Biography

Rui Yang, MD, MSc, is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon and associate professor of orthopedic surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. He specializes in diagnosing and treating benign and malignant tumors of the musculoskeletal system, including primary bone tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, and metastatic bone disease.

Dr. Yang earned his medical degree from Beijing Medical University and completed his first orthopedic surgery residency at Peking University People’s Hospital in Beijing, China. After relocating to the United States, he earned a master’s degree in biological sciences from Hunter College at the City University of New York. He then completed a second orthopedic surgery residency at UTHealth Houston, followed by a fellowship in orthopedic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He practiced for 10 years at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Dr. Yang is committed to providing individualized, evidence-based care for patients facing complex orthopedic oncology conditions. His clinical interests include limb-sparing surgery, managing metastatic lesions to the skeleton, and multidisciplinary treatment planning for sarcoma patients. He works closely with oncologists, radiologists, and other specialists to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Yang is actively involved in academic medicine. He mentors medical students and orthopedic residents and contributes to tumor biology and oncologic reconstruction research. He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and numerous book chapters and is often invited to present at national and international conferences.

Dr. Yang sees patients at our Bellaire and the Texas Medical Center clinics. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please click here or call the clinic directly.

Learn more about our orthopedic oncology program at UTHealth Houston.

Education

Medical Degree
Bachelor of Medicine, Beijing Medical University, (Peking University Health Science Center), Beijing, China
Masters Degree
Master of Biological Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY
Residency
Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
Residency
Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas
Fellowship
Orthopaedic Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

  • Pediatric and adult musculoskeletal tumors
  • Sarcoma of the extremities or pelvis
  • Metastatic disease of the extremities or pelvis
  • Periacetabular tumors
  • Limb salvage surgery
  • Endoprosthetic reconstruction
  • Allograft reconstruction

Publications

Visit the PubMed profile page

Original Communications in Reviewed Journals

  • Yang, R., Sowers, R., Mazza, B., Healey, J.H., Huvos, A., Grier, H., Bernstein, M., Beardsley, G.P., Krailo, M.D., Devidas, M., Bertino, J.R., Meyers, P.A. and Gorlick, R. Sequence alterations in the reduced folate carrier are observed in osteosarcoma tumor samples. Clin Cancer Res 2003;9:837-44. PMID: 12576457
  • Hoang, B.H., Kubo, T., Healey, J.H., Sowers, R., Mazza, B., Yang, R., Huvos, A.G., Meyers, P.A. and Gorlick, R. Expression of LDL receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) as a novel marker for disease progression in high-grade osteosarcoma. Int J Cancer 2004;109:106-11. PMID: 14735475
  • Hoang, B.H., Kubo, T., Healey, J.H., Yang, R., Nathan, S.S., Kolb, E.A., Mazza, B., Meyers, P.A. and Gorlick, R. Dickkopf 3 inhibits invasion and motility of Saos-2 osteosarcoma cells by modulating the Wnt-beta-catenin pathway. Cancer Res 2004;64:2734-9. PMID: 15087387
  • Flintoff, W.F., Sadlish, H., Gorlick, R., Yang, R., Williams, F.M. Functional analysis of altered reduced folate carrier sequence changes identified in osteosarcomas. Biochim Biophys Acta 2004;1690:110-7. PMID: 15469899
  • Nathan, S.S., DiResta, G.R., Casas-Ganem, J.E., Hoang, B.H., Sowers, R., Yang, R., Huvos, A.G., Gorlick, R. Elevated physiologic tumor pressure promotes proliferation and chemosensitivity in human osteosarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2005;11:2389-97. PMID: 15788690
  • Laverdiere, C., Hoang, B.H., Yang, R., Sowers, R., Qin, J., Meyers, P.A., Huvos, A.G., Healey, J.H. and Gorlick, R. Messenger RNA expression levels of CXCR4 correlate with metastatic behavior and outcome in patients with osteosarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2005;11:2561-7. PMID: 15814634
  • Yang, R., Hoang, B.H., Kubo, T., Kawano, H., Chou, A., Sowers, R., Huvos, A.G., Meyers, P.A., Healey, J.H. and Gorlick, R. Over-expression of parathyroid hormone Type 1 receptor confers an aggressive phenotype in osteosarcoma. Int J Cancer 2007;121:943-54. PMID: 17410535
  • Yang, R., Kolb, E.A., Qin, J., Chou, A., Sowers, R., Hoang, B., Healey, J.H., Huvos, A.G., Meyers, P.A. and Gorlick, R. The folate receptor alpha is frequently overexpressed in osteosarcoma samples and plays a role in the uptake of the physiologic substrate 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Clin Cancer Res 2007;13:2557-67. PMID: 17473184
  • Yang, R., Li, W.W., Hoang, B.H., Kim, H., Banerjee, D., Kheradpour, A., Healey, J.H., Meyers, P.A., Bertino, J.R., and Gorlick, R. Quantitative correlation between promoter methylation and messenger RNA levels of the reduced folate carrier. BMC Cancer 2008;8:124. PMID: 18452618
  • Nathan, S.S., Huvos, A.G., Casas-Ganem, J.E., Yang, R., Linkov, I., Sowers, R., Diresta, G.R., Gorlick, R., and Healey, J.H. Tumor interstitial fluid pressure may regulate angiogenic factors in osteosarcoma. J Orthop Res 2008;26:1-6. PMID: 18473395
  • Yang, R., Qin, J., Hoang, B.H., Healey, J.H., and Gorlick, R. Polymorphisms and methylation of the reduced folate carrier in osteosarcoma. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2008;466:2046-51. PMID: 18528741
  • Yang, R., Piperdi, S., and Gorlick, R. Activation of the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway mediates apoptosis induced by chelerythrine in osteosarcoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2008;14(20): 6396-404. PMID: 18927278
  • Li, N., Yang, R., Zhang, W., Dorfman, H., Rao, P., and Gorlick, R. Genetically Transforming Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Sarcomas: changes in cellular phenotype and multilineage differentiation potential. Cancer. 2009; 115(20): 4795-806. PMID: 19593798
  • Nathan, S.S., Huvos, A.G., Casas-Ganem, J.E., Yang, R., Linkov, I., Sowers, R., DiResta, G.R., Gorlick, R., Healey, J.H. Tumour interstitial fluid pressure may regulate angiogenic factors in osteosarcoma. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2009; 38(12):1041-7. PMID: 20052438
  • Yang, R., Piperdi, S., Zhang, Y., Neophytou, N., Zhu, W., Hoang, B.H., Mason, G., Geller, D., Dorfman, H,, Healey, J.H., Phinney, D.G., and Gorlick, R. Transcriptional Profiling Identifies the Signaling Axes of the Insulin Growth Factor and the Transforming Growth Factor-beta as involved in the Pathogenesis of Osteosarcoma. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2016; 474(1):178-89. PMID: 26463566
  • Gill J, Connolly P, Roth M, Chung SH, Zhang W, Piperdi S, Hoang B, Yang R, Guzik H, Morris J, Gorlick R, Geller DS. The effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 on osteosarcoma metastasis. PLoS One. 2017 Mar 6;12(3):e0173322. PMID: 28264040
  • Geller DS, Morris J, Revskaya E, Kahn M, Zhang W, Piperdi S, Park A, Koirala P, Guzik H, Hall C, Hoang B, Yang R, Roth M, Gill J, Gorlick R, Dadachova E. Targeted therapy of osteosarcoma with radiolabeled monoclonal antibody to an insulin-like growth factor-2 receptor (IGF2R). Nucl Med Biol. 2016 Dec;43(12):812-817. PMID: 27744117
  • Morris J, Yang R, Roth M, Gill J, Gorlick R, Lo Y, Hoang BH, Garfein E, Geller DS. Mechanical analysis of the vascularized fibular graft prosthetic composite (VFGPC) for internal hemipelvectomy reconstruction. J Surg Oncol. 2017, 115(7):864-869. PMID: 28543392
  • Peterson HM, Hoang BH, Geller D, Yang R, Gorlick R, Berger J, Tingling J, Roth M, Gill J, Roblyer D. In vivo, noninvasive functional measurements of bone sarcoma using diffuse optical spectroscopic imaging. J Biomed Opt. 2017 Dec;22(12):1-9. PubMed PMID: 29264893.
  • Shaul E, Roth M, Lo Y, Geller DS, Hoang B, Yang R, Malkin D, Gorlick R, Gill J. Pediatric oncologist willingness to offer germline TP53 testing in osteosarcoma. Cancer. 2018 Mar 15;124(6):1242-1250. PMID: 29313943
  • Zhang Y, Zvi Y, Batko B, Zaphiros N, O’Donnell E, Wang J, Sato K, Yang R, Geller D, Koirala P, Zhang W, Du X, Piperdi S, Liu Y, Zheng D, Roth M, Gill J, Zhang J, Ren T, Gorlick R, Zi X, Hoang B. Down-regulation of Skp2 expression inhibits invasion and lung metastasis in osteosarcoma. Sci Rep. 2018; 8: 1429. PMID: 6155331.
  • Levine NL, Zhang Y, Hoang BH, Yang R, Jurkowski ZH, Roth ME, Gill JB, Lo Y, Eisenberg RE, Bekarev M, Gorlick R, Geller DS. LigaSure Use Decreases Intraoperative Blood Loss Volume and Blood Transfusion Volume in Sarcoma Surgery. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019 Mar 12. PMID: 30889038
  • Karkare S, Allen KJH, Jiao R, Malo ME, Dawicki W, Helal M, Godson DL, Dickinson R, MacDonald-Dickinson V, Yang R, Hoang B, Gorlick R, Geller DS, Dadachova. E. Detection and targeting insulin growth factor receptor type 2 (IGF2R) in osteosarcoma PDX in mouse models and in canine osteosarcoma tumors. Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 7;9(1):11476. PMID: 31391495
  • Miller BJ, Yang R, Geller DS, Hoang BH. Epidemiology, Therapeutic Strategies, Outcomes, and Complications of Pathologic Fractures. Instr Course Lect. 2019;68:567-576. PMID: 32032057
  • Yang R, Goch A, Murphy D, Wang J, Charubhumi V, Fox J, Sen M, Hoang B, Geller D. A Novel Tripod Percutaneous Reconstruction Technique in Periacetabular Lesions Caused by Metastatic Cancer. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2020 Apr 1;102(7):592-599. PMID: 32079881
  • Zhang Y, Zvi YS, Batko B, Zaphiros N, O’Donnell EF, Wang J, Sato K, Yang R, Geller DS, Koirala P, Zhang W, Du X, Piperdi S, Liu Y, Zheng D, Roth M, Gill J, Zhang J, Ren T, Gorlick R, Zi X, Hoang BH. Down-regulation of Skp2 expression inhibits invasion and lung metastasis in osteosarcoma. Sci Rep. 2018 Sep 24;8(1):14294
  • Wang J, Sato K, O’Donnell E, Singla A, Yaguare S, Aldahamsheh O, Batko B, Borjihan H, Tingling J, Zhang J, Weiser DA, Loeb DM, Gorlick R, Schwartz EL, Yang R, Zi X, Zhao H, Geller DS, Hoang BH. Skp2 depletion reduces tumor-initiating properties and promotes apoptosis in synovial sarcoma. Transl Oncol. 2020 Oct;13(10):100809. doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100809
  • Singla A, Wang J, Yang R, Geller DS, Loeb DM, Hoang BH. Wnt Signaling in Osteosarcoma..Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1258:125-139.
  • Geller DS, Levine NL, Hoang BH, Yang R, Weiser D, Morris J, Gorlick R, Gill JB, Roth ME, Tingling J, Brohl AS Genomic Analysis Does Not Support Malignant Transformation of Osteoblastoma to Osteosarcoma. JCO Precis Oncol. 2019 Sep 9;3.
  • Peterson HM, Tank A, Geller DS, Yang R, Gorlick R, Hoang BH, Roblyer D. Characterization of bony anatomic regions in pediatric and adult healthy volunteers using diffuse optical spectroscopic imaging. PJ Biomed Opt. 2020 Aug;25(8):1-17.
  • Tal AL, Doshi H, Parkar F, Abraham T, Love C, Ye K, Yang R, Hoang B, Loeb D, Chou A, Geller D, Moadel R.J The Utility of 18FDG PET/CT Versus Bone Scan for Identification of Bone Metastases in a Pediatric Sarcoma Population and a Review of the Literature. Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2020 Aug 18. doi: 10.1097 PMID: 32815877
  • Yang R, Wang J, Mizera M, Tarpada S, Seetharaman M, Sen M, Hoang BH, and Geller DS. A Graphic Guide to the Percutaneous Tripod Acetabular Reconstruction for Metastatic Cancer. J Surg Oncology. J Surg Oncol. 2021 Apr;123(5):1316-1327. PMID: 33523514
  • Wang J, Aldahamsheh O, Ferrena A, Borjihan H, Singla A, Yaguare S, Singh S, Viscarret V, Tingling J, Zi X, Lo Y, Gorlick R, Zheng D, Schwartz EL, Zhao H, Yang R, Geller DS, Hoang BH. The interaction of SKP2 with p27 enhances the progression and stemness of osteosarcoma. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2021 Feb 16. doi: 10.1111/nyas.14578. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33594717
  • Zvi Y, Ugur E, Batko B, Gill J, Roth M, Gorlick R, Hall D, Tingling J, Barkauskas DA, Zhang J, Yang R, Hoang BH, Geller DS. Prognostic and Therapeutic Utility of Variably Expressed Cell Surface Receptors in Osteosarcoma. Sarcoma. 2021 Feb 2;2021:8324348. doi: 10.1155/2021/8324348.PMID: 3360356
  • Ugur E, Volaski H, Yang R, Hoang B, Levine N, Singh S, Wang J, Geller D. Variability in the reported surgical techniques and methods for intercalary reconstruction following tumor resection. Surg Oncol. 2021 May 29;38:101610. doi: 10.1016/j.suronc.2021.101610. Online ahead of print. PMID: 34091268
  • Du W, Wang J, Xu J, Zhao Z, Liu S, Yang L, Yang R, Wang S, Guo W. Comparison and modification of survival predicting system for breast cancer patients with bone metastases. Ann Joint 2021;6:28.
  • Ugur E, Doshi H, Wilson S, Levine NL, Tingling J, Yang RY, Hoang BH, Geller DS, and Yang R. Can the Katagiri scoring system predict prognosis for surgically-managed patients with metastatic bone disease? Ann Joint 2021;6:29.
  • Yang R, Singh S, Falk A, Wang J, Thornhill B, Fox J, Sen M, Hoang BH, and Geller DS. Percutaneous Screw Stabilization of Non-Periacetabular Pelvic Lesions Caused by Metastatic Cancer. JBJS 2022 April; (7): 577-585. PMID: 35139049104
  • Yang R, Falk A, Hoang BH, Geller DS. Fluoroscopic Percutaneous Fixation of Periacetabular Metastatic Cancer: The Tripod Technique. Instr Course Lect. 2022;71:221-230. PMID: 35254785
  • Mackey C, Wake N, Aldahamsheh O, Yang R, Hoang B, Geller DS. A Case Report Describing Pre-operative Contouring of an Orthopedic Implant using a 3D-Printed Patient-specific Model. J Orthop Case Rep. 2021 Jun;11(6):27-31. PMID: 35437484
  • Ferrena A, Wang J, Zhang R, Karadal-Ferrena B, Al-Hardan W, Singh S, Borjihan H, Schwartz E, Zhao H, Yang R, Geller D, Hoang B, Zheng D. SKP2 knockout in Rb1/p53 deficient mouse models of osteosarcoma induces immune infiltration and drives a transcriptional program with a favorable prognosis. Mol Cancer Ther. 2024 Feb 1;23(2):223-234. PMID: 37871911
  • Mani K, Kleinbart E, Schlumprecht A, Golding R, Akioyamen N, Song H, De La Garza Ramos R, Eleswarapu A, Yang R, Geller D, Hoang B, Fourman MS. Association of Socioeconomic Status With Worse Overall Survival in Patients With Bone and Joint Cancer. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2024 Apr 1;32(7):e346-e355. PMID: 38354415
  • Wang J, Ferrena A, Zhang R, Singh S, Viscarret V, Al-Harden W, Aldahamsheh O, Borjihan H, Singla A, Yaguare S, Tingling J, Zi X, Lo Y, Gorlick R, Schwartz EL, Zhao H, Yang R, Geller DS, Zheng D, Hoang BH. Targeted inhibition of SCFSKP2 confers anti-tumor activities resulting in a survival benefit in osteosarcoma. Oncogene. 2024 Mar;43(13):962-975. PMID: 38355807
  • Wang J, Zhao Z, Liang H, Zhang R, Liu X, Zhang J, Singh S, Guo W, Yan T, Hoang BH, Geller DS, Tang X, Yang R. Artificial intelligence assisted preoperative planning and 3D-printing guiding frame for percutaneous screw reconstruction in periacetabular metastatic cancer patients. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2024 Jul 29;12:1404937. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1404937.PMID: 39135949
  • Zhao Z, Niu J, Wang J, Zhang R, Liang H, Ma Y, Ferrena A, Wang W, Yang R, Geller DS, Guo W, Ren T, Hoang BH, Tang X, Yan T. Novel candidate metastasis-associated genes for synovial sarcoma..J Cell Mol Med. 2024 Jul;28(14):e18541. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.18541.PMID: 39046429.
  • Ferrena A, Zhang R, Wang J, Zheng XY, Göker B, Borjihan H, Chae SS, Lo Y, Zhao H, Schwartz E, Loeb D, Yang R, Geller D, Zheng D, Hoang B. Comprehensive single cell transcriptomics analysis of murine osteosarcoma uncovers Skp2 function in metastasis, genomic instability and immune activation and reveals additional target pathways. BioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Jun 6:2024.06.04.597347. doi: 10.1101/2024.06.04.597347.PMID: 38895216
  • Mani K, Kleinbart E, Schlumprecht A, Golding R, Akioyamen N, Song H, De La Garza Ramos R, Eleswarapu A, Yang R, Geller D, Hoang B, Yassari R, Fourman MS. Area Socioeconomic Status is Associated with Refusal of Recommended Surgery in Patients with Metastatic Bone and Joint Disease.Ann Surg Oncol. 2024 Aug;31(8):4882-4893. doi: 10.1245/s10434-024-15299-5. Epub 2024 Jun 11.PMID: 38861205
  • Wang J, Ferrena A, Zhang R, Singh S, Viscarret V, Al-Harden W, Aldahamsheh O, Borjihan H, Singla A, Yaguare S, Tingling J, Zi X, Lo Y, Gorlick R, Schwartz EL, Zhao H, Yang R, Geller DS, Zheng D, Hoang BH. Targeted inhibition of SCFSKP2 confers anti-tumor activities resulting in a survival benefit in osteosarcoma..Oncogene. 2024 Mar;43(13):962-975. doi: 10.1038/s41388-024-02942-4. Epub 2024 Feb 14.PMID: 38355807
  • Imanishi J, Yang R, Kawano H, Lee FY. Recent Advances in Minimally Invasive Local Cancer Control and Skeletal Stabilization of Periacetabular Osteolytic Metastases Under C-Arm Imaging Guidance. JAAOS 2024. DOI: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-24-00077
  • Lian J, Yang R, Ge D, Akioyamen N, Wang J, Sen M, Hoang BH, Geller DS. Percutaneous Screw Stabilization to Pelvic Lesions Caused by Metastatic Cancer. JBJS Essential Surgical Techniques. Accepted. 2024
  • Goker B, Wang J, Marsh D, Zhang R, Fox J, Thunhill B, Sen M, Hoang BH, Geller DS, Yang, R. A comprehensive analysis of percutaneous screw fixation for metastatic lesion of the pelvis: Outcomes of 107 Cases. JBJS 2024. In press.