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85 Department News
19 19 19 31 19 65 19 19 49 31 31 19 19 19 19 19 45Recent Press Releases:
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Radiotherapy Expands Beyond Cancer to Osteoarthritis Treatment2 1c(April 28, 2026) 2 266Radiotherapy is best known as a cancer treatment, but a growing number of health systems and cancer centers are using it for non-cancerous conditions as well. Low-dose radiotherapy is emerging as an alternative treatment for patients with osteoarthritis who do not respond to pain reliever medications or are not eligible for joint replacement. Penn Medicine launched a low-dose radiation therapy program for osteoarthritis in 2024 and has treated more than 260 patients, said John Plastaras, MD, PhD, chief of Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. 2 9f 2 bdPenn Professor on Intensifying Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer2 1c(April 21, 2026) 2 109Neha Vapiwala, MD, the Eli Glatstein Professor in Radiation Oncology, discussed the integration of radiation therapy with systemic treatment intensification across different stages of localized and locally advanced prostate cancer. 2 9b 2 9cIs One Salvage Strategy Best in Localized Prostate Cancer?2 1f(February 13, 2026) 2 234When prostate cancer returns after initial treatment with radiation therapy, several different options are available for “salvage therapy,” including high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), cryotherapy, or radical prostatectomy surgery. Another potential option is re-irradiation, or another course of radiation therapy, explained Neha Vapiwala, MD, the Eli Glatstein Professor in Radiation Oncology, and John Nikitas, MD, an assistant professor of Radiation Oncology, in a commentary for JAMA Oncology. 2 9b 2 feClinical Trial Aims to Improve Care for Recurrent Prostate Cancer2 1e(February 5, 2026) 2 1fcNeha Vapiwala, MD, the Eli Glatstein Professor in Radiation Oncology, discussed the ongoing phase 3 INDICATE trial, which is designed to test whether adding stronger systemic therapy or targeting PET‑detected spots with radiation truly improves outcomes for men whose prostate cancer returns after surgery. The trial aims to bring clarity to a “nebulous space and really help us to figure out where do we actually benefit patients,” with more treatment, Vapiwala explained. 2 97 2 6fExpanding the Reach of Precision Care2 1e(January 12, 2026) 2 257When the $224 million Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center opens in late 2027, it will become Penn Medicine’s fourth proton therapy center, bolstering the organization’s system-wide approach to comprehensive cancer care and supporting upgrades at the flagship location in the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine. “We aim to bring a world-class center of excellence with a goal of continuing the longstanding research efforts of Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology,” said the department’s Chief Operating Officer Fabian Marechal, MS. 2 b4DDC Journal (Story begins on page 132) 2 c0New Research for Stage III Lung Cancer2 1e(October 27, 2025) 2 1c4The phase III PACIFIC-2 trial showed no significant progression-free survival benefit with adding the immunotherapy drug durvalumab to concurrent platinum-based chemoradiotherapy in patients with stage III non–small cell lung cancer that couldn’t be surgically removed. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Jeffrey D. Bradley, MD, a professor of Radiation Oncology, and colleagues. 2 97 2 b4Lower-Dose Radiation Therapy Effective in Aggressive Lymphomas2 1e(October 17, 2025) 2 1a1New research shows that a reduced dose of radiation therapy works just as well to keep the cancer from returning for patients with aggressive lymphomas. John P. Plastaras, MD, PhD, a professor of Radiation Oncology, noted that the findings will help physicians evaluate treatment options during tumor board discussions because “now we finally have data to inform those conversations.” 2 96 2 d5Study Explores Gut Microbiome Impact on Lung Cancer Therapy2 1c(August 5, 2025) 2 216A research team led by Andrea Facciabene, PhD, a research associate professor of Radiation Oncology, and Steven Joel Feigenberg, MD, a professor of Radiation Oncology, found that patients with inoperable early-stage lung cancer who received the antibiotic vancomycin prior to radiation therapy had significantly better outcomes. In a pilot study, their cancer was less likely to return, and they were more likely to live longer than the patients who received radiation therapy alone. 2 9d 2 b9What to Know About Bladder Cancer After Deion Sanders Shares Diagnosis2 1b(July 30, 2025) 2 20aUniversity of Colorado head basketball coach, Deion Sanders announced this week he has fought—and beaten—cancer after having his bladder removed. So what are the symptoms of bladder cancer, and when is it time to call your doctor? Daniel Lee, MD, an assistant professor of Urology in Surgery, and Neha Vapiwala, MD, the Eli Glatstein Professor in Radiation Oncology, provide perspective on what a bladder cancer diagnosis looks like, and the treatments that are available. 2 93 2 91Combo Therapy Boosts Survival in Bile Duct Cancer2 1b(July 11, 2025) 2 1b2Chemoradiation plus immunotherapy improved survival outcomes for patients with surgically removeable bile duct cancer. In an editorial accompanying the study, Edgar Ben-Josef, MD, a professor of Radiation Oncology, noted that while the post-surgery combination therapy was shown to be an active regimen, the study still left unanswered questions that will need to be addressed in a phase 3 clinical trial. 2 9b 2 a6Radiation Bridging in CAR T: Where Are We Now?2 1a(July 7, 2025) 2 1a7While the use of radiation bridging therapy in CAR T cell therapy for blood cancer is expanding, plenty of unanswered questions remain on topics such as ideal timing and doses. The lack of guidelines has immediate clinical implications, said John P. Plastaras, MD, PhD, a professor of Radiation Oncology, in a presentation at the 18th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML) 2025. 2 96 2 d6Radiation Oncology Chair Speaks at Juniata College Commencement2 1a(May 21, 2025) 2 138James Metz, MD, chair of Radiation Oncology, served as the 2025 commencement speaker for his alma mater, Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA, where his experiences—both in the classroom and on the football field—helped prepare him for a career on the forefront of cancer treatment. 2 a3 2 9cFOX29’s Mike Jerrick Rings the Bell After Completing Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer2 19(May 7, 2025) 2 263Months after sharing the news of his prostate cancer diagnosis, “Good Day Philadelphia” anchor Mike Jerrick celebrated the end of his cancer treatment by ringing the bell with his friends and care team cheering him on. His Penn Medicine doctors, including urologist Daniel Lee, MD, and radiation oncologist Neha Vapiwala, MD, joined the show to explain why men should talk to their doctor about getting a PSA blood test to screen for prostate cancer. The easy and affordable test can help identify men who may be at risk for prostate cancer, Vapiwala explained. 2 93 2 b6PA Breast Cancer Coalition Awards Grant to Penn Medicine Researcher2 19(May 7, 2025) 2 16dThe PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) presented a grant of $100,000 to Ioannis Verginadis, PhD, a research assistant professor of Radiation Oncology, to advance his research on FLASH proton radiation therapy for breast cancer. With this grant, the PBCC has awarded a total of more than $1 million in grants to Penn Medicine researchers. 2 92 2 cbPenn Medicine Breaks Ground on University City Proton Therapy Center2 19(May 5, 2025) 2 22aPenn Medicine celebrated the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center last week. The state-of-the-art, $224 million center will be Penn Medicine’s fourth proton therapy location, and is expected to open for patient care in late 2027. “This new center will allow us to fully serve patients with the most advanced radiation therapy treatment options," said John Plastaras, MD, PhD, chief of Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. 2 1d4Pennsylvania Business Report • DOTmed.com • PHILADELPHIA Today 2 e4Bladder Cancer Treatment Options Debated2 1c(April 30, 2025) 2 275For patients with bladder cancer where the cancer has entered the muscle layer of the bladder wall, patients can undergo removing the bladder or a combination of bladder surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. While removing the bladder is effective, doctors say the combination approach promises a better quality of life for patients and potentially fewer complications. Neha Vapiwala, MD, the Eli Glatstein Professor in Radiation Oncology, moderated a debate, at the American Urological Association’s annual meeting, on whether all patients are good candidates for the combination approach. 2 97 2 c5Yi Fan, MD, PhD, Elected to American Society for Clinical Investigation2 1e(February 3, 2025) 2 666PHILADELPHIA— Seven physician-scientists from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have been elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation, joining one of the nation’s oldest and most respected medical honor societies composed of more than 3,000 physician-scientists representing all medical specialties, of them: Yi Fan, MD, PhD, a professor of Radiation Oncology. His research focuses on understanding how the body regulates blood vessel growth and immune responses, particularly in tumors and damaged tissues. By figuring out how these processes are controlled, his team hopes to find new ways to treat diseases by “reprogramming” the environment within tissues. This approach could help stop cancer from spreading or repair damaged heart tissue. Using advanced tools like 3D imaging, gene editing, and genetic and metabolic analysis, the researchers aim to develop safer, more effective treatments for patients facing serious health challenges. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Research Excellence Award from the American Heart Association, the Sharpe Award for Glioblastoma Research from the National Brain Tumor Society, the Springer Award for Junior Investigators from the North American Vascular Biology Organization, and the Judah Folkman Award from the American Association for Cancer Research. 2 b6The Ultra-fast Cancer Treatments Which Could Replace Conventional Radiotherapy2 1e(January 22, 2025) 2 2ceResearchers at Penn Medicine are part of a leading group of scientists and physicians across the world who are exploring the potential of FLASH, an ultra-high dose form of radiation therapy delivered in less than a second, to treat a wide range of cancer types. Alexander Lin, MD, the Morton M. Kligerman Professor of Radiation Oncology, and Constantinos Koumenis, PhD, the Richard H. Chamberlain Professor of Radiation Oncology, are working to launch a clinical trial at Penn Medicine using FLASH to treat recurrent head and neck cancer, to find out if the advanced therapy is able to successfully kill tumors, with fewer side effects than conventional radiation therapy. 2 91 2 14a |
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