John Nicholas Lukens
John Nicholas Lukens, M.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Department: Radiation Oncology
Contact information
Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
3400 Civic Center Blvd.
2-West
Philadelphia, PA 19104
3400 Civic Center Blvd.
2-West
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-662-6567
Education:
BA ((Distinction in History))
Yale University, 1999.
MD
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2008.
Permanent linkBA ((Distinction in History))
Yale University, 1999.
MD
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2008.
Description of Clinical Expertise
My clinical expertise is in the treatment of head and neck cancers and gastrointestinal cancers. Additionally, I have specialized training in brachytherapy, which consists of placing radioactive sources within, or directly adjacent to a tumor, as a means of delivering highly targeted radiation. I have experience in head and neck, prostate, and gastrointestinal brachytherapy, as well as intra-operative radiotherapy. I have a particular clinical interest in the re-treatment of patients who have undergone a prior course of radiation, through the integration of highly targeted techniques such as proton therapy and brachytherapy. I believe strongly in the importance of an interdisciplinary approach, and work closely with my surgical and medical oncology colleagues to optimize patient outcomes.Description of Research Expertise
My research focuses on the multidisciplinary management of head and neck cancers, in particular novel strategies to understand and mitigate the toxicities associated with head and neck radiotherapy. Additionally, I am interested in identifying subsets of patients with HPV+ cancer who may benefit from treatment de-intensification, and conversely, those with high-risk disease who may benefit from novel targeted therapy and/or immunotherapy.Selected Publications
Trifoi MD, Morales KV, Frankel D, Lin SK, Deitermann AM, Haynes D, Lubeck M, Etzkorn JR, Sobanko JF, Giordano CN, Walker JL, Zhang J, Lewis DJ, Higgins HW 2nd, Miura JT, Karakousis GC, Rajasekaran K, Cannady SB, Brody RM, Mitchell TC, Amaravadi RK, Lukens JN, Miller CJ. : Compliance with guidelines and timeliness of sentinel lymph node biopsy for Merkel cell carcinoma treated with Mohs micrographic surgery versus conventional excision at a tertiary academic center. J Am Acad Dermatol. Oct 2025Deng J, Murphy BA, Andersen LP, McMenamin E, Lukens JN, Cohn JC, Rajasekaran K, Quinn RJ, Spinelli BA, Lin A.: Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a lymphedema and fibrosis self-management program for head and neck cancer survivors: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Oral Oncol. Sept 2025
Ghanian A, DiBona J, Duda L, Xu X, Lukens JN, Pearce T, Ehrhardt M, Rook A, Durham A, Maity A, Flesner B.: Preliminary evaluation of the safety and feasibility of toll-like receptor ligand CB101 combined with hypofractionated radiation therapy in canine head and neck cancer: a pilot study. Vet Oncol. 2(1), Aug 2025.
Sannigrahi MK, Raghav L, Rich DJ, Schrank TP, Califano JA, Lukens JN, Sun L, Morgan IM, Cohen RB, Lin A, Liu X, Brown EJ, You J, Mirabello L, Mishra SK, Shimunov D, Brody RM, Pearson AT, Gimotty PA, Diab A, Jalaly JB, Basu D: Tumor-intrinsic and immune-related features associated with treatment failure in human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 117(7): 1366-1376, July 2025.
Bordeaux J, Blitzblau R, Aasi SZ, Alam M, Amini A, Bibee K, Bolotin D, Chen PL, Contreras CM, DiMaio D, Donigan JM, Farma JM, Ghosh K, Harms K, LeBoeuf N, Lukens JN, Manber S, Mark L, Medina T, Nehal KS, Nghiem P, Olino K, Paragh G, Park S, Patel T, Rich J, Shaha AR, Sharma B, Sokumbi Y, Srivastava D, Thomas V, Tomblinson C, Venkat P, Xu YG, Yu S, Yusuf M, McCullough B, Espinosa S. : Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans, Version 1.2025, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines In Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. Jan 2025.
Sannigrahi MK, Raghav L, Rich DJ, Schrank TP, Califano JA, Lukens JN, Sun L, Morgan IM, Cohen RB, Lin A, Liu X, Brown EJ, You J, Mirabello L, Mishra SK, Shimunov D, Brody RM, Pearson AT, Gimotty PA, Diab A, Jalaly JB, Basu D: Association of oropharyngeal cancer recurrence with tumor-intrinsic and immune-mediated sequelae of reduced genomic instability. bioRxiv 4: 2024.10.31.621311, Nov 2024.
Hanna GJ, Jabalee J, Lukens JN, Sun L, Rettig EM, Ferrandino R 2nd, Posner MR, Misiukiewicz KJ, Routman DM, Van Abel KM, Del Vecchio Fitz C, Roof SA: Circulating Tumor Tissue Modified Viral (TTMV)-HPV DNA in Recurrent, Metastatic HPV-driven Oropharyngeal Cancer Oral Oncology Oral Oncology 158: 107002, Nov 2024.
Pepin A, Kiess A, Lukens JN, Mulugeta P, Taunk NK.: Management of Dry Mouth Toxicity Following 177Lu-PSMA-617 Radioligand Therapy. Pract Radiat Oncol. S1879-8500(24): 00299-6, Nov 2024.
Su W, Anstadt EJ, Gupta N, Groover M, Forrester V, Wang X, Krausz A, Schoenfeld J, Koyfman S, Vidimos A, Stevenson M, Carucci J, Ruiz ES, Lukens JN: Definitive Radiotherapy is a Viable Treatment for Locally Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma Otherwise Requiring Radical or Disfiguring Resection. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics S0360-3016(24): 03408-4, Sep 2024 Notes: epub ahead of print.
Patel AM, Haleem A, Maxwell R, Lukens JN, Lin A, Brody RM, Brant JA, Carey RM: Choice of Adjuvant Radiotherapy Facility in Major Salivary Gland Cancer. Laryngoscope 134(8): 3620-3632, Aug 2024.