Dr. Ticiana Leal

About Dr. Ticiana Leal

Dr. Ticiana Leal leads the thoracic oncology team at Emory Winship Cancer Institute. She also serves as a professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Board certified in medical oncology and palliative care, Dr. Leal focuses on curative therapies and symptom management approaches for mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Currently serving as associate editor and executive editorial board member of The Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, she helps shape standards of care across the oncology field. Dr. Leal is also the lung cancer section editor for Current Treatment Options in Oncology and serves on the editorial advisory boards of Cancer and The Brazilian Journal of Oncology.

Medical Education & Expertise

• Emory University School of Medicine
• Emory Winship Cancer Institute 
• UW Carbone Cancer Center 
• University of Wisconsin (Fellowship)
• University of Illinois at Chicago (Fellowship)
• Weiss Memorial Hospital (Residency)
• Federal University of Ceara (M.D.)

Associations, Awards & Recognition

• Board Certified, Medical Oncology
• Board Certified, Palliative Care
• ECOG-ACRIN representative
• Editorial Board, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
• Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Member, American Association for Cancer Research
• Member, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
• Member, European Society of Medical Oncology
• Member, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
• Member, NCI LUNG-MAP Chair
• Member, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer

Why Choose Dr. Leal for Mesothelioma

As medical director of the Clinical Trials Office at Winship Cancer Institute, Dr. Leal leads trials focused on immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Her research advances therapies that push the field forward and offer patients the chance to benefit from cutting-edge treatment.

Dr. Leal focuses on each person’s unique needs, using personalized therapies and clear communication to support her patients through every stage of their care. Her thorough approach and direct communication style have earned her respect among both patients and colleagues.

Publications of Dr. Leal

• Leal, T. et al. (2025, October 21). The influence of body mass index on Tumor Treating Fields therapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: A post-hoc and simulation analysis from the phase III LUNAR study. Retrieved from https://www.lungcancerjournal.info/article/S0169-5002(25)00694-4/fulltext
• Leal, T. et al. (2025, October 11). The Phase 2b COPERNICUS Study of Subcutaneous Amivantamab with Lazertinib as First-Line Treatment, or with Chemotherapy as Second-Line Treatment, for EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: a Vodcast. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40487-025-00386-8
• Leal, T. & Carlisle, J. (2025, September). Setting Expectations: Using Real-World Data to Guide Patients on Frontline Osimertinib. Retrieved from https://www.jto.org/article/S1556-0864(25)00828-7/fulltext
• Leal, T. et al. (2025, June 30). Clinical Outcomes of Perioperative Immunotherapy in Resectable Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2835799
• Leal, T. et al. (2024, November 27). Sotorasib for the treatment of locally advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14796694.2024.2430172