ASTRO advances cancer care through two collaborative, multidisciplinary meetings

The first ever Multidisciplinary Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Symposium was a resounding success, centered around the theme: “From Start-Up to State-of-the-Art.” Held in Palm Desert, California, on February 17-18, the symposium catalyzed important conversations amongst medical oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, surgical disciplines and radiation oncologists, as they participated in everything from plenaries to poster sessions to assess and envision the field of RPT.

As many cancer centers are ramping up theranostic programs to meet the growing demand for these innovative treatments, the sessions showcased practical approaches launching these services. Topics included approved RPT indications, basics of radiation dosimetry, radiobiological principles, and complex case studies to name a few. Keynote speakers Stephen Hahn, MD, FASTRO, and Johannes Czernin, MD, provided additional insight from the range of roles they’ve served to accelerate innovation and build foundations for the field.

This year’s Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium was dedicated to the theme of “Advancing Patient-centered Care through Innovative Team Science.” Held on February 19-21 also in Palm Desert, California, the meeting brought together diverse voices across oncology disciplines. Dynamic sessions, plenaries, and poster presentations fostered conversations that navigated the complexity of H&N cancers with an integrated, collaborative mindset.

Keynote speakers included Sana Karam, MD, PhD, who explored key studies in neoadjuvant and adjuvant immunotherapy, along with David Sher, MD, MPH, FASTRO, who provided a sweeping overview of updates on clinical trial data, examining a decreased elective radiation dose and volume. This meeting equipped providers to continue to deliver care that is not only cutting-edge, but deeply patient-centered.