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Hyuk-Joon Yoon

Yonsei University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Hyuk-Joon Yoon's research lab specializes in thyroid cancer biology, with a focus on rare and aggressive thyroid malignancies such as medullary, anaplastic, and primary thyroid lymphoma. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression, including metabolic reprogramming in anaplastic thyroid cancer and diagnostic challenges in calcitonin-negative medullary thyroid carcinoma. It also explores the application of artificial intelligence in clinical decision-making for thyroid cancer treatment. The lab integrates clinical data with molecular and genomic analyses to improve diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies.

thyroid canceranaplastic thyroid cancermedullary thyroid carcinomaartificial intelligence in oncologytumor metabolism

Research Overview

Papers
52
Total Citations
283
Papers (5y)
48
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
48total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
277total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Review|37 citations·2022
Aggressive Subtypes of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Smaller Than 1 cm
Jin Seok Lee, Jun Sung Lee, Hyeok Jun Yun, Seok‐Mo Kim, Hojin Chang, Yong Sang Lee, Hang‐Seok Chang, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q1The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & MetabolismOA

CONTEXT: Tumor size is important in determining the range of surgery in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), especially those smaller than 1 cm. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze the features of small PTCs with aggressive subtypes based on histological characteristics. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of 11 570 patients with PTCs smaller than or equal to 1 cm who underwent thyroidectomy between January 2009 and December 2016. Aggressive subtypes included diffuse

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
2
Article|27 citations·2023
Primary thyroid lymphoma: A single-center experience
Jin Seok Lee, Su‐Jin Shin, Hyeok Jun Yun, Seok‐Mo Kim, Hojin Chang, Yong Sang Lee, Hang‐Seok Chang
SJR Q1Frontiers in EndocrinologyOA

Background: Primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) is a very rare entity accounting for 5% of all thyroid malignancies and less than 2% of lymphomas. PTLs are classified as non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphomas in the majority of cases, although Hodgkin's lymphoma of the thyroid has also been identified. This study aimed to identify the clinical, biochemical, and pathological features of primary thyroid lymphomas. Methods: From January 2008 to December 2020, data from patients diagnosed with PTL treated at the

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
3
Article|24 citations·2021
Serum Calcitonin-Negative Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Series of 19 Patients in a Single Center
Sun Jung Kim, Hyeok Jun Yun, Su‐Jin Shin, Yong Sang Lee, Hang‐Seok Chang
SJR Q1Frontiers in EndocrinologyOA

Introduction: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare cancer that accounts for 5% of thyroid cancers. Serum calcitonin is a good biomarker for MTC, which is used for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of recurrence. Calcitonin-negative MTC (CNMTC) is rare but confounds diagnostic and prognostic directions. This study introduces 19 cases of CNMTC in a single center. Method: From 2002 March to 2020 July, more than 76,500 patients had undergone thyroid surgery due to thyroid cancer at the Sev

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
4
Article|21 citations·2023
Co-inhibition of glutaminolysis and one-carbon metabolism promotes ROS accumulation leading to enhancement of chemotherapeutic efficacy in anaplastic thyroid cancer
Yeseong Hwang, Hyeok Jun Yun, Jae Woong Jeong, Minki Kim, Seyeon Joo, Haekyung Lee, Hang‐Seok Chang, Seok‐Mo Kim, Sungsoon Fang
SJR Q1Cell Death and DiseaseOA

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most aggressive tumors with an extremely poor prognosis. Based on the several biological features related to glutamine metabolism in ATC, we hypothesized glutaminolysis inhibition induces cell death in ATC cells. However, glutamine metabolism inhibition triggered cell growth arrest independent of cell death in ATC, suggesting that other signaling pathways avoid glutamine metabolism inhibition-induced stress exist. To investigate the functional mechan

Cancer ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
5
Article|19 citations·2022
Prognosis of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer with Distant Metastasis
Jin-Seok Lee, Jun Sung Lee, Hyeok Jun Yun, Hojin Chang, Seok‐Mo Kim, Yong Sang Lee, Hang‐Seok Chang, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q1CancersOA

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is derived from follicular thyroid cells and is associated with high mortality risk. Obtaining information to characterize ATC is difficult because ATC with distant metastasis is extremely rare. This study determined the clinical characteristics of ATC with distant metastasis. The medical records of 152 patients with ATC at Gangnam Severance Hospital were reviewed between January 2004 and March 2022. The primary endpoint was the overall survival of the total patie

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
6
Article|13 citations·2022
Aggressiveness of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma in Pediatric Patients Younger Than 16 years: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
Soo Young Kim, Hyeok Jun Yun, Hojin Chang, Seok‐Mo Kim, Soyoung Jeon, Sujee Lee, Yong Sang Lee, Hang‐Seok Chang, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q2Frontiers in OncologyOA

Background: The biological behavior of thyroid cancer in children has been known to be different from that in adults. We sought to understand the differences between DTC presentation in pediatric (<16 years) and adult patients, to guide better prognosis and clinical treatments. Methods: This retrospective study included 48 pediatric patients younger than 16 years who underwent initial thyroid surgery and were diagnosed with DTC between January 1992 and December 2014 at Yonsei University in Seoul

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
7
Article|13 citations·2021
Adequacy and Effectiveness of Watson For Oncology in the Treatment of Thyroid Carcinoma
Hyeok Jun Yun, Hee Jun Kim, Soo Young Kim, Yong Sang Lee, Chi Young Lim, Hang‐Seok Chang, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q1Frontiers in EndocrinologyOA

Background: IBM's Watson for Oncology (WFO) is an artificial intelligence tool that trains by acquiring data from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and learns from test cases and experts. This study aimed to analyze the adequacy and effectiveness of WFO in determining the treatment method for patients with thyroid carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 50 patients with thyroid cancer who underwent surgery in 2018 and entered their clinical data into WFO. The WFO t

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
8
Article|13 citations·2023
Anti-Cancer SERCA Inhibitors Targeting Sorafenib-Resistant Human Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Hang‐Seok Chang, Hang‐Seok Chang, Yonjung Kim, So Young Lee, Hyeok Jun Yun, Ho-Jin Chang, Ho-Jin Chang, Ki Cheong Park
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

Thyroid cancer is generally curable and, in many cases, can be completely treated, although it can sometimes recur after cancer therapy. Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is known as one of the most general subtypes of thyroid cancer, which take up nearly 80% of whole thyroid cancer. However, PTC may develop anti-cancer drug resistance via metastasis or recurrence, making it practically incurable. In this study, we propose a clinical approach that identifies novel candidates based on target identif

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
9
Article|13 citations·2023
Clinicopathological and Genetic Characteristics of Patients of Different Ages with Diffuse Sclerosing Variant Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Soo Young Kim, Su‐Jin Shin, Dong‐Gi Lee, Hyeok Jun Yun, Seok‐Mo Kim, Hojin Chang, Hang‐Seok Chang, Hyunjung Shin, Yong Sang Lee
SJR Q1CancersOA

Diffuse sclerosing variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (DSVPTC) is commonly observed in young patients, with a median age at diagnosis in the third decade of life. Further, the risk of recurrence is higher for DSVPTC than for classical PTC. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the clinicopathological and genetic characteristics of patients of different ages with DSVPTC. We retrospectively reviewed 397 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for DSVPTC at Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei Univer

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
10
Article|12 citations·2022
Potential Therapeutic Agents against Paclitaxel—And Sorafenib-Resistant Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Seok‐Mo Kim, Keunwan Park, Jin Hong Lim, Hyeok Jun Yun, Sang Yong Kim, Kyung Hwa Choi, Chan Wung Kim, Jae Ha Lee, Raymond Weicker, Cheol‐Ho Pan, Ki Cheong Park
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

Thyroid carcinoma, a disease in which malignant cells form in the thyroid tissue, is the most common endocrine carcinoma, with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounting for nearly 80% of total thyroid carcinoma cases. However, the management of metastatic or recurrent therapy-refractory PTC is challenging and requires complex carcinoma therapy. In this study, we proposed a new clinical approach for the treatment of therapy-refractory PTC. We identified sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPa

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
11
Article|12 citations·2022
Effects of Anti-Cancer Drug Sensitivity-Related Genetic Differences on Therapeutic Approaches in Refractory Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Hyeok Jun Yun, Minki Kim, Sang Yong Kim, Sungsoon Fang, Yonjung Kim, Hang‐Seok Chang, Hang‐Seok Chang, Hojin Chang, Hojin Chang, Ki Cheong Park
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

Thyroid cancer (TC) includes tumors of follicular cells; it ranges from well differentiated TC (WDTC) with generally favorable prognosis to clinically aggressive poorly differentiated TC (PDTC) and undifferentiated TC (UTC). Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is a WDTC and the most common type of thyroid cancer that comprises almost 70-80% of all TC. PTC can present as a solid, cystic, or uneven mass that originates from normal thyroid tissue. Prognosis of PTC is excellent, with an overall 10-year s

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
12
Article|11 citations·2023
Discovery of New Anti-Cancer Agents against Patient-Derived Sorafenib-Resistant Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Yuna Kim, Hyeok Jun Yun, Kyung Hwa Choi, Chan Wung Kim, Jae Ha Lee, Raymond Weicker, Seok‐Mo Kim, Ki Cheong Park
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

Thyroid cancer is the most well-known type of endocrine cancer that is easily treatable and can be completely cured in most cases. Nonetheless, anti-cancer drug-resistant metastasis or recurrence may occur and lead to the failure of cancer therapy, which eventually leads to the death of a patient with cancer. This study aimed to detect novel thyroid cancer target candidates based on validating and identifying one of many anti-cancer drug-resistant targets in patient-derived sorafenib-resistant p

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
13
Article|11 citations·2021
Synergistic Anticancer Activity of N-Hydroxy-7-(2-Naphthylthio) Heptanomide, Sorafenib, and Radiation Therapy in Patient-Derived Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Models
Hyeok Jun Yun, Hee Jun Kim, Jungmin Kim, Sang Yong Kim, Hang‐Seok Chang, Hang-Seok Chang, Cheong Soo Park, Ho-Jin Chang, Ho-Jin Chang, Ki Cheong Park
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is an undifferentiated and advanced form of thyroid cancer, accompanied with a high ratio of epigenetic adjustment, which occurs more than genetic mutations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic anticancer effect (in vitro and in vivo) of the new combination of N-hydroxy-7-(2-naphthylthio) heptanomide (HNHA) and sorafenib with radiation therapy in pre-clinical models of ATC. The ATC cell lines, YUMC-A1 and YUMC-A2, were isolated from the current pat

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
14
Article|5 citations·2025
Identification of new small molecules for selective inhibition of SERCA 1 in patient‐derived metastatic papillary thyroid cancer
Seok‐Mo Kim, Keunwan Park, Keunwan Park, Hyeok Jun Yun, Jung Min Kim, Kyung Hwa Choi, Ki Cheong Park, Ki Cheong Park
SJR Q1British Journal of PharmacologyOA

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is a general thyroid cancer subtype; however, PTC is associated with metastasis or recurrence via anti-cancer drug resistance, rendering it practically incurable. Therefore, effective and reliable clinical approaches are urgently required. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We demonstrated the coordinated up-regulation of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium ATPase 1 (SERCA1) in metastatic PTC under treatment with sorafenib or lenvatinib. We screene

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
15
Article|5 citations·2024
No Change in Complications Following Thyroidectomy Despite Increase in Thyroid Cancer Surgeries: A Meta-Regression Analysis
Jun Sung Lee, Jin Seok Lee, Hyeok Jun Yun, Seok‐Mo Kim, Hojin Chang, Yong Sang Lee, Juyeon Yang, Hye Sun Lee, Hang‐Seok Chang
SJR Q2Yonsei Medical JournalOA

Although the number of thyroid surgeries has recently increased, the incidence of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia and bleeding did not significantly increase.

SurgeryMedicine

Research Areas

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismSurgeryCancer ResearchCellular and Molecular NeuroscienceNephrologyOncology

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