Kyle Wang, MD, is a radiation oncologist. Dr. Wang focuses on brain, gastrointestinal and lung cancers, along with lymphoma and other hematologic malignancies. One of his research interests is cardio-oncology, an evolving field that studies the balance between potentially cardiotoxic cancer treatments and heart disease.
In one study, Dr. Wang and his team examined cardiotoxicity after radiation for stage 3 lung cancer. (Wang et al, Cardiac Toxicity After Radiotherapy for Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Pooled Analysis of Dose-Escalation Trials Delivering 70 to 90 Gy. 2017, Journal of Clinical Oncology). This was one of the first studies in stage 3 lung cancer to show that post-radiation cardiac toxicity was associated with both radiation dose to the heart and preexisting heart disease. This has led to increased interest in heart-sparing techniques for lung and other thoracic malignancies, which will hopefully improve overall outcomes. Dr. Wang continues to be involved in this topic, with his most recent project focusing on the ability to risk-stratify patients by quantifying coronary calcifications on oncologic CT scans.
Dr. Wang believes in patient-centered medicine and tries to educate his patients to the fullest extent possible so that they can make informed choices that align with their personal goals. He loves getting to know his patients — learning about where they are from and what they do. Not only does this promote trust, it helps him develop an understanding of his patients’ goals and make personalized recommendations.
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