Melissa Rasar Young, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Therapeutic RadiologyCards
About
Research
Publications
2021
LB777 Atypical presentation of Bullous Pemphigoid unmasked by radiation therapy
Choi R, Young M, Cowper S, Leventhal J. LB777 Atypical presentation of Bullous Pemphigoid unmasked by radiation therapy. Journal Of Investigative Dermatology 2021, 141: b16. DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.07.043.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical NotesPO03 A Novel Design in Peripheral Channels of a Brachytherapy Multichannel Applicator Demonstrates Significant Differences in Dose to Surrounding Volume
Tien C, Damast S, Young M, Kaur M, Kim J, Chen Z. PO03 A Novel Design in Peripheral Channels of a Brachytherapy Multichannel Applicator Demonstrates Significant Differences in Dose to Surrounding Volume. Brachytherapy 2021, 20: s56-s57. DOI: 10.1016/j.brachy.2021.06.091.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGSOR10 Presentation Time: 3:15 PM Single Implant Hybrid Interstitial Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Institutional Approach
Damast S, Tien C, Young M, Altwerger G, Ratner E. GSOR10 Presentation Time: 3:15 PM Single Implant Hybrid Interstitial Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Institutional Approach. Brachytherapy 2021, 20: s54. PMCID: PMC8215885, DOI: 10.1016/j.brachy.2021.06.086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCombinations of immunotherapy and radiation therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a narrative review
Hayman TJ, Bhatia AK, Jethwa KR, Young MR, Park HS. Combinations of immunotherapy and radiation therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a narrative review. Translational Cancer Research 2021, 10: 2571-2585. PMID: 35116571, PMCID: PMC8798834, DOI: 10.21037/tcr-20-2096.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeck squamous cell carcinomaSquamous cell carcinomaRadiation therapyCell carcinomaImmune responseNon-surgical treatment modalitiesCell death ligand 1Cell death protein 1Cancer-directed therapyCombination of immunotherapyAnti-tumor responseDeath ligand 1Death protein 1Adaptive immune responsesAdaptive immune systemAdvanced HNSCCAdvanced diseaseMetastatic settingPostoperative settingSystemic therapyImmunomodulatory effectsTreatment modalitiesRecurrent/Clinical trialsClinical data
2020
Revisiting the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 1221 Hypothesis: Treatment for Stage III/IV HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer
Jacobs D, Torabi SJ, Park HS, Rahmati R, Young MR, Mehra S, Judson BL. Revisiting the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 1221 Hypothesis: Treatment for Stage III/IV HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer. Otolaryngology 2020, 164: 1240-1248. PMID: 33198564, DOI: 10.1177/0194599820969613.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNational Cancer DatabaseHPV-negative oropharyngeal cancersChemoradiation therapyOverall survivalCancer DatabaseOropharyngeal cancerHPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaLarge national cancer databaseNeck cancer-specific survivalOropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaCox proportional hazards regressionKaplan-Meier survival analysisCancer-specific survivalImproved overall survivalMultivariable Cox regressionRetrospective cohort studyAdjuvant chemoradiation therapyUse of surgeryEnd Results ProgramProportional hazards regressionSquamous cell carcinomaSEER cohortAdjuvant therapyCohort studySEER databaseCervical Cancer
Laird J, Young M, Damast S. Cervical Cancer. 2020 DOI: 10.1891/9780826155146.0028.ChaptersVulvar Cancer
Laird J, Young M, Damast S. Vulvar Cancer. 2020 DOI: 10.1891/9780826155146.0030.ChaptersAssessment of Lymph Node Evaluation in Patients with Clinically Node Negative Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Jacobs D, Park H, Young M, Olino K, Rahmati R, Mehra S, Burtness B, Judson B. Assessment of Lymph Node Evaluation in Patients with Clinically Node Negative Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2020, 106: 1191-1192. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.11.099.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAn Update on Trends and Disparities in Utilization of Total Laryngectomy: a Population-Based Analysis
Jacobs D, Park H, Young M, Breen C, Rahmati R, Mehra S, Judson B. An Update on Trends and Disparities in Utilization of Total Laryngectomy: a Population-Based Analysis. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2020, 106: 1145-1146. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.11.214.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2019
Does Use of Bowel Prep Improve HDR Cervix Implant Dosimetry?
Kassick M, Gao S, Park H, Kelly J, Young M, Tien C, Damast S. Does Use of Bowel Prep Improve HDR Cervix Implant Dosimetry? International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2019, 105: e324. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.06.1808.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Parallel Phase III Randomized Trials for High Risk Prostate Cancer Evaluating De-Intensification for Lower Genomic Risk and Intensification of Concurrent Therapy for Higher Genomic Risk With Radiation (PREDICT-RT*)
HIC ID2000032279RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2033Recruiting ParticipantsA Phase II Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Therapy With Pembrolizumab After Resection of Recurrent/Second Primary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma With High Risk Features
HIC ID2000031055RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date02/28/2026Recruiting ParticipantsMRI Brain Surveillance Alone Versus MRI Surveillance and Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation (PCI): A Randomized Phase III Trial in Small-Cell Lung Cancer (MAVERICK)
HIC ID2000027403RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date11/15/2025Recruiting ParticipantsPhase IB/II Trial Of Dose-Deescalated 3-Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy For Centrally Located Lung Cancer
HIC ID2000025868RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/31/2030Recruiting ParticipantsPhase II Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Radiotherapy With or Without Cisplatin for p53 Mutated, Surgically Resected Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)
HIC ID1604017600RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2027Recruiting Participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Melissa Young, MD, PhD, is a therapeutic radiologist who specializes in treating head and neck, breast, and gynecologic cancers with radiation therapy.
“The ability to play an integral role in how a patient’s cancer is treated—and possibly cured—is a rewarding experience,” Dr. Young says. “I value being able to support my patients through the challenges of cancer therapy.”
Dr. Young says she appreciates collaborating with colleagues from different disciplines to create the best treatment plan for patients with complicated cancers. “That extra support helps strengthen my patient care relationships during and after treatment,” she says.
Dr. Young is the director of Yale Medicine’s Head & Neck Radiotherapy program.
Clinical Specialties
Therapeutic Radiology
Fact Sheets
Radiation Therapy
Learn More on Yale MedicineBrachytherapy
Learn More on Yale MedicineMerkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC)
Learn More on Yale MedicineThroat Cancer
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Radiation Oncology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Radiology
- Original Certification Date
- 2016
Yale Medicine News
News & Links
News
- October 03, 2024
Yale Cancer Center Physicians and Trainees Present at ASTRO
- January 04, 2024
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven becomes first hospital in the northeast to offer SCINTIX biology-guided radiotherapy by RefleXion
- May 12, 2023
Head & Neck Cancers Specialty Team Smilow Cancer Hospital at Trumbull
- July 15, 2022Source: WTNH
Yale New Haven Health Check: Advances in Radiation Therapy for Cancer