Daniel Y. Song, MD

Daniel Y. Song, MD

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Baltimore, Maryland

Dr. Daniel (Danny) Song is a Professor of Radiation Oncology, with joint appointments in Urology and Oncology. He serves as the Co-director of the Prostate Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Physician Advisor and Director of Faculty Affairs for the Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences. His area of clinical expertise is in the management of genitourinary cancers, including cancers of the prostate, bladder and urinary tract, and testicular cancer.

Dr. Song applies his expertise and clinical experience in the utilization of a variety of radiation modalities including external beam radiation, image-guided and intensity-modulated radiation, prostate brachytherapy (seed implants), and stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Dr. Song's research interests include the development and refinement of new imaging methods to improve radiation targeting, as well as innovative means of reducing potential side effects of radiation treatment. His research is supported by federal and private research funding programs including two R01 awards from the National Cancer Institute, Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Clinical Trial Award, the American Cancer Society, and the Hopkins-BMS Immuno-Oncology Consortium.

Talks by Daniel Y. Song, MD

Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer

Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer

Posted by | Dec 2024

Daniel Song, MD, explores the evolving role of metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in oligometastatic prostate cancer. Initial studies, including SABR-COMET and STOMP, demonstrate that MDT, through approaches like stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) or surgery, improves progression-free and ADT-free survival compared to observation alone. Recent trials also evaluate the combination of MDT and short-term ADT, such as the EXTEND trial, which shows significantly prolonged progression-free survival.

The 9-minute presentation highlights how advanced imaging, particularly PSMA PET scans, outperforms conventional imaging in detecting and targeting metastases, enhancing MDT’s efficacy. Comparisons of PSMA-guided versus choline-guided SBRT reveal superior outcomes in disease-free survival. Furthermore, ongoing research seeks to clarify whether systemic hormone therapy is necessary alongside MDT, with trials like DART exploring novel ADT strategies.

Dr. Song asserts that MDT improves survival metrics in oligometastatic prostate cancer, particularly when informed by advanced imaging. Combining MDT with prostate radiation or systemic ADT offers additional survival benefits.

Read More
Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Role of Brachytherapy

Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Role of Brachytherapy

Posted by | Jun 2024

Dr. Daniel Y. Song examines the critical role of brachytherapy as a focal therapy in the management of prostate cancer, emphasizing its significance within the broader context of precision oncology. Dr. Song discusses the technical aspects and advancements in brachytherapy, including the use of image-guided techniques. He underscores the importance of meticulous planning and execution in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Dr. Song also addresses the evolving role of brachytherapy in the era of multimodal treatment approaches. He explores its integration with other therapeutic modalities, such as external beam radiation therapy and hormonal therapy, to enhance treatment efficacy and tailor interventions to individual patient profiles. This approach aligns with the principles of personalized medicine, aiming to optimize therapeutic benefits while minimizing treatment-related morbidity.

Read More
Industry Perspective: BioProtect Balloon Implant™ System

Industry Perspective: BioProtect Balloon Implant™ System

Posted by | Apr 2024

In this Industry Perspective, supported by BioProtect, Daniel Y. Song, MD, compares the BioProtect Balloon Implant™ System to rectal gel spacers currently on the market. Dr. Song begins by presenting the composition, dimensions, and safety features of the balloon.

Dr. Song then compares the balloon’s features and implantation process to those of the two most readily available rectal gel spacers on the market. He notes that, unlike the gel spacers, the balloon creates predictable, reproducible, symmetrical results.

Dr. Song presents a step-by-step illustration of the implantation process for the BioProtect Balloon Implant™ System. He presents a video demonstration of an implantation via blunt dissection, which reduces the risk of rectal, capsular, and vascular infiltration. He adds that the balloon is simple to degrade, with 98% of the material degraded at the 6-month mark.

Dr. Song concludes by presenting the results of the BioProtect Multinational Pivotal Study. He compares the GI toxicities at 3 and 6 months of patients treated with rectal gel spacers versus those treated with the BioProtect Balloon Implant™ System. He demonstrates that the balloon achieves robust reduction in radiation dose, while being well-tolerated by patients and easy for healthcare professionals to implant and adjust.

Read More