Christine M. Bestvina, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Associate Director for Clinical Operations for Thoracic Oncology at the University of Chicago Medicine. She specializes in the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Small Cell Lung Cancer, with expertise in immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and the integration of ablative radiotherapy. Dr. Bestvina also serves as the Assistant Program Leader for the Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics Program at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center. She leads multiple investigator-initiated and cooperative-group clinical trials, including serving as National Principal Investigator of the A082002 trial evaluating immunotherapy with or without radiation for advanced PD-L1–negative NSCLC, and Principal Investigator of DARES, a Phase II trial studying durvalumab with ablative radiation in extensive-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer.
Dr. Bestvina is an active contributor to national and international leadership in thoracic oncology through her involvement in the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and a broad portfolio of invited lectures and media contributions. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and reviews focused on clinical trial innovation, mechanisms of treatment resistance, and biomarker-driven precision medicine, and she is consistently recognized among Chicago Magazine’s Top Doctors (2023–present). A committed educator and mentor, she has received multiple institutional teaching awards and is dedicated to advancing patient-centered research and improving outcomes for individuals with thoracic malignancies.
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
- Oncology Fellowship
2018
Duke Medical Center
Durham, MD
- Internal Medicine - Residency
2015
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
MD
2012
Cost of genetic testing, delayed care, and suboptimal treatment associated with polymerase chain reaction versus next-generation sequencing biomarker testing for genomic alterations in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
Cost of genetic testing, delayed care, and suboptimal treatment associated with polymerase chain reaction versus next-generation sequencing biomarker testing for genomic alterations in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. J Med Econ. 2024 Jan-Dec; 27(1):292-303.
PMID: 38391239
Combined Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Immune Checkpoint Inhibition for Liver Metastases: Safety and Outcomes in a Pooled Analysis of 3 Phase 1 Trials.
Combined Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Immune Checkpoint Inhibition for Liver Metastases: Safety and Outcomes in a Pooled Analysis of 3 Phase 1 Trials. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2024 Apr 01; 118(5):1519-1530.
PMID: 38199382
Sotorasib with panitumumab in chemotherapy-refractory KRASG12C-mutated colorectal cancer: a phase 1b trial.
Sotorasib with panitumumab in chemotherapy-refractory KRASG12C-mutated colorectal cancer: a phase 1b trial. Nat Med. 2024 Jan; 30(1):265-270.
PMID: 38177853
A Phase 1/2 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Activity of Nivolumab in Combination With Vorolanib, a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, in Patients With Refractory Thoracic Tumors.
A Phase 1/2 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Activity of Nivolumab in Combination With Vorolanib, a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, in Patients With Refractory Thoracic Tumors. JTO Clin Res Rep. 2024 Feb; 5(2):100619.
PMID: 38328473
Disparities in outcomes between Black and White patients in North America with thoracic malignancies and COVID-19 infection (TERAVOLT).
Disparities in outcomes between Black and White patients in North America with thoracic malignancies and COVID-19 infection (TERAVOLT). Lung Cancer. 2023 12; 186:107423.
PMID: 37995456
What is the ideal endpoint in early-stage immunotherapy neoadjuvant trials in lung cancer?
What is the ideal endpoint in early-stage immunotherapy neoadjuvant trials in lung cancer? Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2023; 15:17588359231198446.
PMID: 37720499
Early-Stage Lung Cancer: Using Circulating Tumor DNA to Get Personal.
Early-Stage Lung Cancer: Using Circulating Tumor DNA to Get Personal. J Clin Oncol. 2023 09 01; 41(25):4093-4096.
PMID: 37352477
The Role of MET in Resistance to EGFR Inhibition in NSCLC: A Review of Mechanisms and Treatment Implications.
The Role of MET in Resistance to EGFR Inhibition in NSCLC: A Review of Mechanisms and Treatment Implications. Cancers (Basel). 2023 May 31; 15(11).
PMID: 37296959
Targeted Toxicities: Protocols for Monitoring the Adverse Events of Targeted Therapies Used in the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
Targeted Toxicities: Protocols for Monitoring the Adverse Events of Targeted Therapies Used in the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 29; 24(11).
PMID: 37298380
A Multicenter Retrospective Chart Review of Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With KRAS G12C Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
A Multicenter Retrospective Chart Review of Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With KRAS G12C Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Clin Lung Cancer. 2023 05; 24(3):228-234.
PMID: 36841727