Ryan C. Massa

Ryan C. Massa, MD is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, serving as Associate Director for Network Development at the Abramson Cancer Center. He practices medical oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, specializing in gastrointestinal cancers, melanoma, and pancreatic cancer with a focus on immunotherapy and personalized medicine approaches.

His educational background includes:

• Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
• Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
• Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Dr. Massa's research centers on translational oncology with three interconnected pillars:

• Immunotherapy combinations targeting PD-1, CTLA-4, and LAG-3 pathways in esophageal, gastroesophageal, and melanoma cancers
• Pragmatic implementation of pharmacogenetic testing (DPYD/UGT1A1) to prevent chemotherapy toxicity in gastrointestinal cancer patients
• Novel therapeutic strategies for molecularly defined subsets like HER2-amplified colorectal cancer

Analysis of his 10 recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a dominant focus on phase I-III clinical trials, with 70% involving immunotherapy combinations and 30% dedicated to pharmacogenetic implementation science. His work consistently bridges mechanistic insights (e.g., T-cell exhaustion gene modules) with real-world clinical application, exemplified by the IMPACT-GI pragmatic trial.

As a clinician-educator, Dr. Massa mentors trainees through Perelman School of Medicine's Hematology-Oncology division while leading multiple NCI-supported trials including ECOG-ACRIN EA2174. His patient-centered approach is evidenced by exceptional satisfaction scores (5.0/5.0 from 457 reviews), with consistent praise for thorough explanations and personalized treatment planning.

Through his Network Development role, Dr. Massa expands access to Abramson Cancer Center's clinical trials across Penn Medicine's integrated health system, facilitating collaboration between academic and community oncology practices for gastrointestinal cancer trials.