Luis Pena, MD, FACG, AGAF

Cancer Focus:
Esophageal Cancer

Dr. Peña’s clinical and research interests’ include the treatment for Barrett’s esophagus and early esophageal cancer using endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and mucosal ablation including radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for biliary and pancreatic disorders including cancer, esophageal stenting and wireless capsule endoscopy for small bowel evaluation. Additional research interests include endoscopic outcomes and capsule endoscopy.

Education & Training

Board Certification:

• Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology

Fellowship:

• University of Kentucky - Gastroenterology

Residency:

• University of Kentucky - Internal Medicine

Medical School:

• Francisco Marrouquin University - MD

• Shannon AB, Mohammed MA, Lauwers GY, Pena LR, Mok SR, Sinnamon AJ, Araujo CR, Pimiento JM. Analysis of the Incidence of Lymph Node Metastases in High-Risk Early Stage (T1) Esophageal Adenocarcinomas: A Single-Institution Experience. J Surg Oncol. 2025 Sep.132(4):754-762. Pubmedid: 40717528.
• Radosavljevic I, Dam A, Luthra AK, Pena L, Cappelle S, Permuth JB, Felder S, Sanchez J, Stefanou A, Friedman M, Mok SR. Assessing outcomes of full-thickness resection in piecemeal polypectomy scar consolidation of colon adenomas containing cancer. Endosc Int Open. 2025 Sep.13:a26372047. Pubmedid: 40932816. Pmcid: PMC12417760.
• Shannon AB, Laronga C, Balsay-Patel C, Barton LV, Pena L, Lee MC, Sanchez JA, Pimiento JM, Felder SI, Sinnamon AJ. Premalignant Colorectal Adenoma Detection in Individuals with Inherited CDH1 Genetic Mutations: A Single-Institution Experience. South Med J. 2025 Oct.118(10):692-697. Pubmedid: 41072036.
• Bolla R, Mok S, Friedman M, Dam A, Luthra AK, Cappelle S, Peña LR. Self-Assembling Hemostatic Peptide Gel Used to Successfully Treat Rectal Ulcer in Radiation-Associated Vascular Ectasia: A Case Report. Am J Case Rep. 2025 Mar.26:e946886. Pubmedid: 40091537. Pmcid: PMC11927923.
• Garg A, Pena L, Lauwers GY, Druta M, Kis B. Radioembolization of Primary Splenic Angiosarcoma Complicated by Delayed Gastric Hemorrhage. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2025 Jan.36(1):187-189.e1. Pubmedid: 39357601.
• Teja T, Sinnamon AJ, Pena LS, Reyna Forero SA, Dineen S, Mehta RJ, Gurd EN, Pimiento JM. Feasibility of Oral Vitamin B12 Supplementation After Total Gastrectomy: Single Institution Cohort. Journal of Surgery Research and Practice. 2025 Jan.6(1):1-6.
• Saeed SH, Sinnamon AJ, Fontaine JP, Mehta RJ, Baldonado JJR, Pena LR, Pereira AAL, Hoffe SE, Frakes JM, Pimiento JM. Survival after esophagectomy for metastatic esophageal cancer: should the role of surgery be reconsidered?. J Gastrointest Surg. 2025 Aug.29(8):102118. Pubmedid: 40513811.
• Makovich Z, Radosavljevic I, Chapyala S, Handley G, Pena L, Mok S, Friedman M. Rationale for Hepatitis C Virus Treatment During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant in the Era of Novel Direct-Acting Antivirals. Digest Dis Sci. 2024 Sep.69(9):3488-3500. Pubmedid: 38990268.
• Saeed SH, Sinnamon AJ, Fontaine JP, Mehta RJ, Pena LR, Mok SRS, Baldonado JJR, Pimiento JM. Intra-operative pyloric BOTOX injection versus pyloric surgery for prevention of delayed gastric emptying after esophagectomy. Surg Endosc. 2024 Oct.38(10):6046-6052. Pubmedid: 39134721.
• Rodriguez VI, Mammadova J, Permuth JB, Luthra A, Pena L, Friedman M, Dam A, Cappelle S, Malafa MP, Hallmon C, Miranda C, Mok SRS. Elevated Urinary Levels of Fungal and Environmental Toxins in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. J Gastrointest Cancer. 2024 Oct.56(1):4. Pubmedid: 39419859. Pmcid: PMC11486816.
• Shaikh DH, Park M, Chen J, Huang J, Friedman MS, Dam AN, Luthra AK, Cappelle S, Pena LR, Permuth JB, Mok SRS. Differences in Gender and Overall Survival for Temperature-Sensitive TP53 Mutations in Gastroesophageal Cancer. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Nov.60(11). Pubmedid: 39597086. Pmcid: PMC11597060.
• Sinnamon AJ, Savoldy M, Mehta R, Dineen SP, Peña LR, Lauwers GY, Pimiento JM. ASO Visual Abstract: Tumor Regression Grade and Overall Survival Following Gastrectomy with Preoperative Therapy for Gastric Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Jun.30(6):3592-3593. Pubmedid: 36811737.
• Sinnamon AJ, Savoldy M, Mehta R, Dineen SP, Peña LR, Lauwers GY, Pimiento JM. Tumor Regression Grade and Overall Survival following Gastrectomy with Preoperative Therapy for Gastric Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Jun.30(6):3580-3589. Pubmedid: 36765008.
• Cavalaris CP, Okon SO, Pena LR, Friedman MS. Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Esophagus. Digest Dis Sci. 2023 Aug.68(8):3203-3204. Pubmedid: 37245192.
• Saller J, Jiang K, Xiong Y, Yoder SJ, Neill K, Pimiento JM, Pena L, Corbett FS, Magliocco A, Coppola D. A microRNA Signature Identifies Patients at Risk of Barrett Esophagus Progression to Dysplasia and Cancer. Digest Dis Sci. 2022 Feb.67(2):516-523. Pubmedid: 33713247. Pmcid: PMC9768694.
• Naffouje SA, Lauwers G, Klapman J, Dam A, Pena L, Friedman M, Sanchez J, Dessureault S, Felder S. Malignant colon polyps: predicting lymph node metastasis following endoscopic excision. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2022 Feb.37(2):393-402. Pubmedid: 35001147.
• Afiat TN, Hembree TN, Dean EA, Araujo C, Pena LR, Rosa M, Han HS, Hendrix K, Ramsakal A. Diffuse Intrasinusoidal Hepatic Metastasis from Breast Cancer Presenting as Liver Failure: Effective and Rapid Treatment with Weekly Low-Dose Adriamycin. Am J Case Rep. 2020 Sep.21:e924141. Pubmedid: 32877389. Pmcid: PMC7491943.
• Song E, Segarra D, Latifi K, Leuthold S, Belinc D, Pena L, Malafa M, Frakes JM, Hoffe SE. Recognition of Tumor Invasion of a Pancreatic Head Biliary Stent During Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. Pract Radiat Oncol. 2019 May.9(3):132-135. Pubmedid: 30708132.
• Lopez C, Abuel-Haija M, Pena L, Coppola D. Novel Germline Mutation Associated with Cowden Syndrome and Osteosarcoma. Cancer Genomics Proteomics. 2018 Mar.15(2):115-120. Pubmedid: 29496690. Pmcid: PMC5892603.
• Setia N, Lauwers GY, Peña LR. Unearthing the significance of buried intestinal metaplasia. Gastrointest Endosc. 2018 01.87(1):75-76. Pubmedid: 29241864.
• Saligram S, Lim D, Pena L, Friedman M, Harris C, Klapman J. Safety and feasibility of esophageal self- expandable metal stent placement without the aid of fluoroscopy. Dis Esophagus. 2017 Aug.30(8):1-6. Pubmedid: 28575246.
• Davis-Yadley AH, Neill KG, Malafa MP, Pena LR. Advances in the Endoscopic Diagnosis of Barrett Esophagus. Cancer Control. 2016 Jan.23(1):67-77. Pubmedid: 27009460.
• Sundar Alagusundaramoorthy S, Vilchez V, Zanni A, Sourianarayanane A, Maynard E, Shah M, Daily MF, Pena LR, Gedaly R. Role of transplantation in the treatment of benign solid tumors of the liver: a review of the United Network of Organ Sharing data set. JAMA Surg. 2015 Apr.150(4):337-342. Pubmedid: 25714928.
• Peña LR, Horn TL, Cross CB. Acute pancreatitis secondary to hemobilia after percutaneous liver biopsy. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2009 May.2(3):165-168. Pubmedid: 21180542. Pmcid: PMC3002516.
• Horn TL, Reynolds J, de Villiers W, Peña LR. Hepatitis C virus and inflammatory bowel disease. Digest Dis Sci. 2009 Jun.54(6):1171-1177. Pubmedid: 18975088.
• Pena LR, Cox T, Koch AG, Bosch A. Study comparing oesophageal capsule endoscopy versus EGD in the detection of varices. Dig Liver Dis. 2008 Mar.40(3):216-223. Pubmedid: 18082473.
• Knopp TC, Mardini HE, Peña LR. Wireless capsule endoscopy indication as a predictor of study quality. Digest Dis Sci. 2008 Jul.53(7):1898-1901. Pubmedid: 18034326.
• Peña LR, Mardini H, Nickl N. An instrument to predict endoscopy tolerance: a prospective randomized study. Digest Dis Sci. 2007 Oct.52(10):2888-2891. Pubmedid: 17394063.
• Sifford M, Koch A, Lee E, Peña LR. Abnormal liver tests as an initial presentation of celiac disease. Digest Dis Sci. 2007 Nov.52(11):3016-3018. Pubmedid: 17530403.
• Bosch A, Peña LR. The sphincter of oddi. Digest Dis Sci. 2007 May.52(5):1211-1218. Pubmedid: 17356921.
• Peña LR, Mardini HE, Nickl NJ. Development of an instrument to assess and predict satisfaction and poor tolerance among patients undergoing endoscopic procedures. Digest Dis Sci. 2005 Oct.50(10):1860-1871. Pubmedid: 16187188.
• Horn TL, Peña LR. Subcapsular hepatic hematoma after ERCP: case report and review. Gastrointest Endosc. 2004 Apr.59(4):594-596. Pubmedid: 15044910.
• Peña LR, Nand S, De Maria N, Van Thiel DH. Hepatitis C virus infection and lymphoproliferative disorders. Digest Dis Sci. 2000 Sep.45(9):1854-1860. Pubmedid: 11052331.
• Pena LR, Hill DB, McClain CJ. Treatment with glutathione precursor decreases cytokine activity. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1999 Jan.23(1):1-6. Pubmedid: 9888410.
• Marsano LS, Peña LR. The interaction of alcoholic liver disease and hepatitis C. Hepatogastroenterology. 1998 Mar.45(20):331-339. Pubmedid: 9638402.
• Shiani A, Narayanan S, Pena L, Friedman M. The Role of Diagnosis and Treatment of Underlying Liver Disease for the Prognosis of Primary Liver Cancer. Cancer Control. 24(3):1073274817729240. Pubmedid: 28975833. Pmcid: PMC5937237.