John Nicholas Lukens, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Leader, Clinical Pathways Task Force, H&N Service Line , University of Pennsylvania
Member, Head and Neck Executive Committee, University of Pennsylvania
Site Chief, Head and Neck Service, 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.
M.D.
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2008.
Permanent linkBA ((Distinction in History))
Yale University, 1999.
M.D.
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
Ma KL, Sharon CE, Tortorello GN, Perry NJ, Keele LJ, Lukens JN, Karakousis GC, Miura JT: Radiation, Lymph Node Dissection, or Both: Management of Lymph Node Micrometastases from Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol April 2023.Deng J, Lukens JN, Zhu J, Cohn JC, Andersen LP, Spinelli BA, Quinn RJ, Chittams J, McMenamin E, Lin A: Patient Experience of Photobiomodulation Therapy in Head and Neck Chronic Lymphedema. J Palliat Med April 2023.
Berlin E, Ma DJ, Bakst RL, Quon H, Lin A, Lukens JN: Close Margins Following Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) for HPV+ Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: A review of the literature and practical recommendations. Pract Radiat Oncol Jan 2023.
Joseph S. Lu; Austin C. Cao; David Shimunov; Lova Sun; John N. Lukens; Alexander Lin; Roger B. Cohen; Devraj Basu; Steven B. Cannady; Karthik Rajasekaran; Gregory S. Weinstein; Robert M. Brody: Functional Outcomes in Patients with HPV+ Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Cancer Treated with Trimodality Therapy. The Laryngoscope 2023 Notes: Accepted for publication.
Deng J, Lukens JN, Cohn JC, McMenamin E, Murphy B, Spinelli BA, Murphy N, Steinmetz AK, Landriau MA, Lin A: Conducting a supportive oncology clinical trial during the COVID-19 pandemic: challenges and strategies. Trials 23(1): 927, Nov 2022 Notes: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06804-w.
Deng J, Lukens JN, Cohn JC, McMenamin E, Murphy B, Spinelli BA, Murphy N, Steinmetz AK, Landriau MA, Lin A: Conducting a supportive oncology clinical trial during the COVID-19 pandemic: challenges and strategies. Trials 23(1): 927, Nov 2022.
Nugent ST, Lukowiak TM, Cheng B, Stull C, Miller CJ, Aizman L, Perz AM, Etzkorn J, Sobanko JF, Shin TM, Giordano CN, Lukens JN, Miura JT, Modi MB, Higgins HW 2nd: High compliance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines and no local recurrences for patients receiving Mohs micrographic surgery for Merkel cell carcinoma: a single-center retrospective case series. J Am Acad Dermatol Nov 2022.
Anstadt EJ, Chu B, Yegya-Raman N, Han X, Doucette A, Poirier K, Mohiuddin JJ, Maity A, Facciabene A, Amaravadi RK, Karakousis GC, Cohen JV, Mitchell TC, Schuchter LM, Lukens JN: Moderate Colitis Not Requiring IV Steroids Is Associated with Improved Survival in Stage IV Melanoma after Anti-CTLA4 Monotherapy, But Not Combination Therapy. Oncologist 27(9): 799-808, Sep 2022 Notes: https://doi.org/10.1093/oncolo/oyac108.
Sun L, Brody R, Candelieri D, Anglin-Foote T, Lynch JA, Maxwell KN, Damrauer S, Ojerholm E, Lukens JN, Cohen RB, Getz KD, Hubbard RA, Ky B: Association Between Up-front Surgery and Risk of Stroke in US Veterans With Oropharyngeal Carcinoma. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 148(8): 740-747, Aug 2022 Notes: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2022.1327.
Hobday SB, Brody RM, Kriegsman B, Basu D, Newman J, Cohen RB, Lukens JN, Singh A, D'Avella CA, Sun L: Outcomes Among Patients With Mucosal Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated With Checkpoint Inhibitors. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 148(10): 918-926, August 2022 Notes: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2022.2284.