James Rutka

Born in Toronto, and educated at Princeton University (1975-1977), and Queen's University Medical School (1977-1981), Dr Rutka did an internship at McGill University (1981-1982) before entering the University of Toronto Neurosurgery Training Program in 1982. 

His training included a research fellowship at the Brain Tumor Research Centre, the University of California San Francisco where he obtained his PhD in Experimental Pathology (1984-1987). 

Upon conclusion of his neurosurgical residency 1989, Dr Rutka did a clinical fellowship in microvascular neurosurgery with Dr Kenichiro Sugita at the University of Nagoya, and a post-doctoral research fellowship in molecular immunology at Juntendo University, Tokyo (1990).

Dr Rutka assumed his appointment in the Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery in 1990, and has been on the surgical staff at the Hospital for Sick Children in the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery since that time. 

Dr Rutka's primary research and clinical interests relate to the science and surgery of human brain tumors.

His recent clinical interests have centred on the surgical treatment of epilepsy in children.  

He has over 375 peer reviewed publications. 

His laboratory has been continually funded since 1992 with grants from the CIHR, NCIC, OICR, and Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. 

He is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, World Neurosurgery, the Journal of Neuro-Oncology and Neuro-Oncology.

He was appointed as Co-Director of the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre at the University of Toronto in 1998. 

In 1999, Dr. Rutka was promoted to Professor in the Department of Surgery, and was appointed Chairman of the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto. 

From 1999-2011, Dr Rutka held the Dan Family Chair in Neurosurgery. 

In 2002, Dr. Rutka was listed by Globe and Mail as one of the Nation Builders in Canada, in the section of Science and Technology. 

In 2009, he was the Honored Guest at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons’ Annual Meeting. 

In April 2011, Dr. Rutka was appointed to the position of RS McLaughlin Chair in the Department of Surgery for a 5 year term.

In 2013 he was appointed to the position of the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurosurgery.

 

Research Synopsis

 

Typically cancer cells acquire the ability to grow when they shouldn’t, stimulate formation of blood vessels to ensure their survival, bypass cell cycle and apoptosis safeguards and find ways to exploit their microenvironment that enable them to migrate away and form tumours at distant sites.

Malignant brain and other central nervous system cancers are the second most common cancers in children. Despite treatment, overall five-year survival remains only at 60 per cent with survivors often suffering from treatment-related side effects. Therefore investigation into the molecular events contributing to brain tumour pathogenesis will result in improved detection, diagnosis and therapy.



The Rutka lab currently investigates the molecular mechanisms of brain tumour formation and migration.

One research project focuses on the molecular genetic events that result in the sporadic occurence of medulloblastoma. Medulloblastomas frequently harbour genetic abnormalities such as isochromosome 17q and duplication of chromosome 7. In addition, many signalling pathways, important during development, are mutated in medulloblastoma.

Genes important in keeping cancer at bay can also be silenced epigenetically through promotor methylation or by misregulation of micro-RNA (miRNA) mediated gene regulation. Investigators in the lab are determining the role of epigenetics, genetic aberrations and deregulated miRNA expression in medulloblastoma.

Malignant glioma is the most common primary brain tumour. Its ability to invade the surrounding brain parenchyma is a leading cause of tumour recurrence and treatment failure.

Cytoskeletal GTPases play critical roles in cell motility and migration. Previous work in our laboratory has identified alterations in the expression of upstream regulators of GTPases known as Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factors or GEFs. Our lab is now developing a system to target these proteins involved in glioma invasion.

In collaboration with the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the University of Toronto Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, we are designing a nanoparticle based delivery system as a novel approach to treat gliomas.

 

Recent Publications

 

Nagai S, Smith CA, Mondal S, Rutka JT: FSCN1(fascin homolog 1, actin-bundling protein (Stongylocentrotus purpuratus).  Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology 2009: 13: pp 724-725.  SRI

Steinbok P, Gan P, Connollu M, Carmant L, Sinclair D, Rutka JT, Griebel R, Aronyk K, Hader W, Ventureyra E, Atkinson J: Epilepsy surgery in the first 3 years of life: A Canadian survey.  Epilepsia 2009: 50(6): pp 1442-1449.  C

Kadis DS, Kerr EN, Rutka JT, Snead C, Weiss SK, Smith M: Pathology type does not predict language lateralization in children with medically intractable epilepsy.  Epilepsia 2009: 50(6): pp 1498-1504.  C

Rutka JT, Kongkham P, Northcott P, Carlotti C, Guduk M, Osawa H, Moreno O, Seol HJ, Restrepo A, Weeks A, Nagai S, Smith C: The evolution and application of techniques in molecular biology to human brain tumors: a 25 year perspective.  Journal Neuro-Oncology 2009: 92: pp 261-273.  PA

Jhas S, Henriques L, Hawkins C, Bouffet E, Rutka JT: An intracranial leiomyosarcoma in a child with neurofibromatosis type 1.  The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences 2009: 36: pp 491-495.  SRI

Gaetz W, Cheyne D, Rutka JT, Drake JM, Benifla M, Strantzas S, Widjaja E, Holowka S, Tovar-Spinozza Z, Otsubo H, Pang E: Presurgical localization of primary notor cortex in pediatric patients with brain lesions by the use of patially filtered magnetoencephalography.  Neurosurgery 2009: 64: pp 177-186.  C

Northcott P, Nakahara Y, Wu X, Feuk L, Ellison D, Croul S, Mack S, Kongkham P, Peacock P, Dubuc A, Ra Y, Zilberberg K, Mcleod J, Scherer S, Rao JS, Eberhart C, Grajkowska W, Gillespie Y, Lach B, Grundy R, Pollack I, Hamilton R, Van Meter T, Carlotti C, Boop F, Bigner D, Gilbertson R, Rutka JT, Taylor MD: Multiple recurrent genetic events converge on control of histone lysine methylation in medulloblastoma.  Nature Genetics 2009: pp 1-8.  C

Nunez OM, Seol HJ, Rutka JT: The role of surgery in the management of intracranial gliomas: Current concepts.  Indian Journal of Cancer 2009: 46-(2): pp 120-126.  SRI

Northcott P, Fernandez A, Hagan JP, Ellison DW, Grajkowska W, Gillespie Y, Grundy R, Van Meter T, Rutka JT, Croce CM, Kennedy A, Taylor MD: The miR-17/92 polycistron is up-regulated in sonic hedgehog-driven medulloblastomas and induced by n-myc in sonic hedgehog-treated cerebellar neural precursors.  Cancer Research 2009: 69 (8): pp 3249-3255.  C

Kaderali Z, Lamberti-Pasculi M, Rutka JT: The changing epidemiology of paediatric brain tumors: A review from the Hospital for Sick Children.  Childs Nervous System 2009: 25: pp 787-793.  SRI

Souweidane MM, Morgenstern PF, Christos PJ, Edgar MA, Khakoo Y, Rutka JT, Dunkel IJ: Intraoperative arachnoid and cerebrospinal fluid sampling in children with posterior fossa brain tumors.  Neurosurgery 2009: 65: pp 72-78.  C

Ahmed I, Auguste K, Vachhrajani S, Dirks PB, Drake JM, Rutka JT: Neurosurgical management of intracranial epidermoid tumors in children. Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics 2009: 4(91): pp 91-96.  SRI

Osawa H, Smith CA, Ra YS, Kongkham P, Rutka JT: The role of the membrane cytoskeleton cross-linker ezrin in medulloblastoma cells.  Neuro-Oncology 2009: 11(4): pp 381-393.  SRI

Benifla M, Sala F, Jane Jr J, Otsubo H, Ochi A, Drake JM, Weiss S, Donner E, Fujimoto A, Holowka S, Widjaja E, Snead OC, Smith ML, Tamber MS, Rutka JT: Neurosurgical management of intractable Rolandic epilepsy in children: role of resection in eloquent cortex.  Journal Neurosurgery Pediatrics 2009: 4: pp 199-216.  SRI

King JA, Vachhrajani S, Drake JM, Rutka JT: Neurosurgical implications of achondroplasia.  Journal Neurosurgery Pediatrics 2009: 4: pp 297-306.  SRI

Akaishi K, Nakayama J, Sakai K, Kobayashi T, Rutka JT: Antigen p57/Kip2 as a potential negative regulator of human astrocytoma growth.  Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 2009: 16: pp 1615-1618.  CPA

Seol HJ, Smith CA, Salhia B, Rutka JT: The guanine nucleotide exchange factor SWAP-70 modulates the migration and invasiveness of human malignant glioma cells.  Transitional Oncology 2009: 2(4): pp 300-309.  SRI

Sugiyama I, Imai K, Yamaguchi Y, Ochi A, Akizuki Y, Go C, Akiyama T, Snead OC, Rutka JT, Drake JM, Widjaja E, Chuang S, Cheyne D, Otsubo H: Localization of epileptic foci in children with intractable epilepsy secondary to multiple cortical tubers by using synthetic aperture magnetometry kurtosis.  Journal Neurosurgery Pediatrics 2009: 4: pp 515-522.  C

Northcott PA, Rutka JT, Taylor MD: Genomics of medulloblastoma: From Giemsa-banding to next-generation sequencing in 20 years.  Neurosurg Focus 2010: 28(1): pp E6.  CPA

Rutka JT, Berger MS, Couldwell WT, Selden NR: Neurogenomics and neuroproteomics.  Neurosurg Focus 2010: 28(1): pp E1.  CPA

Bhardwaj RD, Mahmoodabadi SZ, Otsubo H, Snead OC, Rutka JT, Widjaja E: Diffusion tensor tractography detection of functional pathway for the spread of epileptiform activity between temporal lobe and Rolandic lesion.  Childs Nervous System 2010: 26: pp 185-190.  C

Nakahara Y, Northcott P, Li M, Kongkham P, Smith C, Yan H, Croul S, Ra Y, Eberhart C, Huang A, Bigner D, Grajkowska W, Van Meter T, Rutka JT, Taylor MD: Genetic and epigenetic inactivation of Kruppel-Like factor 4 in medulloblastoma.  Neoplasia 2010: 12(1): pp 20-27.  C

Onvani S, Etame AB, Smith CA, Rutka JT: Genetics of medulloblastoma: clues for novel therapies.  Expert Reviews 2010: 10(5): pp 811-823.  SRI

Widjaja E, Simao G, Mahmoodabadi SZ, Ochi A, Snead OC, Rutka JT, Otsubo H: Diffusion tensor imaging identifies changes in normal-appearing white matter within the epileptogenic zone in tuberous sclerosis complex.  Epilepsy Research 2010: 89: pp 246-253.  C

Kongkham P, Northcott PA, Croul SE, Smith CA, Taylor MD, Rutka JT: The SFRP family of WNT inhibitors function as novel tumor suppressor genes epigenetically silenced in medulloblastoma.  Oncogene 2010: 29: pp 3017-3024.  SRI

Ng WH, Donner E, Go C, Abou-Hamden A, Rutka JT: Revision of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) electrodes: review and report on use of ultra-sharp monopolar tip.  Childs Nervous System 2010: 26: pp 1081-1084.  SRI

Li M, Lee KF, Lu y, Clarke I, Shih D, Eberhart C, Collins VP, Van Meter T, Oicard D, Zhou L, Boutros PC, Modena P, Liang ML, Scherer SW, Bouffet E, Rutka JT, Pomeroy SL, Taylor MD, Gajjar A, Dirks PB, Hawkins CE, Huang A: Frequent amplification of chr19q13.41 microRNA polycistron in aggressive primitive neuroectodermal brain tumors.  Cancer Cell 2010: 8;16(6): pp 533-546.  C

Ng WH, Mukhida K, Rutka JT: Image guidance and neuromonitoring in neurosurgery.  Childs Nervous System 2010: 26: pp 491-502.  SRI

Lessard F, Morin F, Ivanchuk S, Langlois F, Stefanovsky V, Rutka JT, Moss T: The ARF Tumor suppressor controls ribosome biogenesis by regulating the RNA polymerase I transcription factor TTF-I.  Molecular Cell 2010: 38: pp 539-550.  CPA

Gaetz W, Scantlebury N, Widjaja E, Rutka JT, Bouffet E, Rocket C, Dockstader C, Mabbott D: Mapping of the cortical spinal tracts using magnetoencephalography and diffusion tensor tractography in pediatric brain tumor patients.  Childs Nervous System 2010.  C

Northcott P A, Korshunov A, Witt H, Hielscher T, Eberhart C, Mack S, Bouffet E, Clifford SC, Hawkins CE, French P, Rutka JT, Pfister S, Taylor MD: Medulloblastoma comprises four distinct molecular variants.  Journal of Clinical Oncology 2010: pp 1-12.  C

Chakraborty A, Rutka JT: Surgical approaches to epilepsy.  Future Medicine Therapy 2010: 7(5): pp 467-479.  SRI

Rutka JT: Excellence in clinical neurosurgery: Practice and judgment make perfect.  Clinical Neurosurgery 2010: 57: pp 69-78.  SRI

Rutka JT: Excellence in neurosurgical research: The neuro-oncology paradigm.  Clinical Neurosurgery 2010: 57: pp 38-48.  SRI

Rutka JT, Wallace C: Excellence in neurosurgery program building: Enhancing the academic mission.  Clinical Neurosurgery 2010: 57: pp 100-111.  SRI

Zhou L, Picard D, Ra y, Li M, Northcott PA, Hu Y, Steams D, Hawkins C, Taylor MD, Rutka JT, Der SD, Huang A: Silencing of thombospondin-1 is critical for Myc-induced metastatic phenotypes in medulloblastoma.  Cancer Research 2010: 70(20): pp 1-12.  C

Ng WH, Ochi A, Rutka JT, Strantzas S, Holmes L, Otsubo H: Stimulation threshold potentials of intraoperative cortical motor mapping using monopolar trains of five in pediatric epilepsy surgery.  Childs Nervous System 2010: 26: pp 675-679.  C

Ellis MJ, Kulkarni AV, Drake JM, Rutka JT, Armstrong D, Dirks PB: Intraoperative angiography during microsurgical removal of arteriovenous malformations in children.  Journal Neurosurgery Pediatric 2010: 6(5): pp 435-443.  C

Wilson JR, Vachhrajani S, Li J, Hawkins C, Rutka JT: Pediatric sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: case report and literature review.  Canadian Journal of Neurological Science 2010: 37(6): pp 873-877.  SRI

Restrepo A, Smith CA, Agnihotri S, Shekarforoush M, Kongkham P, Seol HJ, Rutka JT: Epigenetic regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein by DNA methylation in human malignant gliomas.  Neuro-Oncology 2010: 13(1): pp 42-50.  SRI

Kongkham PN, Onvani S, Smith CA, Rutka JT: Inhibition of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase as a novel therapeutic strategy in medulloblastoma.  Translational Oncology 2010: 3(6): pp 336-43.  SRI

Kwan A, Ng WH, Otsubo H, Ochi A, Sneas OC, Tamber MS, Rutka JT: Hemispherectomy for the control of intractable epilepsy in childhood: Comparison of 2 surgical techniques in a single institution.  Neurosurgery 2010: 67: pp 429-436.  SRI

Kim BYS, Rutka JT, Chan WCW: Nanomedicine.  The New England Journal of Medicine 2010: 363(25): pp 2434-43.  CPA

Akiyama T, Chan DW, Go CY, Ochi A, Elliott IM, Donner EJ, Weiss SK, Snead CO, Rutka JT, Drake JM, Otsubo H: Topographic movie of intracranial ictal high-frequencey oscillations with seizure semiology: Epileptic network in Jacksonian seizures.  Epilepsia 2011: 52(1): pp 75-83.  C

Raffel C, Rutka JT: Central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal tumors: Still a useful classification.  Neurosurgical Focus 2011: 30(1).  SRI

Widjaja E, Li B, Davies Shinkel C, Puchalski Ritchie L, Weaver J, Snead OC, Rutka JT, Coyte PC: Cost-effectiveness of pediatric epilepsy surgery compared to medical treatment in children with intractable epilepsy.  Epilepsy Research 2011: 94: pp 61-68.  CPA

Akiyama T, Donner EJ, Go CY, Ochi A, Snead CO, Rutka JT, Otsubo H: Focal-onset myoclonic seizures and secondary bilateral synchrony.  Epilepsy Research 2011: 95: pp 168-172.  C

Gupta S, Vachhrajani S, Kuljarni AV, Taylor MD, Dirks P, Drake JM, Rutka JT: Neurosurgical management extraaxial central nervous system infections in children.  Journal Neurosurgery of Pediatrics 2011: 7: pp 441-451.  SRI

Etame AB, Smith CA, Chan WC, Rutka JT: Design and potential application of PEGylated gold nanparticles with size-dependent permeation through brain microvasculature.  Nanomedicine 2011: 7: pp 992-1000.  SRI

Bertrand KC, Mack SC, Northcott PA, Garzia L, Dubuc A, Pfister M, Rutka JT, Weiss WA, Taylor MD: PCDH10 is a candidate tumour suppressor gene in medulloblastoma.  Childs Nervous System 2011: 27 (8): pp 1243-1249.  C

Northcott PA, Hielscher T, Dubuc A, Mack S, Shih D, Remke M, Al-Halabi H, Albrecht S, Jabado N, Eberhart CG, Grajkowska W, Weiss WA, Clifford SC, Bouffet E, Rutka JT, Korshunov A, Pfister S, Taylor MD: Pediatric and adult sonic hedgehog medulloblastomas are clinically and molecularly distinct.  Acta Neuropathologica 2011: 122: pp 231-240.  C

Rutka JT: New vistas in neurosurgery: A look to the horizon.  Asian Journal Neurosurgery 2011: 6(2): pp 56.  PA

Akiyama T, McCoy B, Go CY, Ochi A, Elliott IM, Akiyama M, Donner EJ, Weiss SK, Snead OC, Rutka JT, Drake JM, Otsubo H: Focal resection of fast ripples on extraoperative intracranial EEG improves seizure outcome in pediatric epilepsy.  Epilepsia 2011: 123: pp 93-99.  C

Ellis MJ, Cheshier S, Sharma S, Armstrong D, Hawkins C, Bouffet E, Rutka JT, Taylor MD: Intracerebral malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a child with neurofibromatosis Type 1 and middle cerebral artery aneurysm treated with endovascular coil embolization.  Journal Neurosurgery Pediatrics 2011: 8: pp 346-352.  C

Akiyama T, Osada M, Isowa M, Go CY, Occhi A, Elliott IM, Akiyama M, Snead OC, Rutka JT, Drake JM, Otsubo H: High kurtosis of intracranial electroencephalogram as a marker of ictogenicity in pediatric epilepsy surgery.  Clinical Neurophysiology 2011: 123(1): pp 93-99.  C

Faria CMC, Rutka JT, Smith C, Kongkham P: Epigenetic mechanisms regulating neural development and pediatric brain tumor formation.  Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 2011: 8: pp 1-14.  CPA

Witt H, Mack SC, Ryzhova M, Bender S, Sill M, Isserlin R, Benner A, Hielscher T, Milde T, Remke M, Jones DTW, Northcott PA, Garzia L, Bertrand KC, Wittmann A, Yao Y, Roberts SS, Massimi L, Van Meter T, Weiss WA, Gupta N, Grajkowska W, Lach B, Cho YJ, von Deimling A, Kulozik AE, Witt O, Bader GD, Hawkins CE, Tabori U, Guha A, Rutka JT, Lichter P, Korshunov A, Taylor MD, Pfidter SM: Delineation of two clinically and molecularly distinct subgroups of posterior fossa ependymoma.  Cancer Cell 2011: 20: pp 143-157.  C

Nagai S, Moreno O, Smith CA, Ivanchuk S, Romagnuolo R, Golbourn B, Weeks A, Seol HJ, Rutka JT: Role of the cofilin activity cycle in astrocytoma migration and invasion.  Genes Cancer 2011: 2(9): pp 859-869.  SRI

Ibrahim GM, Fallah A, Snead OC 3rd, Elliott I, Drake JM, Bernstein M, Rutka JT: Ethical issues in surgical decision making concerning children with medically intractable epilepsy.  Epilepsy Behaviour 2011: 2: pp 154-157.  SRI

Northcott PA, Shih DJH, Remke M, Cho YJ, Kool M, Hawkins C, Eberhart CG, Dubuc A, Guettouche T, Cardentey Y, Bouffet E, Pomeroy SL, Marra M, Malkin D, Rutka JT, Korshunov A, Pfister S, Taylor MD: Rapid, reliable, and reproducible molecular sub-grouping of clinical medulloblastoma samples.  Acta Neuropathologica 2011: 123: pp 615-626.  C

Rutka JT: Discovering neurosurgery: New frontiers.  Journal Neurosurgery 2011: 115: pp 1053-1066.  PA

Torres CV, Fallah A, Ibrahim GM, Cheshier S, Otsubo H, Ochi A, Chuang S, Snead OC, Holowka S, Rutka JT: The role of magnetoencephalography in children undergoing hemispherectomy.  Journal Neurosurgery Pediatrics 2011: 8: pp 575-583.  SRI

Etame AB, Diaz RJ, Smith CA, Mainprize TG, Hynynen K, Rutka JT: Focused ultrasound disruption of the blood-brain barrier: A new frontier for therapeutic delivery in molecular neuro-oncology.  Neurosurgery Focus 2012: 32(1): pp E3.  SRI

Rutka JT: In Memoriam, Dr. Abhijit Guha, 1957-2011.  Neuro-Oncology 2012: 14(1): pp 3-5.  PA

Ibrahim GM, Fallah A, Albert GW, Withers T, Otsubo H, Ochi A, Akiyama T, Donner EJ, Weiss S, Snead OC, Drake JM, Rutka JT: Occipital lobe epilepsy in children: Characterization, evaluation and surgical outcomes.  Epilepsy Research 2012: 99: pp 335-345.  SRI

Ibrahim GM, Fallah A, Shahideh M, Tabori U, Rutka JT: Primary Ewing's sarcoma affecting the central nervous system: A review and proposed prognostic considerations.  Journal Clinical Neuroscience 2012: 19(2): pp 203-209.  SRI

Onvani S, Terakawa Y, Smith C, Northcott P, Taylor M, Rutka JT: Molecular Genetic Analysis of the Hepatocyte Growth Factor/MET Signaling Pathway in Pediatric Medulloblastoma.  Genes, Chromosomes & Cancer 2012: 51: pp 675-688.  CPA

Etame AB, Diaz RJ, O'Reilly MA, Smith CA, Mainprize TH, Hynynen K, Rutka JT: Enhanced delivery of gold nanparticles with therapeutic potential into the brain using MRI-guided focused ultrasound.  Nanomedicine 2012: 8(7): pp 1133-1142.  SRI

Dubuc AM, Morrissy AS, Kloosterhof NK, Northcott PA, Yu EP, Smith D, Peacock J, Grajkowska W, van Meter T, Eberhart CG, Pfister S, Marra MA, Weiss WA, Scherer SW, Rutka JT, French PJ, Taylor MD: Subgroup-specific alternative splicing in medulloblastoma.  Acta Neuropathologica 2012: 123: pp 485-499.  C

Ibrahim GM, Barry BW, Snead OC, Drake JM, Rutka JT, Bernstein M: Inequities in access to pediatric epilepsy surgery: A bioethical framework.  Neurosurgery Focus 2012: 32(3): pp E2.  CPA

Visanji NP, Wong JC, Wang SX, Cappel B, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, Handler MH, Ochi A, Otsubo H, Rutka JT, Go C, Weiss S, Vinters HV, Hawkins CE, DeSouza LV, Siu M, Hazrati L: A proteomic annalysis of pediatric seizure cases associated with astrocytic inclusions.  Epilepsia 2012: 53(3): pp 50-54.  C

Rutka JT: Hemispherotomy.  Journal of Neurosurgery 2012: 9: pp 379-380.  PA

Vachhrajani S, De Ribaupierre S, Otsubo H, Ochi A, Weiss SK, Donner EJ, Widjaja E, Kerr E, Smith M, Drake JM, Rutka JT: Neurosurgical management of frontal lobe epilepsy in children.  Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 2012: 10: pp 206-216.  SRI

Ellis MJ, Rutka JT, Kulkarni AV, Dirks PD, Widjaja E: Corticospinal tract mapping in children with ruptured arteriovenous malformations using functionally guided diffusion-tensor imaging.  Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics 2012: 9(5): pp 505-510.  C

Ibrahim GM, Snead OC, Rutka JT, Lozano AM: The most cited works in epilepsy: Trends in the "Citation Classics".  Epilepsia 2012: 53(5): pp 765-770.  C

Li M, Lockwood W, Zielenska M, Northcott P, Ra YS, Bouffet E, Yoshimoto M, Rutka JT, Yan H, Taylor MD, Eberhart C, Hawkins CE, Lam W, Squire JA, Huang A: Multiple CDK/CYCLIND genes are amplified in medulloblastoma and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal brain tumor.  Cancer Genetics 2012: 205(5): pp 220-231.  C

Diaz RJ, Golbourn B, Shekarforoush M, Smith AC, Rutka JT: Aurora Kinase B/C inhibition impairs malignant glioma growth in vivo.  Journal of Neuro-Oncology 2012: 108 (3): pp 349-360.  CPA

Weeks A, Okolowsky N, Golbourn B, Ivanchuk S, Smith C, Rutka JT,: ECT2 and RASAL2 mediate mesenchymal-amoeboid transition in human astrocytoma cells.  American Journal of Pathology 2012: 181(2): pp 662-674.  SRI

Ibrahim GM, Akiyama T, Ochi H, Smith ML, Taylor MJ, Donner E, Rutka JT, Snead OC, Doesburg SM: Disruption of Rolandic gamma-band functional connectivity by seizures is associated with motor impairments in children with epilspey.  PLoS One 2012: 7(6): pp e54943.  C

Rutka JT, Drake JM, Dirks P, Kulkarni A, Taylor MD, Humphreys RP: Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Hospital for Sick Children, The University of Toronto.  Childs Nervous System 2012: 28: pp 1127-1128.  PA

Rutka JT: Biopsy of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas? Journal Neurosurgery Pediatrics 2012: 10: pp 79-80.  PA

Northcott PA, Shih DJH, Peacoack J, Garzia L, Rutka JT, 130 more authors listed: Subgroup-specific structural variation across 1,000 medulloblastoma genomes.  Nature 2012: 488: pp 49-56.  C

Diaz RJ, Guduk M, Romagnuolo R, Smith CA, Northcott P, Shih D, Berisha F, Flanaga A, Munoz D, Cusimano MD, Pamir MN, Rutka JT: High-resolution whole-genome analysis of skull base chordomas implicates FHIT loss in chordoma pathogenesis.  Neoplasia 2012: 14 (9): pp 788-798.  SRI

Seol HJ, Chang JH, Yamamoto J, Romagnuolo R, Suh Y, Weeks A, Agnihotri S, Smith CA, Rutka JT: Overexpression of CD99 increases the migration and invasiveness of human malignant glioma cells.  Genes Cancer 2012: 3(9-10): pp 535-549.  SRI

Gentili F, Rutka JT: In Memoriam Thomas Paterson Morley (1920-2012).  The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences 2012: 39 (6): pp 847-848.  PA

Ibrahim GM, Fallah A, Snead OC, Rutka JT: Changing global trends in seizure outcomes following resective surgery for tuberous sclerosis in children with medically intractable epilepsy.  Epilepsy Research and Treatment 2012: 2012: pp 135364.  SRI

Dubuc AM, Remke M, Korshunov A, Northcott PA, Zhan SH, Mendez-Lago M, Kool M, Jones DTW, Unterberger A, Morrissy AS, Shih D, Peacock J, Ramaswamy V, Rolider A, Wang X, Witt H, Hielscher T, Hawkins C, Vibhakar R, Croul S, Ritka JT, Weiss WA, Jones SJM, Eberhart CG, Marra MA, Pfister SM, Taylor MD: Aberrant patterns of H3K4 and H3K27 histone lysine methylation occur across subgroups in medulloblastoma.  Acta Neuropathologica 2012: 125: pp 373-384.  C

Terakawa Y, Agnihotri S, Goldblourn B, Nadi M, Sabha N, Smith CA, Croul SE, Rutka JT: The role of drebin in glioma migration and invasion.  Experimental Cell Research 2012: 319(4): pp 517-528.  PA

Rutka JT: Erratum: Neurosurgical management of frontal lobe epilepsy in children.  Journal Neurosurgery Peds 2012: 10: pp 565.  PA

Ibrahim GM, Fallah A, Snead OC, Drake JM, Rutka JT, Bernstein M: The use of high frequency oscillations to guide neocortical resections in children with medically-intractable epilepsy: how do we ethically apply surgical innovations to patient care? Seizure 2012: 10: pp 743-747.  CPA

Fallah A, Guyatt GH, Snead OC 3rd, Ebrahim S, Ibrahim GM, Mansouri A, REddy D, Walter SD, Kulkarni AV, Bhandari M, Banfield L, Bhatnagar N, Liang S, Teutonico F, Liao J, Rutka JT: Predictors of seizure outcomes in children with tuberous sclerosis complex and intractable epilepsy undergoing resective epilepsy surgery: an individual participant data meta-analysis.  PLoS One 2013: 8(2): pp e53565.  SRI

Doesburg SM, Ibrahim GM, Smith ML, Sharma R, Viljoen A, Chu B, Rutka JT, Snead OC 3rd, Pang EW: Altered Rolandic gamma-band activation associated with motor impairment and ictal network desynchronization in childhood epilepsy.  PLoS One 2013: 8(1): pp e5494.  C

Nadi M, Rutka JT: Molecular Genetics of Medulloblastoma.  Genetics & Disease 2013: pp 1-10.  SRI

Fallah A, Ibrahim GM, Rutka JT: Hemispherectomy: When half is better than the whole. Tuberous sclerosis complex.  Journal Clinical Neurosience 2013: 20(3): pp 451-478.  SRI

Sharma S, de Mestral C, Hsiao M, Gomez D, Haas B, Rutka J, Nathens AB: Benchmarking trauma center performance in traumatic brain injury: The limitations of mortality outcomes.  Journal Trauma Acute Care Surgery 2013: 74(3): pp 890-894.  CPA

Al-Ahmed IH, Boughamoura M, Dirks P, Kulkarni AV, Rutka JT, Drake JM: Neurosurgical management of neuenteric cysts in children.  Journal of Pediatrics 2013: 11(5): pp 511-517.  CPA

Rutka JT: Editorial: Leading transition while maintaining tradition.  Journal of Neurosurgery 2013: 119(1): pp 1-3.  PA

Beier AD, Rutka JT: Hemispherectomy: historical review and recent technical advances.  Neurosurg Focus 2013: 34(6): pp E11.  SRI

Ibrahim GM, Rutka JT, Snead OC 3rd: Network analysis reveals patterns of antiepileptic drug use in children with medically intractable epilepsy.  Epilepsy Behaviour 2013: 28(1): pp 22-25.  CPA

Gawad N, Moussa F, Christakis GT, Rutka JT: Planting the "SEAD": Early comprehensive exposure to surgery for medical students.  Journal Surgical Education 2013: 70(4): pp 487-494.  SRI

Nadi M, Kherzri N, Ahmad T, Ellis M, Bouffet E, Rutka JT, Taylor MD: Medulloblastoma invading the transverse sinus: case report.  Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics 2013: 12(4): pp 325-327.  CPA

Ramaswamy V, Remke M, Faria CC, PerreaultS, Cho YJ, Shih DJ, Luu B, Dubuc AM, Northcott PA, Schuller U, Guruangan S, McLendon R, Bigner D, Fouladi M, Ligon KL, Pomeroy SL, Dunn S, Triscott J, Jabado N, Fontebasso A, Jones DTW, Kool M, Karajannis MA, Gardner SL, Zagzag D, Nunes S, Pimental J, Mora J, Lipp E, Walter AW, Ryzhova M, Zheludkova O, Kumirova E, Alshami J, Croul SE, Rutka JT, Hawkins C, Tabori U, Codispoti KT, Packer RJ, Pfister SM, Korshunov A, Taylor MD: Recurrence patterns across medulloblastoma subgroups: an integrated clinical and molecular analysis.  Lancet Oncology 2013: 14(12): pp 1-8.  C

Ibrahim GM, Anderson R, Akiyama T, Ochi A, Otsubo H, Singh-Cadieux G, Donner E, Rutka JT, Snead OC 3rd, Doesburg SM: Neocortical pathological high-frequency oscillations are associated with frequency-dependent alterations in functional network topology.  Journal of Neurophysiology 2013: 110(10): pp 2475-2483.  C

Lim ME, Bowen JM, Snead OC 3rd, Elliott I, Donner E, Weiss SK, Otsubo H, Ochi A, Drake J, Rutka JT, Worster A, Hopkins RB, Goeree R, Tarride J: Access to surgery for paediatric patients with medically refractory epilepsy: A systems analysis.  Epilepsy Research 2013: 107(3): pp 286-296.  C

Remke M, Ramaswamy V, Peacock J, Shih DJ, Koelsche C, Northcott PA, Hill N, Cavalli FM, Kool M, Wang X, Mack SC, Barszczyk M, Morrissy AS, Wu X, Agnihortri S, Luu B, Jones DT, Garzia L, Dubuc AM, Zhukova N, Vanner R, Kros JM, French PJ, Van Meir EG, Vibhakar R, Zitterbart K, Chan JA, Bognar L, Klekner A, Lach B, Jung S, Saad AG, Liau LM, Albrecht S, Zollo M, Cooper MK, Thompson RC, Delattre OO, Bourdeaut F, Doz FF, Garami M, Hauser P, Carlotti CG, Van Meter TE, D, Rutka JT, Taylor MD: TERT promoter mutations are highly recurrent in SHH subgroup medulloblastoma.  Acta Neuropathologica 2013: 126(6): pp 917-929.  C

Agnihotri S, Burrell KE, Wolf A, Jalali S, Hawkins C, Rutka JT, Zadeh: Glioblastoma, a brief review of history, molecular genetics, animal models and novel therapeutic stategies.  Archivum Immunologies et Therapies Experimentalis 2013: 61: pp 25-41.  CPA

Diaz RJ, McVeigh PZ, O'Reilly MA, Burrell K, Bebenek M, Smith C, Etame A, Zadeh G, Hynynen K, Wilson BC, Rutka JT: Focused ultrasound delivery of Raman nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier: Potential for targeting experimental brain tumors.  Nanomedicine 2013.  SRI

Ibrahim GM, Wong SM, Anderson RA, Singh-Cardieux G, Akiyama T, Ochi A, Otsubo H, Okanishi T, Valiante TA, Donner E, Rutka JT, Snead OC 3rd, Doesburg SM: Dynamic modulation of epileptic high frequency oscillations by the phase of slower cortical rhythms.  Experimental Neurology 2014: 25: pp 30-38.  C

Sharma S, Gomez D, Demestral C, Hsiao M, Rutka J, Nathens AB: Emergency access to neurosurgical care for patients with traumatic brain injury.  J Am Coll Surg 2014: 218(1): pp 51-57.  CPA

Ramaswamy V, Remke M, Shih D, Wang X, Northcott PA, Faria CC, Raybaud C, Tabori U, Hawkins C, Rutka JT, Taylor MD, Bouffet R: Duration of the Pre-Diagnostic Interval in Medulloblastoma is Subgroup Dependent.  Pediatric Blood Cancer 2014.  C

Shih DJ, Northcott PA, Remke M, Korshunov A, Ramaswamy V, Kool M, Luu B, Yao Y, Wang X, Dubuc AM, Garzia L, Peacock J, Mack SC, Wu X, Rolider A, Morrissy AS, Cavalli FM, Jones DT, Zitterbart K, Faria CC, Sch'fcller U, Kren L, Kumabe T, Tominaga T, Shin Ra Y, Garami M, Hauser P, Chan JA, Robinson S, Bogn'e1r L, Klekner A, Saad AG, Liau LM, Albrecht S, Fontebasso A, Cinalli G, De Antonellis P, Zollo M, Cooper MK, Thompson RC, Bailey S, Lindsey JC,Grajkowska WA, Perek-Polnik M, Bouffet E, Rutka JT,: Cytogenetic Prognostication Within Meduloblastoma Subgroups.  Journal of Clinical NeuroOncology 2014.  C

Mack SC, Witt H, Piro RM, Gu L, Zuyderduyn S, St'fctz AM, Wang X, Gallo M, Garzia L, Zayne K, Zhang X, Ramaswamy V, J'e4ger N, Jones DT, Sill M, Pugh TJ, Ryzhova M, Wani KM, Shih DJ, Head R, Remke M, Bailey SD, Zichner T, Faria CC, Barszczyk M, Stark S, Seker-Cin H, Hutter S, Johann P, Bender S, Hovestadt V, Tzaridis T, Dubuc AM, Northcott PA, Peacock J, Bertrand KC, Agnihotri S, Cavalli FM, Clarke I, Rutka JT, Bouffet E, Korbel JO, Lupien M, Aldape KD, Bader GD, Eils R, Lichter P, Dirks PB, Pfi: Epigenomic alterations define lethal CIMP-postitive ependymomas of infancy.  Nature 2014: 506(7489): pp 445-450.  C

Longoni G, Bigi S, Branson H, Hawkins C, Rutka JT, Filippi M, Yeh EA: Multicystic demyelinating myelopathy: Widening spectrum of pediatric aquaporin-4 autoimmunity.  Neurology 2014: 82(10): pp 902-903.  CPA

Ahmed N, Devitt KS, Keshet I, Spicer J, Imrie K, Feldman L, Cools-lartigue J, Kayssi A, Lipsman N, Elmi M, Kulkarni AV, Parshuram C, Mainprize T, Warren RJ, Fata P, Gorman S, Feinberg S, Rutka JT: A Sytematic Review of the Affects of Resident Duty Hour Restrictions in Surgery: Impact on Resident Wellness, Training and Patient Outcomes.  Annals of Surgery 2014: 00: pp 1-13.  SRI

Samuel N, Remke M, Rutka JT, Raught B, Malkin D: Proteomic analysis of CSF aimed at biomarker development for pediatric brain tumors.  Journal Neurooncology 2014: pp 1432-.  C

 

Honours and Awards

Name: Farber Award from the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors for longstanding contributions to neuro-oncology research (2005)
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Name: Lister Award in the Department of Neurosurgery for sustained contributions to surgical research at the University of Toronto (2001)
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Name: Grass Award, Society of Neurological Surgeons (2004)
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Name: Awarded the International Order of Smile (2006)
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Name: Ab Guha Award, Society of Neuro-Oncology (2012)
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Name: Charles B Wilson Award from the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors (2013)
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Name: Member of the Order of Ontario (2014)
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