As a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)—an alliance of the world’s leading cancer centers — we are at the forefront of outcomes research. Our multidisciplinary group is investigating lung cancer through basic, translational, and clinical research. A wide variety of clinical and research projects are led by our thoracic surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists, as well as basic scientists, population scientists, pulmonologists, and radiologists.
![Doctor going over results with patient](/sites/default/files/styles/hero_image_xl/public/cancer_type/cancertype_RiveraConcepcion.jpg?itok=2i4y734J)
Thoracic Cancer
Duke Cancer Institute’s thoracic cancer disease group is recognized for its innovative, aggressive, and personalized approach to detecting and treating lung cancer, the leading cause of death from cancer in the U.S. Our lung cancer program guides treatment decisions for the newly diagnosed or those seeking a second opinion.
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Contacts
Nolan Miller
Administrative Director
nolan.miller@duke.edu 919-684-1671Debra Shoemaker
Assistant Research Practice Manager
debra.shoemaker@duke.edu 919-681-4768Leadership
![Thomas Anthony D'Amico Thomas Anthony D'Amico](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Thomas_Anthony_D%27Amico_0064075.jpg?itok=zlWffPxB)
Gary Hock Distinguished Professor of Surgery
![Thomas Eldridge Stinchcombe Thomas Eldridge Stinchcombe](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Thomas_Eldridge_Stinchcombe_0721312.jpg?itok=6_h4i_QL)
Associate Director, Clinical Research
![Jeffrey Crawford Jeffrey Crawford](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Jeffrey_Crawford_0112878.jpg?itok=Jmew6aIz)
Associate Director, Operations
![Betty Caroline Tong Betty Caroline Tong](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Betty_Caroline_Tong_0118903.jpg?itok=ogckpMik)
Medical Director, Lung Cancer Screening
Medical Oncology
![Laura Ruth Alder Laura Ruth Alder](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Laura_Ruth_Alder_0336418.jpg?itok=MGFIRKaJ)
Assistant Professor of Medicine
![Scott Joseph Antonia Scott Joseph Antonia](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Scott_Joseph_Antonia_0937525.jpg?itok=WtJ-6utJ)
Professor of Medicine
![Jeffrey Melson Clarke Jeffrey Melson Clarke](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Jeffrey_Melson_Clarke_0482210.jpg?itok=-TzM6NDq)
Associate Professor of Medicine
Yeshu Conn
Nurse Practitioner
![Jeffrey Crawford Jeffrey Crawford](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Jeffrey_Crawford_0112878.jpg?itok=Jmew6aIz)
George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Cancer
![Jennifer Lynn Garst Jennifer Lynn Garst](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Jennifer_Lynn_Garst_0112164.jpg?itok=EbumZBDK)
Professor of Medicine
![Tara Herrmann Tara Herrmann](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Tara_Herrmann_0413689.jpeg?itok=945U7hbM)
Tara Herrmann
Physician Assistant
![Vidhya Karivedu Vidhya Karivedu](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/Vidhya_Karivedu_1342947.jpg?itok=LaADa1OL)
Assistant Professor of Medicine
![Neal Edward Ready Neal Edward Ready](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Neal_Edward_Ready_0384929.jpg?itok=MoDibWhJ)
Professor of Medicine
Assistant Professor of Medicine
![Marvaretta Miesha Stevenson Marvaretta Miesha Stevenson](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Marvaretta_Miesha_Stevenson_0327345.jpg?itok=fzAQBwYR)
Associate Professor of Medicine
![Thomas Eldridge Stinchcombe Thomas Eldridge Stinchcombe](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Thomas_Eldridge_Stinchcombe_0721312.jpg?itok=6_h4i_QL)
Professor of Medicine
![Default DCI member profile image](/themes/custom/dci/images/person-default.jpg)
Jennifer Tenhover
Nurse Practitioner
Surgical Oncology
![S. Scott Balderson S. Scott Balderson](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/S._Scott_Balderson_0211410.jpeg?itok=dxHTQv6k)
S. Balderson
Physician Assistant
![Default DCI member profile image](/themes/custom/dci/images/person-default.jpg)
Assistant Professor of Surgery
![Hilary Crittenden Hilary Crittenden](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Hilary_Crittenden_0097690.jpeg?itok=3bXZT2X_)
Hilary Crittenden
Nurse Practitioner
![Thomas Anthony D'Amico Thomas Anthony D'Amico](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Thomas_Anthony_D%27Amico_0064075.jpg?itok=zlWffPxB)
Thoracic Oncology Program Director
![Robert Ferguson Robert Ferguson](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Robert_Ferguson_0624581.jpg?itok=V9Ixygq_)
Robert Ferguson
Nurse Practitioner
![David Harold Harpole David Harold Harpole](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/David_Harold_Harpole_0100977.jpg?itok=-iwV2pbI)
George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Cancer
Professor of Surgery
![Default DCI member profile image](/themes/custom/dci/images/person-default.jpg)
Jenny Hinderer
Physician Assistant
![Kasey Johnson Kasey Johnson](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Kasey_Johnson_1222591.jpeg?itok=1K_ZtR0Q)
Kasey Johnson
Nurse Practitioner
![Jacob A Klapper Jacob A Klapper](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Jacob_A_Klapper_0562822.jpg?itok=pd3O01Dg)
Associate Professor of Surgery
![Default DCI member profile image](/themes/custom/dci/images/person-default.jpg)
Erin Kunz
Physician Assistant
![Default DCI member profile image](/themes/custom/dci/images/person-default.jpg)
Roshni Mapp
Physician Assistant
Michelle Metzler
Physician Assistant
![Kunal Patel Kunal Patel](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Kunal_Patel_1340345.jpg?itok=UmKErJy4)
Assistant Professor of Surgery
![Hai Salfity Hai Salfity](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Hai_Salfity_0902878.png?itok=tw4L_LDt)
Assistant Professor of Surgery
![Betty Caroline Tong Betty Caroline Tong](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Betty_Caroline_Tong_0118903.jpg?itok=ogckpMik)
Associate Professor of Surgery
Radiation Oncology
![Christopher Ryan Kelsey Christopher Ryan Kelsey](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Christopher_Ryan_Kelsey_0279671.jpg?itok=uAhliuyG)
Professor of Radiation Oncology
![Trey Carlton Mullikin Trey Carlton Mullikin](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Trey_Carlton_Mullikin_1073902.jpg?itok=cKJjyj82)
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
Interventional Pulmonary
![Michael Dorry Michael Dorry](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Michael_Dorry_0655872.jpg?itok=NAzRovKD)
Assistant Professor of Medicine
![Coral Xantia Giovacchini Coral Xantia Giovacchini](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Coral_Xantia_Giovacchini_0538324.jpg?itok=PCNXETrN)
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor of Medicine
![Cristina Salmon Cristina Salmon](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Cristina_Salmon_1338805.jpg?itok=Q19ILaoC)
Medical Instructor in the Department of Medicine
Lung Cancer Screening
![Hilary Crittenden Hilary Crittenden](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Hilary_Crittenden_0097690.jpeg?itok=3bXZT2X_)
Hilary Crittenden
Nurse Practitioner
![Betty Caroline Tong Betty Caroline Tong](/sites/default/files/styles/home_small_cards/public/member/Betty_Caroline_Tong_0118903.jpg?itok=ogckpMik)
Associate Professor of Surgery
Our thoracic oncology surgeons are national leaders in minimally invasive surgical procedures. We perform more than 1,600 minimally invasive surgeries every year on all types and stages of lung cancer. As a result, patients experience less post-operative pain and recover faster.
Our radiation oncologists have access to specialized techniques, such as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early-stage lung cancer and radiation treatment planning aided by four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT).
Our board-certified lung imaging specialists undergo advanced training in the early detection of lung cancer.
Research Results
An important research strategy is the study of how individual genes affect oncogenesis and tumor progress. In the laboratory, some investigators are studying mouse models to determine the role of stem cells in the development of cancer in humans and in the development of resistance to treatment.
Clinically, researchers hope to discover how to use unique genetic mutations to personalize treatment and are looking at subgroups of patients to see how they respond to treatment.
Several studies are also ongoing utilizing a large tissue bank and database of patients treated for lung cancer at Duke University since 1995.
For example, some researchers are studying epidemiological factors related to lung cancer — why certain patient groups respond to treatment better than others.
In addition, other researchers are examining the role of age, gender, minimally invasive surgery, and other patient-specific factors in outcomes, including quality of life.
Lung cancer clinical research at Duke has focused on biomarker discovery and development —the use of molecular signatures to improve the assessment of prognosis and the development of specific new therapies.
The formation of the program has allowed for the optimal collaboration of the best basic science underway on the Duke campus with ongoing clinical and translational lung cancer research programs.
Our medical oncologists have developed several drugs that have received FDA approval. These drugs help improve patient outcomes.