• Publications
• Experience
• About

Professional Focus

Dr. Ma's research and clinical focus include stereotactic radiosurgery, breast cancer treatments, and imaging guided procedures. Dr. Ma joined UCSF in 2006 and is a member of UCSF CyberKnife and Gamma Knife team. Dr. Ma had led numerous research projects. He implemented and benchmarked multiple clinical procedures and protocols that ranged from initial of dynamic linac-based shaped-beam radiosurgery program to liquid I-125 balloon catheter-based implantation protocols. Dr. Ma has served as grant reviewers for national funding agencies. He is the principal investigator for research awards from US government and non-profit foundations. Dr. Ma is the principal or senior author of over 30 peer-reviewed publications and a US and international patent holder for a beam technology relating to breast cancer treatment. Prior to joining to UCSF, Dr. Ma was an Associate professor in Radiation Oncology Physics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Education

Professional Experience

Awards & Honors

Recent Significant Publications

Sahgal A, Weinberg V, Ma L, Chang E, Chao S, Muacevic A, Gorgulho A, Soltys S, Gerszten PC, Ryu S, Angelov L, Gibbs I, Wong CS, Larson DA., Probabilities of radiation myelopathy specific to stereotactic body radiation therapy to guide safe practice.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2013 Feb 1;85(2):341-7.

Ma L, Sahgal A, Nie K, Hwang A, Karotki A, Wang B, Shrieve DC, Sneed PK, McDermott M, Larson DA., Reliability of contour-based volume calculation for radiosurgery. J Neurosurg. 2012 Dec;117 Suppl:203-10.

Fogh S, Ma L, Gupta N, Sahgal A, Nakamura JL, Barani I, Sneed PK, McDermott M, Larson DA., High-precision volume-staged Gamma Knife surgery and equivalent hypofractionation dose schedules for treating large arteriovenous malformations. J Neurosurg. 2012 Dec;117 Suppl:115-9.

Ma L, Kirby N, Korol R, Larson DA, Sahgal A., Assessing small-volume spinal cord dose for repeat spinal stereotactic body radiotherapy treatments. Phys Med Biol. 2012 Dec 7;57(23):7843-51.

Descovich M, Ma L, Chuang CF, Larson DA, Barani IJ., Comparison between prone and supine patient setup for spine stereotactic body radiosurgery. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Jun;11(3):229-36.

Lightstone AW, Tsao M, Baran PS, Chan G, Pang G, Ma L, Lochray F, Sahgal A., Cone beam CT (CBCT) evaluation of inter- and intra-fraction motion for patients undergoing brain radiotherapy immobilized using a commercial thermoplastic mask on a robotic couch. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Jun;11(3):203-9.

Hyde D, Lochray F, Korol R, Davidson M, Wong CS, Ma L, Sahgal A., Spine Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Utilizing Cone-Beam CT Image-Guidance With a Robotic Couch: Intrafraction Motion Analysis Accounting for all Six Degrees of Freedom. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012 Mar 1;82(3):e555-62.

Lo SS, Sahgal A, Ma L, Chang EL., Advances in radiation therapy of brain metastasis. Prog Neurol Surg. 2012;25:96-109.

Masucci GL, Yu E, Ma L, Chang EL, Letourneau D, Lo S, Leung E, Chao S, Hyde D, Gorgulho A, Muacevic A, Larson DA, Fehlings MG, Sahgal A., Stereotactic body radiotherapy is an effective treatment in reirradiating spinal metastases: current status and practical considerations for safe practice. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2011 Dec;11(12):1923-33.

Shiao SL, Sahgal A, Hu W, Jabbari S, Chuang C, Descovich M, Hsu IC, Gottschalk AR, Roach M 3rd, Ma L., Temporal compartmental dosing effects for robotic prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy. Phys Med Biol. 2011 Dec 21;56(24):7767-75.

Caballero JA, Sneed PK, Lamborn KR, Ma L, Denduluri S, Nakamura JL, Barani IJ, McDermott MW., Prognostic Factors for Survival in Patients Treated With Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Recurrent Brain Metastases After Prior Whole Brain Radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2011 Nov 11.

Ma L, Lee L, Barani I, Hwang A, Fogh S, Nakamura J, McDermott M, Sneed P, Larson DA, Sahgal A., Shot sequencing based on biological equivalent dose considerations for multiple isocenter Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Phys Med Biol. 2011 Nov 21;56(22):7247-56.

Ma L, Bienfang JC, Slattery O, Tang X., Up-conversion single-photon detector using multi-wavelength sampling techniques. Opt Express. 2011 Mar 14;19(6):5470-9. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.005470.

Ma L, Petti P, Wang B, Descovich M, Chuang C, Barani IJ, Kunwar S, Shrieve DC, Sahgal A, Larson DA., Apparatus dependence of normal brain tissue dose in stereotactic radiosurgery for multiple brain metastases. J Neurosurg. 2011 Jun;114(6):1580-4. Epub 2011 Mar 4.

Descovich M, Sneed PK, Barbaro NM, McDermott MW, Chuang CF, Barani IJ, Nakamura JL, Lijun M., A dosimetric comparison between Gamma Knife and CyberKnife treatment plans for trigeminal neuralgia. J Neurosurg. 2010 Dec;113 Suppl:199-206.

Sahgal A, Bilsky M, Chang EL, Ma L, Yamada Y, Rhines LD, Létourneau D, Foote M, Yu E, Larson DA, Fehlings MG., Stereotactic body radiotherapy for spinal metastases: current status, with a focus on its application in the postoperative patient. J Neurosurg Spine. 2011 Feb;14(2):151-66. Epub 2010 Dec 24. Review.

Jabbari S, Weinberg VK, Kaprealian T, Hsu IC, Ma L, Chuang C, Descovich M, Shiao S, Shinohara K, Roach M 3rd, Gottschalk AR., Stereotactic body radiotherapy as monotherapy or post-external beam radiotherapy boost for prostate cancer: technique, early toxicity, and PSA response. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012 Jan 1;82(1):228-34.

Ma L, Sahgal A, Cozzi L, Chang E, Shiu A, Letourneau D, Yin FF, Fogliata A, Kaissl W, Hyde D, Laperriere NJ, Shrieve DC, Larson DA., Apparatus-dependent dosimetric differences in spine stereotactic body radiotherapy. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Dec;9(6):563-74.

Novotny J Jr, Bhatnagar JP, Chung HT, Johansson J, Bednarz G, Ma L, Huq MS., Assessment of variation in Elekta plastic spherical-calibration phantom and its impact on the Leksell Gamma Knife calibration. Med Phys. 2010 Sep;37(9):5066-71.

Sahgal A, Ma L, Weinberg V, Gibbs IC, Chao S, Chang UK, Werner-Wasik M, Angelov L, Chang EL, Sohn MJ, Soltys SG, Létourneau D, Ryu S, Gerszten PC, Fowler J, Wong CS, Larson DA., Reirradiation human spinal cord tolerance for stereotactic body radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012 Jan 1;82(1):107-16.

Tan C, Wang Q, Ma L., Fluorescent-based solid sensor for HSO4(-) in water. Photochem Photobiol. 2010 Nov-Dec;86(6):1191-6.

Sahgal A, Barani IJ, Novotny J Jr, Zhang B, Petti P, Larson DA, Ma L., Prescription dose guideline based on physical criterion for multiple metastatic brain tumors treated with stereotactic radiosurgery. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010 Oct 1;78(2):605-8. Epub 2010 May 14.

Zhen H, Yang S, Wu H, Wang S, Lv J, Ma L, Zhang X., LyGDI is a promising biomarker for ovarian cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2010 Apr;20(3):316-22.

Ma L, Sahgal A, Descovich M, Cho YB, Chuang C, Huang K, Laperriere NJ, Shrieve DC, Larson DA., Equivalence in dose fall-off for isocentric and nonisocentric intracranial treatment modalities and its impact on dose fractionation schemes. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010 Mar 1;76(3):943-8.

Hossain S, Xia P, Huang K, Descovich M, Chuang C, Gottschalk AR, Roach M 3rd, Ma L., Dose gradient near target-normal structure interface for nonisocentric CyberKnife and isocentric intensity-modulated body radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010 Sep 1;78(1):58-63.

Klein EE, Hanley J, Bayouth J, Yin FF, Simon W, Dresser S, Serago C, Aguirre F, Ma L, Arjomandy B, Liu C, Sandin C, Holmes T, Task Group 142 report: quality assurance of medical accelerators. Task Group 142, American Association of Physicists in Medicine. Med Phys. 2009 Sep;36(9):4197-212.

Sahgal A, Ma L, Gibbs I, Gerszten PC, Ryu S, Soltys S, Weinberg V, Wong S, Chang E, Fowler J, Larson DA., Spinal cord tolerance for stereotactic body radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010 Jun 1;77(2):548-53.

Ma L, Sahgal A, Hossain S, Chuang C, Descovich M, Huang K, Gottschalk A, Larson DA., Nonrandom intrafraction target motions and general strategy for correction of spine stereotactic body radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2009 Nov 15;75(4):1261-5.

Sahgal A, Ma L, Chang E, Shiu A, Larson DA, Laperriere N, Yin FF, Tsao M, Menard C, Basran PS, Létourneau D, Heydarian M, Beachey D, Shukla V, Cusimano M, Hodaie M, Zadeh G, Bernstein M, Schwartz M., Advances in technology for intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2009 Aug;8(4):271-80.

Ma L, Kjäll P, Novotny J, Nordström H, Johansson J, Verhey L., A simple and effective method for validation and measurement of collimator output factors for Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion. Phys Med Biol. 2009 Jun 21;54(12):3897-907.

Zhang Y, Hu Y, Ma L, Dai J., Dynamic delivery of IMRT using an independent collimator: a model study. Phys Med Biol. 2009 Apr 21;54(8):2527-39.

Luan S, Swanson N, Chen Z, Ma L., Dynamic gamma knife radiosurgery.Phys Med Biol. 2009 Mar 21;54(6):1579-91.

Ma L, Verhey L, Chuang C, Descovich M, Smith V, Huang K, McDermott M, Sneed P., Effect of composite sector collimation on average dose fall-off for Gamma Knife Perfexion. J Neurosurg. 2008 Dec;109 Suppl:15-20.

Sahgal A, Ames C, Chou D, Ma L, Huang K, Xu W, Chin C, Weinberg V, Chuang C, Weinstein P, Larson DA., Stereotactic body radiotherapy is effective salvage therapy for patients with prior radiation of spinal metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2009 Jul 1;74(3):723-31.

Ma L, Chuang C, Descovich M, Petti P, Smith V, Verhey L., Whole-procedure clinical accuracy of gamma knife treatments of large lesions. Med Phys. 2008 Nov;35(11):5110-4.

Hossain S, Xia P, Chuang C, Verhey L, Gottschalk AR, Mu G, Ma L., Simulated real time image guided intrafraction tracking-delivery for hypofractionated prostate IMRT. Med Phys. 2008 Sep;35(9):4041-8.

Y Zhang, Y Hu, L, Ma and J Dai, Dynamic delivery of IMRT using independent collimator: a model study, Phys Med Biol, tentatively accepted, 2008.

L. Ma, L Verhey, M McDermott, K Huang, C Chuang, V Smith and P Sneed, Effect of Composite Sector Collimation on Average Dose Fall-off for Gamma Knife Perfexion. J. Neurosurgery, In press, 2008.

L. Ma, A Sahgal, Chuang C., Descovich M., Petti P., Smith V., Verhey L., Barbaro N., McDermott M., Huang K., Nakamura J., Sneed P., Larson D., Functional Relationship Between the Volume of a Near-Target Peripheral Isodose Line and its Isodose Value for Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. Radiosurgery. In press 2008.

A Sahgal , L. Ma, Chuang C., Hossain S., Petti P., Larson D., Shrieve D. Comparisons of Novalis and Cyberknife Spinal Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Based on Physical and Biologic Modelling Parameters. Radiosurgery. In press 2008.

Y. Xie, D. Djajaputra, C. R. King, S Hossain, L. Ma, and L Xing, Intrafractional Motion of the Prostate During Hypofractionated Radiotherapy. Int. J. of Rad. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 72(1): 236-246, 2008.

S. Hossain, P. Xia, C Chuang, A Gottschalk, G Mu, L Verhey and L. Ma, Simulated Real Time Image Guided Intra-Fraction Tracking Delivery for Hypofractionated Prostate IMRT, Med. Phys. 35(9)4041-4048, 2008.

L. Ma, C. Chuang, M Descovich, P Petti, V Smith and L Verhey, Whole-procedure accuracy of Gamma Knife treatments of large lesions, Med. Phys. 35(11)2405-2410, 2008.

A. Sahgal, C. Chuang, K. Huang, P. Petti, P. Weinstein, D. Larson, L. Ma, Split-volume treatment planning of multiple consecutive vertebral body metastases for cyberknife image guided frameless radiosurgery, Med. Dosi. Vol 7, No 7, 175-179. 2007.

A. Sahgal, D. Chou, C. Ames, L. Ma, K. Lamborn, K. Huang, C. Chuang, P. Petti, P. Weinstein, and D. Larson, Image-Guided Robotic Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Benign Spinal Tumors: The University of California San Francisco Preliminary Experience, Tech Cancer Res Treatment, Vol 6, No 6. 595-604, 2007.

C. Chuang, A. Sahgal,  L. Lee, D. Larson, K. Huang, P. Petti, L. Verhey, and L. Ma, Effects of Residual Target Motion for Image-tracked spine radisurgery,  Med. Phys. Vol 31, No 8, 4484-4490, 2007.

L. Ma, D. Larson, P. Petti, C. Chuang and L. Verhey, Boosting Central Target Dose by Optimizing Embedded Dose Hot Spots For Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, Stereotactic and Functional Radiosurgery, Vol 85, No 4, 259-263 2007.

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