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
2021
Journal Article
Randomized trial of radiation therapy with weekly cisplatin or cetuximab in low-risk HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer (TROG 12.01) – A Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group Study
Rischin, Danny, King, Madeleine, Kenny, Lizbeth, Porceddu, Sandro, Wratten, Christopher, Macann, Andrew, Jackson, James E., Bressel, Mathias, Herschtal, Alan, Fisher, Richard, Fua, Tsien, Lin, Charles, Liu, Chen, Hughes, Brett G.M., McGrath, Margaret, McDowell, Lachlan and Corry, June (2021). Randomized trial of radiation therapy with weekly cisplatin or cetuximab in low-risk HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer (TROG 12.01) – A Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group Study. International Journal of Radiation: Oncology - Biology - Physics, 111 (4), 876-886. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.04.015
2021
Journal Article
Radiation Recall Phenomenon Following COVID-19 Vaccination
Stewart, Rachel and McDowell, Lachlan (2021). Radiation Recall Phenomenon Following COVID-19 Vaccination. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 111 (3), 835-836. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.06.023
2021
Journal Article
Symptom burden, quality of life, functioning and emotional distress in survivors of human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer: An Australian cohort
McDowell, Lachlan, Casswell, Georgina, Bressel, Mathias, Drosdowsky, Allison, Rischin, Danny, Coleman, Andrew, Shrestha, Sudichhya, D'Costa, Ieta, Fua, Tsien, Tiong, Albert, Liu, Chen and Gough, Karla (2021). Symptom burden, quality of life, functioning and emotional distress in survivors of human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer: An Australian cohort. Oral Oncology, 122 105560, 105560-122. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105560
2021
Journal Article
In the Hot Seat
McDowell, Lachlan J. (2021). In the Hot Seat. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 111 (2), 307-308. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.02.163
2021
Journal Article
Regarding “Comparing unilateral vs. bilateral neck management in lateralized oropharyngeal cancer between surgical and radiation oncologists: An international practice pattern survey” – Intra- and inter-specialty variability and the underutilisation of unilateral radiotherapy as treatment de-intensification
McDowell, Lachlan and Corry, June (2021). Regarding “Comparing unilateral vs. bilateral neck management in lateralized oropharyngeal cancer between surgical and radiation oncologists: An international practice pattern survey” – Intra- and inter-specialty variability and the underutilisation of unilateral radiotherapy as treatment de-intensification. Oral Oncology, 119 105248, 105248. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105248
2021
Journal Article
Patient-reported quality of life and symptom burden measures in human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer – A review of the literature and PRO methodology
McDowell, Lachlan, Gough, Karla, King, Madeleine, Corry, June and Rischin, Danny (2021). Patient-reported quality of life and symptom burden measures in human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer – A review of the literature and PRO methodology. Oral Oncology, 118 105309, 105309-118. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105309
2021
Journal Article
Recommendations for postoperative radiotherapy in head & neck squamous cell carcinoma in the presence of flaps: A GORTEC internationally-reviewed HNCIG-endorsed consensus
Carsuzaa, Florent, Lapeyre, Michel, Gregoire, Vincent, Maingon, Philippe, Beddok, Arnaud, Marcy, Pierre-Yves, Salleron, Julia, Coutte, Alexandre, Racadot, Severine, Pointreau, Yoann, Graff, Pierre, Beadle, Beth, Benezery, Karen, Biau, Julian, Calugaru, Valentin, Castelli, Joel, Chua, Melvin, Di Rito, Alessia, Dore, Melanie, Ghadjar, Pirus, Huguet, Florence, Jardel, Pauline, Johansen, Jorgen, Kimple, Randall, Krengli, Marco, Laskar, Sarbani, Mcdowell, Lachlan, Nichols, Anthony, tribius, Silke ... Thariat, Juliette (2021). Recommendations for postoperative radiotherapy in head & neck squamous cell carcinoma in the presence of flaps: A GORTEC internationally-reviewed HNCIG-endorsed consensus. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 160, 140-147. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.04.026
2021
Journal Article
Contralateral neck failure in oral tongue cancer: Outcomes from two centers using predefined treatment criteria
Udovicich, Cristian, Daniell, James, Wiesenfeld, David, Bressel, Mathias, Rowe, David, Vital, Domenic, Cavanagh, Karda, Lekgabe, Ernest, Wong, Tim, Magarey, Matthew J. R., Iseli, Tim A., Fua, Tsien, Rischin, Danny and McDowell, Lachlan (2021). Contralateral neck failure in oral tongue cancer: Outcomes from two centers using predefined treatment criteria. Head and Neck, 43 (7), 2024-2031. doi: 10.1002/hed.26671
2021
Journal Article
A critical analysis of the 8th edition TNM staging for head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node metastases and comparison to N1S3 stage and ITEM risk score: A multicenter study
Ebrahimi, Ardalan, Luk, Peter P., Low, Hubert, McDowell, Lachlan, Magarey, Matthew J. R., Smith, Paul N., Perriman, Diana M., Veness, Michael, Gupta, Ruta and Clark, Jonathan R. (2021). A critical analysis of the 8th edition TNM staging for head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node metastases and comparison to N1S3 stage and ITEM risk score: A multicenter study. Journal of Surgical Oncology, 123 (7), 1531-1539. doi: 10.1002/jso.26410
2021
Journal Article
Sexual Health and Interpersonal Relationships After Chemoradiation Therapy for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Cross-sectional Study
Casswell, MB ChB, Georgina, Gough, PhD, Karla, Drosdowsky, MPH, Allison, Bressel, MSc, Mathias, Coleman, MB BS, Andrew, Shrestha, PhD, Sudi, D'Costa, MB BS, Ieta, Fua, MB BS, Tsien, Tiong, MB BS, Albert, Liu, MB BS, Chen, Rischin, MD, Danny and McDowell, MB BS, Lachlan (2021). Sexual Health and Interpersonal Relationships After Chemoradiation Therapy for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Cross-sectional Study. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 110 (2), 382-393. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.11.005
2021
Journal Article
Timing of dental extractions in patients undergoing radiotherapy and the incidence of osteoradionecrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Beaumont, S., Bhatia, N., McDowell, L., Fua, T., McCullough, M., Celentano, A. and Yap, T. (2021). Timing of dental extractions in patients undergoing radiotherapy and the incidence of osteoradionecrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 59 (5), 511-523. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.10.006
2021
Journal Article
A role of PSMA PET/CT in multimodality imaging approach in adenoid cystic carcinoma
Dhiantravan, Nattakorn, Ravi Kumar, Aravind S, Cavanagh, Karda and McDowell, Lachlan (2021). A role of PSMA PET/CT in multimodality imaging approach in adenoid cystic carcinoma. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology, 65 (2), 213-215. doi: 10.1111/1754-9485.13116
2021
Journal Article
Synchronous p16+ nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a case report and review
Ali, Muhammad, Kua, Hock, Giddings, Charles, Day, Daphne and McDowell, Lachlan (2021). Synchronous p16+ nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a case report and review. Clinical Case Reports, 9 (3), 1350-1353. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.3765
2021
Journal Article
Locoregional Radiotherapy in Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Thai, Alesha A., McDowell, Lachlan J. and Lim, Annette M. (2021). Locoregional Radiotherapy in Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Cancer. JAMA Oncology, 7 (2), 310-311. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.7011
2021
Journal Article
Prognostic value of the 8th edition American Joint Commission Cancer nodal staging system for patients with head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a multi-institutional study
Luk, Peter P., Ebrahimi, Ardalan, Veness, Michael J., McDowell, Lachlan, Magarey, Matthew, Gao, Kan, Palme, Carsten E., Clark, Jonathan R. and Gupta, Ruta (2021). Prognostic value of the 8th edition American Joint Commission Cancer nodal staging system for patients with head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a multi-institutional study. Head and Neck, 43 (2), 558-567. doi: 10.1002/hed.26512
2021
Journal Article
Locoregional Radiation Therapy for De Novo Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Cancer: One Size Fits All?
McDowell, Lachlan, Rischin, Danny and Lee, Anne W.M. (2021). Locoregional Radiation Therapy for De Novo Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Cancer: One Size Fits All?. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 109 (1), 131-133. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.10.001
2021
Journal Article
Enhanced toxicity with CDK 4/6 inhibitors and palliative radiotherapy: Non-consecutive case series and review of the literature
David, Steven, Ho, Gwo, Day, Daphne, Harris, Marion, Tan, Jennifer, Goel, Shom, Hanna, Gerard G., Srivastava, Ranjana, Kruss, Gill, McDowell, Lachlan and White, Michelle (2021). Enhanced toxicity with CDK 4/6 inhibitors and palliative radiotherapy: Non-consecutive case series and review of the literature. Translational Oncology, 14 (1) 100939, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100939
2020
Journal Article
Impact of histological Oral Tongue Cancer margins on locoregional recurrence: A multi-centre retrospective analysis
Daniell, James, Udovicich, Cristian, Rowe, David, McDowell, Lachlan, Vital, Domenic, Bressel, Mathias, Magarey, Matthew J.R., Iseli, Tim A., Wong, Tim, Lekgabe, Ernest, Cavanagh, Karda, Fua, Tsien, Rischin, Danny and Wiesenfeld, David (2020). Impact of histological Oral Tongue Cancer margins on locoregional recurrence: A multi-centre retrospective analysis. Oral Oncology, 111 105004, 105004-111. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105004
2020
Journal Article
Number of nodal metastases and the American Joint Committee on cancer staging of head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a multicenter study
Ebrahimi, Ardalan, Gupta, Ruta, Luk, Peter, Low, Tsu-Hui (Hubert), McDowell, Lachlan, Magarey, Matthew J.R., Smith, Paul N., Perriman, Diana M., Schulte, Klaus-Martin, Veness, Michael, Porceddu, Sandro V. and Clark, Jonathan R. (2020). Number of nodal metastases and the American Joint Committee on cancer staging of head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a multicenter study. Oral Oncology, 111 104855, 104855. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.104855
2020
Journal Article
The American Joint Committee on Cancer staging for metastatic head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: A multi-institutional study of within-stage heterogeneity and impact on prognostic performance
Ebrahimi, Ardalan, Luk, Peter P., Low, Hubert, McDowell, Lachlan, Magarey, Matthew J. R., Smith, Paul N., Perriman, Diana M., Shadbolt, Bruce, Veness, Michael, Gupta, Ruta and Clark, Jonathan R. (2020). The American Joint Committee on Cancer staging for metastatic head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: A multi-institutional study of within-stage heterogeneity and impact on prognostic performance. Head and Neck, 42 (11), 3235-3242. doi: 10.1002/hed.26369
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Lachlan McDowell is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Master Philosophy
PET images as predictor of outcome following Radiotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lena Oestreich
Media
Enquiries
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