DO, MPH
Associate Professor, Hematology/Oncology
UNC-Chapel Hill
Clinical Research
Area of Interest
Christopher Dittus, DO, MPH, specializes in the diagnosis and management of all types of lymphoma, including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), T-cell NHL, Hodgkin lymphoma, central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, and virus-associated lymphoma. Dittus is particularly interested in rare lymphomas, including adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL), plasmablastic lymphoma, and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (Waldenstrom’s). Given the biological heterogeneity of lymphoma, Dittus works closely with the UNC hematopathologists to ensure each patient has an accurate diagnosis. Dittus also understands the importance of subtype-specific lymphoma treatment, and is interested in using novel immunotherapy, traditional chemotherapy, and combination regimens to target these specific subtypes.
Dittus is the primary investigator for many lymphoma trials that are open at UNC. He works closely with lymphoma advocacy groups, cancer research consortiums, industry, and the UNC clinical research department, to ensure our patients have access to novel treatments for all types of lymphoma.
His primary research interest is to find effective treatments for rare or underserved lymphomas. He is the UNC site PI for the AIDS Malignancy Consortium and serves as the PI on several studies that are evaluating novel therapies in HIV-associated malignancies. Dittus is also interested in writing investigator-initiated trials (IITs) that target underserved lymphoma subtypes. LCCC1637 is an IIT evaluating a novel frontline regimen (brentuximab vedotin with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide, and prednisone; BV-CHEP) for ATLL. Another IIT, LCCC1841, will evaluate a novel BTK inhibitor in relapsed CNS lymphoma. Dittus also serves as a co-investigator on multiple lymphoma trials evaluating chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Most recently, Dittus has been the editor, and contributor, for a book entitled “Novel Therapeutics for Rare Lymphomas.”
News and Stories

UNC Lineberger and UNC researchers discuss latest research at American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting
UNC Lineberger researchers will present the latest findings from studies and lead educational sessions at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Dec. 10-13.

Student-athlete raising awareness, funds for other young people with cancer
Emily Grund, a member of the UNC-Chapel Hill diving team, found support from friends, family and UNC Lineberger programs after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a rare form of cancer.

Celebrating nearly 15 centuries of service
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is recognizing 118 UNC Lineberger staff and faculty members who will be celebrating a service milestone this year.

Donors credit doctors for life-saving cancer care
Doug Wilson was treated for a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma called mantle cell lymphoma. To give back to the doctors who treated his cancer, he created a fund to support their work in bone marrow transplants and the continued exploration of treatment options for mantle cell lymphoma.