Neil Kanth Taunk, MD, MSCTS
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
Director, Brachytherapy, University of Pennsylvania
Director, Imaging Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
Chief, Breast and Gynecologic Services, University of Pennsylvania
Department: Radiation Oncology
Contact information
Department of Radiation Oncology
Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
3400 Civic Center Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
3400 Civic Center Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: (215) 662-6515
Email:
taunk@upenn.edu
taunk@upenn.edu
Education:
BA (Economics and Biology (Dual Major))
Cornell University, 2007.
MS (Clinical and Translational Science)
Robert Wood Johnson Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers University, 2011.
MD (Distinction in Research)
Robert Wood Johson Medical School, Rutgers University, 2012.
Permanent linkBA (Economics and Biology (Dual Major))
Cornell University, 2007.
MS (Clinical and Translational Science)
Robert Wood Johnson Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers University, 2011.
MD (Distinction in Research)
Robert Wood Johson Medical School, Rutgers University, 2012.
Description of Clinical Expertise
My research falls into three broad categories 1) development and translation of novel molecular imaging agents primarily PET tracers 2) imaging radiation treatment response include imaging biomarkers and radiogenomic analysis and 3) clinical trials in breast, gynecologic, and prostate cancers to improve therapeutic ratio. I work establish interdisciplinary collaborations with radiology, medical physics, and the clinical teams in medical and surgical oncology.Description of Research Expertise
My research falls into three broad categories 1) development and translation of novel molecular imaging agents primarily PET tracers 2) imaging radiation treatment response include imaging biomarkers and radiogenomic analysis and 3) clinical trials in breast, gynecologic, and prostate cancers to improve therapeutic ratio. I work establish interdisciplinary collaborations with radiology, medical physics, and the clinical teams in medical and surgical oncology.Selected Publications
Pepin A, Chesnokova A, Pishko A, Gysler S, Martin C, Smith E, Kassick M, Taunk NK: Hormone Replacement Therapy in Patients with Gynecologic Cancer and Radiation-Induced Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 121(4): 1042-1052, Mar 2025.Hathout L, Leung E, Taunk NK, Ludwig MS, Fields EC: Recent Landmark Trials in Gynecologic Cancer: Optimizing Combination or Sequencing of Systemic and Radiation Therapies. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 121(3): 575-579, Mar 2025.
Berlin E, Ko K, Ma L, Messing I, Hollawell C, Smith AM, Taunk NK, Narayan V, Upshaw JN, Clark AS, Shah PD, Knollman H, Bhattacharya S, Koropeckyj-Cox D, Wang J, Yegya-Raman N, Han IS, Lefebvre B, Li T, Wilcox NS, Jung W, Chen J, Freedman GM, Ky B: Cardiac Effects of Modern Breast Radiation Therapy in Patients Receiving Systemic Cancer Therapy. JACC CardioOncol S2666-0873(25): 00071-7, Feb 2025 Notes: Online ahead of print.
Management of Dry Mouth Toxicity Following 177Lu-PSMA-617 Radioligand Therapy: Pepin A, Kiess A, Lukens JN, Mulugeta P, Taunk NK. Pract Radiat Oncol 15(1): 14-18, Jan-Feb 2025.
Rhodes SS, Jesikiewicz JE, Yegya-Raman N, Prasad K, Dreyfuss A, Mankoff DA, Taunk NK: Optimizing Regulatory Reviews for Clinical Protocols That Use Radiopharmaceuticals: Findings of the University of Pennsylvania Radiation Research Safety Committee. Health Phys 127(6): 702-711, Dec 2024.
O'Brien SR, Edmonds CE, Ward RE, Taunk NK, Pantel AR, Mankoff DA: Update on 18F-Fluoroestradiol. Semin Nucl Med 54(6): 812-816, Nov 2024.
Cederquist GY, Boe LA, Walsh M, Freedman GM, Maxwell KN, Taunk N, Braunstein LZ: Radiation-Associated Secondary Cancer in Patients With Breast Cancer Harboring TP53 Germline Variants. JAMA Oncol 10(11): 1588-1590, Nov 2024.
Hahn EA, Pugh SL, Lu HL, Vela AM, Gillespie EF, Nichols EM, Wright JL, MacDonald SM, Cahlon O, Baas C, Braunstein LZ, Fang LC, Freedman GM, Jimenez RB, Kesslering CM, Mishra MV, Mutter RW, Ohri N, Rosen LR, Urbanic JJ, Jagsi R, Mitchell SA, Bekelman JE, Cella D; RadComp (Radiotherapy Comparative Effectiveness Consortium): Validation of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Comprehensive Nodal Irradiation in the RadComp Trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 120(1): 149-161, Sep 2024.
Pepin A, Lee V, O'Brien S, Mulugeta P, Taunk NK: Management of Dry Eye Toxicity After Treatment With (177)Lu-PSMA-617 Radioligand Therapy. Pract Radiat Oncol 14(4): 301-304, Jul-Aug 2024.
Hathout L, Sherwani ZK, Alegun J, Ohri N, Fields EC, Shah S, Beriwal S, Horne ZD, Kidd EA, Leung EW, Song J, Taunk NK, Chino J, Huang C, Russo AL, Dyer M, Li J, Albuquerque KV, Damast S: Prognostic Effect of Mismatch Repair Status in Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer Treated With Adjuvant Radiation: A Multi-institutional Analysis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 119(4): 1158-1165, Jul 2024.