ASTRO Report Details Changes Required to Advance Radiation Oncology Research

November 19, 2013 — The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) released a report, “Current Status and Recommendations for the Future of Research, Teaching and Testing in the Biological Sciences of Radiation Oncology: Report of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Cancer Biology/Radiation Biology Task Force,” that recommends critical areas of biological basic research that would most advance the clinical benefits of radiation oncology, emphasizes the need for additional focus on selected areas of basic science investigation and continued, sustainable funding for radiation oncology biology research and encourages the expansion of post-graduate education and testing, according to a summary published as an article online in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology (Red Journal). The summary will be published in the January 2014 print edition of the Red Journal. The full report is available on the ASTRO website.

 

The report includes 13 recommendations related to research funding, critical topics of investigation in biological basic research and education and testing. The recommendations are based on a two-year project that included an extensive survey of more than 400 Radiation Research Society members and approximately 1,200 ASTRO members who identified an interest in biology with M.D., M.D./Ph.D. or Ph.D. credentials. A total of 1,690 surveys were distributed, and 465 responses were received (28 percent response rate). Of those received, 395 (25 percent) were deemed valid and evaluable. Of those evaluable responses, 98 (26) percent were radiation oncologists and 94 (24 percent) were cancer biology/radiation biology researchers. The remaining respondents were cancer biology/radiation biology instructors, cancer biology/radiation biology researchers and radiation oncology residents. More than half (58 percent) of respondents have Ph.D. credentials.

 

In addition to the survey, 19 telephone interviews were conducted with basic research and cancer care leaders identified by task force members and survey respondents as knowledgeable in trends within basic oncology research and funding. Task force members and ASTRO staff also conducted an extensive literature review.

 

Oncology member surveys, a review of American Board of Radiology (ABR) study guides for initial certification and a review of publicly available data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) grant award databases.

 

The report recommends a number of high-value, high-quality projects in cancer biology and radiation biology and more coordinated and focused federal research funding efforts to support that research. This recommendation is based on research funding data from a 2012 NIH report to the United States Congress. In that report, the NIH stated that less than 1 percent of the total NIH budget in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 went to radiation oncology research and slightly more than 4 percent of NCI’s budget supported radiation oncology-specific projects during that same time period, despite the fact that more than half of all cancer patients receive radiation treatments as part of their disease management.

 

Additionally, the task force report suggests an improved methodology for investigators to self-designate research activities as “radiation research-related” to improve the ability to track funding for this type of research. The report recommends a revision to the current radiation biology grant evaluation system to include reviewers with significant expertise in cancer biology and radiation biology topics to ensure funding is adequately distributed to these research projects.

 

Based on survey and interview data, the report identifies 10 critical areas of investigation that should be actively pursued during the next decade by radiation-focused basic science researchers. 

 

The 10 topics (in no order of priority) are:

 

The report states that these 10 topics, which are explained in detail in the full report, demonstrate the greatest potential to have a positive impact on the ability to improve patient care.

 

Several report recommendations focus on the need to expand post-graduate education and testing in emerging areas of basic science research as a way to encourage trainees to pursue academic, research-oriented careers with a focus on radiation oncology. The report suggests strengthening the basic cancer biology/radiation biology curricula in post-graduate training programs to encourage residents to pursue research projects and careers in the areas identified in the report. It also recommends that additional protected time for mentoring should be allowed to help provide investigators-in-training with the skills necessary to become independent investigators who can successfully establish laboratories and receive research funding.

 

“Dedication to basic science research efforts, particularly in the areas identified in the report, is vital to the continued advancement of the field,” said Paul Wallner, D.O., FASTRO, chair of the Cancer Biology/Radiation Biology task force, senior vice president for medical affairs, 21st Century Oncology and associate executive director for radiation oncology, ABR. “In order to meet this need, it is critical to provide sustainable funding for radiation oncology-related research to support the investigators that have the expertise to do this research.”

 

ASTRO’s board of directors impaneled the Cancer Biology/Radiation Biology Task Force August 2011 to examine the current state and future direction of basic, pre-clinical research within radiation oncology. The task force consisted of 19 members, including senior clinicians, clinical investigators, basic research scientists, early and mid-career basic and translational science investigators, three consultants and two non-task force section contributors.

 

“One of the key aspects of ASTRO’s strategic plan is to advance science through research to improve clinical outcomes for patients by providing opportunities for basic, translational and clinical research scientists,” said Colleen Lawton, M.D., FASTRO and chair of ASTRO’s board of directors. “As the Task Force’s report shows, it is crucial to expand the support of this research and to foster the development of trainees interested in research as they enter our field. ASTRO will collaborate with our medical specialty society colleagues to ensure these recommendations are considered in future educational efforts and policy initiatives, ultimately helping us to improve cancer care for patients worldwide.”

 

ASTRO’s board of directors approved the final task force report on Aug. 13, 2013.

 

For more information: www.astro.org, www.redjournal.org, www.practicalradonc.org, wwwrtanswers.org, www.roinstitute.org