Stephen Y. Lai, M.D., Ph.D., FACS
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Lai
Stephen Y. Lai, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Head and Neck Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and board-certified head and neck cancer surgeon. He serves as the Quality Officer for the Department of Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Lai received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his medical and doctorate degrees from The University of California, San Francisco. He performed his residency at The University of Pennsylvania and completed his fellowship in oncologic head and neck/cranial base surgery at The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. His clinical expertise is in head and neck cancers with a special emphasis on oral cavity cancer, thyroid and parathyroid disease, salivary gland neoplasms, conservation laryngeal surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery. Dr. Lai takes a multidisciplinary approach to the management of head and neck cancer patients with active participation in cutting-edge treatment protocols.
Dr. Lai’s research focuses on both clinical and basic science, including identifying novel targeted therapies for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, monitoring functional treatment response and normal tissue toxicity with functional MRI, developing a multi-institutional prospective trial to evaluate sentinel lymph node biopsy for early-stage oral cavity cancer, and defining the role of microRNA in the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Dr. Lai has received research awards and funding from the National Institutes of Health, American College of Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society, American Academy of Otolaryngology, The Thyroid Head and Neck Cancer (THANC) Foundation and the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Division of Basic Science Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Regulation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) invasion and metastasis by the tumor microenvironment
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and erythropoietin (EPO) in HNSCC
microRNA regulation of HNSCC disease progression
Targeted therapies for thyroid cancer
Imaging-based quantifiable biomarkers of tumor response to treatment (e.g., radiation sensitivity/resistance)
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1998 | University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA, MD, Medical School |
| 1996 | University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA, PhD, Biomedical Sciences |
| 1991 | Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, BA, Economics |
| 1991 | Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, BS, Biological Sciences |
Postgraduate Training
| 2003-2005 | Clinical Fellowship, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 1999-2003 | Clinical Residency, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA |
| 1998-1999 | Clinical Internship, Department of General Surgery & Otolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA |
Board Certifications
| 2004 | American Board of Otolaryngology |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2017
Associate Professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Division of Basic Science Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2017
Assistant Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2010
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2008 - 2010
Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 2005 - 2008
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Patient Safety Quality Officer, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2009 - 2021
Other Appointments/Responsibilities
Co-Chair, NIH/NCI Head and Neck Steering Committee, Rare Tumors Task Force, Houston, TX, 2017 - Present
Member, American Head and Neck Society Awards Committee, Houston, 2016 - 2019
Institutional Committee Activities
Division of Surgery Representative, PRS Faculty Compensation and Benefit Advisory Committee, 2017 - Present
Division of Surgery Representative, PRS Clinical Revenue Cycle Committee, 2015 - 2017
Clinical Reviewer, The University of Texas MD Anderson Clinical Research Committee, 2009 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2019 | Distinguished Educator of the Year, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2017 | Texas Super Doctors® |
| 2012 | Super Doctors® Texas Rising Stars |
| 2011 | US News & World Report Top Doctors |
| 2010 | American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Honor Award |
| 2007 | America's Top Physicians |
| 2007 | Best Doctors in America |
| 2006 | Outstanding Contribution to Otolaryngology Resident Education |
| 2005 | NIH Head and Neck Cancer SPORE Career Development Award |
| 2004 | American Head and Neck Society Byers Award |
| 1998 | Alpha Omega Alpha |
| 1991 | Phi Beta Kappa |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Hutcheson KA, Barrow MP, Plowman EK, Lai SY, Fuller CD, Barringer DA, Eapen G, Wang Y, Hubbard R, Jimenez SK, Little LG, Lewin JS. Expiratory Muscle Strength Training for Radiation-associated Aspiration After Head and Neck Cancer: A Case-series. Laryngoscope 128(5):1044-1051, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28833185.
- Goepfert RP, Lewin JS, Barrow MP, Warneke CL, Fuller CD, Lai SY, Weber RS, Hutcheson KA. Grading Dysphagia as a Toxicity of Head and Neck Cancer: Differences in Severity Classification Based on MBS DIGEST and Clinical CTCAE Grades. Dysphagia 33(2):185-191, 2018. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28836005.
- MICCAI/M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Head and Neck Quantitative Imaging Working Group: Elhalawani H, Mohamed ASR, White AL, Zafereo J, Wong AJ, Berends JE, AboHashem S, Williams B, Aymard JM, Kanwar A, Perni S, Rock CD, Cooksey L, Campbell S, Ding Y, Lai SY, Marai EG, Vock D, Canahuate GM, Freymann J, Farahani K, Kalpathy-Cramer J, Fuller CD. Matched computed tomography segmentation and demographic data for oropharyngeal cancer radiomics challenges. Sci Data 4:170077, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28675381.
- Rao SN, Zafereo M, Dadu R, Busaidy NL, Hess K, Cote GJ, Williams MD, William WN, Sandulache V, Gross N, Gunn GB, Lu C, Ferrarotto R, Lai SY, Cabanillas ME. Patterns of Treatment Failure in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma. Thyroid 27(5):672-681, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28068873.
- Pezzi TA, Mohamed ASR, Sheu T, Blanchard P, Sandulache VC, Lai SY, Cabanillas ME, Williams MD, Pezzi CM, Lu C, Garden AS, Morrison WH, Rosenthal DI, Fuller CD, Gunn GB. Radiation therapy dose is associated with improved survival for unresected anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: Outcomes from the National Cancer Data Base. Cancer 123(9):1653-1661, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 28026871.
- Goepfert RP, Lewin JS, Barrow MP, Fuller CD, Lai SY, Song J, Hobbs BP, Gunn GB, Beadle BM, Rosenthal DI, Garden AS, Kies MS, Papadimitrakopoulou VA, Schwartz DL, Hutcheson KA. Predicting two-year longitudinal MD Anderson dysphagia inventory outcomes after intensity modulated radiotherapy for locoregionally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma. Laryngoscope 127(4):842-848, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27440393.
- Goepfert RP, Lewin JS, Barrow MP, Gunn GB, Fuller CD, Beadle BM, Garden AS, Rosenthal DI, Kies MS, Papadimitrakopoulou V, Lai SY, Gross ND, Schwartz DL, Hutcheson KA. Long-Term, Prospective Performance of the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory in "Low-Intermediate Risk" Oropharyngeal Carcinoma After Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 97(4):700-708, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27485284.
- Sandulache VC, Chen Y, Feng L, William WN, Skinner HD, Myers JN, Meyn RE, Li J, Mijiti A, Bankson JA, Fuller CD, Konopleva MY, Lai SY. Metabolic interrogation as a tool to optimize chemotherapeutic regimens. Oncotarget 8(11):18154-18165, 2017. PMID: 28184025.
- Wong AT, Lai SY, Gunn GB, Beadle BM, Fuller CD, Barrow MP, Hofstede TM, Chambers MS, Sturgis EM, Mohamed AS, Lewin JS, Hutcheson KA. Symptom burden and dysphagia associated with osteoradionecrosis in long-term oropharynx cancer survivors: a cohort analysis. Oral Oncol 66:75-80, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28249651.
- Multidisciplinary Larynx Cancer Working Group: Sheu T, Vock D, Mohamed ASR, Gross N, Mulcahy C, Zafereo M, Gunn GB, Garden A, Sevak P, Phan J, Lewin J, Frank S, Beadle B, Morrison W, Lai SY, Hutcheson KA, G. Marai E, Canahuate G, Kies M, El-Naggar A, Rosenthal D, Weber RS, Fuller C. Conditional Survival Analysis of Patients with Locally Advanced Laryngeal Cancer: Construction of a Dynamic Risk Model and Clinical Nomogram. Sci Rep 7:43928, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28276466.
- Hutcheson KA, Barrow MP, Barringer DA, Knott JK, Lin HY, Weber RS, Fuller CD, Lai SY, Alvarez CP, Raut J, Lazarus CL, May A, Patterson J, Roe JW, Starmer HM, Lewin JS. Dynamic imaging grade of swallowing toxicity (DIGEST): Scale Development and Validation. Cancer 123(1):62-70, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27564246.
- Chen DW, Lewin JS, Xu L, Lai SY, Gunn GB, Fuller CD, Mohamed AS, Kanwar A, Sturgis EM, Hutcheson KA. Feeding tube utilization in patients with salivary gland malignancies. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 156(1):109-117, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27576681.
- Beadle BM, Liao KP, Giordano SH, Garden AS, Hutcheson KA, Lai SY, Guadagnolo BA. Reduced feeding tube duration with intensity-modulated radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Analysis. Cancer 123(2):283-293, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27662641.
- Sandulache VC, Williams MD, Lai SY, Lu C, William WN, Busaidy NL, Cote GJ, Singh RR, Luthra R, Cabanillas ME. Real-Time Genomic Characterization Utilizing Circulating Cell-Free DNA in Patients with Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma. Thyroid 27(1):81-87, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27785980.
- Fuller CD, Mohamed AS, Garden AS, Gunn GB, Mulcahy CF, Zafereo M, Phan J, Lai SY, Lewin JS, Hutcheson KA, Frank SJ, Beadle BM, Morrison WH, El-Naggar AK, Kocak-Uzel E, Ginsberg LE, Kies MS, Weber RS, Rosenthal DI. Long-term outcomes after multidisciplinary management of T3 laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas: Improved functional outcomes and survival with modern therapeutic approaches. Head Neck 38(12):1739-1751, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27466789.
- Shiao JC, Mohamed AS, Gunn GB, Hutcheson KA, Kanwar A, Garden AS, Smith J, Phan J, Morrison WH, Lai SY, Beadle BM, Weber RS, Kies MS, Rosenthal DI, Fuller CD. Nontarget Swallowing Muscles Dose-Volume Correlates of Patient-Reported Outcomes After Oropharyngeal Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 96(2S):E335-E336, 2016. PMID: 27674409.
- Mohamed AS, Pham BH, Messer JA, Morrison WH, Zafereo M, Hessel AC, Lai SY, Garden AS, Weber RS, Rosenthal DI, Fuller CD. Identification of Anatomic Correlates of Failure in Patients With T4a Larynx Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 96(2S):E343, 2016. PMID: 27674433.
- Pezzi TA, Mohamed AS, Sheu T, Blanchard P, Sandulache VC, Lai SY, Cabanillas ME, Williams MD, Pezzi CM, Lu C, Garden AS, Morrison WH, Rosenthal DI, Fuller CD, Gunn GB. Relationship Between Radiation Therapy Dose and Overall Survival in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: Analysis of the National Cancer Data Base. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 96(2S):E361, 2016. PMID: 27674482.
- Mohamed AS, Browne TS, Kies MS, Gunn GB, Garden AS, Beadle BM, Phan J, Morrison WH, William WN, Lai SY, Weber RS, Rosenthal DI, Fuller CD. Predictive Significance of Early Response to Induction Chemotherapy in Advanced Larynx Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 96(2S):E371-E372, 2016. PMID: 27674512.
- Mohamed AS, Lai SY, Murri M, Hutcheson KA, Sandulache VC, Hobbs B, Gunn GB, Garg N, Chambers MS, Frank SJ, Rosenthal DI, Garden AS, Fuller CD. Dose-Volume Correlates of Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible in Oropharynx Patients Receiving Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 96(2S):S220-S221, 2016. PMID: 28733053.
- Joint Head and Neck Radiotherapy-MRI Development Cooperative: Sandulache VC, Hobbs BP, Mohamed AS, Frank SJ, Song J, Ding Y, Ger R, Court LE, Kalpathy-Cramer J, Hazle JD, Wang J, Awan MJ, Rosenthal DI, Garden AS, Gunn GB, Colen RR, Elshafeey N, Elbanan M, Hutcheson KA, Lewin JS, Chambers MS, Hofstede TM, Weber RS, Lai SY, Fuller CD.. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI detects acute radiotherapy-induced alterations in mandibular microvasculature: prospective assessment of imaging biomarkers of normal tissue injury. Sci Rep 6:29864, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27499209.
- Jiang W, Mohamed AS, Fuller CD, Kim BY, Tang C, Gunn GB, Hanna EY, Frank SJ, Su SY, Diaz E, Kupferman ME, Beadle BM, Morrison WH, Skinner H, Lai SY, El-Naggar AK, DeMonte F, Rosenthal DI, Garden AS, Phan J. The role of elective nodal irradiation for esthesioneuroblastoma patients with clinically negative neck. Pract Radiat Oncol 6(4):241-7, 2016. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26979544.
- Wang J, Weygand J, Hwang KP, Mohamed AS, Ding Y, Fuller CD, Lai SY, Frank SJ, Zhou J. Magnetic resonance imaging of glucose uptake and metabolism in patients with head and neck cancer. Sci Rep 6:30618, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27461165.
- Pezzi TA, Sandulache VC, Pezzi CM, Turkeltaub AE, Feng L, Cabanillas ME, Williams MD, Lai SY. Treatment and survival of patients with insular thyroid carcinoma: 508 cases from the National Cancer Data Base. Head Neck 38(6):906-12, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26843481.
- Tucker JR, Xu L, Sturgis EM, Mohamed AS, Hofstede TM, Chambers MS, Lai SY, Fuller CD, Beadle B, Gunn GB, Hutcheson KA. Osteoradionecrosis in patients with salivary gland malignancies. Oral Oncol 57:1-5, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27208837.
- Lewis CM, Nurgalieva Z, Sturgis EM, Lai SY, Weber RS. Improving patient outcomes through multidisciplinary treatment planning conference. Head Neck 38 Suppl 1:E1820-5, 2016. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26690552.
- Sandulache VC, Vandelaar LJ, Skinner HD, Cata J, Hutcheson K, Fuller CD, Phan J, Siddiqui Z, Lai SY, Weber RS, Zafereo ME. Salvage total laryngectomy after external-beam radiotherapy: a 20-year experience. Head Neck 38 Suppl 1:E1962-8, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26879395.
Abstracts
- Sandulache VC, Chen Y, William WN, Skinner HD, Meyn RE, Fuller CD, Bankson JA, Lai SY. Interrogation of Tumor Metabolism to Assess Treatment Response. Symposium and Training XXIV: Dynamic Imaging of Metabolism in Health and Disease - UT Southwestern Medical Center Advanced Imaging Research Center and The National Center for Research Sources - Dallas, TX, 2017.
Book Chapters
- Weber RS, Lai SY, Hessel A, Lewis CM. Head and Neck Cancer Care: Quality and Guidelines. In: Cancer of the Head and Neck. 5th. Wolters Kluwer: Philadelphia, 168-177, 2016.
- Rassekh C, Chang J, Marzouk M, Schaitkin B, Carrau R, Tweel B, Kolenda J, Bhayani M, Lai SY, Joshi A, Walvekar RR, Gillespie MB, Ogden, A, Witt RL, Coffey CS. Xerostomia. In: Gland-Preserving Salivary Surgery - A Problem-Based Approach. Springer Book.
- Sherman SI, Bast R, Cabanillas ME, Lai SY. Neoplasms of the thyroid. In: Cancer Medicine.
- Lai SY. The N0 Neck: Diagnostic evaluation in management of upper aerodigestive tract malignancies. In: Maintenance Manual for Lifelong Learning, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation: Alexandria, VA.
- Lai SY, Carrau RL. Parapharyngeal space tumors. In: Multidisciplinary Care of Head and Neck Cancer.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Erythropoietin Signaling in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
| Funding Source: | Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute Young Clinical Scientist Award (FAMRI) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Regulation of Invasion and Metastasis by HIF-1 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Enhancing Head and Neck Cancer Radiosensitivity through STAT3 Inhibition |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Targeting HNSCC Tumor-initiating Cells Through Stat3 |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Assessing GSK2256098 Effects on Thyroid Cancer in Vivo |
| Funding Source: | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | MicroRNA-ETC* Regulation of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
| Funding Source: | The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Institutional Research Grant |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Radio-Photothermal Nanotherapy for Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Optimizing Radiosensitization in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer with Metabolic Imaging |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | MiR-27a* Targets Critical Signaling Pathways in HNSCC |
| Funding Source: | Brandon C. Gromada Head and Neck Cancer Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Improving Head and Neck Carcinoma Radiation Therapy through Preclinical Integration of Genomics, Radiomics, and Novel Therapies |
| Funding Source: | UTMDACC Multidisciplinary Research Program |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Leveraging Metabolic Interrogation to Drive Selection of Targeted Agents for Thyroid Carcinoma |
| Funding Source: | The Ohio State University/MD Anderson Cancer Center – Development Research Program (DRP) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Optimizing Chemoradiation Strategies by Tumor Metabolism Interrogation |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | Principal Investigator |
| Title: | SMART-ACT: Spatial Methodologic Approaches for Risk Assessment and Therapeutic Adaptation in Cancer Treatment |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified May 22, 2024