Richard K Yang, MD, PhD
Department of Anatomical Pathology, Division of Pathology-Lab Medicine Div
About Dr. Richard K Yang
I am an assistant professor of molecular and gynecologic surgical pathology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and have extensive training regarding the techniques employed within the CLIA certified Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory here at MD Anderson. This includes data analysis of next generation sequencing panels for tumor somatic mutation testing, methylation and copy number variant arrays. Along with many others, my primary interest is in cancer immunotherapy, which I believe is the most promising field of cancer therapy with a unique potential for long-term recurrence free survivals. Recent FDA approval of several immune checkpoint inhibitors for myriad indications including increased tumor mutational burden has convinced me that cancer immunotherapies will contribute to an increasing proportion of cancer therapy regimens going forward. It seems inevitable that there will be increasing demand for in-house testing of biomarkers for immunotherapy, including methylation and copy number variant assays, with increasing utilization by oncologists. I plan to be a part of this expansion into immune therapy testing in the future.
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Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Division of Pathology-Lab Medicine Div, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology/Lab Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2014 | University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, US, Medicine, MD |
| 2012 | University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, US, Clinical Investigations, Tumor Immunology, Ph.D |
| 2006 | University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, US, Microbiology, Chemistry (Minor), BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2019-2020 | Clinical Fellowship, Molecular Genetic Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2018-2019 | Clinical Fellowship, Selective Cancer Biomarker Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2016-2016 | Clinical Fellowship, College of American Pathologists (CAP) at Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, Arizona |
| 2014-2018 | Clinical Residency, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, West Virginia |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2020 | American Board of Pathology. Molecular Genetic Pathology |
| 2020 | Texas Medical Board Full License |
| 2019 | Texas Medical Board Training Permit |
| 2018 | Texas Medical Board Training Permit |
| 2018 | American Board of Pathology, Combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology |
| 2017 | Wisconsin License |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
Research Assistant: Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 2010 - 2012
(Fall) Undergraduate Teaching Assistant: Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 2004 - 2006
Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 2003 - 2004
Radiology Service Lab, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, KS, 2002 - 2003
(Summer) Research Assistant, KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 2002 - 2005
Intramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member of Lead from the Front Group, Genomic Test Priorities Initiative Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2024 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, UW-Madison MSTP (MD/PhD) Curriculum Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2011 - 2012
Application Reviewer, UW-Madison MSTP (MD/PhD) Admissions Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2010 - 2011
Honors & Awards
| 2025 - Present | 2024-2025 Faculty Teaching Award in Molecular Genetic Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2024 | 2023-2024 Excellence in Teaching Award in Molecular Genetic Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2022 | 2021-2022 Excellence in Teaching Award in Molecular Genetic Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2020 | Harold C. and Mary L. Dailey Endowment Fellowship, Recognition for Research Excellence, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2019 | Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Research Award, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2018 | 2018 Best Abstract Award, International Association of Chinese Pathologists (IACP) |
| 2017 | Poster session winner, 6th Annual Michael N, Hart Pathology Research Day, Madison, WI |
| 2014 - 2024 | Pathology Honors Society |
| 2008 - 2010 | Madison ICTRTL1 Grant (1TL1RR025013-01), University of Wisconsin |
| 2007 - 2008 | National Institutes of Health T32 Training Grant, NIH |
| 2006 | Biology Departmental and University Honors, University of Kansas |
| 2005 | KUMC Summer Research Training Program Scholarship |
| 2003 - 2004 | K-BRIN Summer Research Internship |
| 2002 | Chancellor's Scholarship, University of Kansas |
| 2002 | Governor's Scholar, State of Kansas |
| 2002 | National Merit Scholarship |
| 2002 | Summer Research Traineeship, University of Kansas |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. Class II HLA‑DRB4 is a predictive biomarker for survival following immunotherapy in metastatic non‑small cell lung cancer. Invited. Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory Journal Club. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Fusion Testing in Solid Tumors. Invited. Tutorials on Clinical Genomics Applications. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Preparation to Transition from Fellow to Faculty - Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (MDL). Invited. Surgical Pathology Fellow Morning Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Fusion Testing in Solid Tumors. Invited. Tutorials on Clinical Genomics Applications. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Genotyping Assays in Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory. Invited. 2022 CCSG Gastrointestinal Program Research Retreat. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2021. Current and Future Molecular Biomarkers for Immuno-Oncology. Invited. Tutorials on Clinical Genomics Applications. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2019. Biomarkers for Cancer Immunotherapy. Invited. WHO Hematopathology Fellowship Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2019. Utilization of a 409 Gene NGS Panel for Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers in Immune Checkpoint Blockade Treatment of Advanced Stage Recurrent or Treatment Refractory Solid Malignancies. Conference. 5th Annual Immuno-Oncology Young Investigators’ Forum. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. Context-Dependent Impact of Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB) on Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Cancers Resistant to Front-Line Therapy. Invited. Houston Society of Clinical Pathologists (HSCP) Annual Meeting, H. Stephen Gallager Residents and Fellows Seminar. Houston, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2024. Practical Considerations During Solid Tumor Molecular Assay Signout. Invited. AANP Molecular Neuropathology Course, Central Nervous System (CNS) Tumors. Houston, TX, US.
- 2024. Clinical NGS Practice for Solid Tumor Patients at MD Anderson Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory. Invited. Georgetown Pathology Resident Conference. Washington DC, Washington DC, US.
International Presentations
- 2024. Four Novel BRAF Fusions Previously Undescribed in Melanomas Detected by Next-Generation Sequencing: A Tertiary Cancer Center Experience. Conference. The 76th Annual Fall Meeting of the Korean Society of Pathologists (KSP), The 1st International Congress of KSP. Seoul, KR.
- 2024. Clinicopathological Features of Small Intestinal Adenocarcinomas with Microsatellite Instability in the United States. Poster. AMP Europe 2024 Meeting. Madrid, ES.
- 2024. Next Generation Sequencing for Personalized Gynecologic Cancer Treatment. Invited. Indonesia Pathology ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). Jakarta, ID.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - 2025 |
| Title: | Tumor-agnostic cell nuclei segmentation for next-generation sequencing pre-analytics using vision foundation models |
| Funding Source: | MD Anderson Divisional Grant |
| Role: | Mentor |
| Date: | 2023 - 2028 |
| Title: | Novel PET Imaging to Guide Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | TBD |
| Date: | 2020 - 2021 |
| Title: | Interrogation of Methylation Landscape in Microsatellite Stable versus |
| Funding Source: | Uterine SPORE Career Enhancement Program (CEP), MD Anderson Cancer Center; Mentor: Russell R. Broaddus, MD, PhD |
| Role: | Trainee |
| Date: | 2020 - 2021 |
| Title: | Correlation of p53 Immunohistochemical Expression with TP53 Mutation in Extrauterine High-Grade Serous Carcinoma |
| Funding Source: | Department Chair Funds for Mentored Trainee Research Pathology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Fellow: Lina Abdul Karim, M.D |
| Role: | Principal Investigator-MDACC |
| Date: | 2020 - 2021 |
| Title: | Do Hybrid Oncocytic / Chromophobe Renal Tumors Harbor Distinct Methylation Landscape from Renal Oncocytomas and Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinomas? |
| Funding Source: | MDACC Division of Pathology Fellow’s Research Grant & Award; Fellow: Betash Nezami, M.D |
| Role: | Trainee |
| Date: | 2019 - 2021 |
| Title: | Feasibility Study and Proof of Principal Assessment of Microsatellite Instability (MSI) Testing Directly from Circulating Cell Free DNA (ccfDNA) |
| Funding Source: | Intradepartmental Grant, Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mentor: Keyur P. Patel, MD, PhD |
| Role: | Principal Investigator-MDACC |
| Date: | 2016 - 2018 |
| Title: | Expression of AR-V7 in Salivary Duct Carcinoma |
| Funding Source: | Department of Pathology Research Award, Pathology, University of Wisconsin |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2016 - 2018 |
| Title: | UWHC Department of Pathology Research Award “Expression of AR-V7 in Salivary Duct Carcinoma” |
| Funding Source: | UWHC Department of Pathology |
| Role: | Research Scientist |
| Date: | 2008 - 2010 |
| Title: | ICTR TL1 Grant |
| Funding Source: | University of Wisconsin - Madison |
| Role: | Trainee |
| ID: | 1TL1RR025013-01 |
| Date: | 2007 - 2008 |
| Title: | National Institutes of Health T32 Training Grant |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | Trainee |
| Title: | College of America Pathologists (CAP) Foundation Advanced Training Grant in Translational Diagnostics |
| Funding Source: | Ventana Medical Systems, Inc |
| Role: | Trainee |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Irfan A, Khazaeli M, Milton DR, Nagarajan P, Cho WC, Lenskaya V, Curry JL, Torres-Cabala CA, Prieto VG, Wong MKK, Yang RK, Aung PP. CD274 Alterations and PD-L1 Expression on Tumor Cells and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Patients With Melanoma: Relationships to Histopathologic Features and Outcomes. Arch Pathol Lab Med, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41662873.
- Yang RK, Rashid AR, Roy Chowdhuri S, Hong DS, Bryan J. Clinicopathological features and outcomes for colorectal carcinomas with KRAS codon 146 mutations. ESMO Gastrointestinal Oncology 10(100244), 2025.
- Nirmalanantham P, Quesada AE, Ghosh A, Lin P, Ok CY, Yang RK, Fang H, Garces S, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Loghavi S, Routbort MJ, Yin CC, Wei W, Pasyar S, Bassett R, El Hussein S, Jain N, Burger J, Wierda WG, Wang S, Bueso-Ramos C, Patel KP, Medeiros LJ, Jelloul FZ. Mutational Landscape and Clinical Impact of SPEN Mutations in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 17(21), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41228377.
- Do J, Yang RK, Curry JL, Cho WC. Fatal Melanoma With MAP4::RAF1 Fusion: Expanding the Clinicopathologic and Prognostic Spectrum of RAF1 -Fused Melanomas. Am J Dermatopathol, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41171016.
- Della Mura M, Sorino J, Colagrande A, Ingravallo G, Giubellino A, Fortarezza F, Yang RK, Cho WC, Cazzato G. Atypical Spitz Tumor/Spitz Melanocytoma Revealing a VIM::NTRK3 Gene Fusion: Clinicopathological Correlation of a Unique Molecular Finding. Am J Dermatopathol, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40591913.
- Cho WC, Yang RK, Lenskaya V, Prieto VG. SBF1::BRAF-Fused Melanoma With Prominent Rhabdoid Morphology and Reed-Sternberg-Like Cells: Potential Morphologic Clues to BRAF-Fused Melanomas of Non-Spitz Lineage?. Am J Dermatopathol 47(9):733-735, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40569288.
- Ibrahim E, Yang RK, Gubbiotti MA, Prieto VG, Cho WC. Primary Cutaneous NUT Adnexal Carcinoma With BRD4::NUTM1 Fusion: A 19-Year Follow-Up. Am J Dermatopathol 47(9):731-733, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40569332.
- Ronaghy, A, Crimini, E, Holla, V, Mills Shaw, KR, Doefler, AM, Campbell, E, Yang, RK, Iorgulescu, JB, Patel, KP, McPherson, DD, Ning, J, Meric-Bernstam, F, Karp, DD. Clinical outcomes of tumor-agnostic targeting of BRAF, tumor mutation burden-high, and RET. ESMO Open 10(6), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40460677.
- Lenskaya, V, Yang, RK, Aung, PP, Prieto, V, Nagarajan, P, Cho, WC. NSD3::FGFR1: A Novel Gene Fusion First to Be Described in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. American Journal of Dermatopathology 47(5):400-403, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40036479.
- Gao, Y, Yang, RK, Curry, JL, Torres Cabala, CA, Cho, WC. Melanoma with RNF11::BRAF Fusion: A Novel Fusion Previously Undescribed in Melanoma. American Journal of Dermatopathology 47(5):391-394, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40036483.
- Bowen, MB, Melendez, B, Zhang, Q, Moreno, D, Peralta, L, Chan, W, Jeter, CR, Tan, L, Zal, MA, Lorenzi, PL, Dunner, K, Yang, RK, Broaddus, R, Celestino, J, Gokul, N, Whitley, EM, Scoville, DM, Kim, TH, Jeong, JW, Schmandt, R, Lu, KH, Kim, HE, Yates, MS. Mitochondrial defects and metabolic vulnerabilities in Lynch syndrome–associated MSH2-deficient endometrial cancer. JCI Insight 10(6), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39964762.
- Wang, P, Yang, RK, Jelloul, FZ, Luthra, R, Routbort, MJ, Chen, H, Loghavi, S, Ok, CY, Kanagal Shamanna, R, Roy Chowdhuri, S, Medeiros, LJ, Patel, KP. Routine Clinical Liquid Biopsy Testing for Solid Tumors Delivers the Promise of Minimally Invasive Detection of Genomic Variants With a Faster Turnaround Time. JCO Precision Oncology 9, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40138600.
- Cazzato G, Daruish M, Fortarezza F, Colagrande A, Marzullo A, Ingravallo G, Dei Tos AP, Yang RK, Cho WC. Gene Fusion-Driven Cutaneous Adnexal Neoplasms: An Updated Review Emphasizing Molecular Characteristics. Am J Dermatopathol 47(6):453-461, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39912629.
- Yang, RK, Alvarez, HA, Lucas, AS, Roy Chowdhuri, S, Rashid, A, Chen, H, Ballester, L, Sweeney, K, Routbort, MJ, Patel, KP, Luthra, R, Medeiros, LJ, Toruner, GA. Microsatellite instability and high tumor mutational burden detected by next generation sequencing are concordant with loss of mismatch repair proteins by immunohistochemistry. Cancer Genetics 290-291:44-50, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39700818.
- Iorgulescu, JB, Yang, RK, Roy Chowdhuri, S, Sura, GH. Same-day molecular testing for targetable mutations in solid tumor cytopathology—The next frontier of the rapid on-site evaluation. Cancer Cytopathology 133(1), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39746874.
- Holla, V, Kahle, M, Kim, SH, Ronaghy, A, Yang, RK, Patel, KP, Routbort, MJ, Overman, MJ, Ileana Dumbrava, EE, Mills Shaw, KR, Karp, DD, Meric-Bernstam, F. Genomic Alterations in DNA Mismatch Repair Genes Across Different Cancer Types. JCO Precision Oncology 8, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39576951.
- Turcios Escobar S, Yang R, Nelson KC, Gershenwald JE, Tawbi H, Aung PP, Patel SP, Torres-Cabala CA. Utility of next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma: A case report. J Cutan Pathol 51(9):644-648, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38757469.
- Son J, Zhang Y, Lin H, Mirallas O, Alvarez Ballesteros P, Nardo M, Clark N, Hillman RT, Campbell E, Holla V, Johnson AM, Biter AB, Yuan Y, Cobb LP, Gershenson DM, Jazaeri AA, Lu KH, Soliman PT, Westin SN, Euscher ED, Lawson BC, Yang RK, Meric-Bernstam F, Hong DS. Clinical and genomic landscape of RAS mutations in gynecologic cancers. Clin Cancer Res 30(14):2986-2995, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38687597.
- Ibrahim E, Yang RK, Curry JL, Cho WC. BCR::ZNF711 and BCR::CYLC2 Fusions: Novel BCR Fusions Expanding the Molecular Spectrum of Gene Fusions in Melanoma. Am J Dermatopathol 46(11):797-799, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39008495.
- Cho WC, Prieto VG, Yang RK. Spitz Melanoma With SLC20A1::ALK Fusion: A Novel Fusion Previously Undescribed in Spitz Melanocytic Neoplasm. Am J Dermatopathol 46(10):700-703, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38941542.
- Bowen MB, Melendez B, Zhang Q, Yang RK, Fellman BM, Lawson BC, Adjei NN, Celestino J, Wani KM, Singh B, Urbauer DL, Lazar AJ, Lu KH, Wargo JA, Westin SN, Yates MS. Long-term follow-up of levonorgestrel intrauterine device for atypical hyperplasia and early endometrial cancer reveals relapse characterized by immune exhaustion. Clin Cancer Res 30(22):5073-5082, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38922360.
- Bowen MB, Melendez B, Zhang Q, Moreno D, Peralta L, Chan WK, Jeter C, Tan L, Zal MA, Lorenzi PL, Dunner K, Yang RK, Broaddus RR, Celestino J, Gokul N, Whitley E, Schmandt R, Lu K, Kim HE, Yates MS. Mitochondrial defects and metabolic vulnerabilities in Lynch syndrome-associated MSH2-deficient endometrial cancer. bioRxiv, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38915709.
- Lenskaya V, Yang RK, Cho WC. Primary cutaneous apocrine carcinoma with RARA::NPEPPS fusion. J Cutan Pathol 51(6):419-423, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38468567.
- Salah HT, Yang RK, Roy-Chowdhuri S, Ross MI, Aung PP, Rothrock AT, Torres-Cabala CA, Curry JL, Prieto VG, Nagarajan P, Cho WC. Spitz melanocytic neoplasms with MLPH::ALK fusions: Report of two cases with previously unreported features and literature review. J Cutan Pathol 51(6):407-414, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38444194.
- Denu RA, Joseph CP, Urquiola ES, Byrd PS, Yang RK, Ratan R, Zarzour MA, Conley AP, Araujo DM, Ravi V, Nassif Haddad EF, Nakazawa MS, Patel S, Wang WL, Lazar AJ, Somaiah N. Utility of Clinical Next Generation Sequencing Tests in KIT/PDGFRA/SDH Wild-Type Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 16(9), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38730662.
- Zheng, L, Luthra, R, Alvarez, HA, San Lucas, FA, Duose, D, Wistuba, II, Fuller, GN, Ballester, L, Roy Chowdhuri, S, Sweeney, K, Rashid, A, Yang, RK, Chen, W, Liu, A, Wu, Y, Albarracin, C, Patel, KP, Routbort, MJ, Sahin, AA, Ding, Q, Chen, H. Intragenic EGFR::EGFR.E1E8 Fusion (EGFRvIII) in 4331 Solid Tumors. Cancers 16(1), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38201434.
- Diks J, Tang Z, Altan M, Anderson S, Chen H, Rashid A, Yang RK, Routbort MJ, Patel KP, Toruner GA, Medeiros LJ, Tang G, Luthra R, Roy-Chowdhuri S. Detection of clinically actionable gene fusions by next-generation sequencing-based RNA sequencing of non-small cell lung cancer cytology specimens: A single-center experience with comparison to fluorescence in situ hybridization. Cancer Cytopathol 132(1):41-49, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37747438.
- Esplen HP, Yang RK, Kalia A, Tang Z, Tang G, Medeiros LJ, Toruner GA. Recurrent Somatic Copy Number Alterations and Their Association with Oncogene Expression Levels in High-Grade Ovarian Serous Carcinoma. Life (Basel) 13(11), 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 38004332.
- Iorgulescu JB, Shaw LK, Rashid A, Rao P, Mandayam S, Patel KP, Schmeler KM, Yang RK, Msaouel P. Müllerian-Type Clear Cell Carcinoma of Donor Origin in a Male Patient with a Kidney Transplant: Ascertained by Molecular Testing. Curr Oncol 30(10):9019-9027, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37887551.
- Denu RA, Yang RK, Lazar AJ, Patel SS, Lewis VO, Roszik J, Livingston JA, Wang WL, Shaw KR, Ratan R, Zarzour MA, Bird J, Raza S, Akdemir KC, Rodon Ahnert J, Subbiah V, Patel S, Conley AP. Clinico-Genomic Profiling of Conventional and Dedifferentiated Chondrosarcomas Reveals TP53 Mutation to Be Associated with Worse Outcomes. Clin Cancer Res 29(23):4844-4852, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37747813.
- Yang, RK, Chen, H, Roy Chowdhuri, S, Rashid, A, Alvarez, HA, Routbort, MJ, Patel, KP, Luthra, R, Medeiros, LJ, Toruner, GA. Clinical Testing for Mismatch Repair in Neoplasms Using Multiple Laboratory Methods. Cancers 14(19), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36230473.
- Jelloul, FZ, Yang, RK, Garces, S, Kanagal Shamanna, R, Ok, CY, Loghavi, S, Routbort, MJ, Zuo, Z, Yin, CC, Floyd, K, Bassett Jr, R, Wierda, WG, Jain, N, Thompson, PA, Luthra, R, Medeiros, LJ, Patel, KP. Landscape of NOTCH1 mutations and co-occurring biomarker alterations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia Research 116, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35430388.
- Yang, RK, Toruner, GA, Wang, W, Fang, H, Issa, GC, Wang, L, Quesada, AE, Thakral, B, Patel, KP, Peng, G, Liu, S, Yin, CC, Borthakur, G, Tang, Z, Wang, S, Miranda, R, Khoury, J, Medeiros, LJ, Tang, G. CBFB Break-Apart FISH Testing: An Analysis of 1629 AML Cases with a Focus on Atypical Findings and Their Implications in Clinical Diagnosis and Management. Cancers 13(21), 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34771519.
- Lawson BC, Yang RK, Euscher ED, Ramalingam P, Malpica A. TP53 variant allele frequency correlates with the chemotherapy response score in ovarian/fallopian tube/peritoneal high-grade serous carcinoma. Hum Pathol 115:76-83, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34153306.
- Dottino JA, Zhang Q, Loose DS, Fellman B, Melendez BD, Borthwick MS, McKenzie LJ, Yuan Y, Yang RK, Broaddus RR, Lu KH, Soliman PT, Yates MS. Endometrial biomarkers in premenopausal obese women: an at-risk cohort. Am J Obstet Gynecol 224(3):278.e1-278.e14, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32835719.
- Farah M, Reuben A, Spassova I, Yang RK, Kubat L, Nagarajan P, Ning J, Li W, Aung PP, Curry JL, Torres-Cabala CA, Hudgens CW, Ugurel S, Schadendorf D, Gumbs C, Little LD, Futreal A, Wistuba II, Prieto VG, Wang L, Wong MK, Wargo JA, Becker JC, Tetzlaff MT. T-Cell Repertoire in Combination with T-Cell Density Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma. J Invest Dermatol 140(11):2146-2156.e4, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32304704.
- Gupta SK, Jain N, Tang G, Futreal A, Wang SA, Khoury JD, Yang RK, Fang H, Patel KP, Luthra R, Routbort M, Barkoh BA, Chen W, Mao X, Zhang J, Medeiros LJ, Bueso-Ramos CE, Loghavi S. A Cryptic BCR-PDGFRB Fusion Resulting in a Chronic Myeloid Neoplasm With Monocytosis and Eosinophilia: A Novel Finding With Treatment Implications. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 18(10):1300-1304, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33022638.
- Yang RK, Kuznetsov IB, Ranheim EA, Wei JS, Sindiri S, Gryder BE, Gangalapudi V, Song YK, Patel V, Hank JA, Zuleger C, Erbe AK, Morris ZS, Quale R, Kim K, Albertini MR, Khan J, Sondel PM. Outcome-Related Signatures Identified by Whole Transcriptome Sequencing of Resectable Stage III/IV Melanoma Evaluated after Starting Hu14.18-IL2. Clin Cancer Res 26(13):3296-3306, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32152202.
- Yang RK, Qing Y, Jelloul FZ, Routbort MJ, Wang P, Shaw K, Zhang J, Lee J, Medeiros LJ, Kopetz S, Tetzlaff MT, Broaddus RR. Identification of biomarkers of immune checkpoint blockade efficacy in recurrent or refractory solid tumor malignancies. Oncotarget 11(6):600-618, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32110280.
- Yang RK, Zhao P, Lu C, Luo J, Hu R. Expression pattern of androgen receptor and AR-V7 in androgen-deprivation therapy-naïve salivary duct carcinomas. Hum Pathol 84:173-182, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30267779.
- Albertini MR, Yang RK, Ranheim EA, Hank JA, Zuleger CL, Weber S, Neuman H, Hartig G, Weigel T, Mahvi D, Henry MB, Quale R, McFarland T, Gan J, Carmichael L, Kim K, Loibner H, Gillies SD, Sondel PM. Pilot trial of the hu14.18-IL2 immunocytokine in patients with completely resectable recurrent stage III or stage IV melanoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 67(10):1647-1658, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30073390.
- Yang RK, Nazeef M, Patel SS, Mattison R, Yang DT, Ranheim EA, Leith CP. Improving bone marrow biopsy quality through peer discussion and data comparisons: A single institution experience. Int J Lab Hematol 40(4):419-426, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29575638.
- Morris ZS, Guy EI, Francis DM, Gressett MM, Werner LR, Carmichael LL, Yang RK, Armstrong EA, Huang S, Navid F, Gillies SD, Korman A, Hank JA, Rakhmilevich AL, Harari PM, Sondel PM. In Situ Tumor Vaccination by Combining Local Radiation and Tumor-Specific Antibody or Immunocytokine Treatments. Cancer Res 76(13):3929-41, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27197149.
- Yang RK, Kalogriopoulos NA, Rakhmilevich AL, Ranheim EA, Seo S, Kim K, Alderson KL, Gan J, Reisfeld RA, Gillies SD, Hank JA, Sondel PM. Intratumoral treatment of smaller mouse neuroblastoma tumors with a recombinant protein consisting of IL-2 linked to the hu14.18 antibody increases intratumoral CD8+ T and NK cells and improves survival. Cancer Immunol Immunother 62(8):1303-13, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23661160.
- Van De Voort TJ, Felder MA, Yang RK, Sondel PM, Rakhmilevich AL. Intratumoral delivery of low doses of anti-CD40 mAb combined with monophosphoryl lipid a induces local and systemic antitumor effects in immunocompetent and T cell-deficient mice. J Immunother 36(1):29-40, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23211623.
- Rakhmilevich AL, Baldeshwiler MJ, Van De Voort TJ, Felder MA, Yang RK, Kalogriopoulos NA, Koslov DS, Van Rooijen N, Sondel PM. Tumor-associated myeloid cells can be activated in vitro and in vivo to mediate antitumor effects. Cancer Immunol Immunother 61(10):1683-97, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22392192.
- Yang RK, Kalogriopoulos NA, Rakhmilevich AL, Ranheim EA, Seo S, Kim K, Alderson KL, Gan J, Reisfeld RA, Gillies SD, Hank JA, Sondel PM. Intratumoral hu14.18-IL-2 (IC) induces local and systemic antitumor effects that involve both activated T and NK cells as well as enhanced IC retention. J Immunol 189(5):2656-64, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22844125.
- Lange BJ, Yang RK, Gan J, Hank JA, Sievers EL, Alonzo TA, Gerbing RB, Sondel PM. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor α activation in a Children's Oncology Group randomized trial of interleukin-2 therapy for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer 57(3):398-405, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21681921.
- Soto BL, Hank JA, Van De Voort TJ, Subramanian L, Polans AS, Rakhmilevich AL, Yang RK, Seo S, Kim K, Reisfeld RA, Gillies SD, Sondel PM. The anti-tumor effect of resveratrol alone or in combination with immunotherapy in a neuroblastoma model. Cancer Immunol Immunother 60(5):731-8, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21340652.
- Delgado DC, Hank JA, Kolesar J, Lorentzen D, Gan J, Seo S, Kim K, Shusterman S, Gillies SD, Reisfeld RA, Yang R, Gadbaw B, DeSantes KB, London WB, Seeger RC, Maris JM, Sondel PM. Genotypes of NK cell KIR receptors, their ligands, and Fcγ receptors in the response of neuroblastoma patients to Hu14.18-IL2 immunotherapy. Cancer Res 70(23):9554-61, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20935224.
- Graham DW, Trippett C, Dodds WK, O'Brien JM, Banner EB, Head IM, Smith MS, Yang RK, Knapp CW. Correlations between in situ denitrification activity and nir-gene abundances in pristine and impacted prairie streams. Environ Pollut 158(10):3225-9, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20724046.
- Peak N, Knapp CW, Yang RK, Hanfelt MM, Smith MS, Aga DS, Graham DW. Abundance of six tetracycline resistance genes in wastewater lagoons at cattle feedlots with different antibiotic use strategies. Environ Microbiol 9(1):143-51, 2007. e-Pub 2007. PMID: 17227419.
- Smith MS, Yang RK, Knapp CW, Niu Y, Peak N, Hanfelt MM, Galland JC, Graham DW. Quantification of tetracycline resistance genes in feedlot lagoons by real-time PCR. Appl Environ Microbiol 70(12):7372-7, 2004. e-Pub 2004. PMID: 15574938.
Invited Articles
- Ronaghy A, Yang RK, Khoury JD, Kanagal-Shamanna R. Clinical Applications of Chromosomal Microarray Testing in Myeloid Malignancies. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 15(3):194-202, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32382988.
- Yang RK, Yang DT. Primary myelofibrosis with an unusual MPL mutation: Integrating molecular testing into the diagnosis and prognosis of BCR-ABL1 negative myeloproliferative neoplasms. Case of the Quarter - Society for Hematopathology/American Society of Clinical Pathology, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Yang RK, Sondel PM. Anti-GD2 Strategy in the Treatment of Neuroblastoma. Drugs Future 35(8):665, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 21037966.
Review Articles
- Cazzato G, Fortarezza F, Daruish M, Annese T, Ribatti D, Ingravallo G, Mura MD, Sorino J, Tos APD, Giubellino A, Ricci C, Cabala CAT, Yang RK, Cho WC. Gene fusion-driven cutaneous mesenchymal neoplasms: An updated review emphasizing the emerging entities. Virchows Arch, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41545801.
- Jelloul FZ, Quesada AE, Yang RK, Li S, Wang W, Xu J, Tang G, Yin CC, Fang H, El Hussein S, Khoury J, Bassett RL, Garcia-Manero G, Manasanch EE, Orlowski RZ, Qazilbash MH, Patel KP, Medeiros LJ, Lin P. Clinicopathologic Features of Therapy-Related Myeloid Neoplasms in Patients with Myeloma in the Era of Novel Therapies. Mod Pathol 36(6):100166, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 36990279.
Abstracts
- Kim, MJ, Yang, R, Nagarajan, P, Aung, P, Curry, J, Cho, WC. Identification of Novel Fusions in Melanoma by Next-Generation Sequencing: A Retrospective Analysis of 144 Patients from a Single Tertiary Cancer Center, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Euscher ED, Yang RK, Malpica A, Lawson BC, Ramalingam P. Endometrial Tumors with POLE Mutation: A Clinicopathologic Characterization of a Single Institution Series, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Wang G, Lawson BC, Euscher ED, Ramalingam P, Malpica A, Yang RK. Patients with Stage III-IV ARID1A Mutated Gynecologic Carcinomas Have Better Overall Survival when Treated with Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Yang RK, Ronen S, Bell AH, Nagarajan P, Curry JL, Ivan D, Prieto VG, Torres-Cabala CA, Aung PP. MicroRNA Expression Signature Differentiates Primary Lentiginous from Non-Lentiginous Acral Melanoma, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Jelloul FZ, Yang RK, Li S, Tang G, Patel KP, Medeiros LJ, Lin P. Clinicopathologic Features of Therapy-Related Myeloid Neoplasms in Myeloma Patients in The Era of Novel Therapies: A Study of 60 Patients, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Karim LA, Yang RK, Ramalingham P, Lawson BC, Malpica A. Correlation of p53 Immunohistochemical Expression with TP53 Mutation in Extrauterine High-Grade Serous Carcinoma, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Nezami BG, Toruner GA, Routbort MA, San Lucas F, Yang RK, Seyedjafari R, Chen H, Rashid A, Loghavi S, Roy-Chowdhuri S, Rashmi K, Yin CC, Zuo Z, Ok CK, Tang Z, Medeiros LJ, Luthra R, Patel KP. Clinical Utility of NGS-Based Gene Fusion Testing in Solid Tumors, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Yang RK, Tang G, Toruner GA, Yin CC, Wang W, Hu S, Zuo Z, Patel KP, Khoury JD, Medeiros LJ, Tang Z. Atypical CBFB FISH Signal Patterns Warrant Further Investigation for A True CBFB Rearrangement: An Analysis Of 2425 CBFB FISH Tests, 2020. e-Pub 2020.
- Ramalingam P, Yang RK, Lawson BC, Euscher ED, Malpica A. Next Generation Sequencing in Peritoneal versus Pleural Mesotheliomas-Commonalities and Differences, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Jelloul FZ, Yang RK, Wang P, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Ok CY, Loghavi S, Routbort MJ, Zuo A, Yin CC, Floyd K, Wierda W, Luthra R, Medeiros LJ, Patel KP. Non-coding NOTCH1 Mutations in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Association for Molecular Pathologists (AMP), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Yang RK, Routbort M, Wang P, Jelloul FZ, Patel KP, Luthra R, Broaddus RR. Context-Dependent Impact of Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB) on Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Cancers Resistant to Front-Line Therapy, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Yang RK, Ronaghy A, Abdulrazzaq M, Feinstein G, Routbort MJ, Kopetz S, Broaddus RR, Prieto VG, Medeiros LJ, Luthra R, Patel KP. Determination of Eligibility for Pembrolizumab Treatment: Comparison of Mismatch Repair Deficiency (dMMR) by IHC, Microsatellite Instability-High (MSI-H) Status by PCR, and MMR Gene Mutations (MMRmut) by NG, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Wang P, Luthra R, Routbort M, Chen H, Loghavi S, Ok CY, Alvarez H, Yang RK, Broaddus RR, Mantha G, Medeiros, Patel KP. Routine Clinical Liquid Biopsy Testing for Solid Tumors Delivers the Promise of Ultrasensitive and Minimally Invasive Detection of Genomic Variants with a Faster Turnaround Time, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Yang RK, Abdulrazzaq M, Ronaghy A, Feinstein G, Prieto VG, Medeiros LJ, Luthra R, Routbort MJ, Patel KP, Kopetz S, Broaddus RR. Utility of NGS Assessment of Somatic Mutations in Mismatch Repair Genes in Solid Tumors: Improved Overall Survival in Stage III or IV Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Blockade, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Yang RK, Wang P, Jelloul F, Routbort M, Kopetz S, Shaw K, Lee J, Zhang J, Chen H, Patel KP, Luthra R, Broaddus RR. Prognostic value of tumor mutational burden using a 409 gene NGS panael in cancer patients with advanced stage recurrent or treatment refractory disease, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Yang RK, Jelloul F, Wang P, Routbort MJ, Patel KP, Luthra R, Broaddus RR. Mutations in DNA Repair (DR) Genes: Another Indicator of High Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB), 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Yang RK, Zhao P, Lu C, Hu RX. Expression of Androgen Receptor Splice Variant-7 (AR-V7) in Salivary Duct Carcinoma: Implications for Treatment with Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT), 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Yang RK, Albertini MR, Hank JA, Sondel PM, Ranheim EA. Tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) percentage as a prognostic biomarker for overall and relapse free survival in Hu14.18-IL2 treated resectable recurrent stage 3 or 4 melanoma patients, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Yang RK, Albertini MR, Hank JA, Sondel PM, Ranheim EA. Increased Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Percentage as a Biomarker to Prognosticate Overall and Relapse Free Survival in Hu14.18-IL2 Treated Resectable Recurrent Stage III or IV Melanoma Patients (NCT00590824), 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- ohnson, B, Wells S, Best S, Ziemlewicz T, Lubner M, Hinshaw L, Lee FT, Huang W, Yang RK, Nakada S, Abel EJ. Does Routine Biopsy Improve Detection of Residual RCC Post Microwave Ablation?, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
- Albertini MR, Ranheim EA, Hank JA, Zuleger CL, McFarland TA, Collins J, Clements E, Weber SM, Weigel TL, Neuman HB, Hartig GK, Mahvi DM, Henry MB, Gan J, Yang RK, Kim K, Gillies SD, Sondel PM. Final statistical analysis of a pilot trial of hu14.18-IL2 in patients with completely resectable recurrent stage III or stage IV melanoma, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Nazeef M, Yang RK, Patel S, Mattison RJ, Leith CP. Bone Marrow Biopsy Quality: A Quality Improvement Project to Identify Factors Affecting Bone Marrow Biopsy Length and Find Strategies to Improve Overall Biopsy Quality, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Rosenbaum JN, Yang RK, Baus RM, Rehrauer WM, Huang W, Lloyd RV. INSM1 Expression Correlates with Metastasis and Functional Hormone Production in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Alrohaibani A, Sweeney K, Krasniqi R, Ding Q, Huo L, Wu Y, Dhamne S, Luthra R, Lucas FS, Roy-Chowdhuri S, Routbort M, Patel K, Yang R, Arun B, Albarracin C, Chen H. ESR1 Mutated Advanced Breast Cancer: Clinicopathological and Molecular Characteristics. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.
- Irfan A, Khazaeli M, Milton D, Nagarajan P, Lenskaya V, Cho WC, Curry J, Torres-Cabala C, Prieto V, Yang R, Aung P. PD-L1 (CD274) Gene Alteration in Melanoma: Relationship to immunotherapy, disease progression and tumor mutation burden. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.
- Ibrahim E, Yang R, Nagarajan P, Sweeney K, Chen H, Roy-Chowdhuri S, Lenskaya V, Aung P, Curry J, Ivan D, Prieto V, Torres-Cabala C, Cho WC. Clinicopathologic and Molecular Characterization of BRAF-Fused Melanomas: A Retrospective Analysis of 9 Cases with 8 Novel Fusions Detected by Next-Generation Sequencing. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.
- Yang B, Pizzi M, Yang R, Zheng W, Liu X, Cao F, Dhar S, Ajani J, Yin F. Poorly Differentiated Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Clinicopathological and Molecular Profiling of the Subtypes. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.
- Sweeney K, Yang R, Alrohaibani A, Krasniqi R, Roy-Chowdhuri S, Patel K, Routbort M, Albarracin C, Chen H. Recurring Genes in Fusions in Advanced Breast Carcinoma Detected by Next Generation Sequencing: Novel BCR and TMPRSS2 Gene Fusions. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.
- Lavu S, Yang R. Identification of Non-Canonical DNA Polymerase Epsilon Exonuclease (POLE) variants in Endometrioid Endometrial Carcinoma with high TMB and Ultra-Mutated Phenotype. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.
- Dai M, Chen H, Iorgulescu B, Alvarez H, Luthra R, Patel K, Rashid A, Sura G, Sweeney K, Toruner G, Yang R, Dang H, Lucas FS, Roy-Chowdhuri S. Unraveling the Nexus: Tumor Mutational Burden, PD-L1 Expression and Oncogene Specific Alterations in Cytology Specimens of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.
Letters to the Editor
- Jelloul FZ, Yang RK, Wang P, Garces S, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Ok CY, Loghavi S, Routbort MJ, Zuo Z, Yin CC, Floyd K, Bassett RL, Wierda WG, Jain N, Thompson PA, Luthra R, Medeiros LJ, Patel KP. Non-coding NOTCH1 mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia negatively impact prognosis. Am J Hematol 97: E100-E102, 2022.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified March 16, 2026