Alexander Lin, MD

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Description of Research Expertise

Alexander Lin, M.D., is the Morton M. Kligerman, MD Endowed Professor of Radiation Oncology. Dr. Lin leads research programs in personalized approaches in the multidisciplinary treatment of head and neck cancer. Dr. Lin leads studies in novel methods of toxicity mitigation in patients with Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers of the oropharynx. He also specializes in clinical trials investigating new radiosensitizing agents targeting the tumor microenvironment to improve disease outcomes, for which he receives funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Dr. Lin completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University and his medical training at the University of Michigan. He is a board-certified radiation oncologist and practicing physician at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine.

Description of Clinical Expertise

Dr. Lin specializes in the multidisciplinary approach to treatment of cancers of the head and neck. He works collaboratively with members of the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), Medical Oncology, Pathology, Diagnostic Radiology, Oral Medicine, and Nuclear Medicine with a focus on improving cancer control, outcomes, and quality of life for patients.

Description of Other Expertise

Dr. Lin is the Executive Vice Chair in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. In this role, he works in conjunction with departmental and health system leadership efforts to establish and implement the department's vision and strategic plan, encompassing educational, research, and clinical efforts.

Selected Publications

• Halle TR, Cao AC, Naik AG, Weinstein GS, Lee JJ, Gobillot TA, Kaye ER, Brody RM, Basu D, O’Malley Jr BW, Farwell DG, Cannady SB, Lin A, Lukens J, Gentile M, Newman JG, Chalian AA, Rassekh CH, Rajasekaran K : Risk of occult contralateral neck metastasis in early-stage HPV-related lateralized cancer of the base of the tongue Head and Neck 48(4) : 986-993, April 2026
• Gallant J, Rich DJ, Raghav L, Sannigrahi MK, Patria JN, Mishra SK, Lin A, Brody RM, Gimotty PA, Jalaly JB, Mirabello L, Devraj Basu D : Molecular etiology and clinical significance of discordant HPV testing in p16+ oropharyngeal cancers JCO Precision Oncology : e2501030, March 2026
• Frank SJ, Busse PM, Lee JJ, Rosenthal DI, Hernandez M, Swanson DM, Garden AS, Gunn GB, Patel SH, Snider JW, Ma DJ, Molitoris JK, Lee NY, Parvathaneni U, McDonald MW, Kalman NS, Lin A, Mohammed N, Henson C, Hyde C, Bajaj GK, Katz SR, Dagan R, Morrison WH, Reddy JP, Fuller CD, Shah SJ, Phan J, Chronowski GM, Mayo L, Sturgis EM, Ferrarotto R, Zhu XR, Zhang X, Wang L, Hutcheson KA, El-Naggar AK, Moreno AC, Lee A, Spiotto MT, Gross ND, Lai SY, Liao JJ, Jonathan Paly J, Liao Z, and Foote RL on behalf of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Clinical Trial Consortium : Proton versus photon radiotherapy for patients with oropharyngeal cancer in the USA: a multicentre, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority phase 3 trial Lancet 407(10524) : 174-184, January 2026
• Deng J, Murphy BA, Andersen LP, McMenamin E, Lukens JN, Cohn JC, Rajasekaran K, Quinn RJ, Spinelli BA, Lin A : Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a lymphedema and fibrosis self-management program for head and neck cancer survivors: a pilot randomized controlled trial Oral Oncology 168 : Article 107556 , August 2025 (online ahead of print)
• Gobillot TA, Weinstein G, Cao A, Lee JJ, Brody RM, Basu D, O’Malley Jr BW, Cannady S, Lin A, Lukens J, Gentile M, Newman J, Chalian AA, Sun S, Cohen R, Rasskeh CH, Rajasekaran K : Outcomes of HPV+ oropharyngeal carcinoma of unknown primary following transoral robotic surgery The Laryngoscope 135(12) : 4707-4715, December 2025
• Rose AM, Helgeson ES, Kimberly C. Valentino KC, Lalla RV, Treister NS, Schmidt BL, Patton LL, Lin A, Brennan MT, Sollecito TP : The Impact of Medications on Salivary Flow and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Post-Radiation Head and Neck Cancer Patients: Results of the OraRad Study Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology 140(5) : 577-586, November 2025
• Gu W, Shoniyozov K, Mei K, Lin A, Zou W, Dong L, Noel P, Teo BK : Optimization and Fabrication of a Novel 3D-Printed Variable Density Range Modulation Device for Proton FLASH Beams Medical Physics 52(10) : e70013, October 2025
• International ORAL Consortium : International Expert-Based Consensus Definition, Staging Criteria, and Minimum Data Elements for Osteoradionecrosis of the Jaw: An Inter-Disciplinary Modified Delphi Study International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 122(2) : 341-354, June 2025
• Lalla RV, Helgeson ES, Virk K, Lu H, Treister NS, Sollecito TP, Schmidt BL, Patton LL, Lin A, Brennan MT : Females Have Lower Salivary Flow Than Males, Before and After Radiation Therapy for Head/Neck Cancer Oral Diseases 31(3) : 857-864, March 2025
• Verginadis II, Citrin DE, Ky B, Feigenberg SJ, Georgakilas AG, Hill-Kayser CE, Koumenis C, Maity A, Bradley JD, Lin A : Radiation-induced toxicities: mechanisms, management, and future directions. Lancet 405(10475) : 338-352, Jan 2025