Getting a diagnosis of cancer is the most challenging thing any patient and family will have to go through. My job is to provide the most comprehensive options for patients, with state-of-the-art care and compassion.
Primary Location:
Fairfax Office
Position
Medical Oncologist
Board Certification
Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine
Fellowship
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Medical Oncology
Internship
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Residency
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Medical School
New York University School of Medicine
College
Harvard University
Dr. Alex Spira earned his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine. He then went on to complete his internship and residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and his medical oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. During his training, Dr. Spira was granted many awards and honors, and he completed several specialized fellowship programs. Among these honors were the National Institutes of Health Medical Scientist Training Program Fellowship (1990-1997), Merck Corporation Scholarship (1995-1995), Pediatric AIDS Foundation Fellowship (1993- 1995) and Harvard University Scholarship (1987-1990). Dr. Spira has also received his PhD from the New York School of Arts and Sciences.
As Director of the Virginia Cancer Specialists (VCS) Research Institute and the Phase I Trial Program, Dr. Spira is actively involved in advancing medicine and offering targeted treatment options for patients. Although his research interests are numerous, Dr. Spira particularly enjoys studying immunotherapy, personalized medicine, GI, thoracic and lung cancer and sarcomas. Dr. Spira is also Co-Chair of the USOncology Thoracic Oncology Committee, Chair of the USOncology Research Executive Committee, and member of the USOncology National Policy Board Executive Committee. Dr. Spira is a faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and serves as Assistant Professor of Oncology.
Throughout his career, Dr. Spira has been recognized as a Top Doctor in Northern Virginia Magazine and Washingtonian magazine for multiple years. In 2014, he received the prestigious “Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctor” award. In his spare time, Dr. Spira enjoys spending time with his family, coaching children’s sports, cycling, and cheering on his favorite New York sports teams.
Practice Blog
April 2, 2019
Alexander Spira, MD, PhD, FACP, on the recent approval of atezolizumab in SCLC
Read MoreFebruary 4, 2019
Virginia Cancer Specialists (VCS) Now Offering a Newly FDA-Approved Targeted Therapy for Acute Leukemia
Read MoreOctober 8, 2018
Advancements in Science and Cancer Care Research Announced at the US Oncology Research 17th Annual Science Forum - Dr. Alex Spira
Read MoreMore Posts by Alex Spira, M.D., PhD, F.A.C.P.
September 25, 2018
Co Author Alex Spira, MD - Lung Cancer Study Treatment Option for ALK Positive Lung Cancer Patients
Read MoreSeptember 20, 2018
Alex Spira, M.D., PhD, F.A.C.P. receives award for his work in Lung Cancer
Read MoreMay 22, 2018
Virginia Cancer Specialists Collaborating with Caris Life Sciences to Present New Molecular Findings at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting
Read MoreApril 26, 2018
Dr. Alex Spira quoted in announcement from Mirati Theraputics: Progress Of Lead Programs And Updated Positive Clinical Trial Results For Immuno-Oncology Combination Trials
Read MoreMarch 6, 2018
Virginia Cancer Specialists first patient successfully completes Cycle 1 of Treatment with PCM-075 combination with Low Dose Cytarabine (LDAC) AML Trial
Read MoreFebruary 15, 2018
Alex Spira, MD Co-Author of collaborative study on Immunotherapy guidelines to guide clinicians and patients
Read MoreFebruary 7, 2018
Virginia Cancer Specialists enrolls fist patient in Phase 1b/2 Clinical Trial of PCM-075 for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Read MorePhysician Publications
September 25, 2018
Brigatinib versus Crizotinib in ALK-Positive Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Read MoreMarch 9, 2016
Atezolizumab versus docetaxel for patients with previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer (POPLAR): a multicentre, open-label, phase 2 randomised controlled trial
Read MoreSeptember 14, 2015
Efficacy and Safety of Trabectedin or Dacarbazine for Metastatic Liposarcoma or Leiomyosarcoma After Failure of Conventional Chemotherapy: Results of a Phase III Randomized Multicenter Clinical Trial
Read MoreMore Publications by Alex Spira, M.D., PhD, F.A.C.P.
June 3, 2013
START: A phase III study of L-BLP25 cancer immunotherapy for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer.
Read MoreFebruary 1, 2013
Cabozantinib in Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer: Results of a Phase II Randomized Discontinuation Trial
Read MoreJanuary 2, 2013
Expert Insight: Adjuvant Therapy Fails for High-Risk Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Read MoreJune 1, 2012
Phase II study of two eribulin regimens in combination with erlotinib in patients (pts) with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Read MoreApril 16, 2012
Randomized Phase II Trial of Erlotinib With and Without Entinostat in Patients With Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Who Progressed on Prior Chemotherapy
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2012
Clinical trial design in the age of molecular profiling.
Read MoreSeptember 8, 2011
A phase II study of eribulin mesylate (E7389) in patients with advanced, previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer.
Read MoreJune 1, 2011
Results of a phase II study of single-agent sunitinib in elderly non-small cell lung cancer patients
Read MoreJune 1, 2011
Clinical outcome of single agent volasertib (BI 6727) as second-line treatment of patients (pts) with advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (UC).
Read MoreJune 1, 2011
Cabozantinib (XL184) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC): Results from a phase II randomized discontinuation trial.
Read MoreDecember 4, 2010
Serotonin Dysregulation Correlates with Both Bone and Active Disease In Multiple Myeloma.
Read MoreDecember 1, 2010
Phase I Trial of Oxaliplatin, Infusional 5-Fluorouracil, and Leucovorin (FOLFOX4) With Erlotinib and Bevacizumab in Colorectal Cancer.
Read MoreDecember 3, 2009
Use of an ex vivo multiplexed signal pathway inhibitor treatment to reveal sensitivity of myeloma and nonmyeloma bone marrow cell populations.
Read MoreDecember 1, 2009
Phase II trial of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel, carboplatin, and bevacizumab in first-line patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer.
Read MoreJanuary 22, 2004
Multidisciplinary Management of Lung Cancer
Read MoreJanuary 1, 2002
The use of Chemotherapy in Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Read More
