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Marilene-Wang Photo

Is Best
Voted Best Doctors
Specialty:
Otolaryngology / Head and Neck
Department Affiliation:
Head and Neck Surgery
Hospital Affiliation:
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
State License:
G60942
Phone:
310-206-6688
Health Plans:
Accepted Plans
  • About Me
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About Me

Marilene B. Wang is a head and neck surgeon who is currently a Professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA School of Medicine and has been a faculty member here since 1992.

Dr. Wang earned her B.A. in Mathematics with highest honors at La Sierra University, Riverside, CA in 1982. She earned her M.D. at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA in 1986 and graduated first in her class of 134. She completed her residency in Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA in 1992.

She won the First Place Award in Resident Clinical Research from the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery in 1991. She was a recipient of a Research Training Award from the American Triological Society in 1993. Dr. Wang was given an Honor Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery in 2001 and a Distinguished Service Award in 2013. She named a Cochrane Scholar by the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery in 2014. She was a member of the Faculty ExecutiveCommittee at the School of Medicine from 1998-2001. She is currently a member of the Advisory Board for the College of Applied Anatomy for the School of Medicine, a Well-being Advisor, and a member of the Council of Advisors for UCLA Faculty Diversity and Development.

She is committed to medical student and resident education both in the clinical setting and in the laboratory. She has mentored many students and residents in her head and neck cancer research laboratory, and several have won prestigious awards for their projects in the laboratory, including the Shirley Baron Award from the Western Section of the Triological Society, a Basic Science Award for resident research from the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, and a First Place Award for the Poster Session of the Triological Society.

She specializes in treatment of nasal and sinus diseases, head and neck cancer, thyroid/parathyroid disease, and snoring/sleep apnea.

She utilizes minimally invasive endoscopic techniques for sinus surgery and removal of sinonasal tumors, including endoscopic removal of juvenile nasal angiofibromas, inverting papillomas, and selected malignancies. She also is active in the Pituitary Tumor and Endosopic Neurosurgery Programs.

Professional Memberships

  • The American College of Surgeons
  • The American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery
  • The American Board of Otolaryngology
  • The American Association for Cancer Research
  • Society of University Otolaryngolgists
  • American Head and Neck Society
  • The Triological Society

Academic and Medical Staff Appointments

  • Professor-in-Residence, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Links
cancer.ucla.edu
pituitary.ucla.edu
uclahealth.org/head-neck-surgery
uclahealth.org/robotic-surgery
Primary Office
Head & Neck Surgery
200 UCLA Medical Plaza
Suite 550
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Get Directions
View Map
Phone
310-206-6688
Fax
(310) 825-2810
Medical Board Certifications
Otolaryngology, American Board of Otolaryngology, 1993
Residency
Otolaryngology, UCLA School of Medicine, 1987-1992
Internship
Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, 1986-1987
Degree
Loma Linda University School of Medicine, MD, 1986
Interests
  • Airway
  • Chronic sinusitis

    Sinusitis

    Sinusitis is an infection of the lining of the sinuses near the nose. If mucus drainage is blocked, bacteria may start to grow. This leads to a sinus infection, or sinusitis. The most common viruses and bacteria that cause sinusitis also cause the flu or certain kinds of pneumonia.
    Learn more >
  • Head and Neck Oncology

    Head and Neck Cancer: Introduction

    Head and neck cancer is the term given to cancers that start in the head and neck region. There are many different types of tissues in this area.  Your healthcare provider can help you understand more about this cancer and the exact type you have.
    Learn more >
  • Larynx
  • Laser
  • Parathyroid

    Parathyroid Glands

    Parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone, which plays a key role in the regulation of calcium levels in the blood. Precise calcium levels are important in the human body, since small changes can cause muscle and nerve problems.
    Learn more >
  • Parotid Gland Surgery
  • Pediatric Ear Problems
  • Pediatrics
  • Septum Deviated / Perforated

    Deviated Septum

    A wall of cartilage divides the nose into 2 separate chambers. It’s called the nasal septum. A deviated septum is when this wall is shifted away from the midline. This may cause congestion, problems with breathing, or nasal discharge.
    Learn more >
  • Sinusitis Acute

    Acute Bacterial Rhinosinusitis

    Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) is an infection of both your nasal cavity and sinuses. It is caused by bacteria. Here's what you need to know about this condition.
    Learn more >
  • Sinusitis Allergic

    Allergic Rhinitis in Children

    Allergic rhinitis can happen on a seasonal basis or year-round. There is often a family history of allergic rhinitis, eczema, asthma, or food allergy. Read on to learn details about treating and managing this condition.
    Learn more >
  • Sinusitis Hyperplastic
  • Sinusitis Subacute

    Sinusitis

    Sinusitis is an infection of the lining of the sinuses near the nose. If mucus drainage is blocked, bacteria may start to grow. This leads to a sinus infection, or sinusitis. The most common viruses and bacteria that cause sinusitis also cause the flu or certain kinds of pneumonia.
    Learn more >
  • Swallowing disorders
  • Thyroid

    Thyroid Gland

    Detailed information on the thyroid gland, including anatomy and function
    Learn more >
  • Trauma

    Trauma

    Detailed information on neurological trauma in children
    Learn more >
  • Voice Disorders

    Voice Disorders

    A voice disorder is when a person has a problem with pitch, volume, tone, and other qualities of their voice. These problems occur when the vocal cords don't vibrate normally.
    Learn more >
Research Interests

Dr. Wang has a research laboratory whose focus is to explore the molecular basis for the development and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Advanced head and neck cancer carries a poor prognosis, and a goal of this lab is to search for more effective and less toxic treatments for this devastating disease.

Current Projects:

  1. Curcumin suppression of head and neck cancer. Curcumin, also known as turmeric, is a naturally occurring plant phenol that is a commonly used spice. Dr. Wang's laboratory has found that curcumin treatment of HNSCC both in vitro and in vivo results in significant suppression of cancer growth.
  2. Stem cells in head and neck cancer. A specific population of tumor-initiating cells, or tumor stem cells, is responsible for the uncontrolled growth of cancers, as well as their resistance to chemotherapy and radiation. Dr. Wang's laboratory has found that the population of CD44 positive cells within HNSCCs, when isolated, grows more quickly and is more resistant to cisplatin than CD44 negative cells. HNSCC stem cells can be targeted for treatment with curcumin, which because of its alternate mechanism of action compared to cisplatin, may inhibit growth of these stem cells.

Dr. Wang has funding from the National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health for her research.

Publications
  1. Yakob M, Fuentes L, Wang, MB, Abemayor E, Wong DT. Salivary biomarkers for detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma – current state and recent advances. Current Oral Health Reports, DOI: 10.1007/s40496-014-0014-y, March 2014.
  2. Tajudeen B, Vorasubin N, Sanaiha Y, Palma-Diaz MF, Suh JD, Wang, MB. Sinonasal mucosal melanoma: 20-year experience at a tertiary referral center. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol, Jul;4(7):592-7. doi: 10.1002/alr.21324. Epub 2014 Mar 24.
  3. Peng KA, Suh JD, Bhuta SM, Wang, MB. Sinonasal lymphoma: Case series and review of the literature. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol, 2014 Aug;4(8):670-4. doi: 10.1002/alr.21337. Epub 2014 Apr 23
  4. Tajudeen BA, Mundi J, Suh JD, Bergsneider M, Wang, MB. Endoscopic endonasal surgery for recurrent pituitary tumors: Technical challenges to the surgical approach. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base, 2015 Feb;76(1):50-6. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1383856. Epub 2014 Sep 13.
  5. Tajudeen BA Arshi A, Suh JD, St. John M, Wang, MB. The importance of tumor grade in esthesioneuroblastoma survival: a population-based analysis. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Dec;140(12):1124-9. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2014.2541.
  6. Kim IA, Lai C, Wang, MB. Pleomorphic lipoma of the neck: A benign lesion mimicking liposarcoma. J of Otology and Rhinology, in press.
  7. Tajudeen B, Arshi A, Suh JD, Palma-Diaz MF, Bergsneider M, Abemayor E, St. John M, Wang, MB.Esthesioneuroblastoma: An update on the UCLA experience 2002-2013. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base, 2015 Feb;76(1):43-9. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1390011. Epub 2014 Sep 13.
  8. Peng KA, Kita AE, Van de Wiele BM, Suh JD, Bergsneider M, Wang, MB. Management of obstructive sleep apnea following endoscopic skull base surgery. J of Otology and Rhinology, in press.
  9. Peng KA, Grogan T, Wang, MB. Head and neck sarcomas: analysis of the SEER database. Otolaryngol—Head and Neck Surgery, 2014 Oct;151(4):627-33. doi: 10.1177/0194599814545747. Epub 2014 Aug 18.
  10. Kuan EC, Peng KA, Kita AE, Bergsneider M, Wang, MB. Acromegaly: Otolaryngic manifestations following pituitary surgery. Am J Otolaryngol, 2015 Mar 7. pii: S0196-0709(15)00066-6.
  11. Deschler DG, Richmon JD, Khariwala SS, Ferris RL, Wang, MB. The “new” head and neck cancer patient: young, nonsmoker, non-drinker, and HPV+: Evaluation. Otolaryngol—Head Neck Surg, 2014 Jun 12. pii: 0194599814538605. [Epub ahead of print].
  12. Roman BR, Patel SG, Wang, MB, Pou AM, Holsinger FC, Myssiorek D, Goldenberg D, Swisher-McClure S, Lin A, Shah JP, Shea JA. Guideline familiarity predicts variation in self-reported use of routine surveillance PET/CT by physicians who treat head and neck cancer. J Natl Compr Canc Netw, 2015;13:69-77.
  13. Kita AE, Bhuta SM, Wang, MB. Worsening headache and nasal congestion. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015 Apr 1;141(4):387-8.
  14. McLaughlin N, Martin NA, Upadhyaya P, Bari A, Buxey F, Wang, MB, Heaney AP, Bergsneider M. Assessing the cost of contemporary pituitary care. Neurosurgical Focus, in press.
  15. Veena MS, Wilken R, Zheng JY, Gholkar A, Venkatesan N, Vira D, Ahmed S, Basak SK, Delgard CL, Ravichandran S, Batra RK, Kasahara N, Elashoff D, Fishbein MC, Whitelegge JP, Torres JZ, Wang, MB, and Srivatsan ES. P16 andgigaxonin are associated with the ubiquitination of NFκB in cisplatin induced senescence of cancer cells. J Biol Chem, 2014 Oct 20. pii: jbc.M114.568543. [Epub ahead of print].
  16. Kuan EC, Suh JD, Wang, MB. Empty nose syndrome. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep, 2015 Jan;15(1):493. doi: 10.1007/s11882-014-0493-x.
  17. Kuan EC, Palma Diaz MF, Chiu AG, Bergsneider M, Wang, MB, Suh JD. Sinonasal and Skull Base Pleomorphic Adenoma: A Case Series and Literature Review. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol, 2015 May;5(5):460-8.
  18. Peng, KA, Kuan EC, Unger L, Lorentz W, Wang, MB, Long J. A swallow preservation protocol improves function for veterans receiving chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. Otolaryngol--Head Neck Surg, 2015 May;152(5):863-7.
  19. Thompson CF, Suh JD, McWilliams J, Duckwiler G, Wang, MB. Initial experience of an HHT center of excellence. Ear, Nose, Throat J, in press.
  20. Nguyen CT, Wang, MB. Have 2006 ATA practice guidelines affected the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer in the United States? Letter to the Editor. Thyroid, in press.
  21. Nguyen CT, Wang, MB. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) and vocal cord paralysis (VCP): Have rates really risen following adoption of IONM? Letter to the Editor. J Am Coll Surg, in press.
  22. Kuan EC, Peng KA, Thompson CF, Suh JD, Wang, MB. Sinonasal symptomatic outcomes following laser treatment of epistaxis related to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Am J Otolaryngol, in press.
  23. Basak SK, Zinabadi A, Wu A, Venkatasan N, Duarte VM, Dalgard CL, Kang J, Srivastava M, Sarkar FH, Wang, MB, Srivatsan ES. Liposome encapsulated curcumin-difluorinated (CDF) inhibits the growth of cisplatin resistant head and neck cancer stem cells. Oncotarget 2015 May 19.
  24. Kuan EC, Tajudeen BA, Peng KA, Wang, MB. Sinonasal outcomes in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The Laryngoscope 2015 Jun 24. doi: 10.1002/lary.25411.
  25. Wang, MB, Liu IY, Gornbein JA, Nguyen CT. HPV positive oropharyngeal carcinoma: A systematic review of treatment and prognosis. Otolaryngol—Head Neck Surg, 2015 Jun 29. pii: 0194599815592157. [Epub ahead of print]
In The News
  • Turmeric, the Potential Cure for Cancer Found in Indian Food
  • Dr. Wang's research on curcumin featured in NIH News - UCLA study finds primary component of turmeric kicks off cancer-killing mechanisms in human saliva
Awards

Otolaryngology, the Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Inc.

  • Research Training Award, 1993, The American Triological Society, Inc.
  • The American Academy of Otolaryngology Resident Research Grant, 1994 (Co-investigator/preceptor to Kathleen R.Billings, M.D.)
  • The Shirley Baron Award, 1999, (Preceptor to Ali Namazie, M.D.), given for the best resident paper by the Western Section of the Triological Society.
  • Third Place, Resident Basic Science Research, The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2000 (Preceptor to Steven J. Wang, M.D.)
  • Honor Award, The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2001
  • Special Contribution Award, Department of Veterans Affairs, VAGLAHS, January 15, 2002
  • First Place Award, Poster Session of the Annual Meeting of the Triological Society, 2004
  • Los Angeles Super Doctors 2010-present
  • Best Doctors in America 2010-present
  • Honored Alumnus, La Sierra University College of Arts and Sciences, 2012
  • Vice President’s Award, Western Section of the Triological Society, 2012 (Preceptor to Dr. Darshni Vira, resident)
  • Best Resident Clinical Paper Award, 2013 North American Skull Base Society Annual Meeting (preceptor to Dr. Christopher Thompson)
  • Distinguished Service Award, The American Academy of Otolaryngology  - Head and Neck Surgery, 2013
  • Cochrane Scholar, The American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, 2014
  • Vice President’s Award, Western Section of the Triological Society, 2015 (Preceptor to Dr. Aaron Feinstein, resident)
  • Presidential Citation, The Triological Society, 2015
Webinar URL

Video FAQ's

"I have sinus headaches all the time. What can I do about them?" | Sinus Issues
"I keep on geting sinus infections. Is there anything I can do to prevent them?" | Sinus Issues
"I had surgery for nasal polyps and they came back. Will another surgery get rid of them or do they always come back?" | Nasal Polyps
"I can't smell things very well anymore. What could be wrong?" | Nasal Problems
"I can't breathe well through my nose. What could the problem be?" | Nasal Problems
"My nose bleeds a lot and it takes a long time to stop. What can I do?" | Nasal Problems
"After removing the pituitary tumor through my nose will I still be able to breathe through my nose?" | Pituitary Surgery
"Why is a head and neck surgeon involved in my pituitary surgery?" | Pituitary Surgery
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