Innovative Radiation Therapy Approaches: Benefits & Challenges - Global Perspective

Innovative Radiation Therapy Approaches: Benefits & Challenges - Global Perspective is organized by American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Course opens: 07/23/2024
Course expires: 07/22/2026

Description:
MRI-guided Radiation Therapy (MRgRT), FLASH proton therapy, concurrent immunotherapy, and radiation therapy and SBRT for oligometastatic disease, are emerging technologies and approaches to optimize cancer care. The number of academic and community centers acquiring these technologies has rapidly increased recently both nationally and internationally. There is not usually a technology-specific structured training. Many centers are now acquiring or having access to these approaches. This activity provides evidence-based, practical, non-commercially biased insight on current status, scientific evidence, and practical limitations of these approaches. This activity will interest radiation staff in centers recently acquired, those considering acquiring, and those interested to learn more about any of these technologies. Speakers are experienced in these specific technologies, with expertise in different tumor sites both in academic and community practice settings. The activity covers benefits and challenges utilizing each technology and addresses feasibility and challenges to implement these approaches in a resources-constrained environment including international low- and middle-income countries and U.S.-based rural/community practices. The presentations are followed by an engaging panel discussion to address the cost effectiveness of these technologies in different situations. ASTRO should be a global leader in educating the national and global radiation oncology communities about emerging technologies.

Topic:

• Proton and FLASH Therapy
  James M. Metz, MD
• MRI-guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy 
  Tamer Refaat, MD, PhD, MSCI
• Immunotherapy and Radiation Therapy
  Silvia C. Formenti, MD
• SBRT for Oligometastatic Disease
  Stephen Harrow, MBChB, PhD
• Q and A
  Full Panel

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Identify the value, current evidence, and limitations of innovative radiation therapy approaches.  
• Identify available global training opportunities.
• Discuss the cost-benefit of implementing these technologies in both academic and community settings, with special emphasis on resources constrained environments nationally and internationally. 
• Determine optimal patients' cohorts to be considered for these approaches and safe treatment delivery practices.