University of Vermont Cancer Center Member Profile
Hibba Tul Rehman, MD
Assistant Professor, Medicine-Hematology Oncology
Vice Chair, Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee
Full Member
Cancer Host and Environment (CHE)
Academic Interests
Dr. Rehman's clinical experience in breast cancer introduced her to neuromuscular studies to understand and improve musculoskeletal health in this patient population. She was actively involved in enrolling patients to a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) study which demonstrated that NMES induces muscle fiber hypertrophy and fiber type shifts in MHC II fibers but had minimal effects on fiber contractility and promoted reductions in subsarcolemmal mitochondria.
Her current clinical interests as a medical oncologist include management of thoracic cancers (lung cancer, thymoma, mesothelioma), skin cancers (melanoma, squamous cell cancer, Merkel cell cancer, basal cell cancer etc) and soft tissue and bone sarcomas. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide and in the United States. Sarcopenia (reduced muscle mass and function) is associated with poor outcomes in lung cancer. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges to cancer care, so Dr. Rehman is currently conducting a trial to assess role of a structured exercise program, delivered virtually or in person, to advanced stage Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and will be looking at feasibility and impact of this intervention during the year ahead.
Dr. Rehman's clinical experience in breast cancer introduced her to neuromuscular studies to understand and improve musculoskeletal health in this patient population. She was actively involved in enrolling patients to a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) study which demonstrated that NMES induces muscle fiber hypertrophy and fiber type shifts in MHC II fibers but had minimal effects on fiber contractility and promoted reductions in subsarcolemmal mitochondria.
Her current clinical interests as a medical oncologist include management of thoracic cancers (lung cancer, thymoma, mesothelioma), skin cancers (melanoma, squamous cell cancer, Merkel cell cancer, basal cell cancer etc) and soft tissue and bone sarcomas. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide and in the United States. Sarcopenia (reduced muscle mass and function) is associated with poor outcomes in lung cancer. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges to cancer care, so Dr. Rehman is currently conducting a trial to assess role of a structured exercise program, delivered virtually or in person, to advanced stage Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and will be looking at feasibility and impact of this intervention during the year ahead.