|
NRG Oncology and RTOG Foundation mourns the loss of Dr. Maura Gillison, a giant in the field of head and neck oncology. Dr. Gillison passed away on June 21, 2026 surrounded by her family.
Dr. Gillison’s discoveries transformed the understanding, prevention, and treatment of head and neck cancer. Most notable of her many accomplishments, Dr. Gillison demonstrated that human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV-16, was the cause of a distinct subset of head and neck cancers. Prior to this finding, researchers believed that tobacco and alcohol use were the sole driving factors of these diseases. However, Dr. Gillison’s discovery established HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer as a biologically unique cancer type. In the decades following this discovery, Dr. Gillison’s research outlined the link between HPV infection, sexual transmission, cancer development, and patient outcomes. Her work revealed that HPV status was the single most important predictor of prognosis in oropharyngeal cancer, led to changes in clinical trial design and cancer staging, informed treatment de-intensification strategies, and strengthened the global case for HPV vaccination in both boys and girls.
Within NRG Oncology and RTOG Foundation, Dr. Gillison co-chaired the RTOG 0129 protocol with Dr. Kian Ang which defined which HPV-positive head and neck cancer patients could be considered ‘good risk’ and would qualify for de-escalation in their cancer treatment. This de-escalation of treatment would lead to lower toxicities and better quality of life for these patients. These findings were widely cited and published within the New England Journal of Medicine.
Following RTOG 0129, Dr. Gillison went on to become the Co-Principal Investigator of the NRG-RTOG 1016 study, which was the first attempt at de-escalation in the good risk category of patients with HPV-positive head and neck cancer. Results from this trial indicated that cetuximab is inferior to cisplatin and should not be used in this disease, which provided valuable insights for future research into de-escalation of treatment for these patients.
Dr. Gillison was also the Principal Investigator of the NRG-HN008 Phase I trial and expansion cohort of DNA-PK inhibition and intensity-modulated radiation therapy for cisplatin-ineligible patients with stage 3-4 local-regionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. As an active RTOG Foundation investigator, she was the co-Principal Investigator of RTOG Foundation 3504 a randomized phase II clinical trial that successfully demonstrated that nivolumab can be administered safely alongside standard of care treatments nivolumab to standard-of-care treatments for patients with newly diagnosed, intermediate- and high-risk local-regionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) without increasing the severity or frequency of expected side effects.
Beyond her remarkable scientific achievements, she was deeply devoted to her family, passionate about mentoring others, and a tireless advocate for women in medicine and science.
NRG Oncology and RTOG Foundation are deeply grateful for Dr. Gillison’s many years of dedicated service and the extraordinary passion she brought to our organization and to the countless individuals affected by cancer. Our hearts and thoughts are with her family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.
| 
