Melissa Rasar Young, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Therapeutic RadiologyCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Evaluation of a Novel Prognostic System for Surgically Resected Oral Cavity Carcinoma
Rybkin A, Lee V, Young M, Eskander A, Burtness B, Park H, Husain Z. Evaluation of a Novel Prognostic System for Surgically Resected Oral Cavity Carcinoma. Head & Neck 2025 PMID: 40862436, DOI: 10.1002/hed.70022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOral cavity carcinomaNational Cancer Data BaseOverall survivalHigh-risk groupFive-year OSTreated with surgeryPredictive of OSKaplan-Meier methodHigh-risk categoryT/N stageNegative marginsDefinitive surgeryDistant metastasisPatientsPrognostic systemCarcinomaSurgeryPrediction scoreLVSIMetastasisSurgicallyT/NCohortPoint-based systemOrallyA lupus-derived autoantibody that binds to intracellular RNA activates cGAS-mediated tumor immunity and can deliver RNA into cells
Chen X, Tang X, Xie Y, Cuffari B, Tang C, Cao F, Gao X, Meng Z, Noble P, Young M, Turk O, Shirali A, Gera J, Nishimura R, Zhou J, Hansen J. A lupus-derived autoantibody that binds to intracellular RNA activates cGAS-mediated tumor immunity and can deliver RNA into cells. Science Signaling 2025, 18: eadk3320. PMID: 40132052, PMCID: PMC12076517, DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adk3320.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSystemic lupus erythematosusOrthotopic models of glioblastomaNecrotic tumor cellsPathophysiology of autoimmunityNonviral gene deliveryModels of glioblastomaTumor immunityOrthotopic modelT cellsLupus erythematosusTumor cellsGene deliveryAnimal survivalCyclic GMP-AMP synthaseImmune responseAutoantibodiesTherapeutic opportunitiesCancer treatmentPromote animal survivalDeliver RNAImmune signalingLiving miceAntibodiesCellsMuscle tissue
2024
Evaluation of a Novel Prognostic System for Overall Survival in Surgically Resected Oral Cavity Carcinoma
Husain Z, Rybkin A, Lee V, Young M, Eskander A, Burtness B, Park H. Evaluation of a Novel Prognostic System for Overall Survival in Surgically Resected Oral Cavity Carcinoma. International Journal Of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2024, 120: e759-e760. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.07.1668.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLymphovascular space invasionOral cavity carcinomaOverall survivalIntermediate-riskHigh riskT3/4 diseaseDistant metastasisN stageStandard riskPrediction of distant metastasisGrade 3 tumorsMedian Follow-UpNational Cancer DatabasePathological risk factorsOral cavity cancerKaplan-Meier methodLog-rank testSubsets of patientsHospital-based cohortClinical trial stratificationHigh-volume hospitalsT3/4 tumorsMedian followSurgical resectionIndividualized treatment selection
2021
LB777 Atypical presentation of Bullous Pemphigoid unmasked by radiation therapy
Choi R, Young M, Cowper S, Leventhal J. LB777 Atypical presentation of Bullous Pemphigoid unmasked by radiation therapy. Journal Of Investigative Dermatology 2021, 141: b16. DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.07.043.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical NotesCombinations of immunotherapy and radiation therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a narrative review
Hayman TJ, Bhatia AK, Jethwa KR, Young MR, Park HS. Combinations of immunotherapy and radiation therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a narrative review. Translational Cancer Research 2021, 10: 2571-2585. PMID: 35116571, PMCID: PMC8798834, DOI: 10.21037/tcr-20-2096.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeck squamous cell carcinomaSquamous cell carcinomaRadiation therapyCell carcinomaImmune responseNon-surgical treatment modalitiesCell death ligand 1Cell death protein 1Cancer-directed therapyCombination of immunotherapyAnti-tumor responseDeath ligand 1Death protein 1Adaptive immune responsesAdaptive immune systemAdvanced HNSCCAdvanced diseaseMetastatic settingPostoperative settingSystemic therapyImmunomodulatory effectsTreatment modalitiesRecurrent/Clinical trialsClinical dataGSOR10 Presentation Time: 3:15 PM Single Implant Hybrid Interstitial Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Institutional Approach
Damast S, Tien C, Young M, Altwerger G, Ratner E. GSOR10 Presentation Time: 3:15 PM Single Implant Hybrid Interstitial Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Institutional Approach. Brachytherapy 2021, 20: s54. PMCID: PMC8215885, DOI: 10.1016/j.brachy.2021.06.086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPO03 A Novel Design in Peripheral Channels of a Brachytherapy Multichannel Applicator Demonstrates Significant Differences in Dose to Surrounding Volume
Tien C, Damast S, Young M, Kaur M, Kim J, Chen Z. PO03 A Novel Design in Peripheral Channels of a Brachytherapy Multichannel Applicator Demonstrates Significant Differences in Dose to Surrounding Volume. Brachytherapy 2021, 20: s56-s57. DOI: 10.1016/j.brachy.2021.06.091.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
Revisiting the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 1221 Hypothesis: Treatment for Stage III/IV HPV‐Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer
Jacobs D, Torabi SJ, Park HS, Rahmati R, Young MR, Mehra S, Judson BL. Revisiting the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 1221 Hypothesis: Treatment for Stage III/IV HPV‐Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer. Otolaryngology 2020, 164: 1240-1248. PMID: 33198564, DOI: 10.1177/0194599820969613.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNational Cancer DatabaseHPV-negative oropharyngeal cancersChemoradiation therapyOverall survivalCancer DatabaseOropharyngeal cancerHPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaLarge national cancer databaseNeck cancer-specific survivalOropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaCox proportional hazards regressionKaplan-Meier survival analysisCancer-specific survivalImproved overall survivalMultivariable Cox regressionRetrospective cohort studyAdjuvant chemoradiation therapyUse of surgeryEnd Results ProgramProportional hazards regressionSquamous cell carcinomaSEER cohortAdjuvant therapyCohort studySEER databaseCervical Cancer
Laird J, Young M, Damast S. Cervical Cancer. 2020 DOI: 10.1891/9780826155146.0028.ChaptersVulvar Cancer
Laird J, Young M, Damast S. Vulvar Cancer. 2020 DOI: 10.1891/9780826155146.0030.Chapters
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
A Phase II Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Therapy With Pembrolizumab After Resection of Recurrent/Second Primary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma With High Risk Features
HIC ID2000031055RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date02/28/2026Recruiting ParticipantsMRI Brain Surveillance Alone Versus MRI Surveillance and Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation (PCI): A Randomized Phase III Trial in Small-Cell Lung Cancer (MAVERICK)
HIC ID2000027403RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date11/15/2025Recruiting ParticipantsPhase II Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Radiotherapy With or Without Cisplatin for p53 Mutated, Surgically Resected Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN)
HIC ID1604017600RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2027Recruiting ParticipantsRadiation Therapy With Cisplatin, Docetaxel, or Cetuximab After Surgery in Treating Patients With Stage III-IV Squamous Cell Head and Neck Cancer
HIC ID1311013073RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/01/2027Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18+ years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Melissa Young, MD, PhD, is a therapeutic radiologist who specializes in treating head and neck, breast, and gynecologic cancers with radiation therapy.
“The ability to play an integral role in how a patient’s cancer is treated—and possibly cured—is a rewarding experience,” Dr. Young says. “I value being able to support my patients through the challenges of cancer therapy.”
Dr. Young says she appreciates collaborating with colleagues from different disciplines to create the best treatment plan for patients with complicated cancers. “That extra support helps strengthen my patient care relationships during and after treatment,” she says.
Dr. Young is the director of Yale Medicine’s Head & Neck Radiotherapy program.
Clinical Specialties
Therapeutic Radiology
Fact Sheets
Radiation Therapy
Learn More on Yale MedicineMerkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC)
Learn More on Yale MedicineHead and Neck Cancer
Learn More on Yale MedicineBrachytherapy
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Yale Medicine News
News & Links
News
- March 25, 2025
Lupus-Related Antibody Shows Promise in Enhancing Cancer Treatment Efficacy
- October 03, 2024
Yale Cancer Center Physicians and Trainees Present at ASTRO
- January 04, 2024
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven becomes first hospital in the northeast to offer SCINTIX biology-guided radiotherapy by RefleXion
- May 12, 2023
Head & Neck Cancers Specialty Team Smilow Cancer Hospital at Trumbull
Get In Touch
Contacts
Academic Office Number
Appointment Number
Office Fax Number
Clinic Fax Number
Mailing Address
Therapeutic Radiology
P. O. Box 208040
New Haven, CT 06520-8040
United States
Locations
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven
Academic Office
35 Park Street, Ste LL 519
New Haven, CT 06511
Patient Care Locations
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