Clinical Professor, School of Medicine
Member, Immune Oncology Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Hematologist/Oncologist, MetroHealth Medical Center
John Wagner, MD, is a hematologist and medical oncologist at MetroHealth, where he specializes in treating cancer and blood disorders. He was drawn to medicine—and especially to cellular therapy—because he wanted to be part of a field that’s constantly evolving. The ability to use cutting-edge science and technology to improve lives is what inspires him every day.
He completed his medical training at Temple University and went on to complete his residency and fellowship in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Oncology at the University of Maryland and the University of Washington. These experiences shaped his approach to care: evidence-based, compassionate, and always centered around each patient’s unique goals and values.
Wagner also serves as a Clinical Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where he's proud to help train the next generation of physicians. Whether discussing treatment options or navigating uncertainty together, his goal is to make sure you feel heard, supported, and empowered throughout your care journey.
Research Information
Research Interests
Cellular therapy complications
Graft-versus-host disease
Graft manipulation
T cell biology
Publications
- Harnessing the Power of Two: High-Dose Stem Cell Haploidentical Transplant in Hematologic Malignancies: A Prospective Trial
- Comparison of Fludarabine Versus Bendamustine as a Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy Prior to CAR-T for Large Cell Lymphoma
Abstract: Lymphodepleting chemotherapy (LD) enhances chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) expansion, persistence, and clinical activity. Fludarabine-cyclophosphamide is most used, but the benefit of alternative agents is unknown. This study compares fludarabine- versus bendamustine-based LD in the real-world setting prior to CAR-T treatment of relapsed or refractory large cell lymphoma (LBCL). We assessed outcomes of patients with LBCL who received commercial CD19 CAR-T therapies during 2017 to 2023,... - The Two-Step Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Is Associated with Excellent Engraftment, Improved Survival and Low Nonrelapse Mortality in Patients with Myelofibrosis
Abstract: Myelofibrosis is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder primarily affecting older adults, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the only curative treatment option. However, HSCT for myelofibrosis presents significant challenges, including high nonrelapse mortality (NRM) and an increased risk of graft failure. In this 20-year retrospective study, we evaluated outcomes for 32 myelofibrosis patients who underwent HSCT at our institution, with particular focus on a... - Race-neutral Pulmonary Function Testing in Risk Stratification of Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
- A Tender Reduced-Intensity Conditioning for the Unfit: A Novel 4 Gy Total Body Irradiation-Based Conditioning Followed by Two-Step Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplant, Results of a Prospective Trial
Abstract: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) remains the only potentially curative treatment for many hematologic malignancies (HM). We previously developed a two-step approach that separates the lymphoid and myeloid portions of the graft, allowing a consistent T cell dosing and sparing the stem cells from the effect of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (CY). The two-step approach demonstrated safety and efficacy in patients treated with myeloablative and reduced-intensity conditioning.... - Safety and feasibility of third-party cytotoxic T lymphocytes for high-risk patients with COVID-19
Abstract: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) destroy virally infected cells and are critical for the elimination of viral infections such as those caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Delayed and dysfunctional adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 are associated with poor outcomes. Treatment with allogeneic SARS-CoV-2-specific CTLs may enhance cellular immunity in high-risk patients providing a safe, direct mechanism of treatment. Thirty high-risk ambulatory patients... - A prospective study of posttransplant cyclophosphamide for unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplant with special attention to graft content and the impact of a higher γδ T cell dose
Abstract: Posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PtCy) has been shown to decrease post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In this study, PtCy was used in 44 patients along with mycophenolate and tacrolimus with HLA matched (29) and mismatched (15) unrelated donors to determine the impact of graft content on outcome; thus, all patients had flow cytometric analysis of their graft content including the number of B cells, NK cells, and various T cell subsets.... - Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm: a CIBMTR analysisAbstract: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare hematological malignancy with a poor prognosis and considered incurable with conventional chemotherapy. Small observational studies reported allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) offers durable remissions in patients with BPDCN. We report an analysis of patients with BPDCN who received an allo-HCT, using data reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). We identified 164...
- Correction to: Impact of pre-transplant induction and consolidation cycles on AML allogeneic transplant outcomes: a CIBMTR analysis in 3113AML patients
- Impact of pre-transplant induction and consolidation cycles on AML allogeneic transplant outcomes: a CIBMTR analysis in 3113 AML patients
Abstract: We investigated the impact of the number of induction/consolidation cycles on outcomes of 3113 adult AML patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) between 2008 and 2019. Patients received allo-HCT using myeloablative (MAC) or reduced-intensity (RIC) conditioning in first complete remission (CR) or with primary induction failure (PIF). Patients who received MAC allo-HCT in CR after 1 induction cycle had 1.3-fold better overall survival (OS) than 2 cycles to CR... - A Prospective, Randomized Trial Examining the Use of G-CSF Versus No G-CSF in Patients Post-Autologous Transplantation
Abstract: Contemporary, prospective data regarding the impact of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on outcomes after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Auto-HSCT) in an era when stem cell grafts are more qualitatively robust are limited. Recent retrospective analyses have not supported a beneficial effect of post-transplantation G-CSF use on major outcomes after Auto-HSCT leading to strategies to delay or eliminate the use of G-CSF altogether in this context. To test the... - Outcomes of two-step haploidentical allogeneic stem cell transplantation in elderly patients with hematologic malignancies
Abstract: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) remains the best curative option for the majority of patients with hematologic malignancies (HM); however, many elderly patients are excluded from transplant and outcome data in this population is still limited. The novel two-step graft engineering approach has been the main platform for allo-SCT at Thomas Jefferson University since 2006. Following administration of the preparative regimen, we infuse donor lymphocytes, followed by... - Outcomes of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in T Cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia: A Contemporary Analysis from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research
Abstract: T cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare, aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options and poor long-term survival. Previous studies of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) for T-PLL are limited by small numbers, and descriptions of patient and transplantation characteristics and outcomes after alloHCT are sparse. In this study, we evaluated outcomes of alloHCT in patients with T-PLL and attempted to identify predictors of post-transplantation relapse and... - The Two-Step Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Approach Results in Rapid Engraftment and Excellent Outcomes in Patients with Lymphoid Malignancies
Abstract: The 2-step graft engineering approach has been the main platform for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) at Thomas Jefferson University since 2005. We have previously described separating donor lymphocyte infusion followed by cyclophosphamide for bidirectional tolerization from CD34-selected hematopoietic grafts in haploidentical and matched related donors. Here we analyzed 60 patients with high-risk lymphoid malignancies who underwent a 2-step allo-HCT between 2008 and... - Allogeneic Transplantation to Treat Therapy-Related Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in Adults
Abstract: Patients who develop therapy-related myeloid neoplasm, either myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) or acute myelogenous leukemia (t-AML), have a poor prognosis. An earlier Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) analysis of 868 allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantations (allo-HCTs) performed between 1990 and 2004 showed a 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of 22% and 21%, respectively. Modern supportive care, graft-versus-host disease...