Abstracts

Late-breaking abstract submission site opens: Friday, July 24, 2020
Late-breaking abstract submission site closes: Sunday, August 9, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time

Original research abstracts will be selected for late-breaking presentations based on scientific merit, timeliness and interest to ASTRO’s membership and attendees. A special panel of peer reviewers will review the late-breaking abstracts using the highest standards.

Abstracts should only be submitted as late-breaking abstracts if they meet the following criteria:

• The research is limited to highly significant and timely findings in clinical oncology, radiobiology or medical physics that were not available during the February 24, 2020, submission process.
• Only abstracts that are deemed to be of high scientific priority and that merit presentation in the Plenary, Clinical Trials or the special Late-breaking Abstract session will be accepted.
• Late-breaking abstracts cannot be a revision of an abstract submitted during the February 24, 2020, submission process.
• Late-breaking abstracts must not have been submitted, presented, accepted for presentation or published in any other scientific venue.
• Standards for accepting late-breaking abstracts for presentation are much higher than those required for abstracts accepted for the general scientific sessions.

Red Journal, PRO and Advances in Radiation Oncology

Authors of accepted abstracts are encouraged to submit a full manuscript for review and consideration for publication in one of ASTRO’s official journals, the International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics (Red Journal), Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO) or Advances in Radiation Oncology. Please contact the editorial office at 703-502-1550 or visit www.redjournal.org, www.practicalradonc.org or www.advancesradonc.org if you have questions regarding manuscript submission.

Embargo Policy and Press Program Policy

All abstracts submitted to ASTRO's Annual Meeting are embargoed until the date and time of scientific presentation or presentation at an ASTRO news briefing, whichever occurs first. The embargo policy applies to all abstracts regardless of whether information is obtained from another source.

Embargo violations by media professionals may result in suspension of credentials at the ASTRO Annual Meeting as well as future meetings and may also impact the ability to receive advance media materials for future meetings. Embargo violations by abstract authors and/or sponsors may result in removal of the abstract from the scientific program. Abstract authors are responsible for notifying financial and other sponsors about this embargo policy.

Questions about the embargo policy may be directed to ASTRO’s media relations team.

The full text of the abstracts selected for oral and poster presentation will be available online at the start of ASTRO's Annual Meeting. Abstracts also will be published in a supplement of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics (www.redjournal.org).

Notifications

You will be notified via email of the disposition of your late-breaking abstract in late August 2020. Acceptance of the abstract by the committee obligates the author to present the paper and pay the meeting registration fee. If circumstances prevent attendance, you must notify ASTRO of your withdrawal and arrange for an alternate presenter, preferably a co-author. Late-breaking abstracts will be published online and in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics, www.redjournal.org. They will also be made available at the Annual Meeting on the MyASTROApp and ASTRO's website.

The application process occurs during the abstract submission process — this includes travel grants. The deadline to submit an award application was February 24, 2020.

• Please see “award criteria” when submitting an online abstract for details of each award. Please note: The author or senior author must be an ASTRO member.
• Attendance at the meeting is required to obtain the award and honorarium.
• Please be sure to indicate “resident” or “nurse” in order to be eligible for those awards.
• Notifications were emailed to first author in late May.

Steven A. Leibel Memorial Award

Steven A. Leibel, MD, was a former member of the American Board of Radiology (ABR) Board of Trustees and Past President of the ABR. Following his death, a Memorial Fund was established in his memory. For this award, the ABR Foundation will provide two award winners with $2,000 each at the ASTRO Annual Meeting. Winners will be selected by ASTRO leadership and will be selected only from the abstracts designated as Plenary or Clinical Trials presentations. The award winner must be the principal author, ABR board certified or board-eligible, and have completed training in radiation oncology or medical physics no more than 10-years prior to the presentation.

Resident Clinical/Basic Science Research Abstract Awards

This award is designed to promote clinical research by young scientists. The award is granted to the top three resident authors of significant abstracts in biology, clinical practice and physics. The award includes a $1,500 honorarium, a trophy of recognition and complimentary registration to the Annual Meeting.

Basic/Translational Science Abstract Awards

This award is designed to encourage participation by basic and translational scientists. Up to 12 awards will be given to applicants having the top-rated abstracts in biology, clinical practice and physics categories — four awards in each category. The award includes a $1,000 honorarium, certificate of recognition and complimentary registration to the Annual Meeting.

Nurses’ Abstract Award

This award is designed to promote clinical research among radiation oncology nurses. Up to two awards of $1,000 will be presented to the highest rated abstracts with a nursing designation. A certificate of recognition and complimentary registration to the Annual Meeting is included. The candidate must be a first or co-author of an accepted abstract.

International Abstract Award

This grant is designed to foster continuing medical education, assist in career development and help to establish relationships with leading ASTRO members who may serve as scientific mentors to the recipient. One award of $4,000 will be used to support a radiation oncologist in a developing country to attend the ASTRO Annual Meeting and to spend additional time at a comprehensive cancer center within the United States. Complimentary registration to the Annual Meeting is included.

To recognize outstanding abstracts submitted by early career scientists, biologists and physicists, up to 15 awards of $1,000 each will be provided to help offset travel expenses to the meeting. Complimentary registration to the Annual Meeting is included. Applications must be submitted during the abstract submission process.

Annual Meeting Resident Recognition Awards

Resident Quick Pitch Oral Abstract Recognition Award 

This award will recognize the highest rated abstracts submitted by a resident and accepted as an oral presentation in the Quick Pitch scientific sessions. Winners will receive a trophy. The award is granted to one resident author of a significant abstract in each category: biology, clinical practice and physics.

Resident Poster Viewing Recognition Award

This award will recognize the highest rated abstracts submitted by residents and accepted as a digital poster. Winners will receive a trophy. Up to nine trophies will be awarded. The award is granted to the top three resident authors of significant abstracts in each category: biology, clinical practice and physics.

Disclosure Policy

ASTRO is an accredited provider of continuing medical education and adheres to the policies and standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). As such, abstract authors are required to disclose relationships with commercial interests. A commercial interest is defined as “any entity developing, producing, marketing, re-selling or distributing health care goods or services consumed by or used on patients.”

To ensure its compliance, ASTRO expects that the content and related materials will promote improvements or quality in health care and not a specific proprietary business interest or commercial bias.

We employ several strategies to ensure absence of bias:

• Presenters are required to provide disclosure of relationships with commercial interests.
• Presenters are required to provide a balanced view of therapeutic options.
• All abstracts undergo a rigorous peer review process.
• Potential conflicts are managed by additional committee review, advance slide review and session audits.

Embargo Policy and ASTRO Press Policy

All abstracts to be presented at ASTRO’s Annual Meeting are embargoed until the date and time of scientific presentation or presentation at an ASTRO news briefing, whichever occurs first. The embargo policy applies to all abstracts regardless of whether information is obtained from another source.

Embargo violations by media professionals may result in suspension of credentials at the ASTRO Annual Meeting as well as future meetings and may also impact the ability to receive advance media materials for future meetings. Embargo violations by abstract authors and/or sponsors may result in removal of the abstract from the scientific program. Abstract authors are responsible for notifying financial and other sponsors about this embargo policy.

Questions about the embargo policy may be directed to ASTRO’s media relations team.

The full text of the abstracts selected for oral and poster presentation will be available online at the start of ASTRO’s Annual Meeting. Abstracts also will be published in a supplement of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (www.redjournal.org).

Abstracts will be scored by blind peer review based on the following criteria:

• Does the abstract address an important and novel question?
• Does the study design permit the question to be answered?
• Are the endpoints of the study clearly defined?
• Is there an appropriate use of statistics?
• Are the methods described in sufficient detail?
• Are the conclusions supported by the data?

Specific questions for prospective Clinical Trials:

• What were the scientific hypothesis and primary endpoint?
• What were the eligibility criteria and study patient characteristics?
• What statistical model and assumptions were used?
• What was the toxicity assessment?
• What were the limitations?
• Was there a rationale, either clinical or laboratory, underlying the study design?
• Is it either promising enough to pursue or negative enough that presentation would prevent other investigators from wasting efforts?

Specific questions for retrospective observational studies:

• What are the scientific hypothesis and outcomes reported?
• What is the data source and how was follow-up attained?
• Is the cohort well described and reasonably homogeneous?
• Have attempts been made to account for biases inherent in retrospective reviews?
• What statistical methods were used?
• Are the conclusions appropriate to the study design?

Late-breaking abstract submission site opens: Friday, July 24, 2020
Late-breaking abstract submission site closes: Sunday, August 9, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time

Abstract submission site opened: Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Abstract submission site closed: February, 24, 2020, 11:59 p.m. Pacific time

Submission Tracks

1. There are 20 tracks separated by disease site. Abstracts should be submitted in the most appropriate track. A list of submission tracks is available on the previous page of this brochure as well as online. Please note that abstracts may be re-categorized by the Track Chairs as deemed appropriate.
2. To build on the conference theme, Global Oncology: Radiation Therapy in a Changing World, we are seeking abstracts that fit within the 20 tracks and also soliciting abstracts that may cover these areas of interest:
   • Evaluating the economic benefits of screening and prevention programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
   • Studies evaluating novel treatment paradigms in cities and countries with disparities in access to cancer therapy.
   • Studies that examine strategies for overcoming cultural challenges to cervical cancer vaccination programs in LMICs.
   • Studies that evaluate, compare and contrast various national health care systems.
   • Analysis of the treatment outcomes of patients in the inner-city US and native American communities compared with historic controls.
   • Comparative analysis of treatment outcomes in eastern Europe pre- and post-Soviet rule. Implementation of radiation technology and delivery in underserved areas.

General Information

1. Sponsorship or ASTRO membership is not required to submit an abstract.
2. Abstracts must be received by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time, Monday, February 24, 2020. Please be sure to hit “submit” before 11:59 p.m., as the abstract may not fully transfer and you risk being ineligible by having an “incomplete” status.
3. Abstracts must be submitted online through the abstract submission site. No fax copies, disks or email submissions will be accepted.
4. An abstract may only be submitted once. Duplicate abstracts (reporting the same data) that are submitted under a different title or author will be vetted and will not be considered.
5. Summaries of new, ongoing and updated research will be acceptable for submission and presentation.
6. Abstracts may be submitted from commercial entities (those producing, marketing, reselling or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients reporting on the discovery of their scientific research). Such presentations will be subject to a rigorous peer review to ensure the validity of the research results and conclusions. In addition, abstract content is subject to change after review so that it is not biased toward any proprietary interests.
   ASTRO will exercise all rights in ensuring that abstracts reporting the discovery of scientific research remain in compliance with ACCME standards for offering CME. If accepted, the abstract must be presented by a co-author with no relevant financial relationship or any commercial interest.
7. Abstracts may be edited up to the deadline of February 24, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. Abstracts will be considered ineligible for review until they are complete. Abstracts that are unpaid or have payment issues will not be considered. If you do not receive a confirmation receipt, it is your responsibility to follow up and confirm your “complete” status.
8. Revisions: Please proof your abstract carefully for formatting, spelling and data errors. Pay special attention to the author order and presenting author designation. Review your confirmation email, as this is how the abstract will be published. Errors can be corrected if sent to Johanna VanArsdall by May 30, 2020. After this date, we cannot make any corrections. This rule is strictly enforced.
9. Notifications: You will be notified via email of the disposition of your abstract by late-April 2020. Acceptance of the abstract by the committee obligates the author to present the paper and pay the meeting registration fee. If circumstances prevent attendance, you must notify ASTRO and arrange for an alternate presenter, preferably a co-author.
10. Withdrawals: If you choose to withdraw your abstract, please email your request by May 30, 2020, to Johanna VanArsdall. After this date, your abstract will be published exactly as it was submitted in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (Red Journal).
11. Submission of an abstract conveys permission to be posted online and printed in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (Red Journal) (www.redjournal.org).

Interim Analysis

1. In general, ASTRO does not accept abstracts reporting an interim analysis that is intended to evaluate experimental treatment regimen(s) with respect to efficacy or safety at any time prior to formal completion of a trial.
2. Abstracts reporting trial process updates, such as accrual, baseline characteristics, and non-protocol specific safety information, will be considered for Posters only for promotional purposes.

Database Studies

1. Retrospective registry databases, such as National Cancer Database (NCDB), Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER), etc., are valuable resources for patterns of care assessment, and may generate important evidence for comparative effectiveness research.
2. For comparative effectiveness reports, prioritization will be given to those when the level 1 evidence from randomized trials is obsolete or difficult to obtain. Abstracts should include brief descriptions on statistical methods and justifications, such as the choice of statistical significance level, effect size, methods for confounding adjustment, etc., to facilitate proper interpretations.

Presenting Authors and Conflict of Interest (COI) Policies

1. An individual may submit more than one abstract in which he or she is indicated as the first author, but he or she may only present one oral presentation. If more than one abstract is selected for oral presentation, an alternate presenter must be assigned, preferably a co-author (this does not apply to poster presentations).
2. It is the submitter’s responsibility to ensure up-to-date and accurate disclosures are submitted for each co-author on the abstract. ASTRO manages and reports all disclosures as submitted. Potential conflicts with commercial interest for the presenting author and all co-authors must be disclosed at the time of submission.
3. A commercial interest is defined as any entity developing, producing, marketing, reselling or distributing health care goods or services consumed by or used on patients. Any potential conflict will be identified and managed according to ACCME guidelines, and ASTRO’s COI management policies.
4. The presenting author of an abstract must NOT have a relevant/ specific ownership interest, i.e., owner, founder, partner, etc., in the scientific content in the abstract. If a conflict of interest exists, the abstract must be presented by a co-author with no relevant ownership interests.
5. If the presenting author is employed by a commercial interest, as defined above, an alternate presenter must be named. This applies only to abstracts presented in sessions selected to receive CME, such as oral scientific and Quick Pitch scientific sessions.
6. All oral and digital poster presenters are required to register and attend the meeting. Presenters who fail to arrange for an alternate presenter or fail to notify ASTRO staff of withdrawal and subsequently do not present at the meeting and/or upload their digital poster may face automatic rejection from future symposia as determined by future planning committees.
7. The presenting author will receive all notifications and communications related to the accepted abstract(s), and is responsible for informing all co-authors of acceptance at ASTRO’s Annual Meeting and COI policies.
8. ASTRO has developed a policy to handle any violations to the ASTRO Disclosure policy. Any reported violations will be researched and handled according to policy, which can include removal from presenting at future conferences.

Presentation at Other Meetings

1. Abstracts should contain new material that has not been presented or published prior to the ASTRO Annual Meeting, October 25-28, 2020. Previously presented abstracts will not be eligible for ASTRO’s official Press Program or Plenary Session.
2. Abstract presenters with the same abstract accepted for presentation at another major medical meeting* or accepted for publication after February 24, 2020, are required to notify ASTRO's education team. The Scientific Committee will review and decide on a case-by-case basis if it will remain in the program.

Properly Formatted Abstract

1. Abstracts must be properly formatted and organized into four sections identified by the following bolded headers: Purpose/Objectives, Materials/Methods, Results and Conclusions.
2. Abstracts should include a scientific hypothesis in the Purpose/Objectives section, and implications for research, policy or practice in the Conclusions section, when applicable.
3. Presentations must give a balanced view of therapeutic options. Brand names of pharmaceuticals and trade names of medical devices cannot be used in the title or body of the abstract. ASTRO reserves the right to replace proprietary names with generic names.
4. Institution names should not be included in the title or body of the abstract in order to keep the review process blind, fair and objective. Alternative language is “at one institution” or “a multi-institution” study, etc. This does not apply to cooperative research group names.
5. The abstract cannot contain illustrations, images or graphs. If the abstract is accepted, presenters may include these items in their on-site presentations.
6. An abstract may contain one small table.
7. Title of abstract should not contain results.
8. The maximum character limit, including the title and body of the abstract, is 2,600. Spaces are not counted.
9. A maximum of 20 authors’ names may be listed on each abstract. There are no exceptions. Authorship credit should only be given if all three of the following criteria are met.
   Each author must have made substantial contributions to:
   • conception and design, or analysis and interpretation of data, and
   • drafting the abstract or revising it critically for important intellectual content, and
   • final approval of the version to be submitted/published.

Special Physics Subcategory

There will be a special Physics subcategory which will solicit cutting edge research that will exemplify this theme: “Practical Artificial Intelligence Applications for Patient Modeling, Treatment Planning, Image Guidance and Response Assessment.” Abstracts for this subcategory will be reviewed and selected by an independent panel of experts and presented in an oral session.

Special Biology Subcategory

There will be a special Biology subcategory which will solicit cutting edge research that will exemplify this theme: “Innovative Biologic Approaches to Optimize Radiotherapy.” Abstracts for this subcategory will be reviewed and selected by an independent panel of experts and presented in an oral session.