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Program Information

Research Opportunities in Technology for Innovation in Radiation Oncology (Highlight of ASTRO NCI 2013 Workshop)

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S Hahn

D Jaffray

I Chetty

S Benedict





S Hahn1*, D Jaffray2*, I Chetty3*, S Benedict4*, (1) University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, (2) Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, ON, (3) Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, (4) UC Davis Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA

Presentations

MO-E-BRF-1 Monday 1:45PM - 3:45PM Room: Ballroom F

Radiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for solid tumors, in large part due to significant technological advances associated with, for instance, the ability to target tumors to very high levels of accuracy (within millimeters). Technological advances have played a central role in the success of radiation therapy as an oncologic treatment option for patients. ASTRO, AAPM and NCI sponsored a workshop “Technology for Innovation in Radiation Oncology” at the NCI campus in Bethesda, MD on June 13-14, 2013. The purpose of this workshop was to bring together expert clinicians and scientists to discuss the role of disruptive technologies in radiation oncology, in particular with regard to how they are being developed and translated to clinical practice in the face of current and future challenges and opportunities. The technologies discussed encompassed imaging and delivery aspects, along with methods to enable/facilitate application of them in the clinic. Measures for assessment of the performance of these technologies, such as techniques to validate quantitative imaging, were reviewed. Novel delivery technologies, incorporating efficient and safe delivery mechanisms enabled by development of tools for process automation and the associated field of oncology informatics formed one of the central themes of the workshop. The discussion on disruptive technologies was grounded in the need for evidence of efficacy. Scientists in the areas of technology assessment and bioinformatics provided expert views on different approaches toward evaluation of technology efficacy. Clinicians well versed in clinical trials incorporating disruptive technologies (e.g. SBRT for early stage lung cancer) discussed the important role of these technologies in significantly improving local tumor control and survival for these cohorts of patients. Recommendations summary focused on the opportunities associated with translating the technologies into the clinic and assessing their efficacy, and provided a glimpse into the future.

Learning Objectives:
1. To understand the impact of technology on the field of radiation therapy
2. To learn about the trends of technology development for the field of radiation oncology
3. To understand the opportunities for in innovative technology research


Handouts


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