Department of Medicine

Division of Hematology and Oncology

Charles E. Riggs, Jr., MD Division of Hematology/Oncology Clinical Professor Malcom Randall VA Medical Center UF Shands Cancer Center 1600 SW Archer Road/Box 100278 Gainesville, FL 32610-0277 (352) 273-7832/FAX (352) 273-5006

Originally trained in oncology clinical pharmacokinetics and analytical biochemistry, Dr. Riggs presently focuses on clinical and experimental therapeutics in head & neck, thoracic, and musculoskeletal malignancies.  He is a Vice-Chair of the University’s IRB, and teaches biomedical ethics.  He is Board-certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine and -eligible in Hematology and Clinical Pharmacology.  He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, and the Florida Medical association, and Past President of the Alachua County Medical Society.

Training:

Academic Interests:

Dr. Riggs has been an active clinical investigator for over two decades, and has had over two decades of experience as a basic and clinical laboratory researcher. He participates in multidisciplinary treatment programs in head and neck cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thyroid cancer, and sarcomas of soft tissue and bone, in both the UF/Shands and VA medical systems. He is a member of the UF/Shands Cancer Center, and serves the University as Vice-Chair of the medical IRB, with expertise in oncology clinical trials, biomedical ethics, and pharmacoeconomics. He teaches biomedical ethics to medical students, and participates in teaching physical diagnosis to medical students and oncology topics to trainees in the residency and fellowship programs.

Clinical Interests:

Diagnosis and Treatment of Head and Neck and Thyroid Malignancies
Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung, Esophageal, and Other Thoracic Malignancies
Treatment of Musculoskeletal Malignancies

Research Interests:

Multidisciplinary collaborative trials in head and neck cancer constitute the primary focus of Dr. Riggs’ current research efforts. He participates in local and national investigational trials in sarcomas and prostate cancer, as well. Integration of targeted therapies into traditional combined-modality treatment programs for head and neck and thyroid cancers are proceeding through University of Florida clinical trials, and expansion of these approaches into esophageal cancer and sarcoma chemotherapy trials is anticipated.

Representative Publications:

• Mendenhall WM, Riggs CE, Amdur RJ, Hinerman RW, Villaret DB:   Altered Fractionation and/or Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Definitive Irradiation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.  The Laryngoscope, 113:546-551, 2003.
• Newlin HE, Zlotecki RA, Morris CG, Hochwald SN, Riggs CE, Mendenhall WM:  Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal margin.  J. Surg. Oncol., 86(2):55-62, 2004.
• Chang DT, Mancuso AA, Riggs CE Jr, Mendenhall WM:  Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin with leptomeningeal metastases.  Am. J. Otolaryngol., 26(3):210-3, 2005.
• Mendenhall WM, Mendenhall CM, Werning JW, Riggs CE, Mendenhall NP: Adult head and neck soft tissue sarcomas.  Head & Neck, 27: 916-922, 2005.
• Mendenhall WM, Mendenhall CM, Riggs CE Jr, Villaret DB, Mendenhall NP:  Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma.  Am. J. Clin. Oncol., 29(1):27-31,  2006.
• Boulmay, BC, Chera, BS, Morris, CG, Kirwan, J, Riggs, CE Jr., Lawson, M, Mendenhall, WM:  Definitive altered fractionation radiotherapy and concomitant weekly cisplatin for locally advanced head and neck cancer.  Am. J. Clin. Oncol.,