Linda G.W. Kerkmeijer, MD, PhD, on Prostate Cancer: Adding a Focal Boost to External-Beam Radiotherapy
2020 ASTRO Annual Meeting
Linda G.W. Kerkmeijer, MD, PhD, of the University Medical Center Utrecht and Radboud University Medical Center, discusses results from the phase III FLAME trial, which explored the question of whether biochemical disease–free survival can be improved by adding a focal boost to the intraprostatic lesion in whole-gland external-beam radiotherapy for patients with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancers (Abstract 126).
The ASCO Post Staff
Jing Li, MD, PhD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses phase III results showing the use of stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with 4 to 15 brain metastases, compared with whole-brain radiotherapy, may better preserve cognitive function and minimize the interruption of systemic therapy without compromising overall survival (Abstract 41).
Daniel E. Spratt, MD, of the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, discusses a pooled analysis of two phase III trials showing adjuvant androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) improves biochemical control and reduces distant metastasis when compared with a neoadjuvant approach, with no difference in late gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicities. The analysis also showed that delaying radiotherapy to deliver neoadjuvant ADT did not benefit most patients (Abstract 32).
The ASCO Post Staff
Cynthia Menard, MD, of the University of Montreal, discusses a study on the use of prostate-specific membrane antigen PET and CT to guide treatment. The scans led to high rates of new lesion detection and therefore intensification of radiotherapy for patients with prostate cancer, without an increase in side effects (Abstract 34).
The ASCO Post Staff
Arjun Sahgal, MD, of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, discusses results of the first phase III trial to suggest that dose escalation with stereotactic body radiotherapy may be superior to conventional palliative radiotherapy in improving pain outcomes for patients with spinal bone metastases (Abstract LBA2).
The ASCO Post Staff
Jeff M. Michalski, MD, MBA, of the Washington University School of Medicine, discusses a Children’s Oncology Group study that confirmed data previously reported: Involved-field radiotherapy is noninferior to posterior fossa radiotherapy in patients with average risk-medulloblastoma. However, low-dose craniospinal irradiation is not as effective as standard-dose irradiation in younger children (Abstract 1).
