Advancing Our Multi-Disciplinary Understanding of the Cardiovascular Considerations with Radiation Therapy
While radiation therapy (RT) is a highly effective treatment for many solid tumors, thoracic RT carries a risk of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality that limits critical gains in cancer control and survival. High-dose RT has been associated with a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality, and RT dose to the heart has consistently been associated with the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and worse survival. Despite the significance of this problem, we have a limited understanding of how RT results in CV toxicity, and the biological and functional mechanisms and predictors of CV toxicity in patients. Fundamental questions include: Which radiation dose-volume parameters are associated with adverse cardiovascular events? Can baseline levels or early changes in biomarkers, imaging measures, and radiation-dose volume parameters identify patients at risk of adverse CV outcomes, and how can we apply this to our patients clinically? Finally, as the field of RT continues to evolve, there is an emerging role for newer applications of non-cancer indications to treat with RT in the heart.
Topics:
- Introduction
Carmen Bergom, MD, PhD - Radiation Dose Volume Metrics and Cardiac Risk in Adults with Thoracic Malignancies
Katelyn Atkins, MD, PhD - Advances in Radiation Dosimetry Modeling to Define Late Cardiac Effects of Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Rebecca Howell, PhD, DABR, FAAPM - Cardiovascular Management of Patients Prior to, During, and After Radiation Therapy: Modifiable Risk Factors, Imaging and Biomarkers
Bonnie Ky, MD, MSCE - Harnessing Radiation Therapy to Treat Cardiovascular Disease
Pamela Samson, MD, MPHS - Q and A
Full Panel
This activity is available from March 19, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 18, 2026.
This activity was originally recorded at the 2023 ASTRO Annual Meeting.
Target Audience
The activity is designed to meet the interests of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, physicists, diagnostic radiologists, dosimetrists and specialists in cardiology.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Explain the role of radiation dose-volume metrics in radiation-induced cardiac disease.
- Identify strategies to monitor patients prior to, during, and after radiation therapy.
- Discuss the use of radiation therapy to treat cardiac disease.
- Carmen Bergom, MD, PhD, is employed by Washington University in St. Louis.
- Katelyn Mae Atkins, MD, PhD, is employed by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Atkins receives honoraria from OncLive.
- Rebecca M. Howell, PhD, DABR, FAAPM, is employed by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Howell receives research funding from the NIH/NCI, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
- Bonnie Ky, MD, MSCE, is employed by The University of Pennsylvania, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Ky receives research funding from Pfizer. She is a consultant with Roche, Pfizer, and BMS. She receives honoraria from the American College of Cardiology and UpToDate.
- Pamela Samson, MD, MPHS, is employed by Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Samson receives honoraria from Varian Medical Systems and AstraZeneca. She discusses off-label use of linear accelerators for the treatment of refractory monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (current FDA IDE use).
The person(s) above served as the developer(s) of this activity. Additionally, the Education Committee had control over the content of this activity. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 1.00 Certificate of AttendanceThis activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Price
Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the member rate.
Nonmember: $149
Member: $99
Member-in-training: $49
Student/Grad Student/PGY: $49
Postdoctoral Fellow: $49
If you are an ASTRO member from a low or lower-middle income country, as identified by the World Bank, you can receive a 50% discount off your corresponding registration for this activity. Please email [email protected] to inquire about the discount.
Policies:
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The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until March 18, 2026, regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the activity, participants will no longer have access to the activity or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove an activity before its expiration date.
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