Research Summary

Within my department, I am the vice chair of strategic advisory and hold the Jacobs Distinguished Professorship in Head and Neck Cancer Radiation Oncology. I am a full-time practicing clinician and my research draws from what I learn from my patients. My primary interests include head and neck, thoracic, and cutaneous malignancies, where I have developed and led multiple clinical trials, both within UCSF and across sites nationwide and overseas. I am interested in the development and evaluation of new therapeutic techniques, which to me include novel molecular targeted agents and immunotherapies as well as state-of-the-art technical advances in radiation therapy. I have special interests in virally driven malignancies associated with humanpapillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). My research has entailed collaborating with laboratory-based investigators to identify patient, tumor, and technical characteristics that influence prognosis and response to specific therapies, including tissue-, blood-, and imaging-based biomarkers. I have also conducted clinical trials focused on symptom management, radioprotectants, and supporting patients' quality of life and decision making.

University responsibilities include co-leading the site committee for clinical trial development in head and neck cancers at the UCSF HDFCCC and serving as the principal investigator for NRG Oncology cooperative group activities at UCSF. I previously served on the Cancer Committee which maintains our accreditation through the American College of Surgeons. Nationally, I am the Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, Chair of the NRG Oncology Head and Neck Cancer Committee, and a Board Member and the Guidelines and Protocols Committee Co-Chair for the Head and Neck Cancer International Group. I am a member of the NCCN Head and Neck Cancers guidelines committee as well as the Head and Neck Cancer Resource Panel, Education and Science Education Committees, and Education Committee of the Health Equity Diversity Inclusion Education Council of the American Society of Radiation Oncology. I was previously co-chair of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) steering committee for head and neck cancers, president of the American Radium Society (ARS), chair of the scientific program and nominating committees of ARS, chair of the Appropriateness Committee guidelines for radiation oncology at the American College of Radiology, and member of the NCI's Head and Neck Recurrent/Metastatic Disease Task Force. I have been on the scientific program committees of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and the American Head and Neck Society, among others. I am a national boards examiner for the American Board of Radiology. I have contributed to about 250 publications in the medical literature.

Research Funding

  • June 13, 2022 - May 31, 2027 - Oral microbiome and inflammatory status in antimicrobially-treated oral cancer patients , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA269950

Education

2002, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, M.D., Ph.D., Medicine/English
2003, U. T. – M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Internship, Medicine/Surgery
2007, U. T. – M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Residency, Radiation Oncology

Honors & Awards

  • 1992
    Mellon Fellow in the Humanities, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
  • 1995
    Benjamin Franklin Medical Scholar Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania
  • 2004
    Thomas Barkley Award, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
  • 2004
    Clinical Biostatistics and Trial Design Workshop, Cancer Education Consortium
  • 2005
    Fellowship, Korean American Society for Therapeutic Radiology & Oncology
  • 2006
    Jesse H. Jones Fellowship in Cancer Education, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
  • 2006
    Outstanding Resident Presentation Award, Texas Radiological Society
  • 2006
    A. Lavoy Moore Endowment Fund, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
  • 2006
    Eleanor Montague Distinguished Resident Award, American Association of Women Radiologists
  • 2007
    Vail Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
  • 2008
    Joan F. Giambalvo Memorial Scholarship, AMA Women Physicians Congress
  • 2009
    Best Doctors in America, 2009-2014
  • 2011
    Educator of the Year Award, Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology
  • 2019
    Duke TIP Distinguished Alumni Award, Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP)
  • 2019
    Exceptional Mentor Award, American Medical Women's Association (AMWA)
  • 2019
    Steven A. Leibel Memorial Award, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and American Board of Radiology (ABR) Foundation
  • 2020
    Fellow of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (FASTRO), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)
  • 2021
    Lawrence Margolis Lifetime Teaching Award
  • 2021
    Fellow of the American Association for Women in Radiology (FAAWR)
  • 2022
    Fellow of the American College of Radiology (FACR)
  • 2024
    Lawrence Margolis Lifetime Teaching Award
  • 2024
    AAWR Arleo Advocacy Award (A4)

Selected Publications

  1. Li R, Ku JA, Adkins D, Yom SS, Starmer H, Ismaila N, Holsinger FC. Erratum: Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Multidisciplinary Care of Patients With Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: ASCO Guideline Clinical Insights. JCO Oncol Pract. 2025 May 30; OP2500446.  View on PubMed
  2. Beddok A, Willmann J, Embring A, Appelt AL, Balermpas P, Chua K, Choi JI, Elger BS, Gabrys D, Hoskin P, Niyazi M, Pasquier D, Paradis K, Kaidar-Person O, Plaisier C, Schmitt NC, Steuer CE, Thariat J, Yom SS, Poortmans P, Vasquez Osorio E, Andratschke N. Reirradiation: Standards, challenges, and patient-focused strategies across tumor types. CA Cancer J Clin. 2025 May 29.  View on PubMed
  3. Lin SJ, Guo QJ, Liu Q, Ng WT, Ahn YC, AlHussain H, Chan AW, Chow J, Chua M, Corry J, Han F, Grégoire V, Harrington KJ, Hu CS, Jensen K, Langendijk JA, Le QT, Lee NY, Lee V, Lin JC, Ma J, Mendenhall WM, O'Sullivan B, Ozyar E, Rosenthal DI, Tao YG, Wang RS, Wee J, Xu ZY, Yi JL, Yom SS, Fan DM, Mai HQ, Pan JJ, Lee AWM. International Consensus Guideline on Delineation of the Clinical Target Volumes (CTV) at Different Dose Levels for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (2024 Version). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2025 May 24.  View on PubMed
  4. Barcellos-Hoff MH, Yom SS. Revisiting the TGFβ paradox: insights from HPV-driven cancer and the DNA damage response. Nat Rev Cancer. 2025 May 19.  View on PubMed
  5. Le Tourneau C, Takácsi-Nagy Z, Nuyts S, Thureau S, Liu F, Hoffmann C, Hackman TG, Lesnik M, Debard A, Finzi L, Devisetty K, Vivar OI, Farber LA, Nguyen F, Liem X, Natelauri E, Psyrri A, Burian M, Yu J, Yom SS. Nanoray-312: phase III study of NBTXR3 + radiotherapy ± cetuximab in elderly, platinum-ineligible locally advanced HNSCC. Future Oncol. 2025 May; 21(12):1489-1499.  View on PubMed
  6. Bhethanabotla RM, Gulati A, Khalsa IK, Evans C, Perrin CE, Lappin JJ, Kidane J, Crosby TW, Chan JW, Yom SS, Young VN, Rosen CA, Schneider SL, Ha PK, Boscardin WJ, Laus J, Ryan WR, Ma Y. Swallowing Function Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors Followed by a Long-Term Dysphagia Surveillance Protocol. Head Neck. 2025 May 05.  View on PubMed
  7. Guan L, Torres-Saavedra PA, Zhao X, Major MB, Holmes BJ, Nguyen NK, Kumaravelu P, Hodge T, Diehn M, Zevallos J, Holsinger FC, Emami B, Jordan RC, Hayward MC, Sagar SM, Morrison W, Schultz C, Caudell JJ, Jones CU, Bratman SV, Galloway TJ, Ma DJ, Yom SS, Kudrimoti M, Kim HE, Harris J, Le QT, Hayes DN. Association between Locoregional Failure and NFE2L2/KEAP1/CUL3 Mutations in NRG/RTOG 9512: A Randomized Trial of Radiation Fractionation in T2N0 Glottic Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2025 May 01; 31(9):1615-1624.  View on PubMed
  8. Mehanna H, Abou-Foul AK, Henson C, Kristunas C, Nankivell PC, McDowell L, Leemans CR, van den Brekel MWM, von Buchwald C, Jakobsen KK, Grønhøj C, Rasmussen JH, Lydiatt WM, Gupta V, Branstetter BF, Klussmann JP, Wollenberg B, Schmidl B, Broglie MA, Hendrickx JJ, Awad DR, Prestwich R, Gaultier AL, Oliva M, Nair S, Noor A, Krishnan S, Iyizoba-Ebozue Z, Sethi M, Nauta IH, Zhao D, Yom SS. Accuracy and Prognosis of Extranodal Extension on Radiologic Imaging in Human Papillomavirus-Mediated Oropharyngeal Cancer: a Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG) real-world study. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2025 Apr 24.  View on PubMed
  9. Li R, Ku JA, Adkins D, Yom SS, Starmer H, Ismaila N, Holsinger FC. Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Multidisciplinary Care of Patients With Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: ASCO Guideline Clinical Insights. JCO Oncol Pract. 2025 Apr 18; OP2500249.  View on PubMed
  10. Evans M, Bonomo P, Chan PC, Chua MLK, Eriksen JG, Hunter K, Jones TM, Laskar SG, Maroldi R, O'Sullivan B, Paterson C, Tagliaferri L, Tribius S, Yom SS, Gregoire V. Post-operative radiotherapy for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Review of the data guiding the selection and the delineation of post-operative target volumes. Radiother Oncol. 2025 Jun; 207:110880.  View on PubMed
  11. Batchu SA, Ma Y, Yom S, Heaton C, Algazi A. CRE25-035: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitor-Induced Radiation Recall Tracheitis in a CASTLE Carcinoma of the Thyroid Patient. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2025 Mar 28; 23(3.5).  View on PubMed
  12. Phuong C, Ni L, Sharma M, Cunha JAM, Yom SS, Hsu IC, Chan JW. Outcomes and dosimetric analysis of reirradiation of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers with high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Brachytherapy. 2025 May-Jun; 24(3):413-419.  View on PubMed
  13. Mayo CS, Appelt AL, Paradis KC, Dawson LA, Andratschke N, Vasquez Osorio EM, Bentzen SM, Yorke ED, Jackson A, Marks LB, Yom SS. Joining Forces to Advance Reirradiation: Establishing the Reirradiation COllaborative Group (ReCOG). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2025 Jun 01; 122(2):234-240.  View on PubMed
  14. Holsinger FC, Ismaila N, Adkins DR, Barber BR, Burnette G, Fakhry C, Galloway TJ, Goepfert RP, Miles BA, Paleri V, Patel AA, Roof SA, Starmer HM, Yom SS, Saba NF, Li R, Ku JA. Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Multidisciplinary Care of Patients With Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2025 Apr 10; 43(11):1369-1392.  View on PubMed
  15. Colevas AD, Cmelak AJ, Pfister DG, Spencer S, Adkins D, Birkeland AC, Brizel DM, Busse PM, Caudell JJ, Durm G, Fakhry C, Galloway T, Geiger JL, Gillison ML, Glastonbury C, Haddad RI, Hicks WL, Hitchcock YJ, Jimeno A, Juloori A, Kase M, Leizman D, Maghami E, Mell LK, Mittal BB, Pinto HA, Price K, Rocco JW, Rodriguez CP, Schwartz D, Shah JP, Sher D, John MS, Wang H, Weinstein G, Worden F, Bruce JY, Yom SS, Zhen W, Montgomery S, Darlow SD. NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Head and Neck Cancers, Version 2.2025. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2025 02; 23(2):2-11.  View on PubMed
  16. Machtay M, Torres-Saavedra PA, Thorstad W, Nguyen-Tân PF, Siu LL, Holsinger FC, El-Naggar A, Chung C, Cmelak A, Burtness B, Bednarz G, Quon H, Breen SL, Gwede CK, Dicker AP, Yao M, Jordan RC, Dorth J, Lee N, Chan JW, Dunlap N, Bar-Ad V, Stokes WA, Chakravarti A, Sher D, Rao S, Harris J, Yom SS, Le QT, NRG Oncology RTOG 0920 Collaborating Team, TransSCOT Consortium. Postoperative Radiotherapy ± Cetuximab for Intermediate-Risk Head and Neck Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2025 Apr 20; 43(12):1474-1487.  View on PubMed
  17. Xu MJ, Haddadi S, Mushi BP, Zhang L, Sama G, Nyagabona SK, Ng D, Muya S, Malango AE, Richard E, Ha P, Yom SS, Massawe W, Mmbaga EJ, Van Loon K, Nkya A. Treatment initiation and completion among head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients in Tanzania. BMC Res Notes. 2024 Dec 23; 17(1):380.  View on PubMed
  18. Vasudevan HN, Lazar AA, Reyes K, Rong DA, Arevalo S, Federman S, Chan JW, Chiu CY, Miller S, Yom SS. Comparison of Plasma Metagenomic Next-generation Sequencing and PCR Methods for Epstein-Barr Virus Viral Load Monitoring in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Anticancer Res. 2024 Dec; 44(12):5445-5453.  View on PubMed
  19. Weng J, Ryckman J, Katz MS, Saeed H, Estes C, Naqa IE, Moreno A, Yom SS, Dose Planning and Radiation Optimization (Dose-PRO) Consensus Group. Dose Planning and Radiation Optimization for Thoracic Conventional, Twice Daily, and Stereotactic Radiation Therapy: A Delphi Consensus From a National Survey of Practitioners. Pract Radiat Oncol. 2025 May-Jun; 15(3):e267-e275.  View on PubMed
  20. Mell LK, Torres-Saavedra PA, Wong SJ, Kish JA, Chang SS, Jordan RC, Liu T, Truong MT, Winquist EW, Takiar V, Wise-Draper T, Robbins JR, Rodriguez CP, Awan MJ, Beadle BM, Henson C, Narayan S, Spencer SA, Powell S, Dunlap N, Sacco AG, Hu KS, Park HS, Bauman JE, Harris J, Yom SS, Le QT. Radiotherapy with cetuximab or durvalumab for locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer in patients with a contraindication to cisplatin (NRG-HN004): an open-label, multicentre, parallel-group, randomised, phase 2/3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2024 Dec; 25(12):1576-1588.  View on PubMed

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