A two-step decision tree analysis was used to evaluate and distill existing quality standards, guidelines, and recommendations in radiation therapy. The study identified duplicate standards and gaps, achieving substantial agreement among evaluators.
ASTRO Gold Medal winners Mary K. Gospodarowicz, Leonard L. Gunderson, and Nancy J. Tarbell will receive the award for their outstanding work in research, clinical care, teaching, and service. They have made significant contributions to advancing radiation oncology, improving patient outcomes, and promoting global health.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has issued a new guideline detailing the use of adjuvant radiation therapy in treating endometrial cancer. The guideline recommends postoperative external beam radiation for patients with early-stage disease, and vaginal cuff brachytherapy for those at high risk of vaginal recurrence.
The ASTRO white paper recommends specific guidance for high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy to improve patient safety and quality. The manuscript highlights the need for a quality management program, including checklists and forms, as well as multidisciplinary treatment team coordination.
A study found that sparing bilateral level IB lymph nodes during radiation therapy for oropharyngeal cancer significantly improved patient-reported xerostomia scores. This reduction also led to lower radiation doses to nearby salivary organs, causing less damage to post-treatment salivary function.
A study found that daily humidification of the mouth and throat region during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer reduced mucositis and hospital stays by nearly 50%. Patients who used humidification spent significantly fewer days in the hospital to manage side effects compared to those who did not.
The study found that primary tumor location dictates the risk of disease in the opposite side of the neck, rather than lymph node involvement. No local or regional recurrences were reported, but distant metastasis occurred in 9% of patients.
A retrospective analysis found that HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients had a higher overall survival rate than HPV-negative patients after disease progression, with median survival being nearly twice as long. The study also showed improved outcomes for patients who underwent surgery after cancer recurrence.
A study of 285 stage III-IV SCCOP patients found that HPV-positive patients developed distant metastases later, in more subsites, and atypical sites compared to HPV-negative patients. The most common sites were lung and bone for both groups.
Researchers found that sparing the contralateral submandibular gland during radiation therapy is possible with advanced stage cancers. The study involved 71 patients who received treatment to the bilateral neck, with no recurrences in the spared gland at a median follow-up of 27.3 months.
A study of oropharyngeal cancer patients reveals that radiation therapy can cause significant voice and speech problems. Limiting the radiation dose to the glottic larynx reduces these issues, suggesting a potential strategy for improving post-treatment quality of life.
Research using next-generation sequencing data and clinical records from HNSCC patients found that combining MATH with HPV status is an effective marker of improved patient outcome. High tumor MATH at surgery is associated with poor outcomes, while HPV-positive patients have lower average MATH values than HPV-negative patients.
The new guideline aims to reduce unnecessary re-excision rates by identifying optimal margin widths that minimize ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence. Wider margin widths do not significantly lower the risk, and the choice of radiation technique should not depend on margin width.
A comprehensive review of Medicare claims found that nearly all the increase in IMRT for prostate cancer was due to self-referral, leading to unnecessary radiation therapy. Self-referring urologists increased IMRT use by 146%, while non-self-referrers remained unchanged.
Researchers found that unstable chromosomes with breaks at common fragile sites are associated with a less favorable response to radiation therapy and surgery in prostate cancer patients. These abnormalities are often linked to DNA instability, which is characteristic of cancer cells.
A study of Stage T1aN0 breast cancer patients found no significant increase in deaths from cardiac disease or secondary malignancies among those receiving external beam radiation therapy (XRT). Women who received XRT had better survival rates and fewer deaths from all causes compared to non-XRT groups.
The study found a significantly lower quality of life in patients who received high-dose radiation therapy (74 Gy) compared to those receiving standard dose (60 Gy). IMRT was associated with a lower decline in QOL compared to 3-D CRT, even a year after treatment.
A secondary analysis of the historic RTOG 9202 prostate cancer trial found no additional benefits with long-term hormonal therapy compared to short-term therapy in intermediate-risk patients. The study suggests that administering less treatment can reduce side effects and healthcare costs without compromising survival rates.
A study found that avoiding specific regions of the brain during whole-brain radiotherapy prevents memory loss in patients. Limiting radiation to the hippocampus, a sensitive area for memory function, preserved memory function for up to six months after treatment.
A two-item questionnaire, including PHQ-9 and PHQ-2, effectively screened for depression in radiation therapy patients. The study found that these questions were as useful as the entire PHQ-9 in identifying depression, with an area under the curve of approximately 0.83.
A shorter course of androgen suppression therapy prior to radiation therapy yields favorable outcomes and fewer adverse effects for intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. The study confirmed a disease-specific-survival rate of 95 percent when patients received fewer weeks of neoadjuvant total androgen suppression.
A study by American Society for Radiation Oncology found that proton therapy can prevent costly side effects in children with medulloblastoma, making it both cost-effective and cost-saving compared to photon therapy. Proton therapy reduced the risk of hearing loss, secondary malignancy, and heart failure.
A multi-institutional study found that sulfasalazine does not reduce diarrhea in patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy, and may even increase the risk. The study, which enrolled 87 patients, used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design to evaluate the effectiveness of sulfasalazine versus placebo.
A randomized controlled trial of 147 women with stage IIIB cervical cancer found that adding cisplatin to radiation therapy and high-dose-rate brachytherapy improved disease-free survival and reduced late toxicity, while maintaining acceptable acute toxicity levels.
Patients under 50 years old have improved OS after SRS, with no greater risk of new brain metastases. SRS alone is a favorable first-line therapeutic option for younger patients.
The ASTRO/AUA joint guideline offers clinical principles and recommendations for radiation therapy use in patients with and without evidence of prostate cancer recurrence. The guideline is based on a comprehensive review of 324 research articles and provides detailed efficacy data for patients with detectable and undetectable PSA levels.
A study of 70 pediatric patients treated with proton therapy found high local control rates (83%) and overall survival (95%), with subtotal resection correlated to decreased cognitive and endocrine outcomes. Few patients developed growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism or hearing loss.
The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia and the South Georgia Medical Center, Pearlman Cancer Center will each receive $8,000 to provide direct support for their organization's work supporting cancer patients. The grants also aim to raise awareness about the financial challenges faced by cancer patients.
Sherri Graves Smith, a cancer survivor and volunteer, will receive the 2013 Survivor Circle Award from ASTRO. She has dedicated her time and energy to helping others in her community, providing financial assistance and support to cancer patients struggling with daily living essentials.
Jean B. Owen, PhD, receives the highest honor from ASTRO for her extensive work in establishing and analyzing benchmarks for optimal care in radiation oncology. Her contributions include developing clinical performance measures and survey processes to improve quality of care nationwide.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has selected 10 outstanding members to receive the Fellow of ASTRO designation. These distinguished individuals have made substantial contributions to the field of radiation oncology through research, education, patient care, and leadership.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) awarded a total of $34,500 to 42 researchers selected for the 2013 Annual Meeting Abstract Awards. The awards recognized outstanding abstracts in seven categories and honored top-rated research in radiation and cancer biology, clinical practice, and radiation physics.
ASTRO has awarded Amato Giaccia, Radhe Mohan, and Prabhakar Tripuraneni with the Society's highest honor—the ASTRO Gold Medal. The awardees have made outstanding contributions to radiation oncology through research, clinical care, teaching, and service.
A study found that radiation oncology received only 1.6% of the $30.9 billion in NIH-funded grants for cancer research in FY 2013. This disparity highlights an urgent need for increased funding to improve patient survival and treatment outcomes.
The new guideline provides detailed direction on treatment options for prostate cancer patients, including adjuvant and salvage radiotherapy recommendations. It emphasizes the importance of informed consent and patient education on potential side effects and benefits of radiation therapy.
The new ASTRO white paper recommends 10 fundamental elements for safe and effective IGRT practices, including establishing a multi-professional team and performing end-to-end testing for new procedures. The paper aims to improve the safety and effectiveness of image-guided radiation therapy in radiation oncology.
The ASTRO white paper emphasizes the vital role of patient-specific peer review in improving patient safety and quality of care. The report details suggested targets for peer review throughout various areas within radiation therapy, prioritizing those most likely to impact patient outcomes.
Researchers evaluated CT scans of patients with localized esophageal cancer before and after chemotherapy to identify changes in tumor texture. Smaller change in skewness following chemotherapy was a significant prognostic factor, with median overall survival increasing from 11.1 months to 36.1 months.
This study found that SUVmax is a significant and clinically independent marker for progression-free survival in stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The research included 95 medically inoperable patients who received stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), with median overall survival of 25.3 months and progression...
Research suggests that monitoring hepatic function with HIDA SPECT prior to and during radiation therapy can help tailor treatment plans for unresectable liver cancer patients. This assessment method allows for personalized radiation doses while minimizing the risk of liver injury.
Researchers developed a diffusion abnormality index (DAI) to measure brain tumor response to radiation therapy. The study showed that changes in DAI can predict post-treatment response with high sensitivity and specificity.
Mark P. Carol, MD, a distinguished leader in IMRT and IGRT, has been recognized as ASTRO's 2012 Honorary Member for his groundbreaking approach to developing these techniques. He will be honored at the ASTRO 54th Annual Meeting on October 30, 2012.
Emanuel Hamelburg, a Boston-area prostate cancer survivor, has been recognized for his dedication to cancer awareness and advocacy. He was awarded the Survivor Circle Award by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in 2012.
Researchers found that adding bavituximab to docetaxel chemotherapy improves response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival in late-stage non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NS-NSCLC) patients. The study showed a doubling of the overall response rate compared to the control arm.
Researchers found that standard chemotherapy with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and bevacizumab is equally effective as an experimental regimen in treating advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. The study suggests that both regimens are tolerable but have different toxicities.
A study of 340 stage III NSCLC patients found that prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) significantly reduces the risk of brain metastases, but no improvement in overall survival was observed. The rate of brain metastases for PCI-treated patients was 17.3%, compared to 26.8% for observational arm.
Crizotinib successfully shrinks tumors in patients with anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK) positive non-small cell lung cancer. The treatment showed a high overall response rate of 60% and improved median progression-free survival.
A study of 168 Stage III NSCLC patients found that married women had the best three-year survival rate of 46 percent, while single men had the worst rate of 3 percent. Married patients generally had improved survival rates compared to single patients, with 33 percent vs. 10 percent.
A study of 14,829 Hispanic lung cancer patients from the California Cancer Registry found that foreign-born Hispanics have an even lower risk of death due to improved socio-economic factors and neighborhood conditions. This contradicts the traditional 'Hispanic paradox' by highlighting the positive impact of social factors on survival.
Patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received radiation therapy had an increased median survival of 21 months compared to 16 months. The percentage of patients not receiving treatment declined from 20 percent to 16 percent between 1999-2003 and 2004-2008.