Katherine Van Loon

Dr. Katherine Van Loon is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist and global cancer researcher at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she serves as Professor of Clinical Medicine and Director of the Global Cancer Program at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Since February 2025, she has served as Editor-in-Chief of JCO Global Oncology, the flagship global oncology journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). With a background spanning clinical medicine and public health, Dr. Van Loon’s work bridges high-quality gastrointestinal oncology care with a sustained commitment to cancer equity research in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where she has led landmark studies on esophageal, colorectal, head and neck, and breast cancers in Tanzania and the broader region.

Current Positions

• Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), July 2023–present
• Director, Global Cancer Program, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCSF, 2015–present
• Editor-in-Chief, JCO Global Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), February 2025–present
• Gastrointestinal Medical Oncologist, UCSF Health, San Francisco, CA

Education

• BA, Biology, Duke University, 1996–2000
• MPH (Master of Public Health), Yale University School of Public Health, 2000–2002
• MD, Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine, 2002–2006

Postgraduate Training

• Internship and Residency, Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Harvard Medical School teaching hospital), 2006–2009
• Fellowship, Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, 2009–2012

Board Certifications

• Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
• Medical Oncology, American Board of Medical Specialties

Professional Experience

• Fellow in Oncology, UCSF, 2009–2012
• Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF, July 2012–June 2018
• Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, UCSF, July 2018–June 2023
• Professor of Clinical Medicine, UCSF, July 2023–present
• Director, Global Cancer Program, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCSF, 2015–present
• Editor-in-Chief, JCO Global Oncology, ASCO, February 2025–present

Research Activity

• Global cancer epidemiology and outcomes: Long-standing focus on the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of gastrointestinal cancers in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa; leads the UCSF Global Cancer Program’s research agenda in Tanzania and the broader region
• Colorectal cancer: Clinical and health systems research on colorectal cancer care quality, outcomes, and disparities in Tanzania; co-investigator on studies evaluating treatment patterns at Ocean Road Cancer Institute and survival outcomes in resource-limited settings
• Esophageal cancer: Contributor to the African Esophageal Cancer Consortium; research on treatment outcomes, early detection using minimally invasive sponge devices and DNA methylation biomarkers, and clinical trial landscape for gastroesophageal cancers globally
• Head and neck cancer: Co-investigator on studies of HPV prevalence and risk factors in Tanzania; contributed to a new theoretical model (TICTOC) for head and neck cancer care intervals in diverse health systems
• Breast cancer and HIV: Research on barriers to breast cancer diagnosis and integrated care for women living with HIV and breast cancer in Tanzania
• Resource-stratified cancer guidelines: Leading contributor to the discourse on context-specific evidence in resource-stratified guidelines, advocating for a new framework to incorporate evidence from low- and middle-income countries into guideline development
• Cancer during pregnancy: Led multidisciplinary team efforts at UCSF to manage colon cancer diagnosed during pregnancy; co-author of the 2025 ASCO Guideline on Management of
• Cancer During Pregnancy (Journal of Clinical Oncology)
• Clinical trials and cancer inequities: Analysis of global clinical trial landscapes in gastroesophageal cancers, highlighting underrepresentation of sub-Saharan Africa and low-income countries
• Pathology capacity building: Co-investigator in studies on anatomic pathology diagnostic services in sub-Saharan Africa and evaluation of novel diagnostic tools (Xpert Breast Cancer STRAT4 assay) in resource-constrained settings

Honors and Awards

• Young Investigator Award, ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation, 2012

Memberships / Affiliations

• Editor-in-Chief, JCO Global Oncology, ASCO, 2025–present
• Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Areas of Specialization

• Gastrointestinal medical oncology (colorectal, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, and anal cancers)
• Global cancer epidemiology and outcomes research
• Cancer care in low- and middle-income countries (sub-Saharan Africa focus)
• Resource-stratified cancer guidelines and evidence frameworks
• Cancer during pregnancy
• Head and neck cancer care in resource-limited settings
• Breast cancer in HIV-positive populations
• Pathology capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa
• Clinical trial landscape and equity in cancer research
• Lynch syndrome and colorectal malignancy

Publications

Dr. Van Loon has authored and co-authored more than 232 publications, including original research, review articles, guidelines, commentaries, and letters in journals including JCO Global Oncology, The Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, ecancermedicalscience, The Oncologist, Cancer, BMC Research Notes, and JCO Precision Oncology.

Select Recent Publications:

Nkya A, Xu MJ, Philipo GS, Van Loon K, et al. “Prevalence of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus and Associated Risk Factors Among Individuals With Head and Neck Cancer in a National Referral Center in Tanzania.” JCO Global Oncology, March 2026.

Hammer M, Harris C, Pozzar R, Miaskowski C, Van Loon K, et al. “Symptom Clusters and Symptom Burden in Cancer Survivors.” Cancer Medicine, March 2026.

Bocobo A, Whitman J, Keenan BP, Atreya CE, Van Loon K, et al. “Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab Plus Capecitabine and Bevacizumab for Microsatellite Stable/Mismatch Repair-Proficient Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.” Clinical Colorectal Cancer, February 2026.

Nyagabona S, Haddadi S, Mtei RJ, Mmbaga EJ, Van Loon K, et al. “Paving the Way for an Integrated Care Model: Experiences of Women Living With HIV and Breast Cancer in Tanzania.” JCO Global Oncology, December 2025.

Loren AW, Lacchetti C, Amant F, Partridge A, Van Loon K, et al. “Management of Cancer During Pregnancy: ASCO Guideline.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, December 2025.

Mushi BP, Haddadi S, Mrema A, Buckle GC, Van Loon K, et al. “Colorectal cancer care in Tanzania: an evaluation of clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and quality metrics at a national cancer referral hospital.” ecancermedicalscience, September 2025.

DeBoer RJ, Wabl C, Mushi BP, Kalumire VC, Van Loon K, et al. “A scoping review of clinical communication in cancer care in Africa.” The Oncologist, April 2025.

Ng DL, Vuhahula E, Kimambo A, Van Loon K, et al. “FNAB samples with the STRAT4 assay for breast cancer diagnosis – Authors’ reply.” The Lancet Oncology, January 2025.

Buckle GC, DeBoer R, Xu MJ, Van Loon K, et al. “Using context-specific evidence to inform resource-stratified cancer guidelines: A call for a new approach.” Cancer, September 2024.

Ng DL, Vuhahula E, Kimambo A, Van Loon K, et al. “Xpert Breast Cancer STRAT4 Assay using fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples in a resource-constrained setting: a prospective diagnostic accuracy study.” The Lancet Oncology, October 2024.

Falade AS, Adeoye O, Van Loon K, Buckle GC. “Clinical Trials in Gastroesophageal Cancers: An Analysis of the Global Landscape of Interventional Trials From ClinicalTrials.gov.” JCO Global Oncology, August 2024.

Zeme E, Van Loon K, Kelley RK, Gordan JD. “Emerging Therapies for the Management of HER2/ERBB2-Altered Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, August 2024.

Xu MJ, Haddadi S, Mushi BP, Nkya A, Van Loon K, et al. “Treatment initiation and completion among head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients in Tanzania.” BMC Research Notes, December 2024.

Mulima G, Mody GN, Kaimila B, Buckle GC, Van Loon K, et al. “Treatment Outcomes of Esophageal Cancer in Malawi: An Analysis of Overall Survival and Patient-Reported Outcomes.” JCO Global Oncology, November 2025.

All information is sourced from publicly available materials.