Vaia Florou
Rating: 4.9 of 5
( out of 229 reviews )

Vaia Florou, MD, MS

Languages spoken: Modern Greek, English

  • Vaia Florou is an Associate 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

    American Board of Internal Medicine
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Medical Oncology)

    Patient Rating

    Rating: 4.9 out of 5
    4.9 /5
    ( out of 229 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    December 31, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    She helped me feel not so scared.

    December 26, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    She is very understanding and explains everything thoroughly

    December 23, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Very professional and knowledgeable of my health

    December 21, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Fantastic

    December 18, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Florou is a wonderful doctor. I really do believe she cares about me and wants the best for me. I am very thankful to have her.

    December 10, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    One of the top oncologists in the country. Dr. Florou was incredibly well informed about my rare cancer, she was also one of the most compassionate oncologists that I have met, taking the time to listen to my concerns and come up with a plan.

    November 26, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Florou is always professional, caring and listens to my concerns.

    November 23, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Florou always treats us with care and concern. We are in good hands with her and her team.

    November 12, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    nothing at this time

  • Vaia Florou is an Associate 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.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Internal Medicine -Associate Professor (Clinical)
    Academic Divisions Oncology
    Board Certification
    American Board of Internal Medicine
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Medical Oncology)

    Education history

    Graduate Training Biomedical Informatics - University of Utah M.S.
    Fellowship Hematology/Oncology - Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Clinical Fellow
    Chief Resident Internal Medicine - Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/Saint Peter’s University Hospital Chief Resident
    Graduate Training Strategic Healthcare Management Program - Rutgers University/Saint Peter’s University Hospital Mini-M.B.A.
    Residency Internal Medicine - Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/Saint Peter’s University Hospital Resident
    Research Fellow Hematology/Oncology - University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine Research Fellow
    Professional Medical Medicine - University of Patras, Faculty of Medicine M.D.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Miotke L, Norton C, Rubnitz Z, Florou V, Nevala-Plagemann C, Garrido-Laguna I (2025). Impact of DNA damage repair alterations on real-world response to therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer. ESMO Open, 10(9), 105768. (Read full publication)
    2. Lagos G, Groisberg R, Elliott A, Dizon DS, Seeber A, Gibney GT, von Mehren M, Cardona K, Demeure MJ, Riedel RF, Florou V, Chou AJ, Modiano JF, Kumar A, Khushman MM, DAmato GZ, Espejo Freire AP, DeNardo B, Trent JC (2024). Large-Scale Multiomic Analysis Identifies Anatomic Differences and Immunogenic Potential in Subtypes of Leiomyosarcoma. Clin Cancer Res, 31(11), 2210-2221. (Read full publication)
    3. Expert Panel on Musculoskeletal Imaging, Ahlawat S, Lenchik L, Baker JC, Allen H, Banks J, Florou V, Garner HW, Hammer MR, Hiniker SM, Kamel SI, Lu Y, Peairs KS, Scott JA, Wessell DE (2025). ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Suspected Primary Bone Tumors: 2024 Update. J Am Coll Radiol, 22(5S), S440-S454. (Read full publication)
    4. Boland PM, Lenz HJ, Ciombor KK, Florou V, Pishvaian MJ, Cusnir M, Cohen D, Guo JY, Tang M, Rajagopalan P, Wiley SE, Ghalie RG, Hochster HS (2024). A Phase 1b study of the OxPhos inhibitor ME-344 with bevacizumab in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Invest New Drugs, 43(1), 60-68. (Read full publication)
    5. Norton C, Shaw MS, Rubnitz Z, Smith J, Soares HP, Nevala-Plagemann CD, Garrido-Laguna I, Florou V (2025). KRAS Mutation Status and Treatment Outcomes in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. JAMA Netw Open, 8(1), e2453588. (Read full publication)
    6. Ilozumba MN, Lin T, Hardikar S, Byrd DA, Round JL, Stephens WZ, Holowatyj AN, Warby CA, Damerell V, Li CI, Figueiredo JC, Toriola AT, Shibata D, Fillmore GC, Pickron B, Siegel EM, Kahlert C, Florou V, Gigic B, Ose J, Ulrich CM (2024). Fusobacterium nucleatum Abundance is Associated with Cachexia in Colorectal Cancer Patients: The ColoCare Study. Cancer Med, 13(22), e70431. (Read full publication)
    7. Chen CT, Khanna V, Kummar S, Abdul-Karim RM, Sommerhalder D, Tolcher AW, Ueno NT, Davis SL, Orr DW, Hamilton E, Patel MR, Spira AI, Jauhari S, Florou V, Duff M, Xu R, Wang J, Barkund SR, Zhou H, Pankov A, Kong W, Jahchan NS, Jackson EL, Sun JD, Junttila MR, Multani PS, Daemen A, Chow Maneval E, Munster PN (2024). ORIC-101, a Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist, in Combination with Nab-Paclitaxel in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors. Cancer Res Commun, 4(9), 2415-2426. (Read full publication)
    8. Jayakrishnan T, Baca Y, Xiu J, Patel M, Weinberg BA, Lou E, Datta J, Khushman M, Gulhati P, Goel S, Biachi de Castria T, Florou V, Nair KG, Kamath SD, Khorana AA (2024). Molecular Differences With Therapeutic Implications in Early-Onset Compared With Average-Onset Biliary Tract Cancers. JCO Precis Oncol, 8, e2400138. (Read full publication)
    9. Faber EB, Krause HB, Amin K, Walker P, Hosein PJ, Shields AF, Lenz HJ, Prakash A, Goel S, Oberley M, Malleo G, Luchini C, Hwang J, Florou V, Garrido-Laguna I, Lou E (2024). Genomic Profiling of Rare Undifferentiated Sarcomatoid Subtypes of Pancreatic Carcinomas: In Search of Therapeutic Targets. JCO Precis Oncol, 8, e2300595. (Read full publication)
    10. Smith JT, Sama S, Florou V, Nevala-Plagemann C, Garrido-Laguna I (2023). Durable response to first-line PARP inhibition in BRCA-mutated metastatic cholangiocarcinoma: case report. J Gastrointest Oncol, 14(6), 2637-2643. (Read full publication)
    11. Florou V, Elliott A, Bailey MH, Stone D, Affolter K, Soares HP, Nevala-Plagemann C, Scaife C, Walker P, Korn WM, Lou E, Shroff RT, Hosein PJ, Garrido-Laguna I (2022). Comparative Genomic Analysis of Pancreatic Acinar Cell Carcinoma (PACC) and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) Unveils New Actionable Genomic Aberrations in PACC. Clin Cancer Res, 29(17), 3408-3417. (Read full publication)
    12. Florou V, Floudas CS, Maoz A, Naqash AR, Norton C, Tan AC, Sokol ES, Frampton G, Soares HP, Puri S, Swami U, Wilky B, Hosein P, Trent J, Lopes GL, Park W, Garrido-Laguna I (2023). Real-world pan-cancer landscape of frameshift mutations and their role in predicting responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancers with low tumor mutational burden. J Immunother Cancer, 11(8). (Read full publication)
    13. El Zarif T, Nassar AH, Adib E, Fitzgerald BG, Huang J, Mouhieddine TH, Rubinstein PG, Nonato T, McKay RR, Li M, Mittra A, Owen DH, Baiocchi RA, Lorentsen M, Dittus C, Dizman N, Falohun A, Abdel-Wahab N, Diab A, Bankapur A, Reed A, Kim C, Arora A, Shah NJ, El-Am E, Kozaily E, Abdallah W, Al-Hader A, Abu Ghazal B, Saeed A, Drolen C, Lechner MG, Drakaki A, Baena J, Nebhan CA, Haykal T, Morse MA, Cortellini A, Pinato DJ, Dalla Pria A, Hall E, Bakalov V, Bahary N, Rajkumar A, Mangla A, Shah V, Singh P, Aboubakar Nana F, Lopetegui-Lia N, Dima D, Dobbs RW, Funchain P, Saleem R, Woodford R, Long GV, Menzies AM, Genova C, Barletta G, Puri S, Florou V, Idossa D, Saponara M, Queirolo P, Lamberti G, Addeo A, Bersanelli M, Freeman D, Xie W, Reid EG, Chiao EY, Sharon E, Johnson DB, Ramaswami R, Bower M, Emu B, Marron TU, Choueiri TK, Baden LR, Lurain K, Sonpavde GP, Naqash AR (2023). Safety and Activity of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in People Living With HIV and Cancer: A Real-World Report From the Cancer Therapy Using Checkpoint Inhibitors in People Living With HIV-International (CATCH-IT) Consortium. J Clin Oncol, 41(21), 3712-3723. (Read full publication)
    14. Nevala-Plagemann C, Sama S, Ying J, Shen J, Haaland B, Florou V, Garrido-Laguna I (2022). A Real-World Comparison of Regorafenib and Trifluridine/Tipiracil in Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in the United States. J Natl Compr Canc Netw, 21(3), 257-264. (Read full publication)
    15. Miotke L, Nevala-Plagemann C, Ying J, Florou V, Haaland B, Garrido-Laguna I (2022). Treatment outcomes in recurrent versus de novo metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a real world study. BMC Cancer, 22(1), 1054. (Read full publication)
    16. Pauley K, Koptiuch C, Greenberg S, Kohlmann W, Jeter J, Colonna S, Werner T, Kinsey C, Gilcrease G, Weis J, Whisenant J, Florou V, Garrido-Laguna I (2022). Discrepancies between tumor genomic profiling and germline genetic testing. ESMO Open, 7(4), 100526. (Read full publication)
    17. 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. (Read full publication)
    18. Azeem Khan M, Florou V, Swami U (2021). Immunotherapy and fatigue: what we know and what we don't know. Oncotarget, 12(8), 719-720. (Read full publication)
    19. Florou V, Jarboe E, Deftereos G (2020). Intravenous Leiomyomatosis: A Rare Diagnosis With Aggressive Potential. JCO Oncol Pract, 17(4), 206-208. (Read full publication)
    20. 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.
    21. 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. (Read full publication)
    22. 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). Correction to: 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), 1189. (Read full publication)
    23. 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. (Read full publication)
    24. Florou V, Rosenberg AE, Wieder E, Komanduri K V, Kolonias D, Uduman M, Castle JC, Buell JS, Trent JC, Wilky BA (2019). Angiosarcoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a case series of seven patients from a single institution. J Immunother Cancer.
    25. 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).
    26. 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.
    27. 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. (Read full publication)
    28. 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.

    Review

    1. Florou V, Jacobs MF, Casey R, Evans D, Owens B, Raygada M, Rothschild S, Greenberg SE (2024). A Review of Genomic Testing and SDH- Deficiency in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Getting to the GIST. [Review]. Cancer Med, 14(3), e70669. (Read full publication)
    2. Rubnitz Z, Nevala-Plagemann C, Florou V, Garrido-Laguna I (2025). Gemcitabine-induced myositis in a patient with pancreatic cancer. [Review]. BMJ Case Rep, 18(1). (Read full publication)
    3. Vagher J, Mehrhoff CJ, Florou V, Maese LD (2024). Genetic Predisposition to Sarcoma: What Should Clinicians Know? [Review]. Curr Treat Options Oncol, 25(6), 769-783. (Read full publication)
    4. Plachouri KM, Florou V, Georgiou V, Georgiou S (2023). Cutaneous Side Effects of Modern Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy in Patients with Dermatological Malignancies. [Review]. Cancers (Basel), 15(12). (Read full publication)
    5. Florou V, Garrido-Laguna I (2022). Clinical Development of Anti-TIGIT Antibodies for Immunotherapy of Cancer. [Review]. Curr Oncol Rep, 24(9), 1107-1112. (Read full publication)
    6. Florou V, Wilky BA (2022). Emerging mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance in sarcomas. [Review]. Cancer Drug Resist, 5(1), 199-213. (Read full publication)
    7. 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. (Read full publication)
    8. Florou V, Wilky BA (2021). Current Management of Angiosarcoma: Recent Advances and Lessons From the Past. [Review]. Curr Treat Options Oncol, 22(7), 61. (Read full publication)
    9. 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. (Read full publication)
    10. 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. (Read full publication)
    11. 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). (Read full publication)
    12. Florou V, Trent JC, Wilky BA (2020). Precision medicine in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. [Review]. Discov Med, 28(155), 267-276. (Read full publication)
    13. Florou V, Wilky BA (2018 Mar 8). Current and Future Directions for Angiosarcoma Therapy. [Review]. Curr Treat Options Oncol, 19(3), 14. (Read full publication)
    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. (Read full publication)
    15. Florou V, Wilky BA, Trent JC (2017). Latest advances in adult gastrointestinal stromal tumors. [Review]. Future Oncol, 13(24), 2183-93. (Read full publication)
    16. 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. (Read full publication)

    Book Chapter

    1. 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).

    Case Report

    1. 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. (Read full publication)
    2. 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. (Read full publication)
    3. 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. (Read full publication)

    Editorial

    1. 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.

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