James Clune, MD

Cancer Focus:
Melanoma, Sarcoma, Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma)

Dr. James Clune is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Chair of the Department of Reconstructive Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center. He also serves as a member of the Cutaneous Program at Moffitt Cancer Center.  Dr. Clune’s research and clinical interests include the treatment of patients with melanoma, sarcoma, complex cutaneous malignancies and peripheral nerve tumors. He specializes in reconstruction of unique defects from head to toe and employs microsurgical techniques whenever needed. 

Dr. Clune received his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT and completed medical school at The George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. In addition, Dr. Clune spent 3 years working with Operation Smile helping coordinate reconstructive surgery for children throughout the world.  He completed a research fellowship in craniofacial surgery at Harvard Medical School through Children’s Hospital Boston. His residency was in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at School of Medicine and his fellowship in upper extremity surgery and microsurgery was completed at the University of California, Irvine under Neil Ford Jones. Additional fellowships in microsurgery and brachial plexus reconstruction were undertaken in Santander and Madrid, Spain.  

Dr. Clune spent 9 years at the Yale School of Medicine as a reconstructive oncologist and served as the interdisciplinary team leader of the cutaneous malignancy and melanoma program. He was voted teacher of the year on multiple occasions by his residents and has published extensively in the realm of plastic surgery and the treatment of cancer patients. 

• Sondak VK, Clune JE. Gene Expression Profile-Based Tests in Melanoma: What Factors Really Matter and How Do We Evaluate Them?. Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 May.33(5):3787-3789. Pubmedid: 41795051.
• Frey A, Clulo K, Fei Y, Dumit TC, Scallo F, Allen JW, Chang E, Perry CJ, Wirth LV, Jacobs D, Braun DA, Bosenberg MW, Tran TT, Clune J, Kluger HM, Olino K, Ishizuka JJ. Targeting an essential viral oncoprotein with an IL-7-enhanced mRNA vaccine induces durable immunity to Merkel cell carcinoma. Cell Rep. 2025 Oct.44(10):116359. Pubmedid: 41042672. Pmcid: PMC12646823.
• Lewis K, Islam S, Alper DP, Carney MJ, Choi J, Leventhal J, Ariyan S, Baumann R, Olino K, Clune J. Use of imiquimod topical therapy for management of malignant melanoma positive margins. Front Oncol. 2025 Oct.15:1666463. Pubmedid: 41234721. Pmcid: PMC12605384.
• Noel OF, Allam O, Vafa AZ, Gonzalez L, Lapre P, Jackie Oh S, Hodelin C, Clune J. Anatomic variation of the spinal accessory innervation pattern of the sternocleidomastoid muscle: A cadaveric study. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2025 Mar.102:142-144. Pubmedid: 39921925.
• Serrato P, Solaiman R, Vohra H, Hu K, Jain A, Alamdeen Y, Fagla BM, Peck C, Hill S, Wariso B, Rehman S, Subhedar S, Kersh L, Anderson C, Clune J. The Perceived Impact of Global Surgery Engagement on Career Advancement among US Medical Students. J Surg Educ. 2025 Feb.82(2):103404. Pubmedid: 39740592.
• Knoedler L, Knoedler S, Hoch CC, Safi AF, Wollenberg B, Alfertshofer M, Pomahac B, Kauke-Navarro M, Clune J. Risk factors and outcomes after surgery for malignant neoplasm of the parotid gland: An ACS-NSQIP study. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2025 Feb.101:264-274. Pubmedid: 39448324.
• Kammien AJ, Noel OF, Aregbe A, Clune JE. Complications following open treatment of frontal sinus fracture: A nationwide analysis of 1492 patients. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2025 Feb.53(2):129-133. Pubmedid: 39592374.
• Kersh L, Serrato P, Anderson C, Raguveer V, Peck C, Ally SA, Gondi I, Subhedar S, Rollins A, Hauser B, Jayaram A, Hill S, Wariso B, Rehman S, Clune J. The Impact of Medical School Experiences in Global Surgery on Perceptions and Career Plans Among U.S. Medical Students. J Surg Educ. 2025 Apr.82(4):103441. Pubmedid: 39894006.
• Brady N, Peck C, Anderson C, Shamim A, Kersh L, Gondi I, Rollins A, Subhedar S, Jayaram A, Hauser B, Hill S, Wariso B, Rehman S, Clune J. Characteristics and Experiences Associated with Interest in Global Surgery: What Brings US Medical Students to the Field?. J Surg Educ. 2024 Sep.81(9):1258-1266. Pubmedid: 39013668.
• Lee DY, McNamara M, Yang A, Yaskolko M, Kluger H, Tran T, Olino K, Clune J, Sznol M, Ishizuka JJ. Causes of death and patterns of metastatic disease at the end of life for patients with advanced melanoma in the immunotherapy era. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2024 Nov.37(6):847-853. Pubmedid: 39073002. Pmcid: PMC11809125.
• Noel OF, Clune J. Skipped sentinel lymph node basin in a patient with forearm cutaneous melanoma: A case report. Oncol Lett. 2024 May.27(5):233. Pubmedid: 38586207. Pmcid: PMC10996031.
• Kerekes DM, Frey AE, Prsic EH, Tran TT, Clune JE, Sznol M, Kluger HM, Forman HP, Becher RD, Olino KL, Khan SA. Immunotherapy Initiation at the End of Life in Patients With Metastatic Cancer in the US. JAMA Oncol. 2024 Mar.10(3):342-351. Pubmedid: 38175659. Pmcid: PMC10767643.
• Su DG, Schoenfeld DA, Ibrahim W, Cabrejo R, Djureinovic D, Baumann R, Rimm DL, Khan SA, Halaban R, Kluger HM, Olino K, Galan A, Clune J. Digital spatial proteomic profiling reveals immune checkpoints as biomarkers in lymphoid aggregates and tumor microenvironment of desmoplastic melanoma. J Immunother Cancer. 2024 Mar.12(3). Pubmedid: 38519058. Pmcid: PMC10961546.
• Hafler D, Lu B, Lucca L, Lewis W, Wang J, Nogeuira C, Heer S, Axisa PP, Buitrago-Pocasangre N, Pham G, Kojima M, Wei W, Aizenbud L, Bacchiocchi A, Zhang L, Walewski J, Chiang V, Olino K, Clune J, Halaban R, Kluger Y, Coyle A, Kisielow J, Obermair FJ, Kluger H. Circulating Tumor Reactive KIR+CD8+ T cells Suppress Anti-Tumor Immunity in Patients with Melanoma. Res Sq. 2024 Feb. Pubmedid: 38464315. Pmcid: PMC10925449.
• Frey AE, Kerekes DM, Khan SA, Tran TT, Kluger HM, Clune JE, Ariyan S, Sznol M, Ishizuka JJ, Olino KL. Immunotherapy utilization in stage IIIA melanoma: less may be more. Front Oncol. 2024 Feb.14:1336441. Pubmedid: 38380358. Pmcid: PMC10876869.
• Papageorge MV, Maina RM, King ALO, Lee V, Baumann R, Pucar D, Ariyan S, Khan SA, Weiss SA, Clune J, Olino K. The role of imaging and sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with T3b-T4b melanoma with clinically negative disease. Front Oncol. 2023 May.13:1143354. Pubmedid: 37223678. Pmcid: PMC10200883.
• Mookerjee VG, Prassinos AJ, Alper DP, Clune JE. Combined Tripier and V-Y Advancement Flaps for Reconstruction of Large Lid-cheek Junction Defects. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2023 Mar.11(3):e4874. Pubmedid: 36875925. Pmcid: PMC9984149.
• Belzer A, Pach J, Mortlock RD, Clune J, Olino K, Sznol M, Bhatia A, Burtness B, Christensen S, Leventhal JS. Evaluating the medical management of locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinoma: A single institutional retrospective analysis investigating efficacy, safety, and tolerability. JAAD Int. 2023 Jun.11:174-175. Pubmedid: 37252181. Pmcid: PMC10213716.
• Belzer A, Becerra C, Clune J, Malik M, Leventhal JS, Cowper SE, Johnson RL. Histopathologic features and immunohistochemistry findings to assist the dermatopathologist in differentiating melanocytic matrical carcinoma from melanoma. J Cutan Pathol. 2023 Jun.50(6):471-474. Pubmedid: 36645720.
• Rusheen J, Clune J, Ariyan S, Baumann R, Kluger H, Olino K, Weiss S. Case report: Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma presenting seven years after loco-regional disease resection of primary tumor with interval in-transit and nodal metastases. Front Oncol. 2023 Jul.13:1217816. Pubmedid: 37476373. Pmcid: PMC10354444.
• Lewis K, Islam S, Phillips S, Carney MJ, Clune J. The Facial Artery Perforator Flap. J Craniofac Surg. 2023 Jul.34(5):e434-e437. Pubmedid: 36914599.
• Collar J, Smetona J, Zhang J, Deng Y, Clune J. The Aesthetics of Digit Amputation. Hand (NY). 2023 Jul.18(5):829-837. Pubmedid: 35174717. Pmcid: PMC10336824.
• Ly CL, Blaha O, Wei W, Galan A, Kluger H, Ariyan S, Olino K, Clune JE. Predictive accuracy of elevated mitotic rate on lymph node positivity and recurrence in thin melanomas. Front Oncol. 2023 Jan.12:1077226. Pubmedid: 36686728. Pmcid: PMC9853390.
• Sasson DC, Smetona JT, Parsaei Y, Papageorge M, Ariyan S, Olino K, Clune J. Malignant Melanoma in Older Adults: Different Patient or Different Disease?. Cureus. 2023 Feb.15(2):e34742. Pubmedid: 36909026. Pmcid: PMC9998075.
• Chan PYW, Michel C, Colon AF, Clune J, Shah A. The Treatment of Complex Extremity Wounds Using External Tissue Expansion: A Case Series. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Apr.151(4):673e-678e. Pubmedid: 36729778.
• Fan R, Johnston MS, Gowen MF, Damsky W, Odell I, Clune J, Vesely MD. Amelanotic melanoma in a patient with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome. JAAD Case Rep. 2022 Sep.27:61-63. Pubmedid: 35990226. Pmcid: PMC9388864.
• Esposito A, Jacobs D, Ariyan S, Galan A, Kluger H, Clune J, Weiss S, Tran T, Olino K. Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Changing Practice Patterns and Impact on Recurrence-Free and Overall Survival at a Single Institution and Nationally. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Jan.29(1):415-424. Pubmedid: 34494169. Pmcid: PMC8677689.
• Farshidfar F, Rhrissorrakrai K, Levovitz C, Peng C, Knight J, Bacchiocchi A, Su J, Yin M, Sznol M, Ariyan S, Clune J, Olino K, Parida L, Nikolaus J, Zhang M, Zhao S, Wang Y, Huang G, Wan M, Li X, Cao J, Yan Q, Chen X, Newman AM, Halaban R. Integrative molecular and clinical profiling of acral melanoma links focal amplification of 22q11.21 to metastasis. Nat Commun. 2022 Feb.13(1):898. Pubmedid: 35197475. Pmcid: PMC8866401.
• Chouairi F, Mercier MR, Alperovich M, Clune J, Prsic A. Preoperative Deficiency Anemia in Digital Replantation: A Marker of Disparities, Increased Length of Stay, and Hospital Cost. J Hand Microsurg. 2022 Apr.14(2):147-152. Pubmedid: 35983290. Pmcid: PMC9381176.
• Hong CS, Partovi E, Clune J, Huttner A, Park HS, Omay SB. Genomic Characterization of Radiation-Induced Intracranial Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma. Case Rep Genet. 2021 Mar.2021:5586072. Pubmedid: 33747576. Pmcid: PMC7960067.
• Jacobs D, Olino K, Park HS, Clune J, Cheraghlou S, Girardi M, Burtness B, Kluger H, Judson BL. Primary Treatment Selection for Clinically Node-Negative Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021 Jun.164(6):1214-1221. Pubmedid: 33079010.
• Chan PYW, Colon AF, Clune J, Shah A. External Tissue Expansion in Complex Extremity Reconstruction. J Hand Surg Am. 2021 Dec.46(12):1094-1103. Pubmedid: 34688502.
• Noorbakhsh S, Papageorge M, Maina RM, Baumann R, Moores C, Weiss SA, Pucar D, Ariyan S, Olino K, Clune J. Methods of Sentinel Lymph Node Identification in Auricular Melanoma. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2021 Dec.9(12):e4004. Pubmedid: 34938645. Pmcid: PMC8687720.
• Lucca LE, Axisa PP, Lu B, Harnett B, Jessel S, Zhang L, Raddassi K, Zhang L, Olino K, Clune J, Singer M, Kluger HM, Hafler DA. Circulating clonally expanded T cells reflect functions of tumor-infiltrating T cells. J Exp Med. 2021 Apr.218(4). Pubmedid: 33651881. Pmcid: PMC7933991.
• Chouairi F, Mercier MR, Persing JS, Gabrick KS, Clune J, Alperovich M. National Patterns in Surgical Management of Syndactyly: A Review of 956 Cases. Hand (NY). 2020 Sep.15(5):666-673. Pubmedid: 30770023. Pmcid: PMC7543215.
• Perdigoto AL, Tran T, Patel N, Clark P, Patell K, Stamatouli AM, Reddy V, Clune J, Herold KC, Robert ME, Kluger HM. Elective Colectomy in a Patient with Active Ulcerative Colitis and Metastatic Melanoma Enabling Successful Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Clin Oncol Case Rep. 2020 Nov.3(5). Pubmedid: 33778814. Pmcid: PMC7993656.
• Walker ME, Han G, Gabrick K, Kanouzi J, Lo YC, Galan A, Clune J, Narayan D, Ariyan S, Han D. Acral Lentiginous Melanoma: Do Surgical Approach and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Matter?. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020 Mar.8(3):e2698. Pubmedid: 32537354. Pmcid: PMC7253243.
• Klemen ND, Wang M, Rubinstein JC, Olino K, Clune J, Ariyan S, Cha C, Weiss SA, Kluger HM, Sznol M. Survival after checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic acral, mucosal and uveal melanoma. J Immunother Cancer. 2020 Mar.8(1). Pubmedid: 32209601. Pmcid: PMC7103823.
• Chan JP, Clune J, Shah SB, Ward SR, Kocsis JD, Mozaffar T, Steward O, Gupta R. Examination of the human motor endplate after brachial plexus injury with two-photon microscopy. Muscle Nerve. 2020 Mar.61(3):390-395. Pubmedid: 31820462.
• Ligtenberg KG, Hu JK, Damsky W, Olino K, Kluger H, Clune J, Cowper SE, Panse G, Leventhal J, Weiss SA. Neoadjuvant anti-programmed cell death 1 therapy for locally advanced basal cell carcinoma in treatment-naive patients: A case series. JAAD Case Rep. 2020 Jul.6(7):628-633. Pubmedid: 32613057. Pmcid: PMC7317689.
• Jones NF, Clune JE. Thumb Amputations in Children: Classification and Reconstruction by Microsurgical Toe Transfers. J Hand Surg Am. 2019 Jun.44(6):519.e1-519.e10. Pubmedid: 30292715.
• Klemen ND, Wang M, Feingold PL, Cooper K, Pavri SN, Han D, Detterbeck FC, Boffa DJ, Khan SA, Olino K, Clune J, Ariyan S, Salem RR, Weiss SA, Kluger HM, Sznol M, Cha C. Patterns of failure after immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors predict durable progression-free survival after local therapy for metastatic melanoma. J Immunother Cancer. 2019 Jul.7(1):196. Pubmedid: 31340861. Pmcid: PMC6657062.
• Del Piñal F, Clune J. Arthroscopic Management of Intra-articular Malunion in Fractures of the Distal Radius. Hand Clin. 2017 Nov.33(4):669-675. Pubmedid: 28991579.
• Patel A, Clune J, Ariyan S. Functional Neck Dissection: The Operative Technique Series. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Nov.138(5):1084-1086. Pubmedid: 27783008.
• Pavri SN, Clune J, Ariyan S, Narayan D. Malignant Melanoma: Beyond the Basics. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Aug.138(2):330e-340e. Pubmedid: 27465194.
• Patel A, Shah A, Acosta JC, Clune JE. Fighting to Reconstruct Plastic Surgery for Veterans. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Nov.136(5):720e-721e. Pubmedid: 26196469.
• Persing S, Patel A, Clune JE, Steinbacher DM, Persing JA. The Repair of International Clefts in the Current Surgical Landscape. J Craniofac Surg. 2015 Jun.26(4):1126-1128. Pubmedid: 26080140.
• Yuhasz MM, Koch FP, Kwiatkowski A, Young C, Clune J, Travieso R, Wong K, Van Houten J, Steinbacher DM. Comparing calvarial transport distraction with and without radiation and fat grafting. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2014 Oct.42(7):1412-1422. Pubmedid: 24864072.
• Koch FP, Yuhasz MM, Travieso R, Wong K, Clune J, Zhuang ZW, Van Houten J, Steinbacher DM. Evaluation of cranial bone transport distraction with and without adipose grafting. J Craniofac Surg. 2014 May.25(3):766-771. Pubmedid: 24820707.
• Pfaff MJ, Clune J, Steinbacher D. Component approach to the temporomandibular joint and coronoid process. Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr. 2014 Dec.7(4):323-326. Pubmedid: 25383157. Pmcid: PMC4221151.
• Koch FP, Yuhasz MM, Travieso R, Wong K, Clune J, Zuang ZW, Steinbacher DM. Targeted cranial bone transport distraction is enhanced using a novel device. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Mar.131(3):453e-455e. Pubmedid: 23446610.
• Patel A, Clune JE, Steinbacher DM, Persing JA. Comprehensive cleft center: a paradigm shift in cleft care. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Feb.131(2):312e-313e. Pubmedid: 23358049.
• Hassanein AH, Clune JE, Mulliken JB, Arany PR, Rogers GF, Kulungowski AM, Greene AK. Effect of calvarial burring on resorption of onlay cranial bone graft. J Craniofac Surg. 2012 Sep.23(5):1495-1498. Pubmedid: 22976644.
• Hassanein AH, Arany PR, Couto RA, Clune JE, Glowacki J, Rogers GF, Mulliken JB, Greene AK. Cranial particulate bone graft ossifies calvarial defects by osteogenesis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 May.129(5):796e-802e. Pubmedid: 22544110.
• Shah A, Tuggle C, Clune JE, Steinbacher D, Patel A. FaceTime with Apple and information technology. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 Mar.129(3):562e-563e. Pubmedid: 22374017.
• Patel A, Terner J, Travieso R, Clune JE, Steinbacher D, Persing JA. On Bernard Sarnat's 100th birthday: pathology and management of craniosynostosis. J Craniofac Surg. 2012 Jan.23(1):105-112. Pubmedid: 22337384.
• Patel A, Shah A, Clune JE, Chang CC. Paging plastics: the issues confronting the most consulted service. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 Apr.129(4):774e-775e. Pubmedid: 22456422.
• Patel A, Clune JE, Mody P, Price G, Ariyan S. Excising value at a marginal cost: rethinking the management of Basal cell carcinoma. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011 May.127(5):2136-2137. Pubmedid: 21532456.
• Clune JE, Narayan D. Surgical reconstruction in melanoma. Curr Prob Cancer. 2011 Jul.35(4):185-199. Pubmedid: 21911182.
• Clune JE, Mulliken JB, Glowacki J, Arany PR, Kulungowski AM, Rogers GF, Greene AK. Autologous cranial particulate bone graft: an experimental study of onlay cranioplasty. J Craniofac Surg. 2011 Jan.22(1):319-323. Pubmedid: 21239926.
• Clune JE, Mulliken JB, Glowacki J, Rogers GF, Arany PR, Kulungowski AM, Greene AK. Inlay cranioplasty: an experimental comparison of particulate graft versus bone dust. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Oct.126(4):1311-1319. Pubmedid: 20885252.
• Patel A, Clune JE, Forte A, Chang CC. The impact of the Medicare sustainable growth rate formula on reconstructive plastic surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Nov.126(5):270e-271e. Pubmedid: 21042089.
• Gao LL, Rogers GF, Clune JE, Proctor MR, Meara JG, Mulliken JB, Greene AK. Autologous cranial particulate bone grafting reduces the frequency of osseous defects after cranial expansion. J Craniofac Surg. 2010 Mar.21(2):318-322. Pubmedid: 20186093.
• Clune JE, Greene AK, Guo CY, Gao LL, Kim S, Meara JG, Proctor MR, Mulliken JB, Rogers GF. Perioperative corticosteroid reduces hospital stay after fronto-orbital advancement. J Craniofac Surg. 2010 Mar.21(2):344-348. Pubmedid: 20186083.
• Clune JE, Kozakewich HP, VanBeek CA, Labow BI, Greene AK. Nipple adenoma in infancy. J Pediatr Surg. 2009 Nov.44(11):2219-2222. Pubmedid: 19944237.