
Highlights
Age Groups Seen
- Young Adult 18-25
- Adult 26-64
- Older Adult 65+
Languages
- English
In-Network Plans
View All Accepted Plans (12)Gender
MaleJohns Hopkins Affiliations:
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Daniel Laheru
Professional Titles
- Co-Director, Skip Viragh Center for Pancreas Cancer Clinical Research and Patient Care
- Ian T. MacMillan Professorship in Clinical Pancreatic Cancer Research
Primary Academic Title
Professor of Oncology
Johns Hopkins Physician
Background
Dr. Daniel Laheru is a cancer specialist in Baltimore, caring for patients with pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and neuroendocrine cancers. Dr. Laheru serves as co-director of the Skip Viragh Center for Pancreas Cancer Clinical Research and Patient Care at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Dr. Laheru received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from The University of Utah. He earned his M.D. at Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his residency at The University of Utah Hospital and Clinics and performed a fellowship in medical oncology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center. Dr. Laheru joined the Johns Hopkins faculty in 2001.
Dr. Laheru's research interests include pancreatic cancer and chemotherapy resistance in pancreatic cancer. With Elizabeth Jaffee, M.D., he developed a vaccine that supercharges the immune system and causes immune cells, which tend to be tolerant of cancer, to seek out and kill pancreatic cancer cells throughout the body.
He has given numerous invited talks on pancreatic cancer and other cancers both nationally and internationally. He has authored over 200 papers focused on pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Laheru serves as associate editor of Annals of Pancreatic Cancer. He has been recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology with the Young Investigator Award, by the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins as an Isaac and Catharine Hecht Scholar and has been elected to the Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence. He is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research.
Centers and Institutes
Clinical Trial Keywords
Immunotherapy; Vaccine; Pancreas Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer
Find a Clinical Trial
View all trials by this principal investigator.
Research Interests
Chemotherapy Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer
Research Summary
In collaboration with Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee, Dr. Laheru has developed clinical studies to optimize an immune therapy approach using GM-CSF transfected pancreatic cell lines as a vaccine in two distinct patient populations. First, the vaccine has been integrated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy in patients with resected pancreatic cancer who are at risk for disease recurrence. Second, the vaccine has been integrated with novel molecular targeted drugs such as EGFR inhibitors and anti-CTLA-4 antibody and with immune-modulating doses of Cytoxan in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. He has also incorporated correlative studies that should provide important information to better understand optimal vaccine boosting schedules as well as to identify antigens that can be predictive markers for anti-pancreatic cancer immune responses.
Selected Publications
Balaji A, Zhang J, Wills B, Marrone KA, Elmariah H, Yarchoan M, Zimmerman JW, Hajjir K, Venkatraman D, Armstrong DK, Laheru DA, Mehra R, Ho WJ, Reuss JE, Heng J, Vellanki P, Donehower RC, Holdhoff M, Naidoo J; Immune-Related Adverse Events Requiring Hospitalization: Spectrum of Toxicity, Treatment, and Outcomes. J Oncol Pract. 2019 Sep 15(9):25-34
De Jesus-Acosta A, Sugar EA, O'Dwyer PJ, Ramanathan RK, Von Hoff DD, Rasheed Z, Zheng L, Begum A, Anders R, Maitra A, McAllister F, Rajeshkumar NV, Yabuuchi S, de Wilde RF, Batukbhai B, Sahin I, Laheru DA; Phase 2 study of vismodegib, a hedgehog inhibitor, combined with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in patients with untreated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Br J Cancer. 2019 Dec 20
Groot VP, Mosier S, Javed AA, Teinor JA, Gemenetzis G, Ding D, Haley LM, Yu J, Burkhart RA, Hasanain A, Debeljak M, Kamiyama H, Narang A, Laheru DA, Zheng L, Lin MT, Gocke CD, Fishman EK, Hruban RH, Goggins MG, Molenaar IQ, Cameron JL, Weiss MJ, Velculescu VE, He J, Wolfgang CL, Eshleman JR; Circulating Tumor DNA as a Clinical Test in Resected Pancreatic Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2019 Sep 15;25(18):5493-5502
Osipov A, Zaidi N, Laheru DA; Dual Checkpoint Inhibition in Pancreatic Cancer: Revealing the Limitations of Synergy and the Potential of Novel Combinations. JAMA Oncol. 2019 Jul 18
Yarchoan M, Huang CY, Zhu Q, Ferguson AK, Durham JN, Anders RA, Thompson ED, Rozich NS, Thomas DL 2nd, Nauroth JM, Rodriguez C, Osipov A, De Jesus-Acosta A, Le DT, Murphy AG, Laheru D, Donehower RC, Jaffee EM, Zheng L, Azad NS; A phase 2 study of GVAX colon vaccine with cyclophosphamide and pembrolizumab in patients with mismatch repair proficient advanced colorectal cancer. Cancer Med. 2019 Dec 26
Courses & Syllabi
Adult Cancer Small Group Discussion Section on Neoplastic Diseases for Second Year Medical Student Pathophysiology Course, 1/1/00
Honors
- Election to Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence, 1/1/15
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Leadership Development Program, 1/1/10
- Ian T. MacMillan Professorship in Clinical Pancreatic Cancer Research, 1/1/10
- Isaac and Catharine Hecht Scholar, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, 1/1/02
- American Society of Clinical Oncology, Young Investigator Award, 1/1/00
- American Association for Cancer Research Bristol Myers Squibb Oncology Fellowship in Clinical Research, 1/1/00
- Co-Outstanding Senior Resident, University of Utah Department of Medicine, 1/1/98
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Training Fellowship for Medical Students, 1/1/93
- Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Fellow, 1/1/92
- Phi Beta Kappa, University of Utah, 1/1/90
- Magna cum laude, University of Utah, 1/1/90
- Honors Baccalaureate Scholarship, University of Utah, 1/1/90
Memberships
- American College of Physicians
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- American Association for Cancer Research
Professional Activities
- Annals of Pancreatic Cancer, Associate Editor, 1/1/17
- ASCO metastatic cancer guidelines clinical care committee, Co-Chair, 1/1/15
Locations
- Skip Viragh Outpatient Cancer Center
- 201 North Broadway Street, Viragh BLDG 5th FL, Baltimore, MD 21287
- Get Directions
- phone: 410-955-8964
- fax: 410-367-2194
- Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center - Green Spring Station, Lutherville
- 10803 Falls Road, Pavilion III STE 1500, Lutherville, MD 21093
- Get Directions
- phone: 410-583-2970
- fax: 410-583-2980
Expertise
Education
- Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Medical Oncology, 2001
- Residency: University of Utah Health, Internal Medicine, 1998
- Medical Education: Baylor College of Medicine, MD, 1995
Board Certifications
- Medical Oncology: American Board of Internal Medicine, 2021
Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)
Ratings & Reviews
4.9 out of 5
196 ratings, 65 reviewsThe Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/19/2026
Dr Laheru is always very focused on me and and answers all of my questions so I can understand my situation to make informed decisions, I like his style of how he explains things to me and how he responds to my questions and I feel he gives me his answers that I can understand
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/13/2026
I am blessed that Dr LaHeru will help me with this cancer journey
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/11/2026
Dr. Laheru is an N of 1. He is smart, thoughtful, kind. He interacts effectively and collaboratively. I cannot say enough good about him. He is a class act and Hopkins is lucky to have him!
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/11/2026
Very informative and compassionate
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/6/2026
Very professional, knowledgeable, and cordial.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/6/2026
Dr Laheru was very attentive and explained everything at my level.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/6/2026
Great provider. Very professional and informative. Planning to switch to this provider.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/6/2026
Dr. Laheru is a wealth of knowledge and experience and he brings this to our discussions and his recommendations for care.
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/3/2026
VERY EFFICIENT.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/25/2026
Everyone at John Hopkins were cordial & willing to help.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/25/2026
Dr. Laheru is an excellent physician. He is so knowledgeable, thorough, an excellent communicator and always engaged with me and my scan reports, etc.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/6/2026
Very thorough and patient with answering questions and addressing our concerns. He was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information. Assured me that he was working in the background. Explained everything in detail
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/4/2026
Wonderful
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/30/2026
Dr. Laheru is very knowledgeable and explained how my chemotherapy treatment is going up to now. He listened to my questions and answered them thoroughly. Dr. Laheru is a great part of my Care Team. I'm very confident that in a few months I will be cancer free thanks to Dr. Laheru and his John's Hopkins team.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/23/2026
Dr. Laheru was very informative and answered all our questions.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/21/2026
Dr Laheru interpreted my lab and scan results, compared them to previous results while displaying everything for me on screen, and explained the course of treatment moving forward. He is phenomenal.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/14/2026
Dr. Laheru is very knowledgeable. I appreciate that he listened to and responded to my questions.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/14/2026
Dr. Laheru is the most intelligent, caring, mannerly, dedicated doctor/professional myself and my family have ever met and dealt with. Johns Hopkins is fortunate to have him.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/6/2026
This was our first time seeing the Dr. He was sincere, took the time to listen to our concerns, made sure we understood the difficulty we were facing for the needed treatments.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/19/2025
Very knowledgeable
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/19/2025
Top Shelf
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/19/2025
Dr. Laheru is a professional oncologist. My last visit with him on 12/19/25 was very good as we went together through the new CT and compared it with the previous CT
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/17/2025
The doctor Laheru was very patient and compassionate in our discussions
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/17/2025
Dr. Laheru is the best!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/12/2025
The doctor was excellent - one of the best I've ever seen.
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/10/2025
Dr Laheru was very good explaining everything & giving me options. Spent time showing me my most recent PET scan. Explained next steps & options.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/10/2025
Dr. Laheru is an excellent Oncologist, he is kind and compassionate. He takes wonderful care of me and my needs.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/5/2025
Wonderful experience I have never had a doctor spend so much time and really exceptional.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/5/2025
Excellent
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/5/2025
I came to Johns Hopkins to see Dr LAHERU because he is the best in the business. I left there feeling I was in very good hands!!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/26/2025
Very good about explaining what is going on and what to expect. Takes time to listen and generally cares about what you are feeling and going through.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/18/2025
The doctor spent as much time as we needed and pointed out additional details on my CT scan were not aware of.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/14/2025
Very knowledgeable And Professional
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/12/2025
Dr Laheru is fabulous. Always a pleasure to meet in person. I'm fortunate to be able to receive good news.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/7/2025
Very professional and highly educated
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/5/2025
Dr. Laheru is the best and an asset to Hopkins. He listens, cares, and on top of things. I have already referred him to someone who feels the same.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/29/2025
Committed to patient care
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/22/2025
The best there is!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/10/2025
Dr. Laheru is one of the most knowledgeable and compassionate doctors I have every known. He takes the time to study test results prior to the visit so that he can focus on discussing with me the results and his recommendations for treatment. He is one of the best doctors that I have ever had in my 72 years!!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/26/2025
Dr was very respectful and apologized for being a little late and was sincere about it. He was VERY helpful in explaining what was needed concerning my condition and asked questions about previous illnesses and surgeries. Then ,in detail wanted to know about what happened in the past 9months relating to my condition.he explained everything on the films of the PET scan and the CT scan.So very informative!!...
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/24/2025
The best
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/17/2025
Dr. Laheru is a wonderful physician. His preparation and focus during my appointment are exceptional. He is very responsive (and quickly) to any follow up communications. He is very accommodating to my scheduling needs as I live out of state.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/12/2025
Good experience
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/10/2025
Outstanding
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/3/2025
Dr. Laheru I knowledgeable, thorough, kind and caring.I was well tre
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/3/2025
No nurse involved.Doctor was knowledgeable and took the time to listen to my concerns. He will be following next steps.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/22/2025
Dr. Laheru was helpful, knowledgeable, and professional.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/15/2025
Excellent visit
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/13/2025
There is No One better. Dr Laheru and his NP [staff] have kept me alive and doing very well for the last year. They are brilliant and caring and speak to me with respect.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/6/2025
Dr. LaHeru is always very familiar with my current test results and spends time discussing any questions, concerns and options for treatment available to me. He always explains things thoroughly and with careful consideration of how I may process the information provided
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/5/2025
I felt like I had known Dr. Dan for years instead of just meeting for the first time.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/1/2025
Dr. Laheru was very pleasant, explained things clearly and completely, and checked to see if I had any further questions. I left feeling well informed about my situation.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/27/2025
Dr.Laheru was great, listened to me so we could update my medical records, reviewed my CT scan He then explained his opinion on future treatment options.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/27/2025
I enjoyed meeting with Dr. Laheru and [staff] and felt that both of them were concerned for my health and future well-being.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/18/2025
Very knowledgeable and caring. Explains things in a manner that is easy to e
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/13/2025
Polite
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/11/2025
Dr. Laheru is wise and caring. He is the best!!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/6/2025
Dr. Laheru was very knowledgeable and I have hope that my team of doctors, including him, will have a good plan for my cancer.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/4/2025
Dr. Laheru, always shows concern and ready to answer any questions that I have he has just been very helpful for me during these years that I've had cancer. He has been very encouraging to me and I'm so glad he is my oncologist.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/3/2025
Every person I had contact with was friendly, informative, and smiling.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/30/2025
Excellent
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/23/2025
He was very knowledgeable & provided us with treatment options, his recommendations & clinical trials that are available for treatment. We left John Hopkins with more knowledge, understanding, hope, & confidence in treatments offered for pancreatic cancer. Thank you!!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/2/2025
Great experience with Doctor discussing possible clinical trials. Felt heard and understood.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/18/2025
He listens to my concerns and answers all of my questions.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/16/2025
They were an excellent group. Always concerned & checking on my comfort !