Professor Shireen Kassam

Visiting Professor

Faculty of Health and Wellbeing

Shireen.Kassam@winchester.ac.uk @plantbasedhpuk

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Biography

Dr Shireen Kassam is a Consultant Haematologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer at King’s College Hospital, London with a specialist interest in the treatment of lymphoma. She is also a Visiting-Professor at University of Winchester, Hampshire, where she has developed and facilitates the UK's first University-based course on plant-based nutrition. In 2023 she launched a course on lifestyle medicine for cancer.
Shireen is passionate about promoting plant-based nutrition for the prevention and reversal of chronic disease and for maintaining optimal health after treatment for cancer. In 2019 she became certified as a Lifestyle Medicine Physician and is also a CHIP facilitator.
Shireen founded Plant-Based Health Professionals UK in 2018, a non-profit, membership organisation whose mission is to provide evidence-based education on whole food plant-based nutrition.
Shireen qualified as a doctor in 2000. During her training, she completed a PhD, which investigated the role of selenium in sensitising cancer cells to chemotherapy. Shireen has published a number of peer-reviewed papers in the fields of lymphoma and nutrition. Her first book, Eating Plant-Based, Scientific Answers to Your Nutrition Questions, co-authored with her sister Zahra, was published in January 2022. She has also co-edited the textbook Plant-Based Nutrition in Clinical Practice, published in September 2022.

Areas of expertise

 Plant-based nutrition

Publications

  • Dietary habits and self-reported health outcomes in a cross-sectional survey of health-conscious adults eating a plant-based diet. Sadler I, Bauer A, Kassam S. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2024; 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13321
  • Ibrutinib as part of risk-stratified treatment for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder: The phase 2 TIDaL trial. Chaganti S, Maycock S, McIlroy G, Jackson AE, Bishop R, Johnson S, Kanfer E, Kassam S, et al. Blood. 2024 Apr 21:blood.2024023847. doi: 10.1182/blood.2024023847
  • Safety of bendamustine for the treatment of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a UK real-world experience. Shotton R, Broadbent R, Alchawaf A, ……. Kassam, S et al. Blood Adv. 2024 Feb 27;8(4):878-888. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023011305
  • The influence of immunodeficiency, disease features, and patient characteristics on survival in plasmablastic lymphoma. Di Ciaccio PR, Polizzotto MN, ……. Kassam S et al. Blood. 2024 Jan 11;143(2):152-165. doi: 10.1182/blood.2023021348
  • A whole food plant-based approach to ulcerative colitis; A case series. Despina Marselou and Shireen Kassam. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, online first 9th Nov 2023, https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276231213325
  • Attitudes of hospital patients regarding removal of processed and unprocessed red meats from menus to support sustainable healthcare targets: A single-centre survey. Truman, M,  Smith, L-J,  Kassam, S. Lifestyle Medicine 2023;e87. https://doi.org/10.1002/lim2.87
  • Obesity: potatoes, pasta, and rice are not the problem. Kassam, S. BMJ. 2023 Apr 25;381:p938. doi: 10.1136/bmj.p938. PMID: 37185133.
  • Controlling avian influenza: we need to move away from farming animals to solve our inter-related crises. Kassam, S. BMJ. 2023 Apr 21;381:874. doi:10.1136/bmj.p874
  • A retrospective study of MYC rearranged diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the context of the new WHO and ICC classifications. El-Sharkawi D, ………Kassam S, et al. Blood Cancer J. 2023 Apr 18;13(1):54. doi: 10.1038/s41408-023-00827-5
  • The iR2 regimen (ibrutinib plus lenalidomide and rituximab) for relapsed/refractory DLBCL: A multicentre, non-randomised, open-label phase 2 study. Ramchandren, R. Johnson, P. Ghosh, N. Ruan, Ardeshna, Johnson, K. Verhoef, G. Cunningham, D. Vosi, S. Kassam, S. et al. eClinicalMedicine, Volume 56, 2023, 101779, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101779.
  • A rare case of nephrotic syndrome and Tangier disease. Gama R, Murphy E, Salisbury J, Kassam S, Simmonds N, Roufosse C, Elias R. CEN Case Rep. 2022 Dec 10. doi: 10.1007/s13730-022-00761-8.
  • The Impact of Stopping Medications and Introducing a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet on Patients Living with Multiple Sclerosis – A Report of Two Cases. Cuthburt, M, Lewandowska, M. Freeman, L, Devine, C. Lee, K. Kassam, S. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. December 2022 https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276221141403
  • A Whole Food Plant-Based Approach for Migraine; A Case Series. Morton O, Shehata M, Gabbitas N, Kassam S. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. August 2022. doi:10.1177/15598276221120520
  • The Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention - Should You Listen to Your Doctor or Influencer? Shireen Kassam and Laura Freeman. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2022, first published 6th July 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276221112331
  • Guideline for the first-line management of Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma - A British Society for Haematology guideline. Follows GA, Barrington SF……. Kassam S et al, Br J Haematol. 2022 Feb 22. doi: 10.1111/bjh.18083. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35191541.
  • It’s time for healthcare professionals to demand a plant-based food system. Shireen Kassam, Laura Freeman. British Journal of General Practice 2021; 71 (713): 554. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp21X717857
  • Evaluating nutrition education interventions for medical students: A rapid review. Priya Patel and Shireen Kassam. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. First Published 29th November 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12972
  • Guidelines for the management of mature T- and natural killer-cell lymphomas (excluding cutaneous T-cell lymphoma): a British Society for Haematology Guideline Fox, C.P., ……Kassam, S et al.(2021), Br J Haematol https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.17951
  • A phase I/II study of thiotepa-based immunochemotherapy in relapsed/refractory primary CNS lymphoma: the TIER trial. Christopher P. Fox, .....Shireen Kassam…, et al. Blood Adv 2021; bloodadvances.2021004779. doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004779
  • HIV-associated Burkitt lymphoma: outcomes from a US-UK collaborative analysis. Alderuccio, JP…..Kassam, S…..et al, Blood Adv. 2021 Jul 27;5(14):2852-2862. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004458. PMID: 34283175; PMCID: PMC8341354.
  • Burkitt Lymphoma International Prognostic Index. Olszewski AJ,…. Kassam S, … J Clin Oncol. 2021 Apr 1;39(10):1129-1138. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.03288. Epub 2021 Jan 27. PMID: 33502927.
  • Front-line management of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder in adult solid organ recipient patients - A British Society for Haematology Guideline. Shah N, Eyre TA, Tucker D, Kassam S, et al, Br J Haematol. 2021 May;193(4):727-740. doi: 10.1111/bjh.17421. Epub 2021 Apr 20.
  • Clinical and prognostic significance of small paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria clones in myelodysplastic syndrome and aplastic anemia. Bruno Fattizzo, Robin Ireland, Alan Dunlop, Deborah Yallop, Shireen Kassam et al. Leukaemia 2021 Mar 4.  doi: 10.1038/s41375-021-01190-9.  Online ahead of print
  • Managing Psoriatic Arthritis With a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet: A Case Study. Lewandowska M, Dunbar K, Kassam S. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2021 Feb 12;15(4):402-406. doi: 10.1177/1559827621993435. PMID: 34366737; PMCID: PMC8299928.
  • How to help patients transition to a healthy and sustainable plant-based diet. Kassam S, Dehghan L, Freeman L. Br J Gen Pract. 2021 Feb 25;71(704):127. doi: 10.3399/bjgp21X715121. PMID: 33632689; PMCID: PMC7909932.
  • Outcomes of older patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma treated in routine clinical practice in the UK: methotrexate dose intensity correlates with response and survival: Real-World Outcomes of Older PCNSL Patients. Martinez Calle, Nicolas & Poynton, Edward & Alchawaf, Alia & Kassam, Shireen et al. (2020). British Journal of Haematology. 10.1111/bjh.16592.
  • Does Diet Impact the Risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma? Lewandowska, M., Aune, D., Bristor, D., & Kassam, S. (2019). International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention, 1(1), 6 pp. https://ijdrp.org/index.php/ijdrp/article/view/27
  • A retrospective analysis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder following liver transplantation. Al Fararjeh F, Mahmood S, Tachtatzis P, Yallop D, Devereux S, Patten P, Agrawal K, Suddle A, O'Grady J, Heaton N, Marcus R, Kassam S. Eur J Haematol. 2018 Jan;100(1):98-103.
  • Results of a multicentre UK-wide retrospective study evaluating the efficacy of brentuximab vedotin in relapsed, refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma in the transplant naive setting.  Eyre, T. A., Phillips, E. H., Linton, K. M., Kassam, S., et al. Br J Haematol. 2017 Nov;179(3):471-479.
  • Results of a multicentre UK-wide compassionate use programme evaluating the efficacy of idelalisib monotherapy in relapsed, refractory follicular lymphoma T.A. Eyre, B. Phillips, K.M. Linton, S. Kassam, et al. Br J Haematol. 2017 Mar 24. doi: 10.1111/bjh.14665. [Epub ahead of print] 
  • Outpatient management of steroid-induced hyperglycaemia and steroid-induced diabetes in people with lymphoproliferative disorders treated with intermittent high dose steroids Vidler, J., Rogers, C., Yallop, D., Devereux, S., Wellving, E., Stewart, O., Cox, A., Hunt, K. F. & Kassam, S. J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2017 Jun 24;9:18-20
  • High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for primary central nervous system lymphoma; a multi-centre retrospective analysis from the United Kingdom. Shireen Kassam, et al. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2017 Sep;52(9):1268-1272
  • Results of a multicentre UK-wide compassionate use programme evaluating the efficacy of idelalisib monotherapy in relapsed, refractory follicular lymphoma. Toby A. Eyre, Wendy L. Osborne, Eve Gallop-Evans, Kirit M. Ardeshna, Shireen Kassam, et al. British Journal of Haematology online March 2017
  • Outcome for patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive lymphoma treated with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin with or without rituximab; a retrospective, multicentre study. Dhanapal V, Gunasekara M, Lianwea C, Marcus R, De Lord C, Bowcock S, Devereux S, Patten P, Yallop D, Wrench D, Fields P, Kassam S. Leuk Lymphoma. 2017 Sep;58(9):1-9
  • Amelanotic melanoma in the bone marrow. Kassam S, Shah C. Blood. 2016 Jul 14;128(2):313.
  • Recent advances in the management of PCNSL. Emily Bart-Smith, Robert Marcus, Shireen Kassam. Myeloid and Lymphoid disorders in Practice 2016, Vol 1 No 1.
  • ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma with strong CD30 expression; a diagnostic pitfall and resistance to brentuximab and crizotinib. Mehra V, Pomplum S, Ireland R, Yallop D, Devereux S, Marcus R, Shah C, Patten P, Kassam S. Histopathology.  2016 Nov;69(5):880-882 
  • A rare cause of lymphadenopathy - Rosai-Dorfman disease in a HIV-positive Ugandan woman. Nathan B, Roomallah B, Salisbury JR, Tenant-Flowers M, Kassam S. Int J STD AIDS. 2016 Oct;27(12):1123-1125
  • Adding rituximab to CODOX-M/IVAC chemotherapy in the treatment of HIV-associated Burkitt lymphoma is safe when used with concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy. Alwan F, He A, Montoto S, Kassam S, Mee M, Burns F, Edwards S, Wilson A, Tenant-Flowers M, Marcus R, Ardeshna KM, Bower M, Cwynarski K. AIDS. 2015 May 15;29(8):903-10.
  • BHIVA guidelines for HIV-associated malignancies. Prof M Bower, Dr A Palfreeman, Dr M Alfa-Wali, Dr A Arumainathan, Dr F Burns, Dr D Churchill, Mr S Collins, Dr K Cwynarski, Dr A Darley, Dr S Edwards, Dr P Fields, Dr C Fox, Dr E Gallop-Evans, Dr S Kassam, Dr R Kulasegaram, Prof C Lacey, Dr R Marcus, Dr S Montoto, Dr M Nelson, Dr T Newsom-Davis, Dr C Orkin, Ms K Shaw, Dr M Tenant-Flowers, Dr A Webb, Dr S Westwell and Mr M Williams on behalf of the BHIVA Guidelines Subcommittee. 2013
  • A retrospective, multi-center analysis of treatment intensification for human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients with high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Kassam S, Bower M, Lee SM, de Vos J, Fields P, Gandhi S, Nelson M, Montoto S, Tenant-Flowers M, Burns F, Marcus R, Edwards SG, Cwynarski K. Leuk Lymphoma. 2013; 54(9):1921-72013
  • Methylseleninic acid antagonizes the cytotoxic effect of bortezomib in mantle cell lymphoma cell lines through modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins. Shireen Kassam, Simone Juliger, Li Jia, Simon P. Joel. British Journal of Haematology, 2012; 156 (2):286-289
  • Serum selenium concentration at diagnosis and outcome in patients with haematological malignancies. Jane Stevens, Rachel Waters, Christina Sieniawska, Shireen Kassam, Silvia Montoto, Jude Fitzgibbon, Ama Rohatiner, Andrew Lister, Simon Joel. British Journal of Haematology, 2011; 154 (4):448–456
  • Methylseleninic acid inhibits HDAC activity in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells lines. Shireen Kassam, Heidi Goenaga-Infante, Lenushka Maharaj, Crispin T. Hiley, Simone Juliger, Simon P. Joel.  Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2011; 68(3):815-21
  • Capabilities of HPLC with APEX-Q nebulisation ICP-MS and ESI MS/MS to compare selenium uptake and speciation of non-malignant with different B cell lymphoma lines. Goenaga-Infante H, Kassam S, Stokes E, Hopley C, Joel SP. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2011; 399(5):1789-97
  • New treatment options for the management of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Shireen Kassam, Silvia Montoto. MEMO - Magazine of European Medical Oncology, 2009 Vol. 2; 94-99
  • Emerging Drugs in B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Shireen Kassam, Silvia Montoto. Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs, 2008; 13(2):323-343
  • Shireen Kassam, Alexandra Rice, Ricardo Morilla and Barbara J. Bain.  Case 35: An unusual haematological neoplasm characterised by cells with cytoplasmic tails.  Leukaemia and Lymphoma, 2007; 48 (6):1208-1210
BOOKS AND BOOK CHAPTERS
  • Plant-Based Nutrition in Clinical Practice. Edited by Shireen Kassam, Zahra Kassam and Lisa Simon. Hammersmith Health Book 2022, ISBN-13: 978-1781611982
  • Eating Plant-Based. Scientific Answers to Your Nutrition Questions. Shireen Kassam and Zahra Kassam. Hammersmith Health Books 2022, ISBN-13: 978-1-78161-194-4
  • Chapter 13, Plant-based diets. Nutrition in Clinical Practice (4th Edition). Wolters Kluwer Health 2022, ISBN13: 9781975161491
  • Healthy diets as a guide to responsible food systems. In: Amir Kassam and Laila Kassam (eds.) Rethinking Food and Agriculture, UK: Shireen Kassam, David Jenkins, Doug Bristor, Zahra Kassam. Woodhead Publishing, 2021, pp. 323-352 ISBN: 978-0-12-816410-5
  • Chapter 12: Haematological Changes in Liver Diseases. Shireen Kassam, Barbara J. Bain. LIVER: A Complete Book on Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, First Edition, 2008. Edited by: Dr. Mamun-AL-Mahtab and Professor Salimur Rahman. Published by Elsevier.
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