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Kevin B. Jones, MD

Kevin B. Jones, MD

Leader, Huntsman Cancer Institute Sarcoma Disease Center

Division Chief, Sarcoma, Department of Orthopaedics

Professor, Department of Orthopaedics and Adjunct Professor of Oncological Sciences

As an orthopaedic surgeon specialized in the care of pediatric and adult patients with sarcoma, I see first-hand the limitations and frank failures of the currently available treatment options. Not only do we fail to cure far too many young patients with sarcomas, but the long-term effects of our treatments create other major challenges to the health of the survivors in the long term.

With protected time for basic investigation, I dedicate my entire laboratory to the study of pediatric and young adult fusion oncogene-associated sarcomas. In efforts always angling toward improved targeted therapies, we use mouse genetic models of sarcomagenesis to dissect pathways of importance to initiation and progression of tumors. This work utilizes conditional activation of translocation-associated fusion oncogenes as well as manipulation of additional modifying genes directed toward improved understanding of the conditions that promote or inhibit sarcomagenesis. This work has led to generous experience with comparative genomics and epigenomics.

The simple genetic changes that drive translocation-associated sarcomas make a strong argument for cancer being defined as a transcriptional state for cells, rather than a state of accumulated mutations or genetic losses and gains. The study of the epigenetic determinants of this transcriptional state in cells that harbor very few genetic code alterations has already revealed important knowledge that pertains to more complex genome cancer types as well as to transcriptional biology more generally.

I also believe firmly in the synergy possible in collaborative team science. Such efforts are required for progress toward improved treatments for rare malignancies that can never be studied with optimal efficacy in a silo. With such collaborative work as direct goal, I have participated in and assembled teams to work on pediatric sarcomas both within my institution and internationally.

Research Statement

With 80 percent protected time for academic pursuits, and an independent laboratory at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, I focus most of my research on dissecting the genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of sarcoma initiation. Although sarcomas are rare cancers, the tissues which give rise to sarcomas when they become cancerous are the predominant tissues in the human body, the muscles, tendons, bones, vessels, fat, etc. These tissues derive from mesenchyme or mesoderm. While many organ-based cancer cells gain some characteristics of mesenchyme or mesoderm as they become malignant, turning mesenchyme itself into cancer is much more difficult. The intrinsic resistance to transformation (the process of becoming cancerous) in mesenchyme has brought particular focus to any factor capable of overcoming that resistance and forming cancers from connective tissues.Thus, sarcomas--not only in spite of, but actually because of their low frequency in the general population--have played a central role in the fundamental discoveries of cancer biology. For example, radium dial painters developing osteosarcomas led to the discovery that radiation causes cancer. Oncogenes, the tumor causing genes, were discovered by study of a virus that caused sarcomas in birds. Tumor suppressor genes, the genes that when turned off lead to cancer, were discovered because families had too many sarcomas (Even two is way too common in any one family!) We therefore pursue sarcoma biology vigorously not only because we need to generate better treatment strategies for this horrible group of cancers that impacts young people disproportionately, but also because sarcoma will likely yet teach us much more about cancer biology in general, especially its beginnings.

Board Certification and Academic Information

Academic Departments Orthopaedics - Professor
Oncological Sciences - Adjunct Associate Professor

Board Certification American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Cancer Center Programs Nuclear Control of Cell Growth & Differentiation

Research Interests

  • Sarcoma, Synovial
  • Osteosarcoma
  • Mouse Models
  • Ewing's Sarcoma
  • Chondrosarcoma
  • Sarcoma
  • Soft Tissue Sarcomas
  • Sarcoma, Clear Cell

Education History

Other Training Mario Capecchi Laboratory, University of Utah Mentored Scientific Training-Mouse Genetic Modeling of Sarcoma

Fellowship Mount Sinai Hospital Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellow

Residency University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Orthopaedic Surgery Resident

Professional Medical Johns Hopkins University Medicine M.D.

Undergraduate Harvard Universitya English and American Literature and Language A.B.

Selected Publications - Journal Articles

Journal Article

  1. Kim SK, Nguyen C, Jones KB, Tashjian RZ (2021). A Genome Wide Association Study For Shoulder Impingement and Rotator Cuff Disease. (Epub ahead of print) J Shoulder Elbow Surg.
  2. Kannan S, Lock I, Ozenberger BB, Jones KB (2021). Genetic drivers and cells of origin in sarcomagenesis. (Epub ahead of print) J Pathol.
  3. Nacev BA, Jones KB, Intlekofer AM, Yu JSE, Allis CD, Tap WD, Ladanyi M, Nielsen TO (2020). The epigenomics of sarcoma. Nat Rev Cancer, 20(10), 608-623.
  4. Tashjian RZ, Kim SK, Roche MD, Jones KB, Teerlink CC (2020). Genetic variants associated with rotator cuff tearing utilizing multiple population-based genetic resources. (Epub ahead of print) J Shoulder Elbow Surg.
  5. Tashjian RZ, Lock I, Granger EK, Wang Y, Lee Y, Chalmers PN, Jones KB (2020). Gene Expression in Torn Rotator Cuff Tendons Determined by RNA Sequencing. Orthop J Sports Med, 8(6), 2325967120927480.
  6. Blank AT, Larson BM, Shaw S, Wakefield CJ, King T, Jones KB, Randall RL (2020). National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines compliance of a sarcoma service: A retrospective review. World J Clin Oncol, 11(6), 389-396.
  7. Lambert SL, Jones KB (2020). SKP2 My Lou, My Darling. Cancer Res, 80(12), 2437-2438.
  8. Kirkham M, Kalivas A, Fatema K, Luelling S, Dubansky BH, Dubansky B, Jones KB, Barrott JJ (2020). Underlying Ossification Phenotype in a Murine Model of Metastatic Synovial Sarcoma. Int J Mol Sci, 21(7).
  9. Blank AT, Shaw S, Wakefield CJ, Zhang Y, Liu WJ, Jones KB, Randall RL (2019). What factors influence patient experience in orthopedic oncology office visits? World J Clin Oncol, 11(3), 136-142.
  10. Jones KB (2019). Dendritic Cells Drive Osteosarcomagenesis through Newly Identified Oncogene and Tumor Suppressor. Cancer Discov, 9(11), 1484-1486.
  11. Goodwin ML, Gundavda MK, Reddy R, Deogaonkar K, Lala M, Baliarsing A, Sciubba DM, Jones KB, Agarwal M (2019). Extracorporeal radiation and reimplantation: a safe and viable option for reconstruction after sacral tumor resection? Ann Transl Med, 7(10), 229.
  12. Barrott JJ, Illum BE, Jin H, Hedberg ML, Wang Y, Grossmann A, Haldar M, Capecchi MR, Jones KB (2018). Paracrine osteoprotegerin and beta-catenin stabilization support synovial sarcomagenesis in periosteal cells. J Clin Invest, 128(1), 207-218.
  13. Kwok AC, Tatro E, Jones KB, Agarwal JP (2017). Pedicled Retrograde Fibula Flap for Ankle Reconstruction after Oncologic Resection of the Distal Fibula. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open, 5(2), e1232.
  14. Barrott JJ, Kafchinski LA, Jin H, Potter JW, Kannan SD, Kennedy R, Mosbruger T, Wang WL, Tsai JW, Araujo DM, Liu T, Capecchi MR, Lazar AJ, Jones KB (2016). Modeling synovial sarcoma metastasis in the mouse: PI3'-lipid signaling and inflammation. J Exp Med, 213(13), 2989-3005.
  15. Jones KB, Barrott JJ, Xie M, Haldar M, Jin H, Zhu JF, Monument MJ, Mosbruger TL, Langer EM, Randall RL, Wilson RK, Cairns BR, Ding L, Capecchi MR (2016). The impact of chromosomal translocation locus and fusion oncogene coding sequence in synovial sarcomagenesis. Oncogene, 35(38), 5021-32.
  16. Barrott JJ, Illum BE, Jin H, Zhu JF, Mosbruger T, Monument MJ, Smith-Fry K, Cable MG, Wang Y, Grossmann AH, Capecchi MR, Jones KB (2015). beta-catenin stabilization enhances SS18-SSX2-driven synovial sarcomagenesis and blocks the mesenchymal to epithelial transition. Oncotarget, 6(26), 22758-66.
  17. Quist T, Jin H, Zhu JF, Smith-Fry K, Capecchi MR, Jones KB (2015). The impact of osteoblastic differentiation on osteosarcomagenesis in the mouse. Oncogene, 34(32), 4278-84.
  18. de Andrea CE, Zhu JF, Jin H, Bovee JV, Jones KB (2015). Cell cycle deregulation and mosaic loss of Ext1 drive peripheral chondrosarcomagenesis in the mouse and reveal an intrinsic cilia deficiency. J Pathol, 236(2), 210-8.
  19. Monument MJ, Bernthal NM, Bowles AJ, Jones KB, Randall RL (2015). What are the 5-year survivorship outcomes of compressive endoprosthetic osseointegration fixation of the femur? Clin Orthop Relat Res, 473(3), 883-90.
  20. Goodwin ML, Jin H, Straessler K, Smith-Fry K, Zhu JF, Monument MJ, Grossmann A, Randall RL, Capecchi MR, Jones KB (2014). Modeling alveolar soft part sarcomagenesis in the mouse: a role for lactate in the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Cell, 26(6), 851-862.
  21. Jones KB, Su L, Jin H, Lenz C, Randall RL, Underhill TM, Nielsen TO, Sharma S, Capecchi MR (2013). SS18-SSX2 and the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in mouse and human synovial sarcomas. Oncogene, 32(18), 2365-71, 2375.e1-5.
  22. Jones KB, Datar M, Ravichandran S, Jin H, Jurrus E, Whitaker R, Capecchi MR (2013). Toward an understanding of the short bone phenotype associated with multiple osteochondromas. J Orthop Res, 31(4), 651-7.
  23. Straessler KM, Jones KB, Hu H, Jin H, van de Rijn M, Capecchi MR (2013). Modeling clear cell sarcomagenesis in the mouse: cell of origin differentiation state impacts tumor characteristics. Cancer Cell, 23(2), 215-27.
  24. Jones KB, Ferguson PC, Lam B, Biau DJ, Hopyan S, Deheshi B, Griffin AM, White LM, Wunder JS (2012). Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on image-directed planning of surgical resection for distal femoral osteosarcoma. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 94(15), 1399-405.
  25. Jones KB, Salah Z, Del Mare S, Galasso M, Gaudio E, Nuovo GJ, Lovat F, LeBlanc K, Palatini J, Randall RL, Volinia S, Stein GS, Croce CM, Lian JB, Aqeilan RI (2012). miRNA signatures associate with pathogenesis and progression of osteosarcoma. Cancer Res, 72(7), 1865-77.
  26. Jones KB, Salah Z, Del Mare S, Galasso M, Gaudio E, Nuovo GJ, Lovat F, LeBlanc K, Palatini J, Randall RL, Volinia S, Stein GS, Croce CM, Lian JB, Ageilan RI (04/01/2012). miRNA signatures associate with pathogenesis and progression of osteosarcoma. Cancer Res, 72(7), 1865-77.
  27. Su L, Sampaio AV, Jones KB, Pacheco M, Goytain A, Lin S, Poulin N, Yi L, Rossi FM, Kast J, Capecchi MR, Underhill TM, Nielsen TO (2012). Deconstruction of the SS18-SSX fusion oncoprotein complex: insights into disease etiology and therapeutics. Cancer Cell, 21(3), 333-47.
  28. Jones KB, Schiffman JD, Kohlmann W, Randall RL, Lessnick SL, Cannon-Albright LA (2011). Complex genotype sarcomas display familial inheritance independent of known cancer predisposition syndromes. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 20(5), 751-7.
  29. Israelsen RB, Illum BE, Crabtree S, Randall RL, Jones KB (2011). Extremity sarcoma surgery in younger children: ten years of patients ten years and under. Iowa Orthop J, 31, 145-53.
  30. Jones KB, Piombo V, Searby C, Kurriger G, Yang B, Grabellus F, Roughley PJ, Morcuende JA, Buckwalter JA, Capecchi MR, Vortkamp A, Sheffield VC (2010). A mouse model of osteochondromagenesis from clonal inactivation of Ext1 in chondrocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 107(5), 2054-9.
  31. Jones KB (2007). Reliability of histopathologic and radiologic grading of cartilaginous neoplasms in long bones [Skeletal Lesion Interobserver Correlation among Expert Diagnosticians (SLICED) Study Group ]. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 89(10), 2113-2123.
  32. Jones KB, Buckwalter JA, Frassica FJ, McCarthy EF (2005). Intracortical chondroma: a report of two cases. Skeletal Radiol, 35(5), 298-301.

Case Report

  1. Blank AT, Wakefield C, Khalighi M, Jones KB, Randall RL (2020). Epithelioid Osteoblastoma of the Proximal Femur in a 19-Year-Old Female: A Case Report and Review of Literature. J Orthop Case Rep, 9(5), 74-77.

Global Impact

Education History

Fellowship Mount Sinai Hospital
Musculoskeletal Oncology
Fellow

Videos & News

Huntsman Cancer Institute News

As we honor Sarcoma Awareness Month, I want to write to share a few words of hope and some updates from our lab. Sarcomas are groups of cancers that occur in the body’s connective tissues. This means that when bones, muscles, fat, vessels, or nerves become cancerous, they produce a sarcoma. Sarcomas themselves are rare: they add up to only 1% of all cancers. And because they’re unusual, sarcomas are sometimes left off of lists of cancer altogether.

The Scope & Other Podcasts

A Mission to Improve Young Patients' Survival Odds -- Kevin B. Jones, MD

Kevin Jones Lab - Why Did I Get Cancer

Kevin Jones Lab - Dissecting a cancer's characteristics

Where and Why Does a Sarcoma Grow? Mouse Models Help Unlock the Door

Kevin Jones - 2014 Top Science Report

university-of-utah-pediatric-ortho Kevin B. Jones, MD Profile in University of Utah Website

Kevin B. Jones, MD Practice Location
  • Peds Ortho-Primary
    Children's Hospital

    100 N. Mario Capecchi Dr
    Suite 4550
    SLC UT 84113

    Tel:

university-of-utah

Pediatric Orthopaedics Clinic locations

  • Idaho Falls Community Hospital Pediatric Specialty Center

    2330 Desoto Street
    Idaho Falls, ID 83404

    Tel :

  • Primary Children's Hospital (PCH)

    100 N. Mario Capecchi Drive
    Suite 4550,
    Salt Lake City, UT  84113

    Tel :

  • Lehi Primary Children’s Hospital

    2250 N Miller Campus Dr
    Suite 300,
    Lehi, UT 84043

    Tel :

  • Utah Valley Outpatient Center (Provo)

    1157 N. 300 W.
    Suite 302,
    Provo, UT 84604

    Tel :

  • Layton Intermountain Hospital (Layton)

    201 W. Layton Parkway,
    Suite 3B,
    Layton, UT 84041

    Tel :

  • Outreach Clinic - Missoula MT

    2360 Mullan Rd
    Suite C,
    Missoula MT 59808

    Tel :

  • Outreach Clinic - St. George

    1380 E Medical Center Drive,
    Bldg 1; St.
    George UT 84790

    Tel :

  • Outreach Clinic - Moab

    Moab Regional Hosp,
    450 Williams Way,
    Moab UT 84532

    Tel :

  • Outreach Clinic - Blanding

    San Juan Health Dept.,
    735 S 200 W Ste 2,
    Blanding UT 84511

    Tel :

  • Outreach clinic - Vernal

    Tricounty Health Dept.,
    133 S 500 E,
    Vernal UT 84078

    Tel :

  • Outreach Clinic- Idaho Falls, ID

    Pediatric Specialty Clinic,
    Eastern ID Regional Medical Center,
    2330 Desoto St.
    Idaho Falls 83401

    Tel :