Thuy B. Tran
Biography
Thuy B. Tran, M.D., FSSO, FACS, is Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. She serves as Director of UCI Melanoma Center Research, Associate Director of the UCI Melanoma Center, and Vice Chair of Research for the University of California Melanoma and Skin Cancer Consortium. Tran received her M.D. from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and completed general surgery residency training at Stanford University and the University of Illinois at Chicago Metropolitan Group Hospitals, followed by a fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology at City of Hope National Medical Center, where she was named Fellow of the Year in 2021.
Tran's research focuses on melanoma, merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous oncology, sarcoma, and health disparities in surgical oncology. She has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles and serves on the editorial board of Annals of Surgical Oncology. Her work has examined outcomes in rare malignancies including Merkel cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and retroperitoneal sarcomas through multi-institutional collaborations. She has received multiple grants including funding from the NIH, UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Melanoma Research Foundation. Tran serves on national committees including the Society of Surgical Oncology Melanoma Disease Working Group, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Melanoma Working Group, and the Association of Academic Surgeons Program Committee.
Tran is principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous clinical trials investigating immunotherapy and novel therapeutic approaches for melanoma, sarcoma, and other malignancies. She has mentored medical students, residents, and fellows in surgical oncology research and serves as a reviewer for multiple journals including Annals of Surgical Oncology, Journal of Surgical Research, and JAMA Surgery. She is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology by the American Board of Surgery.
Return to topEducation
- B.A. in Biology and Biological Basis of Behavior, University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences, 2006
- M.D., University of California - San Diego School of Medicine, 2011
Distinctions
- IHPBA World Congress Young Investigator Top Research Finalist, 2016
- Fellow, Society of Surgical Oncology (FSSO), 2022
- Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS), 2022
- Melanoma Research Foundation Research Award, 2025
- ASCO Conquer Cancer Merit Award, 2017
- AHPBA Steve Sotsky Pancreatic Cancer Research Award, 2016
- City of Hope Fellow of the Year, 2021
- University of Illinois at Chicago Olga Jonassan Best Resident Research Award, 2018
- Cedars Sinai Medical Center Paul Rubenstein Excellence in Research, 2013
- Chicago Surgical Society Best Clinical Outcomes Research Award, 2017
Areas of Expertise
- Surgical Oncology
- Melanoma Treatment Outcomes
- Cutaneous Oncology
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma
- Skin Cancer
- Immunotherapy Clinical Trials
- Sarcoma Surgical Resection
- Health Disparities
- Clinical Outcomes Research
Recent Publications
- Li Y., Yuen S.W., Tran T., Lee B.A., Doan L.T., Linden K.G., Jakowatz J.G., Eng O., Yamamoto M., Tran T.B., “Medicaid expansion is associated with improved survival in patients with resected Merkel cell carcinoma: A National Cancer Database analysis” (opens in new tab), Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 94, pp. 1199-1205, 2026.
- Li Y., Linden K.G., Jakowatz J.G., Yamamoto M., Tran T.B., “Identifying high-risk subtypes and risk factors for recurrence in Merkel cell carcinoma: A single-institution retrospective study” (opens in new tab), Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 94, pp. 984-986, 2026.
- Li Y., Yuen S.W., Linden K.G., Shive M.L., Jakowatz J.G., Chow W., Harris J.P., Yamamoto M., Tran T.B., “Rethinking radiation for resected pleomorphic dermal sarcoma: A National Cancer Database analysis” (opens in new tab), Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 94, pp. 583-585, 2026.
- Yuen S.W., Finney N., Sedighim S., Yong H., Lin E., Smith B.R., Lane K., Kansal K., Yamamoto M., Tran T.B., “The Association Between Trainee Operative Autonomy and Perioperative Complications in Breast Surgery” (opens in new tab), Journal of Surgical Research, vol. 317, pp. 320-326, 2026.
- Ren D, Tran TB, Chow WA, Barnachea S, Wei K, Lee BA, “Complete Remission of locaoregionally metastatic melanoma after one single dose of pembrolizumab: A case report”, JAD Case Rep, vol. 59, pp. 122-126, 2025.
- Li Y, Yuen SW, Linden KG, Chow W, Jakowatz JG, Yamamoto M, Tran TB, “Role of Immunotherapy in the Management of Primary Melanoma of the Vagina,: A National Analysis of a Rare Aggressive Malignancy” (opens in new tab), Surgical Oncology Insight, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 100113, 2025.
- Li Y, Lee BA, Doan LT, Linden KG, Jakowatz JG, Yamamoto M, Tran TB, “Patient Characteristics and Outcomes in Clinically Misdiagnosed Patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma” (opens in new tab), Journal of Surgical Research, vol. 309, pp. 71-79, 2025.
- Wong P, Tran TB, Pollini T, Hernandez S, Zampese M, Todeschini L, Aguilar LL, Maker VK, Maker AV, “Impact of Coronary Artery Stenting on Perioperative Mortality and Complications in Patients undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy” (opens in new tab), Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, vol. 29, no. 5, pp. 102020, 2025.
- Cai J, Li Y, Eng OS, Senthil M, Nguyen NT, Tran TB, “The Intersection of Disability and Cancer: Improving Outcomes in Cancer Patients with Disabilities” (opens in new tab), Annals of Surgery, vol. 282, pp. 658-666, 2025.
- Li Y., Hutchison D.M., Linden K.G., Lee B.A., Tran T.B., “Diagnostic Utility of Molecular Profiling in a Giant Cellular Blue Nevus” (opens in new tab), American Journal of Dermatopathology, 2025.
- Finney N, Hasjim BJ, Jakowatz J, Chiao E, Eng O, Wolf R, Jutric Z, Yamamoto M, Tran TB, “Primary Liver Sarcoma: A Nationwide Analysis of a Rare Mesenchymal Tumor” (opens in new tab), Journal of Surgical Oncology, vol. 129, no. 2, pp. 358-364, 2024.
- Pollini T, Tran TB, Wong P, Adam MA, Aldseidi A, Corvera C, Hirosa K, Nakakura E, Warren R, Maker VK, Maker AV, “Improved Survival of Patient Receiving Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy following Curative-Intent Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases” (opens in new tab), Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 246-251, 2024.
- Makris EA, Tran TB, Delitto DJ, Lee B, Ethun CG, Grignol V, Harrison Howard J, Bedi M, Clark Gamblin T, Tseng J, Roggin KK, Chouliaras K, Votanopoulos K, Cullinan D, Fields RC, Cardona K, Poultsides G, Kirane A, “Natural History of Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma: Experience from the US Sarcoma Collaborative” (opens in new tab), Journal of Surgical Oncology, vol. 129, no. 7, pp. 1354-1363, 2024.
Most Cited Publications
- Chung AY, Tran TB, Brumund K, Weisman R, Bouvet M, “Metastases to the Thyroid: a Review of the Literature From the Last Decade” (opens in new tab), Thyroid, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 258-68, 2012.
- Tran T.B., Dua M.M., Worhunsky D.J., Poultsides G.A., Norton J.A., Visser B.C., “The First Decade of Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy in the United States: Costs and Outcomes Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample” (opens in new tab), Surgical Endoscopy, vol. 30, pp. 1778-1783, 2016.
- Bagante, Tran TB, Spolverato G, Ruzzenente A, Buttner S, Ethun CG, Groot Koerkamp B, Conci S, Idrees K, Isom CA, Fields RC, Krasnick B, Weber SM, Salem A, Martin RC, Scoggins C, Shen P, Mogal HD, Schmidt C, Beal E, et al., “Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma: Number of Nodes Examined and Optimal Lymph Node Prognostic Scheme” (opens in new tab), Journal of the American College of Surgeons, vol. 222, no. 5, pp. 750-759, 2016.
- Dua MM, Tran TB, Klausner JQ, Hwa K, Poultsides GA, Norton JA, Visser BC, “Pancreatectomy with Vein Reconstruction: Technique is the thing that matters” (opens in new tab), HPB (Oxford), vol. 17, no. 9, pp. 824-31, 2015.
- Poultsides GA, Tran TB, Zambrano MD, Mohler DG, Mell MW, Avedian RS, Visser BC, Lee JT, Ganjoo K, Harris EJ, Norton JA, “Sarcoma Resection with or Without Vascular Reconstruction: A Matched Case-Control Study” (opens in new tab), Annals of Surgery, vol. 262, no. 4, pp. 632-40, 2015.
- Tran T.B., Nissen N.N., “Surgery for gallbladder cancer in the US: A need for greater lymph node clearance” (opens in new tab), Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology, vol. 6, pp. 452-458, 2015.
- Gerry J, Tran TB, Postlewait LM, Maithel SK, Prescott JD, Wang TS, Glenn J, Phay JE, Keplinger K, Fields RC, Jin LX, Weber SM, Salem A, Sicklick JK, Gad S, Yopp AC, Mansour J, Duh Q, Seiser N, Solorzano CC, et al., “Lymphadenectomy for Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Is There a Therapeutic Benefit?” (opens in new tab), Annals of Surgical Oncology, vol. 23, pp. 708-713, 2016.
- Tran TB, Dua MM, Norton JA, Poultsides GP, Visser BC, “Prognostic Relevance of Lymph Node Ratio and Total Lymph Node Count for Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma” (opens in new tab), Surgery United States, vol. 158, no. 2, pp. 486-93, 2015.
- Tran TB, Ethun CG, Pawlik TM, Buettner S, Schmidt C, Beal EW, Fields RC, Krasnick BA, Weber SM, Salem A, Martin RCG, Scoggins CR, Shen P, Mogal HD, Idrees K, Isom CA, Hatzaras I, Shenoy R, Maithel SK, Poultsides GA, “Actual Five-Year Survivors Following Resection of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma” (opens in new tab), Annals of Surgical Oncology, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 611-618, 2019.
- Bagante F, Tran TB, Postlewait LM, Maithel SK, Wang TS, Evans DB, Hatzaras I, Shenoy R, Phay JE, Keplinger K, Fields RC, Jin LX, Weber SM, Salem A, Sicklick JK, Gad S, Yopp AC, Mansour JC, Duh QY, Seiser N, et al., “Neutrophils- Lymphocyte and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio as Predictors of Disease Specific Survival after Resection of Adrenocortical Carcinoma” (opens in new tab), Journal of Surgical Oncology, vol. 112, no. 2, pp. 164-72, 2015.
Contact Information
Email: thuy.tran@uci.edu
Address: 3800 W Chapman Ave Ste 6200, Office 6221
Return to topThis profile was created with the help of AI.
Last updated on 5/22/2026.