Articles related to RADIOTHERAPY

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.

The video features an interview with Dr. Jason Mouabbi, a surgical oncologist, who discusses the management of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), a type of breast cancer that is less common than other types. He explains that ILC is more challenging to diagnose than other breast cancers because it does not form a lump, but rather spreads in a linear fashion throughout the breast tissue. Dr. Mouabbi highlights the importance of early detection and screening for ILC. He then discusses the treatment options for ILC, which may include surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. He emphasizes the need for personalized treatment plans for each patient based on their specific case and individual needs. Dr. Mouabbi also talks about the potential role of neoadjuvant therapy in improving outcomes for patients with ILC. Overall, the video provides valuable insights into the management of ILC and highlights the importance of early detection and personalized treatment plans.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the RTOG clinical target volumes (CTVs) and PSMA PET-defined recurrence topography, as well as to analyze the patterns of prostate bed (PB) recurrence in prostate cancer patients who had PSA persistence (BCP) or biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy.

The assessment of response to radiation-based therapies can be complicated by persistent or changing imaging features, and this field of study is still in active development even though imaging-based response assessment systems have been validated for the evaluation of response to ablative locoregional therapies. Research is still needed to address the shortcomings of current imaging criteria for evaluating tumor response to these novel techniques, despite the increased application of radiation-based local-regional therapies for the treatment of HCC following technological advancements and a better understanding of tumor biology.