Radiotherapy Clinical Trials 2023

What Are Radiotherapy Clinical Trials?

Radiotherapy clinical trials focus on radiation treatments for cancer patients. Radiation has been used to treat cancer for decades and generally has good success rates, especially when combined with other treatments such as chemotherapy.

However, radiation therapy may also cause serious discomfort or even other health problems. Radiotherapy clinical trials may study how to change treatment to reduce these side effects (such as adjusting doses or treatment timelines), how to treat side effects directly, or how to make radiotherapy more effective in general. Some clinical trials study how to target cancer cells more effectively, reducing the risk of side effects.

Why Is Radiotherapy Being Studied In Clinical Trials?

Radiotherapy is an extremely effective treatment for many types of cancer, but it also has significant side effects. These may range from fatigue to nausea, hair loss, and headaches to problems with memory or speech.

In some cases, radiotherapy may affect other organs. Lung cancer patients, for example, often develop esophagitis or swelling in the esophagus. This can lead to hospitalization and even needing a feeding tube placed.

Radiotherapy clinical trials, therefore, not only study ways to make radiation therapy more effective but also how to decrease damage to surrounding tissues and organs.

How Does Radiotherapy Work?

Radiation therapy works by targeting cancer cells to destroy their DNA. When cells incur enough damage, they can no longer replicate (or replicate much more slowly). The body removes these damaged cells, slowing or stopping cancer growth.

To facilitate this cell damage, radiotherapy uses highly concentrated beams of light. These include protons, X-rays, electron beams, or gamma rays. In most cases, this is a targeted light treatment focused on the affected body part. Some types of radiation are administered through an injection, an oral medication, or a device placed inside the body.

What Are Some of The Breakthrough Clinical Trials Involving Radiotherapy?

2013: Lower, more frequent doses of radiation may be more effective at treating small-cell lung cancer — This study found that twice-daily radiation treatments over the course of three weeks were as effective at treating certain types of lung cancer as higher doses over a longer period. Additionally, radiation caused less damage and fewer long-term health problems when given on this regimen.

2021: Sculpting radiation beam may reduce side effects of radiation for lung cancer patients — This study found that curving a radiation beam during treatment for lung cancer patients reduced serious side effects. Radiotherapy treatments often cause esophageal inflammation, which can cause severe adverse effects for cancer patients, often leading to hospitalization and the need for a feeding tube.

Who Are The Key Opinion Leaders On Radiotherapy Clinical Trial Research?

Christopher L. Deufel, Ph.D. — A physicist in radiation oncology, Christopher Deufel is a leading researcher in radiation therapy and artificial intelligence technology in treating cancer. Dr. Deufel has researched new radiation techniques to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy treatments while reducing side effects, particularly in brachytherapy.

Samuel Chao, MD — Samuel Chao is a leading expert in radiotherapy for brain cancer and malignancies and participates in research on treatments for brain and spinal tumors. Dr. Chao’s clinical research has included developing more effective treatments for adult and pediatric brain and spinal cancer and improving patient quality of life after treatment.