Reports and Proceedings

In the NRG Oncology clinical trial NRG-RTOG 0815 comparing dose escalated radiotherapy (RT) in combination with short-term androgen suppression (ADT) to dose escalated RT alone for intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients, the addition of ADT did not improve overall survival results as hypothesized by researchers. These results were presented during the Plenary Session of the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in October 2021.

Mayo Clinic researchers have found that a new, shorter treatment for patients with HPV-associated oropharynx cancer leads to excellent disease control and fewer side effects, compared to standard treatment. The new treatment employs minimally invasive surgery and half the standard dose of radiation therapy, compared to current treatments. The new treatment also lasts for two weeks, rather than the standard six weeks.

This special edition features oral presentations by MD Anderson researchers at the 2021 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting (Oct. 24-27) on novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches, including partial breast irradiation, evaluating PD-L1 levels as biomarkers to better predict response to immunotherapy, and deep learning and biomechanical models.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for benign tumours of the vestibular nerve (vestibular schwannomas, also called acoustic neuromas) offers more advantages to affected patients than microsurgical resection: After targeted one-time and high-dose radiation, facial palsy, hearing loss, and hospitalizations occur less often than after surgery.

Americans are struggling with the basic decisions required to navigate daily life as the effects of pandemic-related stress continue to take a toll, especially on younger adults and parents, according to a national survey from the American Psychological Association.

A primary endpoint analysis of the NRG Oncology Phase III clinical trial NRG-GU003 comparing hypofractionated post-operative prostate bed radiotherapy (HYPORT) to the conventional post-prostatectomy radiotherapy (COPORT) for men with prostate cancer determined that treatment with HYPORT yielded no increase in patient-reported genitourinary (GU) or gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity for trial participants. However, the trial failed to reject the null hypothesis that dose-escalated radiation therapy (RT) was not superior to conventional RT. These results were presented during the Plenary Session of the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in October 2021.

The time required to secure prior authorization approvals for radiation therapy treatments equates to a financial impact of more than $40 million annually for academic medical centers, according to a new study. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

A new study shows that system-level changes to the way cancer care is delivered can also eliminate Black-white disparities in survival from early-stage lung and breast cancer. By identifying and addressing obstacles that kept patients from finishing radiation treatments for cancer, the intervention improved five-year survival rates for all patients and erased the survival gap between Black and white patients. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

Using fewer—but higher—doses of radiation to treat men with prostate cancer who had their prostates removed does not increase long-term side effects or lower their quality of life compared to conventional radiation treatment, a new, multi-institutional clinical trial shows. Findings from the phase III NRG Oncology GU003 trial will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

A new meta-analysis finds that a genetic biomarker test accurately predicts how men with high-risk prostate cancer will respond to treatment with radiation and hormone therapy. The study, which examined biopsy samples collected from three large, randomized clinical trials, indicates that physicians potentially can use genetic test scores to personalize treatment for men with the most aggressive form of prostate cancer. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.