Articles related to RADIOTHERAPY

Explore the detailed findings of a recent study that highlights the impact of treatment interruptions on survival rates in triple-negative breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy.

Explore the latest insights into the dental management of patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancers, particularly the challenges and strategies related to oral complications. Delve into the nuances of preventive care, restorative and rehabilitative management, and the role of research in shaping future practices.

Explore the role of androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer treatment and its impact on patient survival and oncologic benefits. The recent NRG Oncology/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group study offers fresh insights on androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer treatment. The researchers focused on patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. They used a sample of 1,492 patients, randomly assigned to receive either escalated radiation therapy alone, or combined with short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Strikingly, the results didn’t point to a significant survival advantage. The five-year survival estimates were almost identical for both groups, at 90% and 91% respectively. Yet, when it comes to oncologic benefits, adding short-term ADT had a substantial impact. Importantly, this therapy reduced the risk for PSA relapse, distant metastasis, and prostate cancer-specific mortality by 48%, 75%, and 90% respectively. Also, patients on ADT exhibited a 38% lower risk of requiring salvage ADT. However, physicians need to be aware of the potential drawbacks. The study observed that the adverse event rates were notably higher with ADT use, at 69% compared to 21% for radiation therapy alone. Indeed, 12% of the ADT group experienced acute grade 3 or higher adverse events, compared to just 2% of the radiation-only group. […]

The Evolution of Radiation Therapy Explore the evolution of radiation therapy with Dr. Heath Skinner and understand the advancements in 3DCRT, IMRT/VMAT, proton therapy, stereotactic radiation, and brachytherapy. Dr. Heath D. Skinner, esteemed chair and medical director of the Department of Radiation Oncology at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, delves into the dynamic and transformative world of radiation oncology in this enlightening Continuing Medical Education (CME) activity. A noted specialist in the treatment of head, neck, and lung cancer, Dr. Skinner’s commitment to advancing clinical research underscores his discussions, which aim to educate and inform on the significant advancements in radiation therapy over recent decades. The CME activity is designed as a comprehensive examination of the evolution of radiation therapy. Dr. Skinner outlines a clear trajectory of progress, highlighting the development from conventional three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) to more sophisticated techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy/volumetric-modulated arc therapy (IMRT/VMAT), and further to the precision of proton therapy. These techniques, each with unique advantages, have shaped modern oncology practices and offer promising improvements in patient outcomes. Further delving into the field, Dr. Skinner also elucidates the intricacies of stereotactic radiation and brachytherapy as additional pillars in the modern cancer treatment paradigm. […]

This study presents findings from a Phase I clinical trial examining the use of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) combined with pembrolizumab (P) in treating advanced solid tumors, with a focus on the safety and effectiveness of partial tumor irradiation. The trial involved 97 patients, 47% of whom received at least one partial radiation treatment. The overall one-year local failure (LF) rate was 7.6%, and the results suggest an association between tumor response to SBRT+P and improved overall survival (OS), particularly for irradiated tumors. The trial also explored the role of biomarkers, finding that a high Radiomics Score (RS), based largely on CD8+ T cell levels, was linked to better LF, progression-free survival (PFS), and OS. Conversely, increased levels of circulating cytokine IL-8 were associated with worse PFS and OS. The study concluded that SBRT+P is safe for patients with large, advanced solid tumors and recommended further research to compare the effectiveness of complete versus partial tumor irradiation in the context of immunotherapy.

Dr. Jyoti Mayadev, a professor of Radiation Medicine at University of California San Diego, discussed the treatment of patients with 1B3 cervical cancer at the Society of Gynecological Oncology’s Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. The discussion centered around whether to treat patients with primary chemoradiation and brachytherapy or radical surgery. Dr. Mayadev recommends a multidisciplinary approach, but notes that level 1 evidence data from Landoni et al. in 1997 showed no difference in progression-free survivals or overall survivals between radiation therapy and radical hysterectomy in patients with bulky disease, 1B3, and no lymph node disease. Dr. Mayadev discusses the benefits of chemoradiation, including potential toxicity reduction if a patient needs adjuvant therapy after surgery. She also notes that with technologically advanced radiation and brachytherapy, long-term toxicities can be minimized, including genitourinary toxicities at 6-8%, vaginal toxicities at 5%, and fistula at less than 2%. Dr. Mayadev believes that adaptive radiation therapy may further decrease toxicities and increase cure rates for patients with 1B3 cervical cancer. There are ongoing trials for novel therapeutics and adaptive radiation therapy, such as the ARTIA Cervical Trial, which aims to decrease toxicities and collect patient reported outcomes.