Patras, Faculty of Medicine Medicine M.D., 2010 |
Selected Publications - Journal Articles
Journal Article
- Florou V, Wilky BA (2022). Emerging mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance in sarcomas. . Cancer Drug Resist, (10.20517).
- Kourouni I, Aesif SW, Tamarkin SW, Bolen M, Sivak E, Shaman Z, Tamaskar I, Florou V (2021). A 51-year-old man with chronic cough and left hilar prominence. Breathe (Sheff), 17(2), 210018.
- Florou V, Jarboe E, Deftereos G (2020). Intravenous Leiomyomatosis: A Rare Diagnosis With Aggressive Potential. JCO Oncol Pract, 17(4), 206-208.
- Naqash AR, Ricciuti B, Owen DH, Florou V et al (2020). Outcomes associated with immune-related adverse events in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with nivolumab: a pooled exploratory analysis from a global cohort. Cancer Immunol Immunother, s00262-020-02536-5(10.1007), 1177-1187.
- Naqash AR, Ricciuti B, Owen DH, Florou V, Toi Y, Cherry C, Hafiz M, De Giglio A, Muzaffar M, Patel SH, Sugawara S, Burkart J, Park W, Chiari R, Sugisaka J, Otterson GA, de Lima Lopes G, Walker PR (2020). Outcomes associated with immune-related adverse events in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with nivolumab: a pooled exploratory analysis from a global cohort. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 69(7), 1177-1187.
- Florou V, Garrido-Laguna I (2020). Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastrointestinal Malignancies: What Is the Path Forward? J Immunother Precis Oncol 3 (3), 137-139. J Immunother Precis Oncol, 137-139.
- Florou V, Trent JC, Wilky BA (2019). Precision medicine in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Discov Med, (155), 267-276.
- Florou V, Garrido-Laguna I (2019). Cancer immunotherapy in the immunosuppressed patients and its relevance to clinical practice. J Immunother Precis Oncol 2:127. J Immunother Precis Oncol.
- Chae YK, Viveiros P, Lopes G, Sukhadia B, Sheikh MM, Saravia D, Florou V, Sokol ES, Frampton GM, Chalmers ZR, Ali SM, Ross JS, Chang S, Wang S, Chiec L, Rahbari A, Mohindra N, Villaflor V, Shin SH, Oh M, Anker J, Park LC, Wang V, Chuang J, Park W (2019). Clinical and immunological implications of frameshift mutations in lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol, (10.1016).
- Wilky BA, Trucco MM, Subhawong TK, Florou V, Park W, Kwon D, Wieder ED, Kolonias D, Rosenberg AE, Kerr DA, Sfakianaki E, Foley M, Merchan JR, Komanduri KV, Trent JC (2019). Axitinib plus pembrolizumab in patients with advanced sarcomas including alveolar soft-part sarcoma: a single-centre, single-arm, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol, (10.1016), 30153-6.
- Florou V, Ramdial JL, Trent JC (2018). Use of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Patients With GI Stromal Tumor Who Are Pregnant or Considering Pregnancy: Driver Mutations and Circulating Tumor DNA. J Clin Oncol, 36(25), 2659-60.
- Florou V, Ramdial J, Trent JC (2017). GIST in Pregnancy: The Role of Circulating Tumor DNA to Define the Assessment of Risk of Rapid Progression and Response to Imatinib. Am J Hematol Oncol, 13(11), 37-40.
- Florou V, Rosenberg AE, Wieder E, Komanduri K V, Kolonias D, Uduman M, Castle JC, Buell JS, Trent JC, Wilky BA (). Angiosarcoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a case series of seven patients from a single institution. (Epub ahead of print) J Immunother Cancer.
Review
- Mittra A, Takebe N, Florou V, Chen AP, Naqash AR (2020). The emerging landscape of immune checkpoint inhibitor based clinical trials in adults with advanced rare tumors. [Review]. Hum Vaccin Immunother, 17(7), 1935-1939.
- Florou V, Wilky BA (2021). Current Management of Angiosarcoma: Recent Advances and Lessons From the Past. [Review]. Curr Treat Options Oncol, 22(7), 61.
- Florou V, Puri S, Garrido-Laguna I, Wilky BA (2020). Considerations for immunotherapy in patients with cancer and comorbid immune dysfunction. [Review]. Ann Transl Med, 9(12), 1035.
- Bindal P, Gray JE, Boyle TA, Florou V, Puri S (2020). Biomarkers of therapeutic response with immune checkpoint inhibitors. [Review]. Ann Transl Med, 9(12), 1040.
- Marron TU, Ryan AE, Reddy SM, Kaczanowska S, Younis RH, Thakkar D, Zhang J, Bartkowiak T, Howard R, Anderson KG, Olson D, Naqash AR, Patel RB, Sachdev E, Rodriguez-Ruiz ME, Sheffer M, Church S, Fuhrman C, Overacre-Delgoffe A, Nguyen R, Florou V, Thaxton JE, Aggen DH, Guerriero JL (2021). Considerations for treatment duration in responders to immune checkpoint inhibitors. [Review]. J Immunother Cancer, 9(3).
- Florou V, Trent JC, Wilky BA (2020). Precision medicine in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. [Review]. Discov Med, 28(155), 267-276.
- Florou V, Wilky BA (2018 Mar 8). Current and Future Directions for Angiosarcoma Therapy. [Review]. Curr Treat Options Oncol, 19(3), 14.
- Alavi SN, Florou V, Tinoco G, Trent JC, Wilky BA (2018). A precision medicine approach in sarcoma: identification of patients who may benefit from early use of pazopanib. [Review]. Discov Med, 25(137), 131-44.
- Florou V, Wilky BA, Trent JC (2017). Latest advances in adult gastrointestinal stromal tumors. [Review]. Future Oncol, 13(24), 2183-93.
- Warner K, Crispatzu G, Al-Ghaili N, Weit N, Florou V, You MJ, Newrzela S, Herling M (2013). Models for mature T-cell lymphomas--a critical appraisal of experimental systems and their contribution to current T-cell tumorigenic concepts. [Review]. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol, 88(3), 680-95.
Book Chapter
- Florou V, Wilky BA (2018). Regulatory T Cells. In D'Angelo S, Pollack S (Eds.), Immunotherapy of Sarcoma (pp. 33-45). Springer.
- Florou V, Nascimento AG, Gulia A, de Lima Lopes Jr G (2018). Global Health Perspective in Sarcomas and Other Rare Cancers. In American Society of Clinical Oncology, Educational Book (38, pp. 916-24).
- Florou V, Wilky BA, Rosenblatt JD, Zhang Y (In Press). B cells in the Tumor Microenvironment. In Cancer Immunotherapy Principles and Practice. McGraw-Hill.
Case Report
- Florou V, Nevala-Plagemann C, Whisenant J, Maeda P, Gilcrease GW, Garrido-Laguna I (2021). Clinical Activity of Selitrectinib in a Patient With Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland With Secondary Resistance to Entrectinib. J Natl Compr Canc Netw, 19(5), 478-482.
- Florou V, Nevala-Plagemann C, Barber KE, Mastroianni JN, Cavalieri CC, Garrido-Laguna I (2020). Treatment Rechallenge With Checkpoint Inhibition in Patients With Mismatch Repair-Deficient Pancreatic Cancer After Planned Treatment Interruption. JCO Precis Oncol, 4.
- Cioffi JH, Estes DJ, Florou V, Ardalan B (2017). Treatment of advanced colorectal cancer in a patient with cardiotoxic reactions to 5-fluorouracil and capecitabine using suboptimal doses.LID - bcr-2017-220952 [pii]LID - 10.1136/bcr-2017-220952 [doi]. BMJ Case Rep, 2017.
Abstract
- Florou V, Wilky B, Trent J (2019). Angiosarcoma treated with checkpoint inhibitors: A single-institution experience. Abstract. ASCO 2019 [Abstract].
- Florou V, Park W, Torres A, Algaze S, Saravia D, Kwon D, Hosein P, Merchan J, Wilky B, Lockhart C, Lopes G (2018). High Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and its Reactive Increase as Better Predictors of Poor Clinical Outcomes Compared To Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB), in Solid Tumor Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors [Abstract]. J Clin Oncol, 36(no. 18_suppl), abstr e24109.
- Espejo A, Florou V, Subhawong T, Trent JC (2018). Safety and efficacy of olaratumab added to doxorubicin- based combination chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) [Abstract]. J Clin Oncol, 36(no. 18_suppl), abstr e23542.
Global Impact
Education History
| Research Fellow | University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine Hematology/Oncology Research Fellow |
| Professional Medical | University of Patras, Faculty of Medicine Medicine M.D. |