Kimberly L. Johung, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Therapeutic RadiologyCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction: The evolving treatment landscape for locally advanced and metastatic disease in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitors and biomarker‐driven therapeutics
Baum L, Johung K, Gibson J, Cartagena G, Boffa D, Lacy J. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction: The evolving treatment landscape for locally advanced and metastatic disease in the era of immune checkpoint inhibitors and biomarker‐driven therapeutics. CA A Cancer Journal For Clinicians 2026, 76: e70050. PMID: 41546870, PMCID: PMC12812016, DOI: 10.3322/caac.70050.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
Perioperative Modified FOLFIRINOX for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
Cecchini M, Salem R, Robert M, Czerniak S, Blaha O, Zelterman D, Rajaei M, Townsend J, Cai G, Chowdhury S, Yugawa D, Tseng R, Arbelaez C, Jiao J, Shroyer K, Thumar J, Kortmansky J, Zaheer W, Fischbach N, Persico J, Stein S, Khan S, Cha C, Billingsley K, Kunstman J, Johung K, Wiess C, Muzumdar M, Spickard E, Aushev V, Laliotis G, Jurdi A, Liu M, Escobar-Hoyos L, Lacy J. Perioperative Modified FOLFIRINOX for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer. JAMA Oncology 2024, 10: 1027-1035. PMID: 38900452, PMCID: PMC11190830, DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.1575.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProgression-free survivalPancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaOverall survivalCtDNA levelsPhase 2 nonrandomized controlled trialAnalysis of circulating tumor DNAMedian progression-free survivalResectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaControlled TrialsAssess surgical candidacyBaseline ctDNA levelModified 5-fluorouracilResectable pancreatic cancerPancreatic protocol computed tomographyAssociated with recurrenceTumor molecular featuresAggressive malignant tumorKaplan-Meier estimatesRandomized clinical trialsStandard of careCtDNA-positivePreoperative cyclesNonrandomized controlled trialsUnresectable diseaseModified FOLFIRINOXNCCN Guidelines® Insights: Rectal Cancer, Version 3.2024.
Benson A, Venook A, Adam M, Chang G, Chen Y, Ciombor K, Cohen S, Cooper H, Deming D, Garrido-Laguna I, Grem J, Haste P, Hecht J, Hoffe S, Hunt S, Hussan H, Johung K, Joseph N, Kirilcuk N, Krishnamurthi S, Malla M, Maratt J, Messersmith W, Meyerhardt J, Miller E, Mulcahy M, Nurkin S, Parikh A, Patel H, Pedersen K, Saltz L, Schneider C, Shibata D, Shogan B, Skibber J, Sofocleous C, Tavakkoli A, Willett C, Wu C, Jones F, Gurski L. NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Rectal Cancer, Version 3.2024. Journal Of The National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2024, 22: 366-375. PMID: 39151454, DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2024.0041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRectal cancerResponders to neoadjuvant therapyRisk of pelvic recurrenceLocally recurrent rectal cancerEarly-stage rectal cancerNonoperative management approachRecurrent rectal cancerDistal rectal cancerNCCN Guidelines InsightsCurative-intent therapyRectal cancer surgeryOptimal treatment planEndoscopic submucosal dissectionQuality of lifePelvic recurrenceNeoadjuvant therapyMultimodal therapyNCCN guidelinesGenitourinary functionPatient selectionPoor prognosisCancer surgeryColon cancerSubmucosal dissectionClinical trialsColon Cancer, Version 3.2024, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.
Benson A, Venook A, Adam M, Chang G, Chen Y, Ciombor K, Cohen S, Cooper H, Deming D, Garrido-Laguna I, Grem J, Haste P, Hecht J, Hoffe S, Hunt S, Hussan H, Johung K, Joseph N, Kirilcuk N, Krishnamurthi S, Malla M, Maratt J, Messersmith W, Meyerhardt J, Miller E, Mulcahy M, Nurkin S, Overman M, Parikh A, Patel H, Pedersen K, Saltz L, Schneider C, Shibata D, Shogan B, Skibber J, Sofocleous C, Tavakkoli A, Willett C, Wu C, Gurski L, Snedeker J, Jones F. Colon Cancer, Version 3.2024, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Journal Of The National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2024, 22 PMID: 38862008, DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2024.0029.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetastatic colorectal cancerColorectal cancerNCCN Clinical Practice GuidelinesSystemic therapy optionsGoal of therapyClinical practice guidelinesNCCN guidelinesToxicity profileTherapy optionsColon cancerMutation profilesActive drugCancer deathDiagnosed cancerCancerConstituent drugsTherapyPractice guidelinesNCCNDrugTumorColorectalGuidelinesUnited StatesOncologyA single arm phase 2 clinical trial of YIV-906 with neoadjuvant concurrent chemo-radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer
Verma N, Johung K, Kortmansky J, Zaheer W, Lacy J, Cecchini M, Stein S, Cheng Y, Lam W, Liu S, Reddy V, Hochster H, Higgins S. A single arm phase 2 clinical trial of YIV-906 with neoadjuvant concurrent chemo-radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Journal Of Gastrointestinal Oncology 2024, 15: 1050-1059. PMID: 38989411, PMCID: PMC11231844, DOI: 10.21037/jgo-24-23.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Quantitative DNA Repair Biomarkers and Immune Profiling for Temozolomide and Olaparib in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Cecchini M, Zhang J, Wei W, Sklar J, Lacy J, Zhong M, Kong Y, Zhao H, DiPalermo J, Devine L, Stein S, Kortmansky J, Johung K, Bindra R, LoRusso P, Schalper K. Quantitative DNA Repair Biomarkers and Immune Profiling for Temozolomide and Olaparib in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Research Communications 2023, 3: 1132-1139. PMID: 37387791, PMCID: PMC10305782, DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0045.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWhole-exome sequencingMGMT protein expressionColorectal cancerStable diseaseQuantitative immunofluorescenceT cellsProtein expressionPromoter hypermethylationLow MGMT protein expressionPARP inhibitorsRadiographic tumor regressionMetastatic colorectal cancerAdvanced colorectal cancerPretreatment tumor biopsiesEffector T cellsTumor-infiltrating lymphocytesMGMT proteinDNA repair biomarkersBaseline CD8Eligible patientsIncreased CD8Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferaseObjective responseProgressive diseaseImmune markersAnal Carcinoma, Version 2.2023, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.
Benson A, Venook A, Al-Hawary M, Azad N, Chen Y, Ciombor K, Cohen S, Cooper H, Deming D, Garrido-Laguna I, Grem J, Hecht J, Hoffe S, Hubbard J, Hunt S, Hussan H, Jeck W, Johung K, Joseph N, Kirilcuk N, Krishnamurthi S, Maratt J, Messersmith W, Meyerhardt J, Miller E, Mulcahy M, Nurkin S, Overman M, Parikh A, Patel H, Pedersen K, Saltz L, Schneider C, Shibata D, Skibber J, Sofocleous C, Stotsky-Himelfarb E, Tavakkoli A, Willett C, Williams G, Algieri F, Gurski L, Stehman K. Anal Carcinoma, Version 2.2023, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Journal Of The National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2023, 21: 653-677. PMID: 37308125, DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2023.0030.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsNCCN Clinical Practice GuidelinesAnal carcinomaClinical practice guidelinesPrimary treatmentPractice guidelinesSquamous cell anal carcinomaCommon histologic formExtrapelvic metastatic diseaseMetastatic anal carcinomaSystemic therapy recommendationsAnal canal cancerCurative-intent treatmentAJCC staging systemNCCN guidelinesPerianal cancerMetastatic diseasePersistent diseaseSystemic therapySurgical treatmentMedical oncologyStaging systemOptimal treatmentClinical evaluationHistologic formsTherapy recommendationsPre-operative chemoradiotherapy with or without induction chemotherapy for operable locally-advanced esophageal cancer
Peters G, Talcott W, Peters N, Dhanasopan A, Lacy J, Cecchini M, Kortmansky J, Stein S, Lattanzi S, Park H, Boffa D, Johung K, Jethwa K. Pre-operative chemoradiotherapy with or without induction chemotherapy for operable locally-advanced esophageal cancer. Journal Of Gastrointestinal Oncology 2023, 14: 1181-1192. PMID: 37435226, PMCID: PMC10331751, DOI: 10.21037/jgo-22-1005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProgression-free survivalMedian progression-free survivalOverall survivalIC-CRTInduction chemotherapySingle-institution retrospective cohort studyPre-operative chemoradiotherapyAdvanced esophageal cancerAdvanced esophageal carcinomaPathologic complete responseRetrospective cohort studyKaplan-Meier methodSubset of patientsProportional hazards regressionCycles of inductionAdenocarcinoma histologyCRT cohortCohort studyComplete responsePathologic responseTreatment cohortsDistant metastasisHazards regressionEsophageal cancerEsophageal carcinoma
2022
Utilization and Outcomes of Radiation in Stage IV Esophageal Cancer
Zhan P, Canavan M, Ermer T, Pichert M, Li A, Maduka R, Kaminski M, Johung K, Boffa D. Utilization and Outcomes of Radiation in Stage IV Esophageal Cancer. JTO Clinical And Research Reports 2022, 3: 100429. PMID: 36483656, PMCID: PMC9722471, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2022.100429.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStage IV esophageal cancerNational Cancer DatabaseEsophageal cancerCancer DatabaseRadiation doseSurvival advantageMedian total radiation dosePropensity score-matched pairsOutcome of radiationRetrospective cohort studyKaplan-Meier analysisTotal radiation doseAppropriate radiation dosePalliative regimensCohort studyMedian ageRadiation administrationSurvival associationsBetter survivalPatientsLocal controlCancerDosePalliationFurther studies
2021
2021 NCC/CATS/CSTCVS/STM expert consensus on perioperative immunotherapy for esophageal cancer
Kang X, Qin J, Zhang R, Wang Z, Zheng Q, Li Y, Xu J, Huang J, Wang X, Hui Z, Xue L, Mao Y, Li Y, He J, Chen C, Chen H, Chen K, Chen L, Fu M, Fu J, Geng Q, Gong T, Guo S, Han Y, He Y, Hu J, Jiang H, Jiang J, Jiang Y, Kang M, Ma J, Ma S, Liao Y, Li H, Li S, Li Z, Liu S, Liu Y, Qiao G, Tan L, Tian H, Zhao G, Zhao J, Zheng S, Zhou Y, Nilsson M, Schlottmann F, Rosati R, Stefano C, Chiu P, Newman N, Hirahara N, Kim D, Mehta R, Johung K, Cecchini M, Lloyd S, Meredith K. 2021 NCC/CATS/CSTCVS/STM expert consensus on perioperative immunotherapy for esophageal cancer. Annals Of Esophagus 2021, 4: 33-33. DOI: 10.21037/aoe-21-64.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Phase II Trial Of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Oligoprogression on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
IRB ID2000027702RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date10/01/2025Recruiting Participants
Clinical Care
Overview
Kimberly L. Johung, MD, PhD, a Yale Medicine radiation oncologist, is the director of the Gastrointestinal Radiotherapy Program for Yale Cancer Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital. She is also the medical director for radiation oncology services at the Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven, Conn.
In these roles, she treats a variety of cancers, including esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, liver, biliary, rectal, anal, and lung tumors. “What inspires me,” says Dr. Johung, “is that my job entails not only helping patients access the best care for their cancer diagnosis, but also trying to provide hope—whether it’s for a cure, a period of disease stability, alleviation of a symptom, or improved outcomes for cancer patients in the future.”
Dr. Johung is also an associate professor of therapeutic radiology at Yale School of Medicine. Her research interests include defining molecular markers, using retrospective studies, clinical trials, and translational studies, to guide treatment decisions and improve outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.
She is a panel member for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (Esophageal and Gastric Cancers) and is a member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.
Clinical Specialties
Therapeutic Radiology; Gastrointestinal Radiotherapy; Thoracic Radiotherapy; Prostate & Genitourinary Radiotherapy; Head & Neck Radiotherapy
Fact Sheets
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Learn More on Yale MedicineEsophageal Cancer
Learn More on Yale MedicineStereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)
Learn More on Yale MedicineRadiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Yale Medicine News
News & Links
Media
Smilow Shares: Colorectal Cancer - What You Need to Know and What's New
March 26, 2026
Hosted by: Dr. Michael Cecchini
Presenters: Kimberly Johung, MD, PhD and Anne Mongiu, MD, PhD
News
- February 28, 2025
Center for GI Cancers CME Webinar Series: GI Oncology Year in Review
- August 09, 2024
Botanical Medicine Reduces Rectal Cancer Treatment Side Effects That Can Sideline Surgeries
- June 20, 2024
Chemotherapy Before Surgery Benefits Some Patients With Pancreatic Cancer
- May 24, 2024
Gastrointestinal Cancer CME Series: Gastroesophageal Cancers
Get In Touch
Contacts
Academic Office Number
Appointment Number
Clinic Fax Number
Mailing Address
Therapeutic Radiology
P. O. Box 208040
New Haven, CT 06520-8040
United States
Locations
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven
Academic Office
35 Park Street, Ste LL 514
New Haven, CT 06511
Patient Care Locations
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