Research Summary

I have been heavily involved in the field of salivary gland cancer research since my postdoctoral experience during residency in the lab of Drs. David Sidransky and Joseph Califano. I joined the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology as a faculty member in 2006 and chose to focus my research efforts on salivary gland tumors, with several NIH and foundation grants awarded since 2007. My focus was on the epigenetic mechanisms of adenoid cystic carcinoma, and the pathways that might lead to its development. Since moving to UCSF in 2015, our lab has pivoted to studying the function of the Myb-NFIB fusion oncogene present in adenoid cystic carcinoma in an effort to better understand the molecular underpinnings of this elusive cancer. We continue to work with many collaborators at UCSF and throughout the world. As a practicing head and neck surgeon, I bring additional clinical expertise which can offer access to tissue banking and patients, as well as an understanding of the relevant translational questions.

Research Funding

  • September 1, 2012 - August 31, 2017 - Integrated pathway analysis of altered driver genes in adenoid cystic carcinoma , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R01DE023227
  • July 13, 2012 - June 30, 2014 - array-based screening for the expression and regulation of tumor supressor genes , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: R03DE022591
  • July 1, 2007 - December 30, 2012 - The role of promoter hypermethylation in adenoid cystic carcinoma , Principal Investigator . Sponsor: NIH, Sponsor Award ID: K08DE018463

Education

Harvard College, BA, 1991-95, Biology
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, MD, 1995-99, Medicine
Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology, Residency, 1999-2006, Otolaryngology
Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology, Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2000-2002, Molecular Genetics
Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology, Advanced training, 2006, Head and Neck Surgery

Honors & Awards

  • 1999
    Elected Alpha Omega Alpha, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
  • 2005
    Recipient of the Henkel Chief Resident Teacher of the Year Award
  • 2006
    Tilghman Travel Fellowship recipient for training in endoscopic laser surgery
  • 2007/11
    Recipient of the Otolaryngology Faculty Teaching Award
  • 2020
    Excellence in Teaching for Clinical Faculty Award
  • 2020
    The Ernest H. Rosenbaum, MD Commitment to Patient Care Award
  • 2022
    Exceptional Physician Award, UCSF
  • 2022
    Francis A. Sooy, MD Award for Clinical Excellence

Selected Publications

  1. Villa A, Lodolo M, Ha P. Oncological Outcomes of Patients With Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Jan 01; 151(1):65-71.  View on PubMed
  2. 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
  3. Truong AA, Lee RH, Wu X, Algazi AP, Kang H, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Ryan WR, Jeon Y, Kim MO, Ha PK, Wai KC. Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Pembrolizumab Outcomes in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Feb; 172(2):548-555.  View on PubMed
  4. Gu D, Ha P, Kaye JT, Fiore MC, Tsoh JY. Cigarette smoking status and COVID-19 hospitalization in the context of cannabis use: An electronic health record cohort study in northern California. Addict Behav Rep. 2024 Dec; 20:100565.  View on PubMed
  5. Gaudy-Marqueste C, Grob JJ, Garbe C, Ascierto PA, Arron S, Basset-Seguin N, Bohne AS, Lenoir C, Dummer R, Fargnoli MC, Guminski A, Hauschild A, Kaufmann R, Lallas A, Del Marmol V, Migden M, Penicaud M, Rembielak A, Stratigos A, Tagliaferri L, Zalaudek I, Arance A, Badinand D, Bossi P, Challapalli A, Clementi M, Di Stefani A, Ferrándiz-Pulido C, Giuffrida R, Gravina GL, Ha P, Heinzerling L, Mallet S, Paradisi A, Mohr P, Piccerillo A, Rutkowski D, Saiag P, Sollena P, Trakatelli M, Wojcieszek P, Yom SS, Zelin E, Peris K, Malvehy J. Operational classification of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas based on unsupervised clustering of real cases by experts. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2025 Mar; 39(3):612-621.  View on PubMed
  6. Kline B, Yadav S, Seo Y, Ippisch RC, Castillo J, Aggarwal RR, Kelley RK, Behr SC, Flavell RR, Lawhn-Heath C, Melisko M, Rugo HS, Wang V, Yom SS, Ha P, Jiang F, Hope TA. 68Ga-FAP-2286 PET of Solid Tumors: Biodistribution, Dosimetry, and Comparison with 18F-FDG. J Nucl Med. 2024 Jun 03; 65(6):938-943.  View on PubMed
  7. Kansara S, Oral E, Sarkar I, Sandulache V, Mualla R, Walvekar RR, Ryan W, Ha P. Rate of occult metastasis in lip squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Head Neck. 2024 Oct; 46(10):2517-2523.  View on PubMed
  8. Wai KC, Okholm TLH, Ha PK, Marquez DM, Tenvooren I, Jones KB, Spitzer MH. The tumor microenvironment of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors. Head Neck. 2024 07; 46(7):1625-1636.  View on PubMed
  9. Abdulbaki H, Ha PK, Knott PD, Park AM, Seth R, Heaton CM, Wai KC. Postoperative inpatient surgical complications following head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer. Head Neck. 2024 Oct; 46(10):2432-2439.  View on PubMed
  10. Callander JK, Souza SS, Eltawil Y, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Ha P, Ryan WR, Xu MJ, Heaton CM. Prognostic risk factors of buccal squamous cell carcinoma: A case-control study. Head Neck. 2024 Oct; 46(10):2398-2406.  View on PubMed
  11. Jiam ML, Xin KZ, Ha PK, Jiam NT. A supervised machine learning model for identifying predictive factors for recommending head and neck cancer surgery. Head Neck. 2024 05; 46(5):1001-1008.  View on PubMed
  12. Kuan EC, Wang EW, Adappa ND, Beswick DM, London NR, Su SY, Wang MB, Abuzeid WM, Alexiev B, Alt JA, Antognoni P, Alonso-Basanta M, Batra PS, Bhayani M, Bell D, Bernal-Sprekelsen M, Betz CS, Blay JY, Bleier BS, Bonilla-Velez J, Callejas C, Carrau RL, Casiano RR, Castelnuovo P, Chandra RK, Chatzinakis V, Chen SB, Chiu AG, Choby G, Chowdhury NI, Citardi MJ, Cohen MA, Dagan R, Dalfino G, Dallan I, Dassi CS, de Almeida J, Dei Tos AP, DelGaudio JM, Ebert CS, El-Sayed IH, Eloy JA, Evans JJ, Fang CH, Farrell NF, Ferrari M, Fischbein N, Folbe A, Fokkens WJ, Fox MG, Lund VJ, Gallia GL, Gardner PA, Geltzeiler M, Georgalas C, Getz AE, Govindaraj S, Gray ST, Grayson JW, Gross BA, Grube JG, Guo R, Ha PK, Halderman AA, Hanna EY, Harvey RJ, Hernandez SC, Holtzman AL, Hopkins C, Huang Z, Huang Z, Humphreys IM, Hwang PH, Iloreta AM, Ishii M, Ivan ME, Jafari A, Kennedy DW, Khan M, Kimple AJ, Kingdom TT, Knisely A, Kuo YJ, Lal D, Lamarre ED, Lan MY, Le H, Lechner M, Lee NY, Lee JK, Lee VH, Levine CG, Lin JC, Lin DT, Lobo BC, Locke T, Luong AU, Magliocca KR, Markovic SN, Matnjani G, McKean EL, Meço C, Mendenhall WM, Michel L, Na'ara S, Nicolai P, Nuss DW, Nyquist GG, Oakley GM, Omura K, Orlandi RR, Otori N, Papagiannopoulos P, Patel ZM, Pfister DG, Phan J, Psaltis AJ, Rabinowitz MR, Ramanathan M, Rimmer R, Rosen MR, Sanusi O, Sargi ZB, Schafhausen P, Schlosser RJ, Sedaghat AR, Senior BA, Shrivastava R, Sindwani R, Smith TL, Smith KA, Snyderman CH, Solares CA, Sreenath SB, Stamm A, Stölzel K, Sumer B, Surda P, Tajudeen BA, Thompson LDR, Thorp BD, Tong CCL, Tsang RK, Turner JH, Turri-Zanoni M, Udager AM, van Zele T, VanKoevering K, Welch KC, Wise SK, Witterick IJ, Won TB, Wong SN, Woodworth BA, Wormald PJ, Yao WC, Yeh CF, Zhou B, Palmer JN. International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2024 Feb; 14(2):149-608.  View on PubMed
  13. Souza SS, Stephens EM, Bourdillon AT, Bhethanabotla R, Farzal Z, Plonowska-Hirschfeld K, Qualliotine JR, Heaton CM, Ha PK, Ryan WR. Circulating tumor HPV DNA assessments after surgery for human papilloma virus-associated oropharynx carcinoma. Am J Otolaryngol. 2024 Mar-Apr; 45(2):104184.  View on PubMed
  14. Lee RH, Truong A, Wu X, Kang H, Algazi AP, El-Sayed IH, George JR, Heaton CM, Ryan WR, Ha PK, Wai KC. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in salivary gland cancers treated with pembrolizumab. Head Neck. 2024 01; 46(1):129-137.  View on PubMed
  15. Plonowska-Hirschfeld KA, Gulati A, Stephens EM, Ochoa E, Xu MJ, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Yom SS, Chan JW, Algazi A, Kang H, Ryan WR. Treatment Modality Impact on Patient-Reported Quality of Life in Human Papilloma Virus-Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinoma. Laryngoscope. 2024 04; 134(4):1687-1695.  View on PubMed
  16. Ndon S, Singh A, Ha PK, Aswani J, Chan JY, Xu MJ. Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer: Global Epidemiology and Public Policy Implications. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Aug 13; 15(16).  View on PubMed
  17. Hu KH, Kuhn NF, Courau T, Tsui J, Samad B, Ha P, Kratz JR, Combes AJ, Krummel MF. Transcriptional space-time mapping identifies concerted immune and stromal cell patterns and gene programs in wound healing and cancer. Cell Stem Cell. 2023 06 01; 30(6):885-903.e10.  View on PubMed
  18. Gulati A, Plonowska-Hirschfeld K, Stephens EM, Kansara S, Zebolsky AL, Ochoa E, Xu MJ, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Yom SS, Chan JW, Algazi AP, Kang H, Ryan WR. A prospective evaluation of neck and shoulder function following treatments of early-stage human papillomavirus-associated oropharynx cancer. Clin Otolaryngol. 2023 Sep; 48(5):756-765.  View on PubMed
  19. Stephens EM, Plonowska-Hirschfeld K, Gulati A, Kansara S, Qualliotine J, Zelbolsky AL, van Zante A, Ha PK, Heaton CM, Ryan WR. Prospective quality of life outcomes for human papillomavirus associated oropharynx cancer patients after surgery alone. Am J Otolaryngol. 2023 Jul-Aug; 44(4):103915.  View on PubMed
  20. Rahim MK, Okholm TLH, Jones KB, McCarthy EE, Liu CC, Yee JL, Tamaki SJ, Marquez DM, Tenvooren I, Wai K, Cheung A, Davidson BR, Johri V, Samad B, O'Gorman WE, Krummel MF, van Zante A, Combes AJ, Angelo M, Fong L, Algazi AP, Ha P, Spitzer MH. Dynamic CD8+ T cell responses to cancer immunotherapy in human regional lymph nodes are disrupted in metastatic lymph nodes. Cell. 2023 03 16; 186(6):1127-1143.e18.  View on PubMed

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