Jose Penagaricano, MD

Cancer Focus:
Brain Cancer, Glioblastoma, Meningioma, Spinal Tumor, Throat Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Tongue Cancer

Dr. José Peñagarícano is a Senior member in the Department of Radiation Oncology. Dr. Peñagarícano received his B.S. in mathematics from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and his M.D. from Universidad Central del Caribe in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. He completed a radiation oncology residency at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. Prior to joining Moffitt Cancer Center he was a tenured Professor of radiation oncology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. His clinical interests include head and neck cancer, brain and spine tumors, stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiation therapy.  His current research interests include robustness in photon radiotherapy, spatially fractionated radiation therapy (GRID) and modeling of radiation injury of normal tissues.

• Wang K, Sabouri P, Wolfe A, Siegel E, Marrufo J, Cothran C, McClain P, Lewis G, Penagaricano J, Griffin RJ, Xia F. Grid Spatially Fractionated Radiation Therapy for Bulky Tumors: A Large Single Institution Experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2025 Sep. Pubmedid: 40956272.
• Chao M, Tomalin L, Wei J, Liu T, Zhang J, Liu J, Peñagarícano JA. Exploring spatial dose information in the parotid gland for xerostomia prediction and local dose patterns in head and neck cancer radiotherapy. Biomed Phys Eng Express. 2025 Feb.11(2). Pubmedid: 39899903.
• Penagaricano J, Nakashima JY. Case Report: Early experience with hypoxia-targeted SBRT-based partial tumor irradiation in large and bulky tumors. Front Oncol. 2025.15:1697888. Pubmedid: 41409244. Pmcid: PMC12705351.
• Bekker RA, Obertopp N, Redler G, Penagaricano J, Caudell JJ, Yamoah K, Pilon-Thomas S, Moros EG, Enderling H. Spatially fractionated GRID radiation potentiates immune-mediated tumor control. Radiat Oncol. 2024 Sep.19(1):121. Pubmedid: 39272128. Pmcid: PMC11401399.
• Nasser N, Perez BA, Penagaricano JA, Caudell JJ, Oliver DE, Latifi K, Moros EG, Redler G. Technical feasibility of novel immunostimulatory low-dose radiation for polymetastatic disease with CBCT-based online adaptive and conventional approaches. J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2024 Jun.25(6):e14303. Pubmedid: 38377378. Pmcid: PMC11163490.
• Li H, Mayr NA, Griffin RJ, Zhang H, Pokhrel D, Grams M, Penagaricano J, Chang S, Spraker MB, Kavanaugh J, Lin L, Sheikh K, Mossahebi S, Simone CB, Roberge D, Snider JW, Sabouri P, Molineu A, Xiao Y, Benedict SH. Overview and Recommendations for Prospective Multi-institutional Spatially Fractionated Radiation Therapy Clinical Trials. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2024 Jul.119(3):737-749. Pubmedid: 38110104. Pmcid: PMC11162930.
• Keit E, Liveringhouse C, Figura N, Weygand J, Sandoval ML, Garcia G, Peters J, Nieder M, Faramand R, Khimani F, Kim S, Robinson TJ, Johnstone PAS, Penagaricano J, Latifi K. Feasibility and Toxicity of Full-Body Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Technique for High-Dose Total Body Irradiation. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2023 Jan.22. Pubmedid: 37287260. Pmcid: PMC10272663.
• Kutuk T, Grass GD, Oliver D, Mokhtari S, Sahebjam S, Kim S, Penagaricano J, Yu HM, Tran N, Etame A, Peterson JL, Forsyth P, Robinson T. Revisiting the Concept of Recurrence of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphomas After Complete Response to Methotrexate-Based Therapy: Periventricular Reseeding as the Predominant Mechanism of Recurrence. Adv Radiat Oncol. 2022 Jul.7(4):100940. Pubmedid: 35814853. Pmcid: PMC9260129.
• Zhang X, Griffin RJ, Galhardo EP, Penagaricano J. Feasibility Study of 3D-VMAT-Based GRID Therapy. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2022 Jan.21. Pubmedid: 35289202. Pmcid: PMC8928354.
• Deshazer G, Narayanasamy G, Bimali M, Galhardo E, Kalantari F, Xia F, Penagaricano JA, Morrill S. A dosimetric comparative analysis of Brainlab elements and Eclipse RapidArc for spine SBRT treatment planning. Biomed Phys Eng Express. 2022 Feb.8(2). Pubmedid: 35086071.
• Koo J, Nardella L, Degnan M, Andreozzi J, Yu HM, Penagaricano J, Johnstone PAS, Oliver D, Ahmed K, Rosenberg SA, Wuthrick E, Diaz R, Feygelman V, Latifi K, Moros EG, Redler G. Triggered kV Imaging During Spine SBRT for Intrafraction Motion Management. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2021 Jan.20. Pubmedid: 34855577. Pmcid: PMC8649431.
• Peñagarícano JA. In Regard to Bovi et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2021 Feb.109(2):640-641. Pubmedid: 33422278.
• Dibs K, Sim AJ, Peñagaricano JA, Latifi K, Garcia GA, Peters JA, Nieder ML, Kim S, Robinson TJ. Gonadal-sparing total body irradiation with the use of helical tomotherapy for nonmalignant indications. Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2021 Feb.26(1):153-158. Pubmedid: 34046227. Pmcid: PMC8149136.
• Rassiah P, Esiashvili N, Olch AJ, Hua CH, Ulin K, Molineu A, Marcus K, Gopalakrishnan M, Pillai S, Kovalchuk N, Liu A, Niyazov G, Peñagarícano JA, Cheung F, Olson AC, Wu CC, Malhotra H, MacEwan IJ, Faught J, Breneman JC, Followill DS, FitzGerald TJ, Kalapurakal JA. Practice Patterns of Pediatric Total Body Irradiation Techniques: A Children's Oncology Group Survey. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2021 Dec.111(5):1155-1164. Pubmedid: 34352289.
• Griffin RJ, Prise KM, McMahon SJ, Zhang X, Penagaricano J, Butterworth KT. History and current perspectives on the biological effects of high-dose spatial fractionation and high dose-rate approaches: GRID, Microbeam & FLASH radiotherapy. Br J Radiol. 2020 Sep.93(1113):20200217. Pubmedid: 32706989. Pmcid: PMC7465857.
• Patterson JD, Helton M, Khani M, Sardar S, Thomas K, Galhardo EP, Penagaricano JA, Day JD, Rodriguez A. Neurosurgical management of perineural metastases: A case series and review of the literature. Surg Neurol Int. 2020 Jul.11:206. Pubmedid: 32874709. Pmcid: PMC7451152.
• Narayanasamy G, Morrill S, Cousins D, Liu J, Deshazer G, Garner W, Galhardo E, Serletis D, Penagaricano J. Radiosurgery for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy following ROSE trial guidelines - A planning comparison between Gamma Knife, Eclipse, and Brainlab. J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2019 Sep.20(10):134-141. Pubmedid: 31532068. Pmcid: PMC6806476.
• Penagaricano J. In Regard to Shuryak et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2019 Sep.105(1):231-232. Pubmedid: 31422812.
• Chao M, Wei J, Lo YC, Peñagarícano JA. Dose cluster model parameterization of the parotid gland in irradiation of head and neck cancer. Australas Phys Eng Sci Med. 2019 Dec. Pubmedid: 31792724.
• Narayanasamy G, Desai D, Morrill S, Zhang X, Galhardo E, Maraboyina S, Penagaricano J. Technical Note: A planning technique to lower normal tissue toxicity in lung SBRT plans based on two likely dependent RTOG metrics. Med Phys. 2018 May.45(5):2325-2328. Pubmedid: 29480933.
• Chao M, Wei J, Narayanasamy G, Yuan Y, Lo YC, Peñagarícano JA. Three-dimensional cluster formation and structure in heterogeneous dose distribution of intensity modulated radiation therapy. Radiother Oncol. 2018 May.127(2):197-205. Pubmedid: 29609805.
• Zhang X, Rong Y, Morrill S, Fang J, Narayanasamy G, Galhardo E, Maraboyina S, Croft C, Xia F, Penagaricano J. Robust optimization in lung treatment plans accounting for geometric uncertainty. J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2018 May.19(3):19-26. Pubmedid: 29524301. Pmcid: PMC5978970.
• Narayanasamy G, Desai D, Maraboyina S, Penagaricano J, Zwicker R, Johnson EL. A Dose Falloff Gradient Study in RapidArc Planning of Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. J Med Phys. 2018 Jul.43(3):147-154. Pubmedid: 30305771. Pmcid: PMC6172857.
• Paudel NR, Narayanasamy G, Han EY, Penagaricano J, Mavroidis P, Zhang X, Pyakuryal A, Kim D, Liang X, Morrill S. Dosimetric and radiobiological comparison for quality assurance of IMRT and VMAT plans. J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2017 Sep.18(5):237-244. Pubmedid: 28771941. Pmcid: PMC5874955.
• Peñagarícano JA. In Regard to Micke et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2017 Jul.98(3):709-710. Pubmedid: 28581413.
• Zhang X, Penagaricano J, Narayanasamy G, Corry P, Liu T, Sanjay M, Paudel N, Morrill S. Helical tomotherapy to LINAC plan conversion utilizing RayStation Fallback planning. J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2017 Jan.18(1):178-185. Pubmedid: 28291935. Pmcid: PMC5689873.
• Narayanasamy G, Zhang X, Meigooni A, Paudel N, Morrill S, Maraboyina S, Peacock L, Penagaricano J. Therapeutic benefits in grid irradiation on Tomotherapy for bulky, radiation-resistant tumors. Acta Oncol. 2017 Aug.56(8):1043-1047. Pubmedid: 28270018.
• Han EY, Kim DW, Zhang X, Penagaricano J, Liang X, Hardee M, Morrill S, Ratanatharathorn V. Dosimetric effect on pediatric conformal treatment plans using dynamic jaw with Tomotherapy HDA. Med Dosim. 2016 May.40(3):244-247. Pubmedid: 25771837.
• Liang X, Penagaricano J, Zheng D, Morrill S, Zhang X, Corry P, Griffin RJ, Han EY, Hardee M, Ratanatharathom V. Radiobiological impact of dose calculation algorithms on biologically optimized IMRT lung stereotactic body radiation therapy plans. Radiat Oncol. 2016 Jan.11:10. Pubmedid: 26800883. Pmcid: PMC4724090.
• Zhang X, Penagaricano J, Yan Y, Liang X, Morrill S, Griffin RJ, Corry P, Ratanatharathorn V. Spatially fractionated radiotherapy (GRID) using helical tomotherapy. J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2016 Jan.17(1):396-407. Pubmedid: 26894367. Pmcid: PMC5690194.
• Zhang X, Penagaricano J, Yan Y, Sharma S, Griffin RJ, Hardee M, Han EY, Ratanatharathom V. Application of Spatially Fractionated Radiation (GRID) to Helical Tomotherapy using a Novel TOMOGRID Template. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2016 Feb.15(1):91-100. Pubmedid: 24000988.
• Peñagarícano J, Serletis D. Radiosurgery in the Management of Intractable Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. J Ark Med Soc. 2015 Sep.112(5):66-67. Pubmedid: 26390538.
• Asur R, Butterworth KT, Penagaricano JA, Prise KM, Griffin RJ. High dose bystander effects in spatially fractionated radiation therapy. Cancer Lett. 2015 Jan.356(1):52-57. Pubmedid: 24246848. Pmcid: PMC4022709.
• Takahashi Y, Vagge S, Agostinelli S, Han E, Matulewicz L, Schubert K, Chityala R, Ratanatharathorn V, Tournel K, Penagaricano JA, Florian S, Mahe MA, Verneris MR, Weisdorf DJ, Corvo R, Dusenbery KE, Storme G, Hui SK. Multi-institutional feasibility study of a fast patient localization method in total marrow irradiation with helical tomotherapy: a global health initiative by the international consortium of total marrow irradiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2015 Jan.91(1):30-38. Pubmedid: 25442340. Pmcid: PMC4385424.
• Zhang X, Penagaricano J, Han EY, Morrill S, Hardee M, Liang X, Gupta SK, Corry PM, Ratanatharathom V. Dosimetric Comparison of Craniospinal Irradiation Using Different Tomotherapy Techniques. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2015 Aug.14(4):440-446. Pubmedid: 25398680.
• Tulunay-Ugur OE, McClinton C, Young Z, Penagaricano JA, Maddox AM, Vural E. Functional outcomes of chemoradiation in patients with head and neck cancer. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Jan.148(1):64-68. Pubmedid: 22951428.
• Penagaricano J. Total body irradiation. J Ark Med Soc. 2012 Sep.109(4):66-69. Pubmedid: 22977984.
• Asur RS, Sharma S, Chang CW, Penagaricano J, Kommuru IM, Moros EG, Corry PM, Griffin RJ. Spatially fractionated radiation induces cytotoxicity and changes in gene expression in bystander and radiation adjacent murine carcinoma cells. Radiat Res. 2012 Jun.177(6):751-765. Pubmedid: 22559204. Pmcid: PMC3395590.
• Chao M, Corry P, Zhang X, Penagaricano J, Ratanatharathorn V. SU-E-T-439: First Experience of Three Dimensional Conformai Radiotherapy (3DCRT) Planning with Helical Tomotherapy. Med Phys. 2012 Jun.39(6Part16):3805-3806. Pubmedid: 28517187.
• Han E, Lee C, McGuire E, Brown T, Penagaricano J, Corry P, Bolch W. SU-E-J-182: Patient Specific Assessment of External Radiation Exposure to Bystanders Interacting with Patients Following 131I Therapy. Med Phys. 2012 Jun.39(6Part9):3694. Pubmedid: 28519014. Pmcid: PMC8015877.
• Chao M, Penagaricano J, Yan Y, Moros EG, Corry P, Ratanatharathorn V. Voxel-based dose reconstruction for total body irradiation with helical tomotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012 Apr.82(5):1575-1583. Pubmedid: 21470791.
• Han EY, Zhang X, Yan Y, Sharma S, Penagaricano J, Moros E, Corry P. Static jaw collimation settings to minimize radiation dose to normal brain tissue during stereotactic radiosurgery. Med Dosim. 2012 Apr.37(4):391-395. Pubmedid: 22552119.
• Zhang X, Penagaricano J, Moros EG, Corry PM, Yan Y, Ratanatharathorn V. Dosimetric comparison of helical tomotherapy and linac-IMRT treatment plans for head and neck cancer patients. Med Dosim. 2011 Mar.35(4):264-268. Pubmedid: 19944587.
• Peñagarícano JA, Chao M, Van Rhee F, Moros EG, Corry PM, Ratanatharathorn V. Clinical feasibility of TBI with helical tomotherapy. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2011 Jul.46(7):929-935. Pubmedid: 20935684.
• Chen D, Xia R, Chen X, Shafirstein G, Corry PM, Griffin RJ, Penagaricano JA, Tulunay-Ugur OE, Moros EG. SonoKnife: feasibility of a line-focused ultrasound device for thermal ablation therapy. Med Phys. 2011 Jul.38(7):4372-4385. Pubmedid: 21859038. Pmcid: PMC3145222.
• Mihaylov IB, Fatyga M, Moros EG, Penagaricano J, Lerma FA. Lung dose for minimally moving thoracic lesions treated with respiration gating. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010 May.77(1):285-291. Pubmedid: 20097487.
• Moros EG, Peñagaricano J, Novàk P, Straube WL, Myerson RJ. Present and future technology for simultaneous superficial thermoradiotherapy of breast cancer. Int J Hyperthermia. 2010 Dec.26(7):699-709. Pubmedid: 20849263. Pmcid: PMC2943851.
• Peñagarícano JA, Moros EG, Ratanatharathorn V, Yan Y, Corry P. Evaluation of spatially fractionated radiotherapy (GRID) and definitive chemoradiotherapy with curative intent for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: initial response rates and toxicity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010 Apr.76(5):1369-1375. Pubmedid: 19625138.
• Mihaylov IB, Penagaricano J, Moros EG. Quantification of the skin sparing effect achievable with high-energy photon beams when carbon fiber tables are used. Radiother Oncol. 2009 Oct.93(1):147-152. Pubmedid: 19515440.
• Peñagarícano J, Moros E, Corry P, Saylors R, Ratanatharathorn V. Pediatric craniospinal axis irradiation with helical tomotherapy: patient outcome and lack of acute pulmonary toxicity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2009 Nov.75(4):1155-1161. Pubmedid: 19467796.
• Peñagarícano JA, Griffin R, Corry P, Moros E, Yan Y, Ratanatharathorn V. Spatially fractionated (GRID) therapy for large and bulky tumors. J Ark Med Soc. 2009 May.105(11):263-265. Pubmedid: 19475814.
• Shi C, Peñagarícano J, Papanikolaou N. Comparison of IMRT treatment plans between linac and helical tomotherapy based on integral dose and inhomogeneity index. Med Dosim. 2008 Nov.33(3):215-221. Pubmedid: 18674686.
• Novák P, Peñagarícano JA, Nahirnyak V, Corry P, Moros EG. Influence of the SURLAS applicator on radiation dose distributions during simultaneous thermoradiotherapy with helical tomotherapy. Phys Med Biol. 2008 May.53(10):2509-2522. Pubmedid: 18424880.
• Peñagaricano JA, Moros E, Corry P. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for craniospinal irradiation: target volume considerations, dose constraints and competing risks: in regard to Parker et al. (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2007;69:251-257). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2008 Mar.70(3):964. Pubmedid: 18262113.
• Linskey ME, Ratanatharathorn V, Peñagaricano J. A prospective cohort study of microvascular decompression and Gamma Knife surgery in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. J Neurosurg. 2008 Dec.109 Suppl:160-172. Pubmedid: 19123904.
• Peñagarícano JA, Moros E, Novák P, Yan Y, Corry P. Feasibility of concurrent treatment with the scanning ultrasound reflector linear array system (SURLAS) and the helical tomotherapy system. Int J Hyperthermia. 2008 Aug.24(5):377-388. Pubmedid: 18608592. Pmcid: PMC2879076.
• Penagaricano JA, Yan Y, Corry P, Moros E, Ratanatharathorn V. Retrospective evaluation of pediatric cranio-spinal axis irradiation plans with the Hi-ART tomotherapy system. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2007 Aug.6(4):355-360. Pubmedid: 17668944.
• Peñagarícano JA. Integral radiation dose to normal structures with conformal external beam radiation: in regards to Aoyama et al. (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2006;64:962-967). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006 Jul.65(4):1274. Pubmedid: 16798421.
• Peñagarícano JA. Step-and-shoot IMRT vs. helical tomotherapy: in regard to van Vulpen et al. (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2005;62;1535-1539). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006 Jan.64(1):328. Pubmedid: 16377421.
• Peñagarícano JA, Yan Y, Shi C, Linskey ME, Ratanatharathorn V. Dosimetric comparison of helical tomotherapy and Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery for single brain metastasis. Radiat Oncol. 2006 Aug.1:26. Pubmedid: 16887031. Pmcid: PMC1557668.
• Youssef E, Chuba P, Salib N, Yoo GH, Penagarícano J, Ezzat W, Aref A. Pathological distribution of positive lymph nodes in patients with clinically and radiologically N0 oropharyngeal carcinoma: implications for IMRT treatment planning. Cancer J. 2005 Sep.11(5):412-416. Pubmedid: 16259872.
• Penagaricano J, Papanikolaou N, Youssef E, Wu C, Yan Y, Ratanatharathorn V. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) enabling technologies. J Ark Med Soc. 2005 Oct.102(4):114-117. Pubmedid: 16265931.
• Peñagarícano JA, Papanikolaou N, Wu C, Yan Y. An assessment of biologically-based optimization (BORT) in the IMRT era. Med Dosim. 2005 Jun.30(1):12-19. Pubmedid: 15749006.
• Yan Y, Papanikolaou N, Weng X, Penagaricano J, Ratanatharathorn V. Fast radiographic film calibration procedure for helical tomotherapy intensity modulated radiation therapy dose verification. Med Phys. 2005 Jun.32(6):1566-1570. Pubmedid: 16013715.
• Peñagarícano JA, Papanikolaou N, Yan Y, Youssef E, Ratanatharathorn V. Feasibility of cranio-spinal axis radiation with the Hi-Art tomotherapy system. Radiother Oncol. 2005 Jul.76(1):72-78. Pubmedid: 15992953.
• Peñagarícano JA, Shi C, Ratanatharathorn V. Evaluation of integral dose in cranio-spinal axis (CSA) irradiation with conventional and helical delivery. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2005 Dec.4(6):683-689. Pubmedid: 16292889.
• Hanna E, Alexiou M, Morgan J, Badley J, Maddox AM, Penagaricano J, Fan CY, Breau R, Suen J. Intensive chemoradiotherapy as a primary treatment for organ preservation in patients with advanced cancer of the head and neck: efficacy, toxic effects, and limitations. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Jul.130(7):861-867. Pubmedid: 15262764.
• Peñagarícano JA, Ratanatharathorn V, Papanikolaou N, Yan Y. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy reduces the dose to normal tissue in T2N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx. Med Dosim. 2004 Dec.29(4):254-257. Pubmedid: 15528066.
• Jahraus CD, Russo S, Peñagarícano J, Routh A, St Clair W. Radiotherapy dose fractionation in pediatric Langerhans cell histiocytosis. South Med J. 2004 Dec.97(12):1268-1269. Pubmedid: 15646770.
• Peñagarícano JA, Linskey ME, Ratanatharathorn V. Accelerated cerebral vasculopathy after radiation therapy to the brain. Neurol India. 2004 Dec.52(4):482-486. Pubmedid: 15626839.
• Peñagarícano JA, Papanikolaou N, Yan Y, Ratanatharathorn V. Application of intensity-modulated radiation therapy for pediatric malignancies. Med Dosim. 2004 Dec.29(4):247-253. Pubmedid: 15528065.
• Gardner E, Linskey ME, Peñagarícano JA, Hanna EY. Stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with cancer of the head and neck. Curr Oncol Rep. 2003 Mar.5(2):164-169. Pubmedid: 12583835.
• Peñagarícano JA, Papanikolaou N. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for carcinoma of the head and neck. Curr Oncol Rep. 2003 Mar.5(2):131-139. Pubmedid: 12583830.