Radiation oncology research and clinical trial results to be featured at ASTRO’s Annual Meeting in Chicago

Newswise — ARLINGTON, Va., October 6, 2021 — The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced today the studies that will be highlighted in the 2021 ASTRO Annual Meeting press program. Researchers will discuss their findings in three news briefings to be held October 25 and 26 in room W474B of McCormick Place in Chicago and via live webcast. Reporters can register to cover the meeting and attend the briefings at www.astro.org/annualmeetingpress.

The news briefing schedule is as follows:

Monday, October 25, 9:30 a.m. Central time

• "Primary endpoint analysis of a randomized phase III Trial of hypofractionated versus conventional post-prostatectomy radiotherapy: NRG Oncology GU003," presented by Mark K. Buyyounouski, MD, Stanford University (Abstract 3)
• "Validation of a 22-gene genomic classifier in the NRG Oncology/RTOG 9202, 9413 and 9902 phase III randomized trials: A biopsy-based individual patient meta-analysis in high-risk prostate cancer," presented by Paul L. Nguyen, MD, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (Abstract 95)
• "Consolidative use of radiotherapy to block (CURB) oligoprogression: Interim analysis of the first randomized study of stereotactic body radiotherapy in patients with oligoprogressive metastatic cancers of the lung and breast," presented by C. Jillian Tsai, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Abstract LBA-3)

Monday, October 26, 2:00 p.m. Central time

• "Overall survival from a prospective multi-institutional trial to resolve Black-white disparities in the treatment of early-stage breast and lung cancer," presented by Matthew Manning, MD, FASTRO, Cone Health (Abstract 53)
• "Time-driven activity-based costing as a method for estimating the practice-level and national cost burden of treatment-related prior authorization for academic radiation oncology practices," presented by Brian S. Bingham, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Abstract 136)
• "Bridge-to-transplant external-beam radiation therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A utilization analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database," presented by Nima Nabavizadeh, MD, Oregon Health & Science University (Abstract 2078)

Tuesday, October 27, 2:00 p.m. Central time

This briefing will feature short presentations on promising technologies and approaches for person-centered care in radiation oncology, followed by remarks from ASTRO President Laura A. Dawson, MD, FASTRO.

• Impact of Pediatric Radiation Oncology with Movie Induced Sedation Effect (PROMISE) on patient movement and general anesthesia use in pediatric radiation therapy, presented by Jeffrey T. Chapman, BS, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Abstract 179)
• 3-D virtual reality volumetric imaging review in cancer patients’ understanding and education of their disease and treatment, presented by Douglas E. Holt, MD, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (Abstract 2289)
• Development and impact of a virtual PSA monitoring clinic for follow-up of prostate cancer patients, presented by Richard Boyajian, MSN, RN, NP, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (Abstract 125)
• Site-specific education using digital media to improve patients’ understanding of the radiotherapy trajectory: An interventional study, presented by Hussain Almerdhemah, B.App.Sc-RT, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (Abstract 2132)

ASTRO's 63^rd Annual Meeting, to be held October 24-27 at McCormick Place in Chicago, marks the Society's return to an in-person format after holding its 2020 conference virtually. ASTRO is working closely with McCormick Place and the City of Chicago to ensure that COVID-19 safety protocols are in place to foster a healthy and safe learning experience for attendees. COVID-19 vaccination (or a negative COVID-19 test for medical exemptions) will be required for all meeting participants, and masks will be required throughout the convention center. More information on these and other enhanced safety measures is available at www.astro.org/safety.

The 2021 ASTRO Annual Meeting will feature more than 1,500 research presentations on advances in cancer care, expert panels related to the meeting's theme, "Embracing Change, Advancing Person-Centered Care," dynamic keynote presentations and special sessions including a panel on the science of hope. DigitalXP, a companion event to the Annual Meeting with more than 50 hours of curated content and interactive networking opportunities, will be offered for those who cannot attend the in-person meeting.

Press registration and other media resources are available in the online press kit, and ASTRO's media relations team is available at [email protected] or 703-286-1600 to answer questions related to the press program. General information about the meeting is available at the ASTRO Annual Meeting webpage or via the meeting hashtag, #ASTRO21, and abstract/presentation details are available in the Online Conference Planner.

ABOUT ASTRO The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 10,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. For information on radiation therapy, visit RTAnswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit our website and follow us on social media.