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Roy H. Decker, MD/PhD

Professor of Therapeutic Radiology

Contact Information

Roy H. Decker, MD/PhD

Office Location

Mailing Address

  • Therapeutic Radiology

    PO Box 208040

    New Haven, CT 06520-8040

    United States

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Research Summary

I am a radiation oncologist focusing on the treatment of lung cancer and head and neck cancer, working at the Yale University School of Medicine, and the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven. I am a member of the Cancer Center’s Radiobiology & Radiotherapy Program. For early lung cancer, my research focus is based on the treatment of stage I or II NSCLC with SBRT. For advanced cancer, my research focus has been the addition of targeted agents concurrently with fractionated radiation, in an effort to increase the tumor radiation response, and in combining radiation with immunotherapy in metastatic disease.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Lung; Medical Oncology; Neoplasm Metastasis; Radiotherapy

Selected Publications

  • Prediction of distant metastases after stereotactic body radiation therapy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer: development and external validation of a multi-institutional modelGao S, Jin L, Meadows H, Shafman T, Gross C, Yu J, Aerts H, Miccio J, Stahl J, Mak R, Decker R, Kann B. Prediction of distant metastases after stereotactic body radiation therapy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer: development and external validation of a multi-institutional model Journal Of Thoracic Oncology 2022 PMID: 36396062, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2022.11.007.
  • Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy: New StrategiesCampbell A, Decker R. Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy: New Strategies 2021, 213-235. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74028-3_10.
  • Association Between Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation and Improved Overall Survival in Small Cell Lung CancerYang D, Park H, Jairam V, Decker R, Chiang A, Gross C, Yu J. Association Between Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation and Improved Overall Survival in Small Cell Lung Cancer International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2020, 108: e106. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.07.1223.
  • Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) with or Without Pembrolizumab in Patients with Inoperable Stage I/IIA Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): KEYNOTE-867Jabbour S, Houghton B, Robinson A, Quantin X, Wehler T, Kowalski D, Ahn M, Erman M, Giaccone G, Borghaei H, McLean J, Zhang J, Souza F, Decker R. Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) with or Without Pembrolizumab in Patients with Inoperable Stage I/IIA Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): KEYNOTE-867 International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2020, 108: e135-e136. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.07.1289.
  • Post-Operative Radiation Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Comparison of Radiation Therapy TechniquesJairam V, Pasha S, Pasha S, Soulos P, Soulos P, Gross C, Yu J, Yu J, Park H, Decker R. Post-Operative Radiation Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Comparison of Radiation Therapy Techniques International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2020, 108: e130. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.07.1276.
  • Small Cell Lung CancerMancini B, Decker R. Small Cell Lung Cancer 2020 DOI: 10.1891/9780826155146.0016.
  • MesotheliomaMancini B, Decker R. Mesothelioma 2020 DOI: 10.1891/9780826155146.0017.
  • Thymoma and Thymic CarcinomaMancini B, Decker R. Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma 2020 DOI: 10.1891/9780826155146.0018.
  • Abstract CT288: Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled study of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with or without pembrolizumab in patients with inoperable stage I/IIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): KEYNOTE-867Jabbour S, Houghton B, Robinson A, Quantin X, Wehler T, Kowalski D, Ahn M, Erman M, Giaccone G, Borghaei H, McLean J, Zhang J, Souza F, Decker R. Abstract CT288: Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled study of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with or without pembrolizumab in patients with inoperable stage I/IIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): KEYNOTE-867 Cancer Research 2020, 80: ct288-ct288. DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2020-ct288.
  • Use of prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer receiving immunotherapy.Yang D, Jairam V, Park H, Decker R, Chiang A, Gross C, Yu J. Use of prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer receiving immunotherapy. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2020, 38: e19309-e19309. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2020.38.15_suppl.e19309.
  • 1127P Brachytherapy and non-cancer mortality in patients with oral cavity and oropharynx SCCsYu J, Tsay C, Sasaki C, Son Y, Decker R, Mehra S, Burtness B. 1127P Brachytherapy and non-cancer mortality in patients with oral cavity and oropharynx SCCs Annals Of Oncology 2019, 30: v457. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdz252.019.
  • Upfront Stereotactic Radiosurgery in the Treatment of Brain Metastasis from Small Cell Lung CancerMiccio J, Miccio J, Johnson S, Johnson S, Jairam V, Yu J, Yu J, Hansen J, Aneja S, An Y, Decker R, Omay S, Chiang V, Park H, Park H. Upfront Stereotactic Radiosurgery in the Treatment of Brain Metastasis from Small Cell Lung Cancer International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2019, 105: e81-e82. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.06.2348.
  • An Externally Validated Nomogram to Predict Distant Metastases after Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer PatientsGao S, Kann B, Dosoretz A, Shafman T, Gross C, Yu J, Decker R. An Externally Validated Nomogram to Predict Distant Metastases after Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2019, 105: s145-s146. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.06.146.
  • A Blinded, Prospective Study of Problematic Plan Detection During Physician Chart RoundsTalcott W, Lincoln H, Kelly J, Tressel L, Wilson L, Decker R, Evans S. A Blinded, Prospective Study of Problematic Plan Detection During Physician Chart Rounds International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2019, 105: s23-s24. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.06.425.
  • Final Results of a Phase II Prospective Trial Evaluating the Combination of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) with Concurrent Pembrolizumab in Patients with Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)Campbell A, Cai W, Burkhardt D, Gettinger S, Goldberg S, Amodio M, Kaech S, Krishnaswamy S, Decker R. Final Results of a Phase II Prospective Trial Evaluating the Combination of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) with Concurrent Pembrolizumab in Patients with Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2019, 105: s36-s37. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.06.453.
  • Predictors of Toxicity from Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) for Lung Tumors Ultra-Central or Central to Heart, Esophagus, or Proximal Bronchial TreeChang E, Decker R, Hu X, Yu J, Gross C, Lester-Coll N. Predictors of Toxicity from Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) for Lung Tumors Ultra-Central or Central to Heart, Esophagus, or Proximal Bronchial Tree International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2019, 105: e499-e500. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.06.1413.
  • Prospective phase I multi-institutional trial of PD-1 blockade with pembrolizumab during concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.Jabbour S, Berman A, Decker R, Lin Y, Feigenberg S, Gettinger S, Aggarwal C, Langer C, Simone C, Bradley J, Aisner J, Malhotra J. Prospective phase I multi-institutional trial of PD-1 blockade with pembrolizumab during concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2019, 37: 8511-8511. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.8511.
  • S1206: A dose-finding study followed by a phase II randomized placebo-controlled trial of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with or without veliparib in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Argiris A, Miao J, Cristea M, Chen A, Sands J, Decker R, Gettinger S, Daly M, Faller B, Albain K, Yanagihara R, Garland L, Byers L, Wang D, Koczywas M, Redman M, Kelly K, Gandara D. S1206: A dose-finding study followed by a phase II randomized placebo-controlled trial of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with or without veliparib in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2019, 37: 8523-8523. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.8523.
  • OA35 Rates of Invasive Carcinoma Following Resection in Patients with Carcinoma-in-situ on BiopsyTalcott W, Kann B, Decker R. OA35 Rates of Invasive Carcinoma Following Resection in Patients with Carcinoma-in-situ on Biopsy International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2019, 103: e15-e16. DOI: 10.1016/s0360-3016(19)30436-5.
  • Final Results of a Phase I Prospective Trial Evaluating the Combination of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) with Concurrent Pembrolizumab in Patients with Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) or MelanomaCampbell A, Herbst R, Gettinger S, Goldberg S, Kluger H, Chiang A, Lilenbaum R, Schalper K, Sowell R, Kaech S, Decker R. Final Results of a Phase I Prospective Trial Evaluating the Combination of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) with Concurrent Pembrolizumab in Patients with Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) or Melanoma International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2018, 102: s18-s19. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.06.134.
  • Hazardous Attitudes: Physician Decision Making in Radiation OncologyBlakaj A, Kelly J, Decker R, Ford E, Brown D, Dosoretz A, Evans S. Hazardous Attitudes: Physician Decision Making in Radiation Oncology International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2018, 102: s120. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.06.300.
  • Systemic Therapy with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC): A Multi-institutional AnalysisKann B, Miccio J, Stahl J, Verma V, Dosoretz A, Park H, Shafman T, Gross C, Yu J, Decker R. Systemic Therapy with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC): A Multi-institutional Analysis International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2018, 102: s10-s11. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.06.119.
  • Adjuvant External Beam Radiation Therapy for Surgically Resected, Non-Metastatic Anaplastic Thyroid CancerSaeed N, Kelly J, Deshpande H, Bhatia A, Burtness B, Judson B, Mehra S, Osborn H, Yarbrough W, Peter P, Holt E, Decker R, Husain Z, Park H. Adjuvant External Beam Radiation Therapy for Surgically Resected, Non-Metastatic Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2018, 102: e290-e291. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.07.923.
  • Successful Identification of Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Nodal Metastasis (NM) and Extranodal Extension (ENE) Using Deep Learning Neural NetworksKann B, Aneja S, Loganadane G, Kelly J, Smith S, Decker R, Yarbrough W, Malhotra A, Burtness B, Husain Z. Successful Identification of Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Nodal Metastasis (NM) and Extranodal Extension (ENE) Using Deep Learning Neural Networks International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2018, 102: s60. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.06.169.
  • (OA05) Stereotactic Body Radiation and Adjuvant Chemotherapy Versus Surgery and Adjuvant Chemotherapy For T1-2N0 Small Cell Lung CancerJohnson S, Stahl J, Miccio J, Kann B, Kelly J, Decker R. (OA05) Stereotactic Body Radiation and Adjuvant Chemotherapy Versus Surgery and Adjuvant Chemotherapy For T1-2N0 Small Cell Lung Cancer International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2018, 101: e3. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.02.044.
  • P-320 Pilot trial of YIV-906 with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancerJohung K, Kann B, Lacy J, Stein S, Kortmansky J, Zaheer W, Cheng Y, Lam W, Liu S, Decker R, Hochster H, Higgins S. P-320 Pilot trial of YIV-906 with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer Annals Of Oncology 2018, 29: v90. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdy151.319.
  • Final results of a phase I prospective trial evaluating the combination of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with concurrent pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or melanoma.Campbell A, Herbst R, Gettinger S, Goldberg S, Kluger H, Chiang A, Lilenbaum R, Schalper K, Sowell R, Kaech S, Decker R. Final results of a phase I prospective trial evaluating the combination of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with concurrent pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or melanoma. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2018, 36: 9099-9099. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2018.36.15_suppl.9099.
  • Chapter 5 Curative Intent Treatment of Stage III Non–Small Cell Lung CancerNath S, Bledsoe T, Decker R. Chapter 5 Curative Intent Treatment of Stage III Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer 2018, 83-98. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-48565-4.00005-9.

Clinical Trials

ConditionsStudy Title
LungA Randomized Phase III Trial of Induction/Consolidation Atezolizumab (NSC #783608) + SBRT Versus SBRT Alone in High Risk, Early Stage NSCLC
LungMRI Brain Surveillance Alone Versus MRI Surveillance and Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation (PCI): A Randomized Phase III Trial in Small-Cell Lung Cancer (MAVERICK)
LungPhase IB/II Trial Of Dose-Deescalated 3-Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy For Centrally Located Lung Cancer
Urinary BladderPhase III Randomized Trial of Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy With or Without Atezolizumab in Localized Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (Study SWOG/NRG 1806)
ProstatePhase III Randomized Trial of Standard Systemic Therapy (SST) Versus Standard Systemic Therapy Plus Definitive Treatment (Surgery or Radiation) of the Primary Tumor in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
PancreasPhase II Study to Evaluate Modified Folfirinox and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Non-metastatic Unresectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Breast - Female; BreastTAILOR RT: A Randomized Trial of Regional Radiotherapy in Biomarker Low Risk Node Positive Breast Cancer
Larynx; Lip, Oral Cavity and PharynxSingle-Arm Phase II Trial of Dual Inhibition of EGFR With Afatinib and Cetuximab With Correlative Studies in the Second-Line Treatment of Recurrent or Metastatic Squamous Cell Cancers of the Head and Neck
Larynx; Lip, Oral Cavity and PharynxPhase II Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Radiotherapy With or Without Cisplatin for p53 Mutated, Surgically Resected Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)
Larynx; Lip, Oral Cavity and PharynxRadiation Therapy With Cisplatin, Docetaxel, or Cetuximab After Surgery in Treating Patients With Stage III-IV Squamous Cell Head and Neck Cancer
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