Obituary: Brian Van Tine, professor of medicine, 53
Pioneer in sarcoma research was known for exceptional patient care
Van Tine
Brian A. Van Tine, MD, PhD, a nationally recognized leader in sarcoma research at WashU Medicine, died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital following an acute illness. He was 53.
Van Tine was a professor of medicine and of pediatrics in the Department of Medicine’s Division of Oncology. He directed the Sarcoma Program at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, where he built one of the country’s largest research and clinical programs in sarcoma, rare cancers of soft tissues that affect both adults and children. He treated adults and adolescents at Siteman and pediatric patients at Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
A highly accomplished and respected physician-scientist, Van Tine was a pioneer in research on tumor metabolism. He identified ways to exploit the unique metabolism of cancer cells to develop new therapies that kill sarcoma cells by cutting off their fuel supply while sparing healthy cells. He excelled at translating scientific discoveries made in his lab into clinical trials. He founded and chaired Siteman’s Sarcoma Tumor Board, a weekly meeting of cross-disciplinary experts who review individual patient cases and clinical trials.
In 2021, Van Tine was appointed director of developmental therapeutics for phase 1 clinical trials at Siteman. Under his leadership, the program expanded substantially and conducted many first-in-human clinical trials. He also served as the WashU Medicine principal investigator for more than 100 clinical trials, including multiple investigator-initiated clinical trials based on his lab’s research.
“Brian was not only a brilliant scientist but also a compassionate clinician and an extraordinary mentor,” said Victoria J. Fraser, MD, the Adolphus Busch Professor and head of the WashU Medicine Department of Medicine. “He dedicated his career to improving outcomes for patients with sarcoma. He shaped not only the field but also the lives of many patients and the careers of those fortunate to work alongside him. Patients and staff alike adored him for his warmth, candor and kindness.”
A native of Phoenix, Van Tine attended the University of Arizona, Tucson, where he earned dual bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biochemistry in 1995. He continued his scientific training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he earned a doctoral degree in pathology in 2003 and his medical degree in 2005. Later that year, he came to St. Louis and began specialized training in internal medicine and oncology, completing his internship, residency and fellowship — including serving as chief fellow in hematology and oncology — at WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. In 2011, he joined the faculty of the Division of Oncology and was named director of the WashU Medicine Sarcoma Program.
“Brian’s work changed how we understand and treat sarcomas, and his influence will endure for decades to come,” said Daniel C. Link, MD, the Alan and Edith Wolff Endowed Professor, director of the Division of Oncology, and deputy director of Siteman. “He will be remembered for his boundless enthusiasm for scientific discovery, his rigorous intellect and his compassionate care of patients.”
Van Tine also was known as an inspirational mentor and educator. Many of the medical students, residents, fellows and junior faculty members he trained have gone on to successful careers in oncology and cancer research.
Van Tine was a central figure in national and international oncology organizations, where he served on advisory panels and committees for the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and NRG Oncology. He helped organize many prestigious sarcoma conferences and was often an invited speaker at such events both in the U.S. and abroad. He also served on the editorial boards of influential cancer journals, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research and the Annals of Oncology.
Van Tine is survived by his husband, Josh Hall; his mother, Carole Van Tine; his brother, Matthew Van Tine; and his mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Town and Country Symphony Orchestra.
Read more in the family obituary.
