Jung Yun Julie Kang, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Therapeutic RadiologyAbout
Titles
Assistant Professor of Therapeutic Radiology
Biography
Dr. Julie Kang is a board-certified radiation oncologist and Assistant Professor of Therapeutic Radiology. She joins Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center at Trumbull from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Kang specializes in the treatment of head and neck, prostate, bladder, and skin cancers, among others. She has authored numerous articles focused on optimizing outcomes and decreasing toxicity for people with these diseases, and has extensive experience conducting clinical trials utilizing immunotherapy and personalized medicine in these malignancies. She has expertise in state-of-the-art techniques including intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy, and adaptive radiation therapy.
“Long before I became a cancer physician, I was the daughter of a cancer patient,” she says. “I learned that the greatest comforts come in the forms of compassion, knowledge, and working together towards a common goal. I became inspired to be a radiation oncologist who empowers patients by providing education, working with them and their care teams to make personalized treatment plans, and participating in research that helps us not only deliver the highest standards of care--but also raise them.”
Appointments
Therapeutic Radiology
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Residency
- UCLA, University of CA Los Angeles (2015)
- MD
- University of Southern California (2010)
- PhD
- University of Southern California (2008)
- BS
- Yale University (2002)
Research
Overview
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
ORCID
0000-0001-9773-5481
Research at a Glance
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Prostatic Neoplasms
Publications
Featured Publications
Consensuses, controversies, and future directions in treatment deintensification for human papillomavirus‐associated oropharyngeal cancer
Kang J, Yu Y, Chen L, Zakeri K, Gelblum D, McBride S, Riaz N, Tsai C, Kriplani A, Hung T, Fetten J, Dunn L, Ho A, Boyle J, Ganly I, Singh B, Sherman E, Pfister D, Wong R, Lee N. Consensuses, controversies, and future directions in treatment deintensification for human papillomavirus‐associated oropharyngeal cancer. CA A Cancer Journal For Clinicians 2022, 73: 164-197. PMID: 36305841, PMCID: PMC9992119, DOI: 10.3322/caac.21758.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTransoral robotic surgeryOropharyngeal cancerDeintensification strategiesHuman papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancerSubstantial long-term morbidityHPV-positive oropharyngeal cancerNational database studyHuman papillomavirus infectionLong-term morbidityThird of patientsDe-escalation trialsLevel I evidenceStandard of careCurrent treatment standardsOptimal patient outcomesDeintensification trialsTreatment deintensificationAdjuvant therapyHPV statusPapillomavirus infectionFavorable prognosisI evidenceMedical oncologyTreatment indicationsCommon cancerOropharyngeal Carcinoma
Husain Z, Kang J, Lee N, Poon I. Oropharyngeal Carcinoma. Practical Guides In Radiation Oncology 2022, 15-25. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-99590-4_2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term treatment toxicityOropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaCurative treatment optionSquamous cell carcinomaPatterns of failureElective coverageOropharyngeal carcinomaTreatment toxicityNeck malignanciesAccurate target delineationCell carcinomaDisease stageTreatment optionsCurative potentialPhysical examCommon headClinical scenariosRadiation oncologistsSurgical anatomyTarget volumeTarget delineationVolume coverageCarcinomaMultimodal imagingPrimary targetLarynx Cancer
Fan D, Kang J, Yu Y, Cahlon O, Riaz N, Lee N. Larynx Cancer. Practical Guides In Radiation Oncology 2022, 45-60. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-99590-4_4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPostoperative radiotherapyLarynx cancerEarly stage squamous cell carcinomaOrgan preservation therapyEarly-stage diseaseLymph node metastasisAdvanced larynx cancerSquamous cell carcinomaStandard of careHigh-risk casesPre-treatment evaluationCommon clinical scenariosThin-cut CTPET/CTDefinitive chemoradiotherapyAdvanced diseaseLocoregional recurrencePreservation therapyGlottic larynxNode metastasisSubglottic extensionCell carcinomaLaryngeal cancerPhysical examOrgan preservationOropharyngeal Cancer Early Outcomes and Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Kang J, Wu Y, Rybkin A, Yu Y, Chen L, Zakeri K, McBride S, Riaz N, Tsai C, Gelblum D, Wong R, Sherman E, Pfister D, Lee N. Oropharyngeal Cancer Early Outcomes and Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2021, 111: e412. PMCID: PMC8536212, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.07.1185.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsDefinitive radiation therapyCOVID cohortRadiation therapyMore patientsAdvanced diseaseMonth outcomesPC cohortNew patientsCurative-intent radiation therapyGrade 3 dysphagiaOropharyngeal cancer outcomesCancer-specific survivalSupportive care needsKaplan-Meier methodLong-term outcomesDiagnosis/treatmentCOVID-19 pandemicMATERIAL/METHODSPerson consultsRT startClinicopathologic factorsOPC patientsHistorical cohortMedian timeEarly outcomesDose and Volume De-Escalation for Elective Nodal Regions in Patients With Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer (OPC) Undergoing Curative-Intent Concurrent Chemoradiation (CCRT)
Tsai C, McBride S, Riaz N, Kang J, Spielsinger D, Waldenberg T, Yu Y, Chen L, Zakeri K, Wong R, Dunn L, Sherman E, Lee N. Dose and Volume De-Escalation for Elective Nodal Regions in Patients With Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer (OPC) Undergoing Curative-Intent Concurrent Chemoradiation (CCRT). International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2021, 111: s142-s143. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.07.321.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsConcurrent chemoradiationDe-escalation strategiesOropharyngeal cancerGross diseaseNodal recurrenceDisease recurrenceOPC patientsLevel IbHPV-positive OPC patientsLocoregional recurrence-free survivalElective nodal regionsFavorable locoregional controlFeeding tube dependenceHigh-dose cisplatinPositive oropharyngeal cancerPrimary concurrent chemoradiationRecurrence-free survivalNode-positive neckFeeding tube placementLong-term resultsNode-negative neckDe-escalation approachMATERIAL/METHODSHigh control ratesRadiation treatment plans
2023
Concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel definitive radiation therapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer
Han J, Zakeri K, Raab G, Hesse J, Shamseddine A, Chen L, Yu Y, Kang J, McBride S, Riaz N, Tsai C, Gelblum D, Sherman E, Wong R, Michel L, Lee N. Concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel definitive radiation therapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer. Head & Neck 2023, 45: 2207-2216. PMID: 37439286, PMCID: PMC10981461, DOI: 10.1002/hed.27456.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLocoregional recurrenceDistant metastasisOverall survivalHNSCC patientsConcurrent carboplatinDefinitive chemoradiationConsecutive HNSCC patientsDefinitive radiation therapyMedian radiation doseKaplan-Meier methodCumulative incidence functionFree survivalAdvanced headMedian ageMedian dosesNeck cancerAUC 1Radiation therapyCarboplatinPatientsChemoradiationPaclitaxelRadiation doseExcellent optionIncidence functionPost-operative PET/CT improves the detection of early recurrence of squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity
Yu Y, Schöder H, Zakeri K, Chen L, Kang J, McBride S, Tsai C, Gelblum D, Boyle J, Cracchiolo J, Cohen M, Singh B, Ganly I, Patel S, Michel L, Dunn L, Sherman E, Pfister D, Wong R, Riaz N, Lee N. Post-operative PET/CT improves the detection of early recurrence of squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity. Oral Oncology 2023, 141: 106400. PMID: 37099979, PMCID: PMC10631462, DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106400.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsOral squamous cell carcinomaIntermediate-risk featuresPET/CTHigh-risk featuresPost-operative radiationSquamous cell carcinomaEarly recurrenceRisk featuresSurgical marginsCell carcinomaPET/CT planningAddition of chemotherapyClose surgical marginsDisease-free survivalPositive surgical marginsRecords of patientsPositron emission tomographyTreatment intensificationBaseline characteristicsNode positivityLymphovascular invasionOverall survivalPT3-4Perineural invasionTumor thickness
2022
Prognosis of P16 and HPV Discordant Oropharyngeal Cancers: Natural Language Processing to Extract Data from Free-Text Pathology Reports
Shin E, Cartano O, Lee N, Kang J. Prognosis of P16 and HPV Discordant Oropharyngeal Cancers: Natural Language Processing to Extract Data from Free-Text Pathology Reports. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2022, 114: e322. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.07.1391.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCancer-specific survivalHuman papillomavirus resultsOropharyngeal cancerHuman papillomavirusIn situ hybridizationP16 immunohistochemistryClinical trial eligibilityOverall survivalDiscordant tumorsPathology reportsTrial eligibilityFollow-upHuman papillomavirus in situ hybridizationEstimate cancer-specific survivalHuman papillomavirus testingTreatment de-escalationMedian follow-upDetect human papillomavirusKaplan-Meier methodSeries of patientsMinority of patientsExcellent prognosisClinical outcomesClinical managementDivergent prognosesPeer Review of Head and Neck Cancer Planning Target Volumes in Radiation Oncology
Hesse J, Zakeri K, Chen L, Yu Y, Kang J, Riaz N, Tsai C, McBride S, Gelblum D, Lee N. Peer Review of Head and Neck Cancer Planning Target Volumes in Radiation Oncology. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2022, 114: e472-e473. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.07.1729.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStart of RTTarget volumeFurther workupNeck cancerTreatment planPositive findingsNeck radiation oncologistMinority of patientsOverall treatment planTreatment planningPlanning target volumeProspective peer reviewTumor board discussionMATERIAL/METHODSNeck cancer casesRadiation treatment plansFurther surgeryUnderwent biopsyAdditional surgeryAdditional workupOncology servicesSignificant changesCancer casesPatientsRadiation oncologistsTreatment Outcomes for Radiation Therapy with Concurrent Carboplatin and Paclitaxel for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
Han J, Zakeri K, Raab G, Chen L, Yu Y, Kang J, McBride S, Riaz N, Tsai C, Gelblum D, Sherman E, Wong R, Michel L, Lee N. Treatment Outcomes for Radiation Therapy with Concurrent Carboplatin and Paclitaxel for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2022, 114: e317. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.07.1381.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalCisplatin-ineligible patientsDefinitive radiation therapyUnknown primary cancerLocoregional controlRadiation therapyDistant controlConcurrent carboplatinWeekly carboplatinAdvanced headOverall survivalHNSCC patientsPrimary cancerNeck squamous cell carcinomaConclusions Radiation therapyConsecutive HNSCC patientsCycles of chemotherapySevere ulcerative colitisUpper gastrointestinal bleedMedian radiation doseSynchronous primary malignanciesKaplan-Meier methodSquamous cell carcinomaMATERIAL/METHODSCumulative incidence function
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
honor Kaiser Permanente Everyday Hero Award Recipient
Hospital System AwardDetails07/07/2017United Stateshonor Kaiser Permanente Physician Merit Award
Hospital System AwardDetails07/11/2016United States
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