
Physicians and scientists from the UCLA Well being Jonsson Complete Most cancers Heart will share the newest analysis and scientific trial outcomes on the 2025 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Assembly, together with research on focused radioactive remedy for recurrent prostate most cancers, new approaches to stereotactic physique radiation for prostate and head and neck cancers, advances in MRI- and 5DCT-guided imaging for extra exact therapies, and improvements in patient-focused most cancers training.
At this yr’s scientific assembly, Dr. Amar Kishan, government vice chair of radiation oncology at UCLA and co-director of the Most cancers Molecular Imaging, Nanotechnology and Theranostics Program on the UCLA Well being Jonsson Complete Most cancers Heart, will current findings from the LUNAR scientific trial (Summary 3), which appears to be like at including 177Lutetium-PSMA, a focused radioactive remedy, as a remedy given earlier than ablative radiotherapy for males with recurrent prostate most cancers. The outcomes will probably be highlighted throughout an oral presentation on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 1:10pm PDT within the San Francisco Ballroom and is a part of the ASTRO information briefing on Monday, Sept. 29 at 11am PDT.
Moreover, Dr. Drew Moghanaki, chief of thoracic oncology in UCLA’s division of radiation oncology, has been named a 2025 fellow of ASTRO. The popularity is awarded yearly to physicians, physicists, and scientists in honor of their distinctive achievements and lasting contributions to the society, most cancers analysis, training, affected person care, and the sphere of radiation oncology, highlighting work that advances the essential position of radiation remedy in most cancers remedy.
UCLA research featured at this yr’s ASTRO assembly provide thrilling new insights into rising radiation therapies and imaging applied sciences, pointing to progressive approaches to make most cancers remedy safer, extra exact, and simpler. These displays spotlight the collaborative efforts of our physicians, scientists, and trainees, and replicate UCLA’s long-standing management and dedication to advancing most cancers care.”
Dr. Michael Steinberg, professor and chair of radiation oncology on the David Geffen Faculty of Medication at UCLA and director of Medical Affairs on the UCLA Well being Jonsson Complete Most cancers Heart
Highlights of noteworthy displays by UCLA college at ASTRO embody:
Summary 148: 4-year outcomes from SCIMITAR trial testing stereotactic physique radiation remedy after prostate surgical procedure
Dr. Jesus Juarez Casillas, co-chief resident within the division of radiation oncology at UCLA, will current findings from the SCIMITAR section II scientific trial, which evaluated stereotactic physique radiation remedy (SBRT) in males vulnerable to prostate most cancers returning after surgical procedure. After 4 years, 62% of sufferers had no indicators of most cancers returning, native recurrences have been uncommon, and outcomes in contrast favorably with typical radiation approaches. The analysis, led by Kishan, will probably be introduced on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 5:05pm PDT in Room 24.
Summary 253: 5DCT gives extra correct lung tumor imaging for sufferers with irregular respiratory
Dr. Daniel Low, professor and vice chair of medical physics analysis and innovation within the division of radiation oncology at UCLA will report findings from the primary giant examine of 5DCT, a brand new CT imaging method designed to enhance scans for sufferers with lung tumors who breathe irregularly. In contrast to typical 4DCT, which may produce unreliable photos, 5DCT accounts for respiratory movement in three dimensions in addition to the speed and depth of every breath, producing clearer, artifact-free photos. In a examine of 108 sufferers, 5DCT allowed clinicians to extra precisely outline tumor dimension and movement, supporting higher radiation planning. The workflow was dependable for practically all sufferers, even these with extremely variable respiratory patterns, and is now getting used to develop automated imaging processes corresponding to 5D Cone-Beam CT. The outcomes will probably be introduced on Monday, Sept. 29 at 3:10pm PDT in in Room 155/157.
Summary 1005: Evaluating acute uncomfortable side effects of MRI-guided prostate SBRT with and with out adaptive dose portray
Dr. Travis Courtney, co-chief resident within the division of radiation oncology at UCLA, is presenting analysis evaluating two MRI-guided types of focused radiation remedy for prostate most cancers. The examine checked out customary high-dose MRI-guided stereotactic physique radiotherapy (MRgSBRT) versus an adaptive “dose-painted” strategy that enhances radiation to dominant tumor areas whereas decreasing the dose to surrounding tissue. Outcomes confirmed that sufferers receiving the adaptive dose-painted remedy skilled larger acute uncomfortable side effects as measured by physicians, significantly urinary and bowel signs. Nonetheless, patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes have been comparable between the 2 teams. The findings counsel that rising dose to particular tumor areas might not scale back uncomfortable side effects and spotlight the necessity for additional examine because the trial continues to enroll sufferers. The work, led by Kishan, will probably be introduced on Monday, Sept. 29 at 8:30am PDT in Room 307/308.
Summary 1003: Evaluation of sexual perform after MRI-guided prostate SBRT within the MIRAGE trial
Dr. Jonathan Massachi, a radiation oncology resident at UCLA, will focus on findings from the MIRAGE trial that checked out sexual perform in males receiving SBRT for prostate most cancers, evaluating customary CT-guided SBRT with MRI-guided SBRT. Regardless of utilizing MRI steering to scale back radiation publicity to key nerves and blood vessels, practically one-third of males in each teams skilled a big decline in sexual perform two years after remedy. Elements corresponding to hormone remedy, pelvic radiation, and baseline sexual perform have been linked to those adjustments. The findings counsel that whereas MRI-guided SBRT can scale back some radiation publicity, further methods, like vessel-sparing methods, could also be wanted to higher protect sexual perform in males present process prostate most cancers remedy. The examine, led by Kishan, will probably be introduced on Monday, Sept. 29 at 8:20am PDT in Room 307/308.
Summary 2785: Postoperative stereotactic physique radiation remedy exhibits promise for head and neck most cancers
Dr. Miriam Lane, a radiation oncology resident at UCLA, will current findings from a examine evaluating postoperative SBRT for sufferers with newly recognized or recurrent head and neck most cancers. The examine discovered that SBRT was well-tolerated, with no extreme acute uncomfortable side effects and solely two late severe toxicities, although about half of sufferers skilled most cancers recurrence inside two years. Outcomes have been comparable for newly recognized and recurrent circumstances. The examine, led by Dr. Ricky Savjani, an assistant professor of Radiation Oncology on the David Geffen Faculty of Medication at UCLA, means that postoperative SBRT is a possible, shorter remedy choice, whereas additional analysis is required to optimize affected person choice and enhance outcomes. The analysis will probably be introduced on Monday, Sept. 29 at 10:45am PDT in Corridor F.
Summary 139: Examine Identifies Genetic Drivers of Radiation-Resistant Prostate Most cancers
Dr. Beth Neilsen, a former radiation oncology resident at UCLA, will focus on findings from a examine that analyzed tumors from sufferers with prostate most cancers that returned after radiation remedy. The analysis, led by Kishan, revealed that these recurrent tumors carry the next frequency of mutations in genes linked to aggressive illness and defective DNA restore, together with BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD51B, and POLQ. In contrast with treatment-naïve cancers, additionally they confirmed extra aggressive molecular subtypes, larger genomic threat scores, and lowered androgen receptor exercise. These insights make clear why some prostate cancers resist radiation and will assist information future remedy approaches. The findings will probably be introduced on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 3:30pm PDT in Room 155/157.
Session EDU 29: Empowering Sufferers via Innovation: Enhancing Most cancers Schooling with Digital Instruments
Dr. Trudy Wu, assistant professor of radiation oncology at UCLA, will reasonable a panel exploring how digital instruments are reworking most cancers training. Panelists Dr. David Grew, Dr. Hyunsoo No, and affected person advocate Jill Feldman will share methods for making advanced most cancers info, corresponding to remedy choices, uncomfortable side effects, and prognosis, extra comprehensible and accessible. The session highlights narrated animations, academic movies, and patient-centered assets designed to scale back concern, enhance understanding, and help higher decision-making for sufferers navigating a most cancers analysis. The session is on Monday, Sept. 29 at 5pm PDT in Room 152.
Supply:
College of California – Los Angeles Well being Sciences

