Shauna Campbell, DO, on Head and Neck Cancer: Toxicity Associated With Hypofractionated IMRT
2021 ASTRO Annual Meeting
Shauna Campbell, DO, of Cleveland Clinic, discusses results from her study that showed hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (H-IMRT) in the definitive or postoperative treatment of head and neck cancers using ≥ 50 Gy in 20 fractions appears to be safe and well tolerated with modest toxicity. Dr. Campbell suggests that prospective studies comparing the safety and efficacy of H-IMRT with those of conventionally fractionated IMRT are warranted (Abstract 2313).
The ASCO Post Staff
Howard M. Sandler, MD, of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discusses whether hypofractionation can be safely employed in the post-prostatectomy setting and the role of short-term hormone therapy in the management of intermediate-risk prostate cancer with radiotherapy.
The ASCO Post Staff
Benjamin Movsas, MD, of the Henry Ford Cancer Center, discusses results from the NRG Oncology/RTOG 0815 study, which explored dose-escalated radiotherapy alone or in combination with short-term hormonal therapy for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. In addition to clinical outcomes, Dr. Movsas discusses patient-reported results in the study that may help patients make informed decisions when choosing between these treatment options (Abstract 4).
The ASCO Post Staff
Mark K. Buyyounouski, MD, MS, of Stanford University, discusses phase III results from the NRG Oncology GU003 trial, which showed that, post-prostatectomy, using fewer—but higher—doses of radiation does not appear to increase long-term side effects or reduce quality of life when compared with conventional radiation treatment (Abstract 3).
The ASCO Post Staff
Karen M. Winkfield, MD, PhD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who co-chaired a session (PS 02) on digital health, summarizes the talks, which included ways to reduce disparities with digital innovations and the importance of patient input, especially in the form of patient-reported outcomes and experience measures. Advancing digital health, which the FDA defines as including health information technology, telemedicine, and personalized medicine, can potentially improve cancer care.
The ASCO Post Staff
Daniel F. Hayes, MD, of the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, discusses whether liquid biopsies can provide insight into the challenge of curing metastatic breast and possibly other cancers, how oligometastases are similar to a primary cancer, and why some kinds of local therapy for widespread disease might improve survival and lead to a cure.
