David H. Aggen, MD, PhD
Genitourinary Medical Oncologist & Cellular Therapist
My Role at MSKWe post reviews for MSK healthcare providers who have at least 30 patient experience surveys completed. If you do not see reviews for a provider, it may be because they do not yet have enough survey responses, or the provider may not be part of the group of healthcare providers included in the survey.
Only outpatient providers are included in the survey. Healthcare providers who only work in the hospital or in urgent care are not included in the survey. Pathologists or researchers who do not provide direct care to patients do not have reviews.
Areas of Expertise
Conditions I Treat
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney (renal cell) cancer and conditions
- Prostate cancer and conditions
My Specialties
- Clinical trials
- Immunotherapy
About Me
- Assistant Attending Physician
I am a medical oncologist who cares for people with genitourinary cancers. This includes bladder cancer, urinary tract cancer, kidney cancer, and prostate cancer.
At MSK, I work closely with a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, radiation oncologists, and pathologists. Together, we provide personalized care for each of our patients.
For more than a decade, I have been interested in using immunotherapy to improve outcomes for people with cancer. I work with my patients to tailor the best treatments for them, whether it is immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination. The people we care for at MSK are also able to participate in cutting-edge clinical trials, both in Manhattan and at regional sites, like MSK Bergen.
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Understandably, a diagnosis of cancer can be frightening. When I first meet my patients, I try to address their concerns about the extent of their illness, the available treatments, and their prognosis. A critical part of my job is talking with patients about treatment options so that they can make informed decisions about their care. My goal is to have my patients leave their visit with an improved understanding of their condition, the available treatments, and their dedicated care plan.
My research interests include developing new treatments and clinical trials for people with bladder cancer. My team works to identify relationships between tumor genomics, the tumor immune microenvironment, and the response to immunotherapy. We want to be able to figure out which combinations are more likely to benefit an individual patient using genomics, transcriptomics, and immunoprofiling. Additionally, I have a long-standing interest in developing cellular therapeutics, such as T cell receptors and chimeric antigen receptor T cells. By finding new targets in genitourinary cancer for cellular therapeutics, we can better care for people who don’t respond to conventional treatment.
Outside of work, I enjoy running in Central Park, cycling, and spending time with my wife and family.
A genitourinary (jeh-nih-toh-YOOR-ih-nayr-ee) medical oncologist is a cancer doctor who specializes in genitourinary (GU) cancers. This includes bladder, kidney, penis, prostate, and testicular cancers.
A cellular therapy specialist is a doctor with special training in using cell therapies to treat health conditions such as cancer. Therapies can include chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy.
Conditions I Treat
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney (renal cell) cancer and conditions
- Prostate cancer and conditions
My Specialties
- Clinical trials
- Immunotherapy
Education
- MD, University of Illinois College of Medicine
- PhD, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Residencies
- Internal Medicine - Wayne State University School of Medicine
Awards and Honors
- Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
- Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
- Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)
- Conquer Cancer Foundation – ASCO Career Development Award (2021)
- Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Research Program – CDA Award (2022)
- Conquer Cancer Foundation - ASCO Young Investigator Award (2018)
Fellowships
- Medical Oncology - Columbia University Medical Center
Board Certifications
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Oncology
Insurance Information
Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
Don't see your carrier or plan? We can help you understand your coverage.
If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.
If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.
Make an Appointment
Contact and Location
Dr. Aggen sees patients at three locations.
Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.
Colleagues
Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.
Clinical Trials
- Clinical Trials Investigated by Dr. Aggen
- A Phase 2 Study of Autogene Cevumeran Plus Nivolumab Immunotherapy Versus Nivolumab Alone in People With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
- A Phase 2/3 Study Assessing Tumor DNA in the Blood to Guide the Use of Immunotherapy After Bladder Cancer Surgery
- A Phase I Study of ADP-A2M4CD8 with or without Nivolumab Immunotherapy in People with Urothelial Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, or Endometrial Cancer
- A Phase II Study of Enfortumab Vedotin and Pembrolizumab Immunotherapy Given Before Surgery in People with Bladder Cancer
Read more
Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.
You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.
Search clinical trialsResearch and Publications
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Aggen’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
See all on PubMedPatient Reviews
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Disclosures
Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.
MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.
David H. Aggen discloses the following relationships and financial interests:
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Alpha Insights
Professional Services and Activities -
Aptitude Health
Professional Services and Activities -
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Professional Services and Activities -
Century Therapeutics
Professional Services and Activities -
Curio Science LLC
Professional Services and Activities
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Guidepoint Global Advisors
Professional Services and Activities -
MJH Life Sciences
Professional Services and Activities -
RC Horowitz & Co
Professional Services and Activities -
Seagen
Professional Services and Activities -
University of Illinois
Intellectual Property Rights
If you’re a patient at MSK and would like more information about your doctor’s external relationships, please talk with your doctor.
The information published here is a complement to other publicly reported data and is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.
This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2023 through disclosure submission in spring 2024). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.
Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].