Matthew A. Firpo

Matthew A. Firpo, PhD

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Surgery

Divisions: General Surgery

Research Interests

  • Cancer Biology
  • Cancer Therapeutic Development
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Ileus
  • Pancreatitis
  • Role of microenvironmental factors on cellular sensitivity to radiation and to chemotherapeutic agents
  • Tumor Markers, Biological
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
  • Hydrogels
  • Implants, Experimental
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Gene Expression, Microarray
  • Pancreatic Cancer

Matthew Firpo, PhD, is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Utah where he directs the Surgery Research Laboratories. He is also a member of the Pancreas Cancer Research Program and the Experimental Therapeutics Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Firpo's cancer research interests focus on improving intervention and detection strategies for pancreatic cancer. In collaboration with multiple cancer investigators, much of Firpo's efforts involve projects designed to investigate the underlying biology of pancreas cancer. The ultimate goal of these projects is to provide supporting justification for subsequent clinical uses.

Firpo earned his PhD in molecular biology from Brown University in 1994. He completed postdoctoral training in the Departments of Human Genetics and Biochemistry at the University of Utah before joining the Department of Surgery in February 2000.

Education History

Postdoctoral Fellowship University of Utah
 Postdoctoral Fellow
Doctoral Training Brown University
 PhD
Graduate Training University of Montana
 MS
Undergraduate University of Montana
 BA

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Kfoury P, Stout JC, McVicar SB, Sidesinger M, Jeon EK, Tonkovich K, Allen CM, Firpo MA, Park AH (2024). Impact of COVID-19 on newborn hearing screening (NBHS) and early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) services: A statewide analysis of differences and policy implications. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 188, 112187. (Read full article)
  2. Kfoury P, Stout JC, Palacios VJ, Yang W, Molin NL, Firpo MA, Park AH (2024). Perspectives on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Research: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Pediatric Otolaryngologists. Cureus, 16(5), e60436. (Read full article)
  3. Huang EY, Park R, Park E, Firpo MA, Park AH (2024). Comparing Satisfaction Among Providers Treating Both Pediatric and Adult Otolaryngology Patients. OTO Open, 8(2), e141. (Read full article)
  4. Suarez D, Kjar A, Scott B, Hillam K, Vargis E, Nielson C, Sommer E, Zhang E, Holley A, Traxler A, Hughes M, Wang Y, Firpo MA, Britt D, Park AH (2023). Can Ganciclovir and Quercetin-P188 Ameliorate Cytomegalovirus Induced Hearing Loss? Laryngoscope, 134(3), 1457-1463. (Read full article)
  5. Hillam K, Suarez D, Nielson C, Traxler A, Sommer E, Winslow A, Holley A, Huang E, Hughes M, Firpo MA, Rower J, Park AH (2023). Hearing Following Prolonged and Delayed Ganciclovir Treatment in a Murine Cytomegalovirus Model. Laryngoscope, 134(1), 433-438. (Read full article)
  6. Nielson C, Kelly K, Attah R, Pei Z, Wang Y, Firpo MA, Park AH (2023). Comparing Aerosol Generation in Human and Animal Tissues During Common Otolaryngology Procedures. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 169(6), 1491-1498. (Read full article)
  7. Semaan A, Bernard V, Wong J, Makino Y, Swartzlander DB, Rajapakshe KI, Lee JJ, Officer A, Schmidt CM, Wu HH, Scaife CL, Affolter KE, Nachmanson D, Firpo MA, Yip-Schneider M, Lowy AM, Harismendy O, Sen S, Maitra A, Jakubek YA, Guerrero PA (2022). Integrated Molecular Characterization of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms: An NCI Cancer Moonshot Precancer Atlas Pilot Project. Cancer Res Commun, 3(10), 2062-2073. (Read full article)
  8. Firpo MA, Boucher KM, Bleicher J, Khanderao GD, Rosati A, Poruk KE, Kamal S, Marzullo L, De Marco M, Falco A, Genovese A, Adler JM, De Laurenzi V, Adler DG, Affolter KE, Garrido-Laguna I, Scaife CL, Turco MC, Mulvihill SJ (2023). Multianalyte Serum Biomarker Panel for Early Detection of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. JCO Clin Cancer Inform, 7, e2200160. (Read full article)
  9. Labuz DR, Lewis G, Fleming ID, Thompson CM, Zhai Y, Firpo MA, Leung DT (2023). Targeted multi-omic analysis of human skin tissue identifies alterations of conventional and unconventional T cells associated with burn injury. Elife, 12. (Read full article)
  10. Veit JGS, Birru B, Wang Y, Singh R, Arrigali EM, Park R, Miller B, Firpo MA, Park AH, Serban MA (2022). An Evaluation of the Drug Permeability Properties of Human Cadaveric In Situ Tympanic and Round Window Membranes. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 15(9). (Read full article)
  11. Hernandez S, Parra ER, Uraoka N, Tang X, Shen Y, Qiao W, Jiang M, Zhang S, Mino B, Lu W, Pandurengan R, Haymaker C, Affolter K, Scaife CL, Yip-Schneider M, Schmidt CM, Firpo MA, Mulvihill SJ, Koay EJ, Wang H, Wistuba II, Maitra A, Solis LM, Sen S (2021). Diminished Immune Surveillance during Histologic Progression of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms Offers a Therapeutic Opportunity for Cancer Interception. Clin Cancer Res, 28(9), 1938-1947. (Read full article)
  12. Yu Y, Shi K, Nielson C, Graham EM, Price MS, Haller TJ, Carraro M, Firpo MA, Park AH, Harrison RV (2022). Hearing loss caused by CMV infection is correlated with reduced endocochlear potentials caused by strial damage in murine models. Hear Res, 417, 108454. (Read full article)
  13. Shi K, Purser JS, Germiller JA, Rampton JW, Firpo MA, Park AH (2021). Gadolinium-based contrast agent for Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a predictor of postmeningitic hearing loss in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 150, 110936. (Read full article)
  14. Xu AA, Shapero KS, Geibig JA, Ma HK, Jones AR, Hanna M, Pitts DR, Hillas E, Firpo MA, Peattie RA (2021). Histologic evaluation of therapeutic responses in ischemic myocardium elicited by dual growth factor delivery from composite glycosaminoglycan hydrogels. Acta Histochem, 123(3), 151699. (Read full article)
  15. Sayahi T, Nielson C, Yu Y, Neuberger K, Seipp M, Firpo MA, Kelly K, Park AH (2020). Airborne Aerosolized Mouse Cytomegalovirus From Common Otolaryngology Procedures: Implications for COVID-19 Infection. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 164(3), 547-555. (Read full article)
  16. Martinovic A, Chen J, Sivas K, Owens S, Firpo MA, Park AH (2020). Effect of Tympanostomy Tube Placement on Intraoperative Auditory Brainstem Response. J Am Acad Audiol, 32(2), 70-75. (Read full article)
  17. Swords DS, Mulvihill SJ, Brooke BS, Stoddard GJ, Firpo MA, Scaife CL (2019). County-level Variation in Use of Surgery and Cancer-specific Survival for Stage I-II Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Ann Surg, 272(6), 1102-1109. (Read full article)
  18. Almishaal A, Mathur PD, Franklin L, Shi K, Haller T, Martinovic A, Hirschmugl K, Earl BR, Zhang C, Yang J, Deans MR, Firpo MA, Park AH (2020). Role of cochlear synaptopathy in cytomegalovirus infected mice and in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 138, 110275. (Read full article)
  19. Seguin A, Jia X, Earl AM, Li L, Wallace J, Qiu A, Bradley T, Shrestha R, Troadec MB, Hockin M, Titen S, Warner DE, Dowdle PT, Wohlfahrt ME, Hillas E, Firpo MA, Phillips JD, Kaplan J, Paw BH, Barasch J, Ward DM (2020). The mitochondrial metal transporters mitoferrin1 and mitoferrin2 are required for liver regeneration and cell proliferation in mice. J Biol Chem, 295(32), 11002-11020. (Read full article)
  20. Pecha PP, Almishaal AA, Mathur PD, Hillas E, Johnson T, Price MS, Haller T, Yang J, Rajasekaran NS, Firpo MA, Park AH (2020). Role of Free Radical Formation in Murine Cytomegalovirus-Induced Hearing Loss. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 162(5), 709-717. (Read full article)
  21. Haller TJ, Price MS, Lindsay SR, Hillas E, Seipp M, Firpo MA, Park AH (2019). Effects of ganciclovir treatment in a murine model of cytomegalovirus-induced hearing loss. Laryngoscope, 130(4), 1064-1069. (Read full article)
  22. Swords DS, Mulvihill SJ, Brooke BS, Firpo MA, Scaife CL (2019). Size and Importance of Socioeconomic Status-Based Disparities in Use of Surgery in Nonadvanced Stage Gastrointestinal Cancers. Ann Surg Oncol, 27(2), 333-341. (Read full article)
  23. Rosati A, Basile A, DAuria R, dAvenia M, De Marco M, Falco A, Festa M, Guerriero L, Iorio V, Parente R, Pascale M, Marzullo L, Franco R, Arra C, Barbieri A, Rea D, Menichini G, Hahne M, Bijlsma M, Barcaroli D, Sala G, di Mola FF, di Sebastiano P, Todoric J, Antonucci L, Corvest V, Jawhari A, Firpo MA, Tuveson DA, Capunzo M, Karin M, De Laurenzi V, Turco MC (2015). BAG3 promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma growth by activating stromal macrophages. Nat Commun, 6, 8695. (Read full article)
  24. Wang AS, Lodi A, Rivera LB, Izquierdo-Garcia JL, Firpo MA, Mulvihill SJ, Tempero MA, Bergers G, Ronen SM (2014). HR-MAS MRS of the pancreas reveals reduced lipid and elevated lactate and taurine associated with early pancreatic cancer. NMR Biomed, 27(11), 1361-70. (Read full article)
  25. von Figura G, Fukuda A, Roy N, Liku ME, Morris Iv JP, Kim GE, Russ HA, Firpo MA, Mulvihill SJ, Dawson DW, Ferrer J, Mueller WF, Busch A, Hertel KJ, Hebrok M (2014). The chromatin regulator Brg1 suppresses formation of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Nat Cell Biol, 16(3), 255-67. (Read full article)
  26. Wang Y, Patel R, Ren C, Taggart MG, Firpo MA, Schleiss MR, Park AH (2013). A comparison of different murine models for cytomegalovirus-induced sensorineural hearing loss. Laryngoscope, 123(11), 2801-6. (Read full article)
  27. Poruk KE, Gay DZ, Brown K, Mulvihill JD, Boucher KM, Scaife CL, Firpo MA, Mulvihill SJ (2013). The clinical utility of CA 19-9 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: diagnostic and prognostic updates. Curr Mol Med, 13(3), 340-51. (Read full article)
  28. Poruk KE, Firpo MA, Scaife CL, Adler DG, Emerson LL, Boucher KM, Mulvihill SJ (2013). Serum osteopontin and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Pancreas, 42(2), 193-7. (Read full article)
  29. Elia R, Newhide DR, Pedevillano PD, Reiss GR, Firpo MA, Hsu EW, Kaplan DL, Prestwich GD, Peattie RA (2013). Silk-hyaluronan-based composite hydrogels: a novel, securable vehicle for drug delivery. J Biomater Appl, 27(6), 749-62. (Read full article)
  30. Granger JH, Granger MC, Firpo MA, Mulvihill SJ, Porter MD (2013). Toward development of a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based cancer diagnostic immunoassay panel. Analyst, 138(2), 410-6. (Read full article)
  31. Poruk KE, Firpo MA, Adler DG, Mulvihill SJ (2013). Screening for pancreatic cancer: why, how, and who? Ann Surg, 257(1), 17-26. (Read full article)
  32. Park AH, Mann D, Error ME, Miller M, Firpo MA, Wang Y, Alder SC, Schleiss MR (2013). Comparative analysis of detection methods for congenital cytomegalovirus infection in a Guinea pig model. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 139(1), 82-6. (Read full article)
  33. Jose RR, Elia R, Firpo MA, Kaplan DL, Peattie RA (2012). Seamless, axially aligned, fiber tubes, meshes, microbundles and gradient biomaterial constructs. J Mater Sci Mater Med, 23(11), 2679-95. (Read full article)
  34. Keefe MD, Wang H, De La O JP, Khan A, Firpo MA, Murtaugh LC (2012). beta-catenin is selectively required for the expansion and regeneration of mature pancreatic acinar cells in mice. Dis Model Mech, 5(4), 503-14. (Read full article)
  35. Miller CJ, Gounder SS, Kannan S, Goutam K, Muthusamy VR, Firpo MA, Symons JD, Paine R 3rd, Hoidal JR, Rajasekaran NS (2012). Disruption of Nrf2/ARE signaling impairs antioxidant mechanisms and promotes cell degradation pathways in aged skeletal muscle. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1822(6), 1038-50. (Read full article)
  36. Gounder SS, Kannan S, Devadoss D, Miller CJ, Whitehead KJ, Odelberg SJ, Firpo MA, Paine R 3rd, Hoidal JR, Abel ED, Rajasekaran NS (2012). Impaired transcriptional activity of Nrf2 in age-related myocardial oxidative stress is reversible by moderate exercise training. PLoS One, 7(9), e45697. (Read full article)
  37. Fukuda A, Wang SC, Morris JP 4th, Folias AE, Liou A, Kim GE, Akira S, Boucher KM, Firpo MA, Mulvihill SJ, Hebrok M (2011). Stat3 and MMP7 contribute to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma initiation and progression. Cancer Cell, 19(4), 441-55. (Read full article)
  38. Rajasekaran NS, Varadharaj S, Khanderao GD, Davidson CJ, Kannan S, Firpo MA, Zweier JL, Benjamin IJ (2011). Sustained activation of nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element signaling promotes reductive stress in the human mutant protein aggregation cardiomyopathy in mice. Antioxid Redox Signal, 14(6), 957-71. (Read full article)
  39. Rajasekaran NS, Varadharaj S, Khanderao GD, Davidson CJ, Kannan S, Firpo MA, Zweier JL, Benjamin IJ (2011). Sustained activation of nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element signaling promotes reductive stress in the human mutant protein aggregation cardiomyopathy in mice. Antioxid Redox Signal, 14(6), 957-71.
  40. Wilson MA, Orlandi RR, Firpo MA (2011). Correlating matrix metalloproteinase-9 sinus secretion levels with tissue biopsy levels. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol, 1(2), 106-8. (Read full article)
  41. Lee M, Martin H, Firpo MA, Demerath EW (2011). Inverse association between adiposity and telomere length: The Fels Longitudinal Study. Am J Hum Biol, 23(1), 100-6. (Read full article)
  42. Poruk KE, Firpo MA, Huerter LM, Scaife CL, Emerson LL, Boucher KM, Jones KA, Mulvihill SJ (2010). Serum platelet factor 4 is an independent predictor of survival and venous thromboembolism in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 19(10), 2605-10. (Read full article)
  43. Elia R, Fuegy PW, VanDelden A, Firpo MA, Prestwich GD, Peattie RA (2010). Stimulation of in vivo angiogenesis by in situ crosslinked, dual growth factor-loaded, glycosaminoglycan hydrogels. Biomaterials, 31(17), 4630-8. (Read full article)
  44. Scaife CL, Shea J, Emerson L, Boucher K, Firpo MA, Beckerle MC, Mulvihill SJ (2010). Prognostic significance of PINCH signalling in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. HPB (Oxford), 12(5), 352-8. (Read full article)
  45. Deer EL, Gonzlez-Hernndez J, Coursen JD, Shea JE, Ngatia J, Scaife CL, Firpo MA, Mulvihill SJ (2010). Phenotype and genotype of pancreatic cancer cell lines. Pancreas, 39(4), 425-35. (Read full article)
  46. Firpo MA, Gay DZ, Granger SR, Scaife CL, DiSario JA, Boucher KM, Mulvihill SJ (2009). Improved diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma using haptoglobin and serum amyloid A in a panel screen. World J Surg, 33(4), 716-22. (Read full article)
  47. Rajasekaran NS, Firpo MA, Milash BA, Weiss RB, Benjamin IJ (2008). Global expression profiling identifies a novel biosignature for protein aggregation R120GCryAB cardiomyopathy in mice. Physiol Genomics, 35(2), 165-72. (Read full article)
  48. Rajasekaran NS, Firpo MA, Milash BA, Weiss RB, Benjamin IJ (2008). Global expression profiling identifies a novel biosignature for protein aggregation R120GCryAB cardiomyopathy in mice. Physiol Genomics, 35(2), 165-72.
  49. Torgenson MJ, Shea JE, Firpo MA, Dai Q, Mulvihill SJ, Scaife CL (2008). Natural history of pancreatic cancer recurrence following "curative" resection in athymic mice. J Surg Res, 149(1), 57-61. (Read full article)
  50. Peattie RA, Pike DB, Yu B, Cai S, Shu XZ, Prestwich GD, Firpo MA, Fisher RJ (2008). Effect of gelatin on heparin regulation of cytokine release from hyaluronan-based hydrogels. Drug Deliv, 15(6), 389-97. (Read full article)
  51. Peattie RA, Pike DB, Yu B, Cai S, Shu XZ, Prestwich GD, Firpo MA, Fisher RJ (2008). Effect of gelatin on heparin regulation of cytokine release from hyaluronan-based hydrogels. Drug Deliv, 15(6), 389-97.
  52. Scaife CL, Shea JE, Dai Q, Firpo MA, Prestwich GD, Mulvihill SJ (2007). Synthetic extracellular matrix enhances tumor growth and metastasis in an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. J Gastrointest Surg, 12(6), 1074-80. (Read full article)
  53. Scaife CL, Shea JE, Dai Q, Firpo MA, Prestwich GD, Mulvihill SJ (2008). Synthetic extracellular matrix enhances tumor growth and metastasis in an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. J Gastrointest Surg, 12(6), 1074-80.
  54. Hosack LW, Firpo MA, Scott JA, Prestwich GD, Peattie RA (2008). Microvascular maturity elicited in tissue treated with cytokine-loaded hyaluronan-based hydrogels. Biomaterials, 29(15), 2336-47. (Read full article)
  55. Riley CM, Fuegy PW, Firpo MA, Shu XZ, Prestwich GD, Peattie RA (2006). Stimulation of in vivo angiogenesis using dual growth factor-loaded crosslinked glycosaminoglycan hydrogels. Biomaterials, 27(35), 5935-43. (Read full article)
  56. Pike DB, Cai S, Pomraning KR, Firpo MA, Fisher RJ, Shu XZ, Prestwich GD, Peattie RA (2006). Heparin-regulated release of growth factors in vitro and angiogenic response in vivo to implanted hyaluronan hydrogels containing VEGF and bFGF. Biomaterials, 27(30), 5242-51. (Read full article)
  57. Rollins MD, Sudarshan S, Firpo MA, Etherington BH, Hart BJ, Jackson HH, Jackson JD, Emerson LL, Yang DT, Mulvihill SJ, Glasgow RE (2006). Anti-inflammatory effects of PPAR-gamma agonists directly correlate with PPAR-gamma expression during acute pancreatitis. J Gastrointest Surg, 10(8), 1120-30. (Read full article)

Review

  1. Otsuka KS, Nielson C, Firpo MA, Park AH, Beaudin AE (2021). Early Life Inflammation and the Developing Hematopoietic and Immune Systems: The Cochlea as a Sensitive Indicator of Disruption. [Review]. Cells, 10(12). (Read full article)