MD Anderson Researchers Highlight Radiation Precision and Genomic Testing at ASTRO 2026
- Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center are presenting nearly 70 abstracts at the 2026 American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting, showcasing new data...
- Stereotactic radiosurgery demands exact targeting and precise dose delivery, but historical quality assurance audits have concentrated on machine mechanics rather than individual treatment plans.
- The same plan on different machines does not mean the same dose to healthy brain,
<><> Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center are presenting nearly 70 abstracts at the 2026 American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting, showcasing new data on genomic testing for cancer patients. Among the presentations, two key studies highlight efforts to improve precision in stereotactic radiosurgery and to better predict prostate cancer recurrence using historical clinical trial samples.
Quality Assurance and Brain Dose Variability in Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Abstract 348)
Stereotactic radiosurgery demands exact targeting and precise dose delivery, but historical quality assurance audits have concentrated on machine mechanics rather than individual treatment plans. To examine plan quality, researchers analyzed more than 800 radiation treatment plans submitted from over 650 institutions between 2013 and 2025. Every plan targeted the same location inside a standard head phantom. The analysis revealed that the volume of healthy brain receiving a high radiation dose varied nearly fivefold across treatment platforms. While equipment limits contributed to the variance, investigators found that planner decisions accounted for more of the differences on standard linear accelerators. Specifically, the tightness of the radiation field shaping around the target emerged as the most critical factor.
The same plan on different machines does not mean the same dose to healthy brain,
said presenting author Lian Duan, a Ph.D. candidate in Radiation Physics.
Duan added that clinics should establish benchmarks using their own equipment and treat those measures as a baseline, noting that careful planning on identical hardware can still significantly improve treatment safety. Duan works alongside Stephen Kry, Ph.D., in the Image and Radiation Oncology Core hosted at MD Anderson. That center is one of four NIH National Cancer Institute-funded institutions tasked with maintaining quality standards for clinical trial radiation therapy.
Genomic Testing Predicts Prostate Cancer Outcomes in Landmark Trial Data (Abstract 315)
In a separate study, investigators re-evaluated tumor samples from the NRG/RTOG 9601 clinical trial, which originally demonstrated that adding anti-androgen therapy to salvage radiation improves outcomes for patients experiencing cancer recurrence after surgery. Because hormone therapy carries substantial side effects, clinicians previously lacked reliable tools to identify which patients would derive the most benefit. Led by Krishnan Patel, associate professor of Radiation Oncology, a team applied a modern genomic test to evaluate tumor material from the historical trial. The test successfully categorized patients into distinct groups with widely divergent long-term outcomes. Fifteen years following treatment, 75 percent of patients classified as low-risk remained alive, compared to 25 percent in the very high-risk group. The findings suggest the genomic approach can complement standard prostate-specific antigen blood tests. For instance, individuals with low pre-radiation PSA levels who display aggressive biological markers may still benefit from hormone therapy, helping physicians refine treatment paths.
The ability to apply a modern genomic test to samples from a clinical trial conducted nearly two decades ago is incredibly valuable,
Patel said.
Patel noted that these insights allow clinicians to help certain patients avoid unnecessary hormone therapy side effects while boosting confidence in identifying individuals who require additional intervention. <><>