COVID-19 pandemic has led to more advanced-stage cancer diagnoses, physician survey finds

Doctors who oversee cancer clinics say that new patients are arriving for treatment with more advanced disease than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). The survey fielded in early 2021 also found that treatment postponements and deferrals have largely subsided.

Radiation oncologists urge Congress to advance bills that protect patient access to cancer care during the pandemic

Radiation oncologists across the country will meet virtually with members of Congress this week to urge lawmakers to pass legislation that will safeguard access to high-quality, value-based health care for people with cancer. The doctors will meet with Congressional leaders and staff as part of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) virtual Advocacy Day, which will take place November 19-20, 2020.

Adding image guidance to post-operative radiation therapy can reduce side effects for women with cervical cancer

A phase III trial from India shows that an advanced radiation therapy technique leads to fewer gastrointestinal side effects in women who receive radiation after undergoing hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Findings from the PARCER trial (NCT01279135) will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

Group trial bolsters case for stereotactic radiation therapy for tumors that travel to the lungs

A new study, conducted across 13 medical centers in Australia and New Zealand, strengthens the case for radiation therapy as a treatment for cancer that has begun to spread throughout the body. Findings of the SAFRON II trial (NCT01965223) will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

Treating spinal metastases with fewer and higher doses of radiation reduces pain more effectively

A new study shows using fewer and higher doses of high-precision radiation therapy is a more effective approach for treating painful spinal tumors than conventional radiation therapy. Findings from the Canadian phase II/III trial (NCT02512965) will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

Radiosurgery reduces cognitive decline without compromising survival for patients with 4+ brain metastases

Results of a new randomized phase III trial suggest that stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) should replace whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) as the standard of care for patients with four or more brain metastases. Results from the clinical trial (NCT01592968) will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

Adding advanced PET scans to radiation treatment plans for prostate cancer increases failure-free survival rates

Adding the advanced PET radiotracer fluciclovine to conventional imaging to help guide radiation treatments for recurrent prostate cancer can improve disease-free survival rates, a new study finds. Findings from the randomized phase II/III EMPIRE-1 trial (NCT01666808) will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

Expert Alert: Accelerated breast cancer treatments at Mayo Clinic provide more options for patients during pandemic

Radiation therapy for breast cancer can be grueling and disruptive, stretching out for as long as five to seven weeks, and often requiring extended time off from work or away from home. But research over the past decade, as well as new technology and innovations at Mayo Clinic, has led to treatment alternatives that are shorter, more targeted and just as effective.

ASTRO issues clinical guideline on radiation therapy for rectal cancer

A new clinical guideline from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) provides guidance for physicians who use radiation therapy to treat patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Recommendations outline indications and best practices for pelvic radiation treatments, as well as the integration of radiation with chemotherapy and surgery for stage II-III disease. The guideline, which replaces ASTRO’s 2016 guidance for rectal cancer, is published in Practical Radiation Oncology.

Radiation oncology research and clinical trial results to be featured at ASTRO’s Annual Meeting

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced today the press program for its 2020 Annual Meeting, which will feature studies on cancer treatment advances and discussions of topical issues including COVID-19. Researchers will present their findings via live webcasts on October 26 and 27. Register for press access at www.astro.org/annnualmeetingpress.

Benefits manager policy disrupts patient-physician decision making for breast and prostate cancer radiation treatments

Radiation oncologists today expressed serious concerns about a new private insurance coverage policy that could undermine patient-centered care for two of the most common cancers in the United States. Leaders of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) urge eviCore, a radiation oncology benefits management company, to halt and make meaningful changes to a new policy for radiation therapy coverage. Under the new policy, EviCore mandates that most breast and prostate cancer treatments use a shorter, hypofractionated radiation therapy regimen even if it runs counter to a physician’s clinical recommendation.

American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) to host virtual Annual Meeting, October 25-28

The American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO) 62nd Annual Meeting, will be held October 25-28 via an interactive virtual platform. The meeting, Global Oncology: Radiation Therapy in a Changing World, will feature reports from the latest clinical trials; panels on global oncology, health disparities and the novel coronavirus; and an immersive attendee experience in a virtual convention center. Media resources are available at www.astro.org/astro2020press.

ASTRO issues first clinical guideline on radiation therapy for cervical cancer

A new clinical guideline from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) provides recommendations for radiation therapy to treat patients with nonmetastatic cervical cancer. The guideline outlines indications and best practices for EBRT and brachytherapy in postoperative and definitive settings, and it also addresses chemotherapy and surgery when used in combination with radiation. The guideline is published online in Practical Radiation Oncology.

ASTRO survey: Fewer patient visits despite enhanced COVID-19 safety measures for radiation oncology clinics

Despite facing challenges such as limited access to PPE during the COVID-19 outbreak, radiation oncology clinics quickly implemented safety enhancements that allowed them to continue caring for cancer patients, according to a new national survey from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). All 222 physician leaders in the survey collected April 16-30 said their practices continued to provide radiation therapy, yet 85% also reported declines in patient visits, and by an average of one-third.

Chronic Stress Can Impact Response to Radiation Therapy for Cancer, Roswell Park Study Suggests

Radiation is one of the oldest and most common therapies for cancer, and typically is delivered locally, or to specific targeted sites in the body. While it has long been thought that locally-delivered radiation therapy typically does not help to shrink tumors outside the field of irradiation, new preclinical research from a team at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests a strategy for significantly increasing both the local and distant, or “abscopal,” effects of radiation. Results of the study, which was led by Elizabeth Repasky, PhD, have been newly published in Nature Communications.

Radiation/immunotherapy combo shows promise for recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancers

A new phase II trial finds that a combination of radiation therapy and immunotherapy led to encouraging survival outcomes and acceptable toxicity for patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The combination of radiation and pembrolizumab may offer a new treatment option for patients who are ineligible for cisplatin chemotherapy, part of standard treatment for the disease. Findings will be presented at the 2020 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium.

Baylor Scott & White’s Glenda Tanner Vasicek Cancer Treatment Center – Temple Announces Construction of New Radiation Oncology Facility

Baylor Scott & White Health’s Glenda Tanner Vasicek Cancer Treatment Center (VCTC) – Temple announces construction of a new radiation oncology facility that will benefit Central Texas patients being treated for cancer. With new radiation treatment equipment and more room for procedures, the facility will be able to treat up to 70 patients per day.

Proton therapy as effective as standard radiation with fewer side effects

Cancer patients who receive high-tech proton therapy experience similar cure rates and fewer serious side effects compared with those who undergo traditional X-ray radiation therapy, according to a study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

ASTRO issues new clinical guideline on radiation therapy for basal and squamous cell skin cancers

A new clinical guideline from ASTRO provides recommendations on the use of radiation therapy to treat patients diagnosed with the most common types of skin cancers. The guideline details when radiation treatments are appropriate as stand-alone therapy or following surgery for BCC and cSCC, and it suggests dosing and fractionation.

Retrospective Analysis Shows Proton Therapy Well Tolerated in Patients Undergoing Breast Conserving Surgery

Investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey conducted a retrospective review of patients treated with proton therapy following breast-conserving surgery and found acceptable toxicity rates along with good-to-excellent patient-reported cosmetic outcomes.

New Research in JNCCN Offers Reassurance about Rarity of Recurrence for Early-Stage Breast Cancer after Breast-Conserving Surgery

New research in the November 2019 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute examines the implications of invasive breast cancer after breast-conserving treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (aka DCIS, a form of non-invasive breast cancer) and which factors could impact overall survival.

Survey finds 1 in 3 patients needed more information on cancer treatment side effects

One in three adults treated for cancer may experience side effects from treatment they wish they had known more about, according to a new survey published in the Journal of Oncology Practice. The national survey of more than 400 U.S. adults, which was sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), also found that nine in 10 patients felt they made the right treatment decision despite the desire for more information about treatment side effects.

New research suggests proton radiation therapy can benefit patients with challenging liver tumors

Two new studies support and inform the use of proton radiation therapy to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common but often fatal type of liver cancer for which there are limited treatment options. The studies were published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, the flagship scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

World Traveler Is Ready For Next Adventure After Beating Breast Cancer

When Linda Sprick of New Milford, Connecticut, received the news that she had Stage IIA breast cancer, she decided to face her diagnosis head-on and do whatever was necessary to get well.

Linda had two lumpectomies at Danbury Hospital, followed by radiation therapy at New Milford Hospital, which is closer to her home. New Milford Hospital uses an advanced radiation therapy technique to reduce radiation exposure to healthy organs.

Linda and her husband Tomm especially appreciated the complimentary, healthy meals they received through New Milford Hospital’s Eating Well program.

Today, Linda is cancer-free. She and her husband are excited to resume their normal lives and continue worldwide travel.

Taking Baby Aspirin Improves Overall Survival for Patients With Head & Neck, Lung Cancer

In companion presentations at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting, doctors from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center report new evidence that low-dose aspirin and other anti-inflammatories may improve survival in patients with some head/neck and lung cancers.

Radiation oncology research and clinical trial results to be featured at ASTRO’s Annual Meeting in Chicago

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced today the top-rated studies to be highlighted in the press program for the 2019 ASTRO Annual Meeting. Researchers will present their findings in three news briefings being held September 15 through 17 in room W474B of McCormick Place in Chicago and via live webcast.

American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) to host Annual Meeting in Chicago, September 15-18

10,000+ health professionals expected to attend world’s largest radiation oncology meeting ARLINGTON, Va., June 20, 2019 — The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) will host its 61st Annual Meeting at McCormick Place in Chicago, September 15-18, 2019. The meeting…