Overview
Background
Dr. Lachlan McDowell (B.App.Sc, MB BS, FRANZCR, PhD) is a radiation oncologist and clinical researcher specializing in head and neck cancer (HNC), with a focus on human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC). His work combines clinical expertise with innovative research to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Dr. Lachlan McDowell's research addresses critical aspects of HNC including:
- Identifying latent patterns of quality of life in cancer survivors
- Understanding the differing impacts of different radiation treatments
- Understanding and quantifying unmet needs in HNC survivors, including sexual health, emotional distress, fear of cancer recurrence and return to work
He completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2024 with a Dean’s Research Award.
A significant part of his academic contributions comes from secondary analyses of clinical trials, such as TROG 12.01, which provide valuable insights into the evolving management of HPV-OPC cancers. Dr. McDowell also collaborates internationally and has developed an emerging global profile in head and neck oncology through his editorial roles and positions in the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) and the Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG)
Keywords: head and neck cancer, HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer, radiation oncology, survivorship, quality of life, sexual health, TROG, clinical trials.
Availability
- Dr Lachlan McDowell is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Oncology, University of Melbourne
Works
Search Professor Lachlan McDowell’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Trends in investigations for suspected head and neck carcinoma of the unknown primary: A HNCIG and IFHNOS international survey of practice
Williamson, Andrew, Nankivell, Paul, Abou-Foul, Ahmad K., Ahmed, Mohamed, Mehanna, Hisham, Nankivell, Paul, Mehanna, Hisham, Paleri, Vinidh, Williamson, Andrew, Holsinger, Chris, McDowell, Lachlan (HNCIG and IFHNOS CUP programme), Henson, Christina, Gomes, Ana, Parente, Pablo, Hardman, John, Patel, Snehal, Iyer, Gopal, Caroline, Kristunas, Abdul Rashid, Yasmin, Alpuim Costa, Diogo, Ando, Mizuo, Arthur, Charpentier, Bilic, Mario, Brennan, Sinead, Brunner, Markus, Caudell, Jimmy, Chow, Ling-Yu Velda, Danos, Kornel, Doležal, Pavel ... HNCIG and IFHNOS CUP programme (2025). Trends in investigations for suspected head and neck carcinoma of the unknown primary: A HNCIG and IFHNOS international survey of practice. Head and Neck, 47 (5), 1478-1486. doi: 10.1002/hed.28065
2025
Journal Article
Feasibility and acceptability of the Fear-Less screening and stratified-care model for fear of cancer recurrence among people affected by early-stage Cancer
Tran, Mei Jun, Jefford, Michael, Fua, Tsien, Smith, Ben, McDowell, Lachlan, Dhillon, Haryana M., Lynch, Fiona, Shaw, Joanne, White, Alan, Wiesenfeld, David, McNally, Orla and Ftanou, Maria (2025). Feasibility and acceptability of the Fear-Less screening and stratified-care model for fear of cancer recurrence among people affected by early-stage Cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 34 (2) e70070, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/pon.70070
2025
Journal Article
Predictors of distant metastatic recurrence in head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node metastases treated with curative intent: A multicenter study
Ebrahimi, Ardalan, Gupta, Ruta, McDowell, Lachlan, Magarey, Matthew J. R., Smith, Paul N., Schulte, Klaus-Martin, Perriman, Diana M., Veness, Michael, Porceddu, Sandro, Low, Tsu-Hui Hubert, Fowler, Allan and Clark, Jonathan R. (2025). Predictors of distant metastatic recurrence in head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node metastases treated with curative intent: A multicenter study. Head and Neck, 47 (1), 254-262. doi: 10.1002/hed.27912
2025
Book Chapter
Quality of life in radiation therapy
Turaka, Aruna, Izzuddeen, K.N.Yousra, McDowell, Lachlan, Venkatesulu, Bhanu Prasad and Koneru, Bobby Nagendra (2025). Quality of life in radiation therapy. Radiation Oncology – Principles, Precepts and Practice: Volume I – Technical Aspects. (pp. 505-529) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-97-8389-2_20
2024
Journal Article
A Millstone Around Your Neck
Liefman, Dionee and McDowell, Lachlan (2024). A Millstone Around Your Neck. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 120 (5), 1208-1209. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.09.026
2024
Journal Article
A hard truth to swallow: Critically evaluating the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) as an endpoint in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer trials
McDowell, Lachlan, King, Madeleine T., Hutcheson, Katherine A., Ringash, Jolie, Yom, Sue S., Corry, June, Henson, Christina, Mehanna, Hisham and Rischin, Danny (2024). A hard truth to swallow: Critically evaluating the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) as an endpoint in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer trials. International Journal of Radiation: Oncology - Biology - Physics, 120 (3), 805-822. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.05.005
2024
Journal Article
Sexual Health, sexuality and sexual intimacy in patients with head and neck cancer – a narrative review
McDowell, Lachlan, Gough, Karla, White, Isabel, Corry, June and Rischin, Danny (2024). Sexual Health, sexuality and sexual intimacy in patients with head and neck cancer – a narrative review. Oral Oncology, 157 106975, 106975. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106975
2024
Journal Article
Assessment of endpoint definitions in recurrent and metastatic mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma trials: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations
Lim, Annette M, Le Tourneau, Christophe, Hurt, Chris, Laskar, Sarbani G, Steuer, Conor E, Chow, Velda L Y, Szturz, Petr, Henson, Christina, Day, Andrew T, Bates, James E, Lazarakis, Smaro, McDowell, Lachlan, Mehanna, Hisham and Yom, Sue S (2024). Assessment of endpoint definitions in recurrent and metastatic mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma trials: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations. The Lancet Oncology, 25 (7), e308-e317. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00068-8
2024
Journal Article
Standardised definitions and diagnostic criteria for extranodal extension detected on histopathological examination in head and neck cancer: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations
Abou-Foul, Ahmad K, Henson, Christina, Chernock, Rebecca D, Huang, Shao Hui, Lydiatt, William M, McDowell, Lachlan, O'Sullivan, Brian, Perez-Ordonez, Bayardo, Robinson, Max, Nankivell, Paul C, Ruiz-Bravo, Elena, Chiosea, Simion I, Green, Tina M, Hunter, Keith D, Hwang, Jacqueline SG, Koljenovic, Senada, Koppes, Sjors A, Larsen, Stine R, Lo, Anthony W I, Costes-Martineau, Valérie, Mittal, Neha, Mori, Taisuke, Nagao, Toshitaka, Panayiotides, Ioannis G, Pinto, Clóvis A L, Scheckenbach, Kathrin, Seethala, Raja R, Ulhøi, Benedicte P, Vingiani, Andrea ... Mehanna, Hisham (2024). Standardised definitions and diagnostic criteria for extranodal extension detected on histopathological examination in head and neck cancer: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations. The Lancet Oncology, 25 (7), e286-e296. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00143-8
2024
Journal Article
Criteria for the diagnosis of extranodal extension detected on radiological imaging in head and neck cancer: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations
Henson, Christina, Abou-Foul, Ahmad K, Yu, Eugene, Glastonbury, Christine, Huang, Shao Hui, King, Ann D., Lydiatt, William M., McDowell, Lachlan, Nagelschneider, Alex A., Nankivell, Paul C., O'Sullivan, Brian, Rhys, Rhian, Xiao, Youping, Andrew, David, Asmussen, Jon T., Bidault, Francois, Dankbaar, Jan W., de Graaf, Pim, Gebrim, Eloisa S., Hu, Chaosu, Ding, Jianhui, Kanda, Tomonori, Kim, Jane, Kuno, Hirofumi, Medrano-Martorell, Santiago, Oikonomopoulos, Nikolaos, Goh, Julian Park-Nam, Santos-Armentia, Eloisa, Schafigh, Darius G. ... Mehanna, Hisham (2024). Criteria for the diagnosis of extranodal extension detected on radiological imaging in head and neck cancer: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations. The Lancet Oncology, 25 (7), e297-e307. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00066-4
2024
Journal Article
Assessment of endpoint definitions in curative-intenttrials for mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations
Lim, Annette M., McDowell, Lachlan, Hurt, Chris, Le Tourneau, Christophe, Homma, Akihiro, Shenouda, George, Thomson, David J., Moya-Plana, Antoine, Henson, Christina, Szturz, Petr, Day, Andrew, Bates, James E., Lazarakis, Smaro, Thariat, Juliette, Psyrri, Amanda, Mehanna, Hisham, Yom, Sue S. and HNCIG, on behalf of the (2024). Assessment of endpoint definitions in curative-intenttrials for mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations. Lancet Oncology, 25 (7), e318-e330.
2024
Journal Article
Assessment of endpoint definitions in curative-intent trials for mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations
Lim, Annette M, McDowell, Lachlan, Hurt, Chris, Le Tourneau, Christophe, Homma, Akihiro, Shenouda, George, Thomson, David J, Moya-Plana, Antoine, Henson, Christina, Szturz, Petr, Day, Andrew T, Bates, James E, Lazarakis, Smaro, Thariat, Juliette, Psyrri, Amanda, Mehanna, Hisham and Yom, Sue S (2024). Assessment of endpoint definitions in curative-intent trials for mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations. The Lancet Oncology, 25 (7), e318-e330. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00067-6
2024
Journal Article
The Crown Jewel: Checkpoint Inhibition in Unresectable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
McDowell, Lachlan and Barnett, Catherine (2024). The Crown Jewel: Checkpoint Inhibition in Unresectable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 119 (1), 9-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.11.017
2024
Journal Article
Essential data variables for a minimum dataset for head and neck cancer trials and clinical research: HNCIG consensus recommendations and database
Baliga, Sujith, Abou-Foul, Ahmad K., Parente, Pablo, Szturz, Petr, Thariat, Juliette, Shreenivas, Aditya, Nankivell, Paul, Bertolini, Federica, Biau, Julian, Blakaj, Dukagjin, Brennan, Sinead, Brunet, Aina, De Oliveira, Thiago Bueno, Burtness, Barbara, Maseda, Alberto Carral, Chow, Velda Ling-Yu, Chua, Melvin LK, de Ridder, Mischa, Garikipati, Satya, Hanai, Nobuhiro, Ho, Francis Cho Hao, Huang, Shao Hui, Kiyota, Naomi, Klinghammer, Konrad, Kowalski, Luiz P., Kwong, Dora L, McDowell, Lachlan J, Merlano, Marco Carlo, Nair, Sudhir ... Mehanna, Hisham (2024). Essential data variables for a minimum dataset for head and neck cancer trials and clinical research: HNCIG consensus recommendations and database. European Journal of Cancer, 203 114038, 114038. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.114038
2024
Journal Article
Carotid artery stenosis and ischemic stroke in patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy: a critical review
Smith, Justin, Margalit, Danielle, Golledge, Jonathan, Nastasi, Domenico, Nohria, Anju and McDowell, Lachlan (2024). Carotid artery stenosis and ischemic stroke in patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy: a critical review. International Journal of Radiation: Oncology - Biology - Physics, 119 (5), 1437-1454. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.03.044
2024
Journal Article
A longitudinal study evaluating sexual health outcomes and prioritization in patients undergoing chemoradiation for human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer
McDowell, Lachlan, Gough, Karla, Fua, Tsien, Coleman, Andrew, Drosdowsky, Allison, Rischin, Danny and Corry, June (2024). A longitudinal study evaluating sexual health outcomes and prioritization in patients undergoing chemoradiation for human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer. International Journal of Radiation: Oncology - Biology - Physics, 118 (4), 1018-1028. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.10.006
2024
Journal Article
Radiotherapy quality assurance in the TROG 12.01 randomised trial and its impact on loco-regional failure
Corry, June, Moore, Alisha, Kenny, Liz, Wratten, Chris, Fua, Tsien, Lin, Charles, Porceddu, Sandro, Liu, Chen, Ruemelin, Michael, Sharkey, Amy, Mcdowell, Lachlan, Wilkinson, Dean, Tiong, Albert and Rischin, Danny (2024). Radiotherapy quality assurance in the TROG 12.01 randomised trial and its impact on loco-regional failure. Frontiers in Oncology, 13 1333098, 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1333098
2023
Journal Article
Comprehensive profiling identifies tumour and immune microenvironmental differences in clinical subsets of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Thai, Alesha A, Young, Richard J, Bressel, Mathias, Angel, Christopher, McDowell, Lachlan, Tiong, Albert, Bucknell, Nicholas W, Fellowes, Andrew, Xu, Huiling, Trigos, Anna, Rischin, Danny and Solomon, Benjamin J (2023). Comprehensive profiling identifies tumour and immune microenvironmental differences in clinical subsets of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. British Journal of Dermatology, 189 (5), 588-602. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad250
2023
Journal Article
Diagnostic challenges and prognostic implications of extranodal extension in head and neck cancer: a state of the art review and gap analysis
Henson, Christina E., Abou-Foul, Ahmad K., Morton, Daniel J., McDowell, Lachlan, Baliga, Sujith, Bates, James, Lee, Anna, Bonomo, Pierluigi, Szturz, Petr, Nankivell, Paul, Huang, Shao Hui, Lydiatt, William M., O’Sullivan, Brian and Mehanna, Hisham (2023). Diagnostic challenges and prognostic implications of extranodal extension in head and neck cancer: a state of the art review and gap analysis. Frontiers in Oncology, 13 1263347, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1263347
2023
Journal Article
Patient-Reported Symptom Severity, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Emotional Distress Trajectories During and After Radiation Therapy for Human Papillomavirus–Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer: A TROG 12.01 Secondary Analysis
McDowell, Lachlan, Bressel, Mathias, King, Madeleine T., Corry, June, Kenny, Lizbeth, Porceddu, Sandro, Wratten, Christopher, Macann, Andrew, Jackson, James E. and Rischin, Danny (2023). Patient-Reported Symptom Severity, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Emotional Distress Trajectories During and After Radiation Therapy for Human Papillomavirus–Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer: A TROG 12.01 Secondary Analysis. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 116 (5), 1110-1125. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.02.041
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Lachlan McDowell is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Master Philosophy
PET images as predictor of outcome following Radiotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lena Oestreich
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Lachlan McDowell's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: