
Steve P Lee
Professor of Clinical , Radiation Oncology, University of California Los Angeles
200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite B265
Box 956951
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Fax Number:
310-794-9795
Biography
Dr. Lee came to the United States from Taiwan at age 15. He attended a public school in Los Angeles, and received his B.S. degree in Physics at UCLA in 1984. During his college years, he developed an interest in the integration of physics and biology. He decided to pursue his graduate training in Biomedical Physics at UCLA and received his M.S. degree in 1986, under the guidance of Professor J. B. Smathers of the Department of Radiation Oncology. Determined to be a radiation oncologist, Dr. Lee then went on to attend medical school at the Ohio State University. He subsequently chose UCLA for his residency training, because he planned to simultaneously pursue a Ph.D. in Radiation Biology under Professor H. R. Withers. He has recently realized this goal, after years of juggling between clinical duties and academic research. Dr. Lee has always treasured the fact that the clinical practice of radiation oncology is based on the fundamental principles of radiation biology, chemistry, and physics, and depends intimately on advances in modern science and technology. His current research interest is focused on the quantitative analysis of cancer treatment outcome in the clinic, linking to theoretical predictions from basic science in oncology.
During Dr. Lee’s clinical practice, he has had the opportunity to serve numerous Asian American patients. He soon realized the existence of some cancer-related problems which are specific to Asian minority populations. For example, many believe that cancer means death, even for early-stage disease. Most do not appreciate the importance of cancer screening. The ubiquity of alternative medicine is also a serious issue. Dr. Lee believes these ethno-specific problems arise from cultural differences, not merely from the language barrier alone. Since he considers himself bi-cultural as well as bi-lingual, Dr. Lee feels that he is obliged to serve as a bridge, and wishes to enlighten his compatriots with the gospel of modern science. Thus, he has been very active in the area of medical education in the community, participating in free clinics, making public speeches and writing essays about cancer in Chinese. He has appeared on Chinese-American TV and radio interviews, and served as President in the Sino-American Cancer Foundation. He has also served as a voluntary consultant for a Taiwan-based non-profit cancer organization, and contributed as the Asian columnist for a new peer-review journal dedicated to the multi-ethnic aspects of healthcare in America. Recently, he has been invited to Asia repeatedly for academic exchanges (specifically in the Philippines, S. Korea, and Taiwan), and played a significant role in helping his Asian colleagues start their prostate brachytherapy programs.
Before he returned to his alma mater and joined the Department as faculty, Dr. Lee had spent two years in private practice in Downtown L.A. and one year in San Bernardino, serving patients from a diverse spectrum of ethnic backgrounds. He came to realize that there is a need for well-trained radiation oncology professionals and sophisticated equipment in many areas of Los Angeles. Therefore, he decided to return to UCLA with the hope of being a factor in implementing UCLA’s high quality cancer care throughout Greater Los Angeles. Dr. Lee recently was appointed the Director of the Radiation Oncology Residency Program at UCLA. This has given him the opportunity to have a more direct influence in training quality radiation oncologists to serve the community.
Dr. Lee states that he is pleased to be a part of the great American scene, and feels that one of the important lessons he has learned is the need for all of us to communicate and relate to each other. As the world is getting smaller day by day, Los Angeles will serve as a genuine microcosm of the world in this century through its role as America’s newest melting pot. Dr. Lee appreciates very much his current post at UCLA and especially the Department of Radiation Oncology. He believes that much remains to be explored to fully exploit the tremendous potential UCLA possesses as a leading academic and medical institute in the world.
Publications
A selected list of publications:
- Qi X Sharon, Hu Angie Y, Lee Steve P, Lee Percy, DeMarco John, Li X Allen, Steinberg Michael L, Kupelian Patrick, Low Daniel Assessment of interfraction patient setup for head-and-neck cancer intensity modulated radiation therapy using multiple computed tomography-based image guidance International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2013; 86(3): 432-9.
- Kamrava Mitchell, Chung Melody P, Demarco John, Kayode Oluwatosin, Park Sang-June, Borja Lalaine, Chow Lucy, Lee Steve P, Steinberg Michael L, Demanes D Jeffrey Electronic brachytherapy for postsurgical adjuvant vaginal cuff irradiation therapy in endometrial and cervical cancer: a retrospective study Brachytherapy, 2013; 12(2): 141-7.
- Huang Yi-Ting, Wang Chun-Chieh, Tsai Chien-Sheng, Lai Chyong-Huey, Chang Ting-Chang, Chou Hung-Hsueh, Lee Steve P, Hong Ji-Hong Clinical behaviors and outcomes for adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma of cervix treated by radical hysterectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2012; 84(2): 420-7.
- Lizarraga Karlo J, Gorgulho Alessandra, Lee Steve P, Rauscher Glenn, Selch Michael T, DeSalles Antonio A F Stereotactic radiation therapy for progressive residual pilocytic astrocytomas Journal of neuro-oncology, 2012; 109(1): 129-35.
- Zumsteg Zachary, DeMarco John, Lee Steve P, Steinberg Michael L, Lin Chun Shu, McBride William, Lin Kevin, Wang Pin-Chieh, Kupelian Patrick, Lee Percy Image guidance during head-and-neck cancer radiation therapy: analysis of alignment trends with in-room cone-beam computed tomography scans International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2012; 83(2): 712-9.
Publications
- Tward J, Lenz L, Flake DD, Rajamani S, Yonover P, Olsson C, Kapoor DA, Mantz C, Liauw SL, Antic T, Fabrizio M, Salzstein D, Shore N, Albertson D, Henderson J, Lee SP, Gay HA, Michalski J, Hung A, Raben D, Garraway I, Lewis MS, Nguyen PL, Marshall DT, Brawer MK, Stone S, Cohen T. The Clinical Cell-Cycle Risk (CCR) Score Is Associated With Metastasis After Radiation Therapy and Provides Guidance on When to Forgo Combined Androgen Deprivation Therapy With Dose-Escalated Radiation.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2021.
- Ho HW, Lee SP, Lin HM, Chen HY, Huang CC, Wang SC, Yang CC, Lin YW. Dosimetric comparison between RapidArc and HyperArc techniques in salvage stereotactic body radiation therapy for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.. Radiation oncology (London, England), 2020.
- Brooks JM, Menezes AN, Ibrahim M, Archer L, Lal N, Bagnall CJ, von Zeidler SV, Valentine HR, Spruce RJ, Batis N, Bryant JL, Hartley M, Kaul B, Ryan GB, Bao R, Khattri A, Lee SP, Ogbureke KUE, Middleton G, Tennant DA, Beggs AD, Deeks J, West CML, Cazier JB, Willcox BE, Seiwert TY, Mehanna H. Development and Validation of a Combined Hypoxia and Immune Prognostic Classifier for Head and Neck Cancer.. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 2019.
- Parikh NR, Huiza C, Patel JS, Tsai S, Kalpage N, Thein M, Pitcher S, Lee SP, Inouye WS, Jordan ML, Sanati H, Jafari L, Bennett CJ, Gin GE, Kishan AU, Reiter RE, Lewis M, Sadeghi A, Aronson WJ, Garraway IP, Rettig MB, Nickols NG. Systemic and tumor-directed therapy for oligometastatic prostate cancer: study protocol for a phase II trial for veterans with de novo oligometastatic disease.. BMC cancer, 2019.
- Lin CS, Chen YW, Liu SC, Tsao CC, Lin KT, Lee SP, Fan CY, Liu MY, Shen PC, Jen YM. Treatment outcomes with whole-field versus split-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.. Head & neck, 2018.
- Lin YW, Chen YF, Yang CC, Ho CH, Wu TC, Yen CY, Lin LC, Lee SP, Lee CC, Tai MH. Patterns of failure after postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy for locally advanced buccal cancer: Initial masticator space involvement is the key factor of recurrence.. Head & neck, 2018.
- Lin AJ, Zhang J, Cho-Lim J, Inouye W, Lee SP. Postradiation hypothyroidism in head and neck cancers: A Department of Veterans Affairs single-institution case-control dosimetry study.. Medical dosimetry : official journal of the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists, 2018.
- Chao HL, Liu SC, Tsao CC, Lin KT, Lee SP, Lo CH, Huang WY, Liu MY, Jen YM, Lin CS. Dose escalation via brachytherapy boost for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the era of intensity-modulated radiation therapy and combined chemotherapy.. Journal of radiation research, 2017.
- Chen CY, Lee LM, Yu HW, Lee SP, Lee HL, Lin YW, Wen YC, Chen YJ, Chen CP, Tsai JT. Dosimetric and radiobiological comparison of Cyberknife and Tomotherapy in stereotactic body radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.. Journal of X-ray science and technology, 2017.
- Bak SY, Qi XS, Kelly JA, Alexander S, Chung Y, Gyurdzhyan S, Patton LL, Lee SP. Dosimetric distribution to tooth-bearing areas in intensity-modulated radiation therapy for head and neck cancer: a pilot study.. Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, 2015.
- Tsui I, Beardsley RM, McCannel TA, Oliver SC, Chun MW, Lee SP, Chow PE, Agazaryan N, Yu F, Straatsma BR. Visual Acuity, Contrast Sensitivity and Color Vision Three Years After Iodine-125 Brachytherapy for Choroidal and Ciliary Body Melanoma.. The open ophthalmology journal, 2015.
- Lin YW, Chen CC, Lin LC, Lee SP. The impact of reduced-volume, intensity-modulated radiation therapy on disease control in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.. PloS one, 2015.
- Qi XS, Santhanam A, Neylon J, Min Y, Armstrong T, Sheng K, Staton RJ, Pukala J, Pham A, Low DA, Lee SP, Steinberg M, Manon R, Chen AM, Kupelian P. Near Real-Time Assessment of Anatomic and Dosimetric Variations for Head and Neck Radiation Therapy via Graphics Processing Unit-based Dose Deformation Framework.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2015.
- Qi XS, Ruan D, Lee SP, Pham A, Kupelian P, Low DA, Steinberg M, Demarco J. Dependence of achievable plan quality on treatment technique and planning goal refinement: a head-and-neck intensity modulated radiation therapy application.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2015.
- Demanes DJ, Banerjee R, Cahan BL, Lee SP, Park SJ, Fallon JM, Reyes P, Van TQ, Steinberg ML, Kamrava MR. Ureteral stent insertion for gynecologic interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy.. Brachytherapy, 2014.
- Lin YW, Lin KH, Ho HW, Lin HM, Lin LC, Lee SP, Chui CS. Treatment plan comparison between stereotactic body radiation therapy techniques for prostate cancer: non-isocentric CyberKnife versus isocentric RapidArc.. Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB), 2014.
- Qi XS, Hu AY, Lee SP, Lee P, DeMarco J, Li XA, Steinberg ML, Kupelian P, Low D. Assessment of interfraction patient setup for head-and-neck cancer intensity modulated radiation therapy using multiple computed tomography-based image guidance.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2013.
- Selch MT, Tenn S, Agazaryan N, Lee SP, Gorgulho A, De Salles AA. Image-guided linear accelerator-based spinal radiosurgery for hemangioblastoma.. Surgical neurology international, 2012.
- Kamrava M, Chung MP, Demarco J, Kayode O, Park SJ, Borja L, Chow L, Lee SP, Steinberg ML, Demanes DJ. Electronic brachytherapy for postsurgical adjuvant vaginal cuff irradiation therapy in endometrial and cervical cancer: a retrospective study.. Brachytherapy, 2012.
- Qi XS, Yang Q, Lee SP, Li XA, Wang D. An Estimation of Radiobiological Parameters for Head-and-Neck Cancer Cells and the Clinical Implications.. Cancers, 2012.
- Lizarraga KJ, Gorgulho A, Lee SP, Rauscher G, Selch MT, DeSalles AA. Stereotactic radiation therapy for progressive residual pilocytic astrocytomas.. Journal of neuro-oncology, 2012.
- Lin CS, Selch MT, Lee SP, Wu JK, Xiao F, Hong DS, Chen CH, Hussain A, Lee PP, De Salles AA. Accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery for brainstem metastases.. Neurosurgery, 2012.
- Huang YT, Wang CC, Tsai CS, Lai CH, Chang TC, Chou HH, Lee SP, Hong JH. Clinical behaviors and outcomes for adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma of cervix treated by radical hysterectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2012.
- Zumsteg Z, DeMarco J, Lee SP, Steinberg ML, Lin CS, McBride W, Lin K, Wang PC, Kupelian P, Lee P. Image guidance during head-and-neck cancer radiation therapy: analysis of alignment trends with in-room cone-beam computed tomography scans.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2011.
- Yeh CH, Chen MF, Lai CH, Huang WS, Lee SP, Chen WC. Comparison of treatment results between surgery alone, preoperative short-course radiotherapy, or long-course concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.. International journal of clinical oncology, 2011.
- Grant JD, Litwin MS, Kwan L, Lee SP, Steinberg ML, King CR. Does hormone therapy exacerbate the adverse effects of radiotherapy in men with prostate cancer? A quality of life study.. The Journal of urology, 2011.
- McCloskey SA, Lee SP, Steinberg ML. Roles and types of radiation in breast cancer treatment: early breast cancer, locoregionally advanced, and metastatic disease.. Current opinion in obstetrics & gynecology, 2011.
- Marathe OS, Wu J, Lee SP, Yu F, Burgess BL, Leu M, Straatsma BR, McCannel TA. Ocular response of choroidal melanoma with monosomy 3 versus disomy 3 after iodine-125 brachytherapy.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2010.
- Oliver SC, Leu MY, DeMarco JJ, Chow PE, Lee SP, McCannel TA. Attenuation of iodine 125 radiation with vitreous substitutes in the treatment of uveal melanoma.. Archives of ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960), 2010.
- Huang YT, Wang CC, Tsai CS, Lai CH, Chang TC, Chou HH, Hsueh S, Chen CK, Lee SP, Hong JH. Long-term outcome and prognostic factors for adenocarcinoma/adenosquamous carcinoma of cervix after definitive radiotherapy.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2010.
- Lin K, Lee SP, Steinberg ML. Selection bias clouds apparent benefit of longer hormone duration.. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2009.
- Gore JL, Kwan L, Lee SP, Reiter RE, Litwin MS. Survivorship beyond convalescence: 48-month quality-of-life outcomes after treatment for localized prostate cancer.. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2009.
- Tsai CS, Lai CH, Chang TC, Yen TC, Ng KK, Hsueh S, Lee SP, Hong JH. A prospective randomized trial to study the impact of pretreatment FDG-PET for cervical cancer patients with MRI-detected positive pelvic but negative para-aortic lymphadenopathy.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2009.
- Oliver SC, Young TA, Kobe LH, Leu MY, Lee SP, Chun MW, Straatsma BR. Assessment of central vision and macular structure in patients undergoing iodine-125 brachytherapy for ciliochoroidal melanoma.. American journal of clinical oncology, 2008.
- Lin K, Eradat J, Mehta NH, Bent C, Lee SP, Apple SK, Bassett LW. Is a short-interval postradiation mammogram necessary after conservative surgery and radiation in breast cancer?. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2008.
- van de Poll-Franse LV, Kwan L, Reiter RE, Lee SP, Litwin MS. The influence of cardiovascular disease on health related quality of life in men with prostate cancer: a 4-year followup study.. The Journal of urology, 2008.
- Litwin MS, Gore JL, Kwan L, Brandeis JM, Lee SP, Withers HR, Reiter RE. Quality of life after surgery, external beam irradiation, or brachytherapy for early-stage prostate cancer.. Cancer, 2007.
- Lin K, Lee SP, Cho JS, Reiter RE, DeMarco JJ, Solberg TD. Improvements in prostate brachytherapy dosimetry due to seed stranding.. Brachytherapy, 2006.
- Liu WS, Lee SP, Lee JK, Su MC, Chen GD, Lee HS, Lee H. Factors influencing the parotid function in nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with parotid-sparing radiotherapy.. Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 2006.
- Withers HR, Lee SP. Modeling growth kinetics and statistical distribution of oligometastases.. Seminars in radiation oncology, 2006.
- Hong JH, Tsai CS, Lai CH, Chang TC, Wang CC, Chou HH, Lee SP, Lee CC, Tang SG, Hsueh S. Risk stratification of patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of cervix treated by radiotherapy alone.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2005.
- Solberg TD, Agazaryan N, Goss BW, Dahlbom M, Lee SP. A feasibility study of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography targeting and simultaneous integrated boost for intensity-modulated radiosurgery and radiotherapy.. Journal of neurosurgery, 2004.
- Agazaryan N, Ullrich W, Lee SP, Solberg TD. A methodology for verification of radiotherapy dose calculation.. Journal of neurosurgery, 2004.
- Vongtama R, Lee M, Kim B, Sercarz J, Lin K, Suchard MA, Lee SP, Juillard G. Early nodal response as a predictor for necessity of functional neck dissection after chemoradiation.. Cancer journal (Sudbury, Mass.), 2004.
- Selch MT, Pedroso A, Lee SP, Solberg TD, Agazaryan N, Cabatan-Awang C, DeSalles AA. Stereotactic radiotherapy for the treatment of acoustic neuromas.. Journal of neurosurgery, 2004.
- Kim BS, Lashkari A, Vongtama R, Lee SP, Parker RG. Effect of pelvic lymph node irradiation in salvage therapy for patients with prostate cancer with a biochemical relapse following radical prostatectomy.. Clinical prostate cancer, 2004.
- Hong JH, Tsai CS, Lai CH, Chang TC, Wang CC, Chou HH, Lee SP, Hsueh S. Recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of cervix after definitive radiotherapy.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2004.
- Sun LM, Huang EY, Ko SF, Wang CJ, Leung SW, Lin H, Wu JM, Wu IH, Lee SP. Computer tomography-assisted three-dimensional technique to assess rectal and bladder wall dose in intracavitary brachytherapy for uterine cervical cancer.. Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, 2004.
- Selch MT, Ahn E, Laskari A, Lee SP, Agazaryan N, Solberg TD, Cabatan-Awang C, Frighetto L, Desalles AA. Stereotactic radiotherapy for treatment of cavernous sinus meningiomas.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2004.
- Smith ZA, De Salles AA, Frighetto L, Goss B, Lee SP, Selch M, Wallace RE, Cabatan-Awang C, Solberg T. Dedicated linear accelerator radiosurgery for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.. Journal of neurosurgery, 2003.
- Chang CN, Chen WC, Wei KC, Ng SH, Ho YS, Huang DY, Lee SP, Hong JH. High-dose-rate stereotactic brachytherapy for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiformes.. Journal of neuro-oncology, 2003.
- Hong JH, Tsai CS, Lai CH, Chang TC, Wang CC, Lee SP, Tseng CJ, Hsueh S. Postoperative low-pelvic irradiation for stage I-IIA cervical cancer patients with risk factors other than pelvic lymph node metastasis.. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics, 2002.
- Sun LM, Yeh SA, Wang CJ, Huang EY, Chen HC, Hsu HC, Lee SP. Postoperative radiation therapy for medulloblastoma--high recurrence rate in the subfrontal region.. Journal of neuro-oncology, 2002.
- Selch MT, DeSalles AA, Wade M, Lee SP, Solberg TD, Wallace RE, Ford JM, Rubino G, Cabatan-Awang C, Withers HR. Initial clinical results of stereotactic radiotherapy for the treatment of craniopharyngiomas.. Technology in cancer research & treatment, 2002.