Sanja Dacic, MD, PhD
Professor of PathologyCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Update on pleural epithelioid mesothelioma: New insights for diagnosis and patient management
Sallé F, Beasley M, Brcic L, Cooper W, Dacic S, de Perrot M, Tsao M, Klebe S, Churg A, Mansfield A, Baas P. Update on pleural epithelioid mesothelioma: New insights for diagnosis and patient management. Journal Of Thoracic Oncology 2026, 103720. PMID: 41962769, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2026.103720.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsDiffuse pleural mesotheliomaHistological subtypesWHO classificationEpithelioid mesotheliomaCytologic featuresPatient managementTherapeutic strategiesTwo-tiered grading systemHistological subtype of mesotheliomaSubtypes of mesotheliomaAbundant myxoid stromaManagement of patientsRare tumor groupsReactive mesothelial proliferationsSolid componentsEpithelioid subtypeMyxoid stromaTumor groupGenomic subtypesNeoplastic mimicsSarcomatoid mesotheliomaDiffuse mesotheliomaPleural mesotheliomaMesothelial proliferationsDiagnostic accuracyMolecular Pathology of Lung Cancer
Lingard A, Dacic S. Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer. Surgical Pathology Clinics 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2026.01.003.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus Statements
2025
MET alterations are enriched in lung adenocarcinoma brain metastases, defining a distinct biologic subtype
Burns T, Dacic S, Chakka A, Miller E, Velez M, Somasundaram A, Bhattacharya S, Gaither-Davis A, Devadassan P, Jin J, Kumar V, Pennathur A, Xiu J, Oberley M, Glantz M, Aulakh S, Chandran U, Bao R, Tatsuoka C, Stabile L. MET alterations are enriched in lung adenocarcinoma brain metastases, defining a distinct biologic subtype. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2025, 136: e194708. PMID: 41411048, PMCID: PMC12904726, DOI: 10.1172/jci194708.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-small cell lung cancerBrain metastasesMET amplificationLung adenocarcinomaMET alterationsEvidence of metabolic adaptationRate of brain metastasesPrimary lung adenocarcinomaCirculating tumor DNACell lung cancerEpithelial-mesenchymal transition signalingExpression of Twist1Extracranial metastasesBM patientsInhibitors in vivoOverall survivalBiological subtypesTumor DNATumor microenvironmentLung adenocarcinoma brain metastasisSolid tumorsNon-smallLung cancerClinical challengeMetastasisRandomized Phase II Clinical Trial of Sulforaphane in Former Smokers at High Risk for Lung Cancer.
Yuan J, Kensler T, Dacic S, Hartman D, Wang R, Balogh P, Sufka P, Turner M, Fuhrer K, Seigh L, Pham Y, Adams-Haduch J, Valacchi G, Singh S, Herman J, Wilson D. Randomized Phase II Clinical Trial of Sulforaphane in Former Smokers at High Risk for Lung Cancer. Cancer Prevention Research 2025, 18: 335-345. PMID: 40041932, DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-24-0386.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKi-67 indexRandomized phase II clinical trialKi-67TUNEL indexBronchial biopsiesSulforaphane groupCaspase-3Lung cancerFormer smokersOral supplementationClinical trialsNo severe AEsProliferative marker Ki-67Surrogate endpointsIntake of cruciferous vegetablesAssociated with lower incidenceApoptotic marker caspase-3Severe adverse eventsBioavailability of sulforaphaneRandomized clinical trialsLung cancer developmentLung cancer riskHigher bioavailabilityDaily doseAdverse eventsComparative performance of PD‐L1 scoring by pathologists and AI algorithms
Plass M, Olteanu G, Dacic S, Kern I, Zacharias M, Popper H, Fukuoka J, Ishijima S, Kargl M, Murauer C, Kalson L, Brcic L. Comparative performance of PD‐L1 scoring by pathologists and AI algorithms. Histopathology 2025, 87: 90-100. PMID: 39961605, PMCID: PMC12129605, DOI: 10.1111/his.15432.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTumor proportion scoreNon-small cell lung carcinomaTumor proportion score cutoffPD-L1 expressionPD-L1Interobserver agreementImmune-checkpoint inhibitorsPD-L1 scoringCell lung carcinomaNon-small cell lung carcinoma treatmentModerate interobserver agreementNSCLC casesPredictive biomarkersLung carcinomaTherapeutic responseProportion scoreComparative effectivenessInterobserver concordancePathologist scoresWhole-slide imagesIntraobserver consistencyCohen's kappaPathologistsVisiopharmScores
2024
Sex-based differences in CEACAM5 expression in lung cancer
Woodard G, Kane E, Todorovic N, Prince S, Dacic S, Chen L. Sex-based differences in CEACAM5 expression in lung cancer. Translational Cancer Research 2024, 13: 6394-6402. PMID: 39697744, PMCID: PMC11651760, DOI: 10.21037/tcr-24-983.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCalls to action on lung cancer management and research
Meyer M, Hirsch F, Bunn P, Ujhazy P, Fredrickson D, Berg C, Carbone D, Halmos B, Singh H, Borghaei H, Ferris A, Langer C, Dacic S, Mok T, Peters S, Johnson B. Calls to action on lung cancer management and research. The Oncologist 2024, 29: e1634-e1645. PMID: 39002167, PMCID: PMC11630765, DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae169.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPatient advocatesUnder-resourced countriesCalls to actionCommunity settingsHistory of smokingLung cancer diagnosisLung cancerCancer diagnosisHealth issuesPatient outcomesPublic healthCancer FoundationPreventive measuresEarly-stage lung cancerLung cancer managementRegulatory leadersMedical advancesHealthCancer managementPreventionCancer-related deathsLung cancer treatmentCancer treatmentPlanning initiativesImmunotherapeutic agentsChallenges in Thoracic Pathology
Dacic S, Brcic L. Challenges in Thoracic Pathology. Advances In Anatomic Pathology 2024, 31: 281-282. PMID: 38975708, DOI: 10.1097/pap.0000000000000456.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersNeoadjuvant and Adjuvant Treatments for Early Stage Resectable NSCLC: Consensus Recommendations From the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
Spicer J, Cascone T, Wynes M, Ahn M, Dacic S, Felip E, Forde P, Higgins K, Kris M, Mitsudomi T, Provencio M, Senan S, Solomon B, Tsao M, Tsuboi M, Wakelee H, Wu Y, Chih-Hsin Yang J, Zhou C, Harpole D, Kelly K. Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Treatments for Early Stage Resectable NSCLC: Consensus Recommendations From the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Journal Of Thoracic Oncology 2024, 19: 1373-1414. PMID: 38901648, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2024.06.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInternational Association for the Study of Lung CancerResected NSCLCStudy of Lung CancerLung cancerStage II and III diseaseMultispecialty teamOptimal managementOptimal management of patientsAdjuvant targeted therapyMultidisciplinary careMultidisciplinary international expert panelPhase 3 trialEvaluation of patientsExpert consensus guidanceManagement of patientsAbsence of definitive dataCancer care journeyNeoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapyTumor alterationsUpfront surgeryIII diseaseAdjuvant therapyTreatment landscapeAdjuvant treatmentInternational expert panelThe Proposed Ninth Edition TNM Classification of Lung Cancer
Detterbeck F, Woodard G, Bader A, Dacic S, Grant M, Park H, Tanoue L. The Proposed Ninth Edition TNM Classification of Lung Cancer. Chest 2024, 166: 882-895. PMID: 38885896, DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2024.05.026.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus Statements
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- May 06, 2026Source: Lung Cancer News Today (with Sanja Dacic, MD, PhD)
Cases and Conversations™: Next-Generation Pathology Advances and Considerations for Precision Care in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
- March 24, 2026
AI in Cancer Workshop: Advancing Precision Medicine through Interdisciplinary Innovation
- March 17, 2026
Yale Pathology Will Have Strong Presence at USCAP 2026
- September 08, 2025Source: OncoDaily
Dr. Sanja Dacic Awarded the 2025 Mary J. Matthews Pathology/Translational Research Award
Get In Touch
Contacts
Email
Locations
Yale New Haven Hospital
Academic Office
20 York Street, Rm EP2-631
New Haven, CT 06510