Dr. Yi Song's Research Studies Published in Clinical Cancer Research and Nature Medicine

Sep 29, 2024

The Department of Surgery congratulates Dr. Yi Song on her recent publications in Clinical Cancer Research and Nature Medicine.

From 2021 to 2023, Dr. Song conducted two years of dedicated research within the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Division at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her work on the genetic profiling of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma has been recognized as a pivotal contribution in the field of surgical oncology. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is highly heterogeneous compared to other biliary tumors, such as extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer. By utilizing a machine-learning-based statistical algorithm, Dr. Song revealed that intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma spans a genetic spectrum. At one end, it mirrors the genetic characteristics of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder cancer, while at the other end, its genetic profile closely resembles hepatocellular carcinoma. This novel genomic classification surpasses current histopathologic methods in prognostic accuracy. Her findings have enhanced the understanding of this complex tumor’s biology and clinical behavior, providing valuable insights for therapeutic decision-making. This study earned Dr. Song the Best Basic Science Research Paper of the Year and Best Oral Abstract Award in the HPB track from the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) in 2023. It was also presented during the Plenary Session at the 2023 SSO annual meeting in Boston. This study was published in Clinical Cancer Research (DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-0657).  

Additionally, during her research fellowship, Dr. Song collaborated with translational scientists at Weill Cornell School of Medicine to investigate the liver's microenvironment and its role in fostering metastatic niches for pancreatic cancer cells. Their study, which analyzed liver biopsies from 49 pancreatic cancer patients and 19 control patients, identified critical differences in immune and cellular features between patients who later developed metastasis and those who did not. This ground-breaking research was published in Nature Medicine (DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03075-7). 

 

Dr. Song’s contributions continue to shape the field of surgical oncology, offering significant advancements in cancer research and patient care. Please congratulate Dr. Song for her achievements.