Johnny Kao, MD

Dr. Kao's research focuses on developing highly effective, exceptionally tolerated radiation treatments for prostate cancer. By utilizing advanced multiparametric MRI and the Varian Edge radiosurgery system, his innovative protocols safely eliminate the need for invasive, pre-treatment procedures such as fiducial marker implantations or rectal spacers.

Multiparametric prostate MRI-based intensity-modulated radiation therapy guided by prostatic calcifications. (a) T2 MRI demonstrating an 8 mm PI-RADS 4 nodule in the right apex with superimposed dose distribution delivering 81 Gy to the prostate nodule, 77.4 Gy to the prostate and 70 Gy to the prostate and proximal seminal vesicles with additional margin. (b) CT simulation demonstrating two calcifications in the mid prostate. (c) Cone beam CT demonstrating prostatic calculi in the mid-prostate.

Key Publication "Multiparametric prostate MRI-based intensity-modulated radiation therapy guided by prostatic calcifications." Br J Radiol. 2020.

Key Publication "Effect of modern, high-quality prostate intensity-modulated radiation therapy on outcome: Evidence from a community radiation oncology program." Mol Clin Oncol. 2017.

The Department of Radiation Oncology is a core component of Good Samaritan University Hospital's NAPBC-accredited Breast Health Center. Our team is dedicated to delivering treatments that cure cancer while preserving a woman's quality of life and physical appearance. Recently, our group completed a landmark clinical trial investigating accelerated partial breast irradiation on the Varian Edge radiosurgery system. This advanced, highly targeted approach yielded excellent patient-reported cosmetic results that rank among the highest in modern clinical literature.

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(A) Radiation dose distribution in a patient treated with lumpectomy with oncoplastic reconstruction. The tumor bed is contoured in red, the PTV30 in cyan, and the PTV28.5 in dark blue. (B) Bilateral breast MRI with contrast demonstrates subareolar enhancing mass to assist with target delineation despite oncoplastic reconstruction.

Key Publication "Ultrahypofractionated partial breast irradiation following oncoplastic surgery: secondary analysis of a phase II trial." Radiat Oncol. 2025.

Key Publication "Phase 2 trial of ultrahypofractionated image-guided partial breast irradiation following lumpectomy with optional oncoplastic reconstruction for early-stage breast cancer." Adv Radiat Oncol. 2025.

For patients with inoperable stage III lung cancer, our group developed a pioneering, PET-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technique. This highly precise approach actively spares the healthy contralateral lung, esophagus and heart, drastically reducing severe side effects like painful swallowing and breathing difficulties. In a published study, our early adoption of this technique nearly doubled overall survival compared to older techniques. Validating our status as an innovator in radiation oncology, esophageal-sparing IMRT was subsequently published and adopted by investigators at Harvard Medical School six years after the initial Good Samaritan publication. Today, the combination of our ultra-precise radiation targeting and more effective systemic therapies continues to drive further improvements in long-term survival for stage III lung cancer patients.

Figure 2: (A, B) Isodose distributions demonstrating conformal avoidance of the esophagus and contralateral lung. (C) Dose volume histogram comparison between standard vs. esophageal sparing techniques.

Key Publication "Esophagus and Contralateral Lung-Sparing IMRT for Locally Advanced Lung Cancer in the Community Hospital Setting." Front Oncol. 2015.

Dr. Kao has 2 decades of experience with the multidisciplinary management of complex head and neck cancers. While at Mount Sinai, Dr. Kao led clinical trials investigating novel combinations of biologically targeted systemic therapies with radiation therapy.

He published one of the first publications on combining transoral robotic surgery with radiation for head and neck cancer. His group also demonstrated that most patients can be successfully treated without a feeding tube and that quality of life largely returns to baseline at 4 months after completing treatment. Furthermore, he co-led the first clinical trial demonstrating a benefit for prophylactic swallowing exercises for head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

MRI displaying highly conformal intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) isodose distributions for a complex head and neck cancer, sparing critical normal tissues.

Key Publication "Phase 2 trial of concurrent 5-fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, cetuximab, and hyperfractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for locally advanced head and neck cancer." Cancer. 2011.

Key Publication "Transoral robotic resection and reconstruction for head and neck cancer." Laryngoscope. 2012.

Key Publication "Prophylactic swallowing exercises in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing chemoradiation: a randomized trial." Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012.