
Challenging Cases in Palliative Care: Novel Therapeutics, Radioresistant Histology and Treatment Delivery
There are many ongoing advances in clinical care in the context of palliative radiation therapy delivery, clinical decision-making on treatment options, and clinical workflows in radiotherapy delivery. Failure to stay informed leads to lower quality of care by practicing clinicians. Learners need to determine when and how the latest science will affect their day-to-day practice, and thus be able to narrow competency gaps in palliative radiation treatment and delivery across the various disease sites most commonly treated in radiation oncology.
With this activity, ASTRO continues its series of challenging case panels related to palliative radiotherapy for patients with advanced cancer. This activity uses case vignettes to discuss (1) thinking through the application of novel therapeutics with radiation treatment for metastatic cancer (e.g., which agents to hold, how much volume to treat, what dose to deliver); (2) handling treatment decisions (e.g., dose, fractionation, technique, timing) for patients whose clinical condition may be uncertain/changing and who have a radioresistant histology; and (3) practical aspects of treatment delivery for palliative RT patients including sim-less RT work flows and similar that can reduce work burdens of radiation oncologists caring for palliative patients. Common practice patterns for these challenging scenarios are discussed along with available treatment options and strategies for implementing them into practice. The unique challenges associated with treating geriatric patients with advanced cancer are discussed as well.
Topic:
- The Choreography of Novel Therapeutics with Radiation for Metastatic Disease
C. Jillian Tsai, MD, PhD, MS - Considerations for Palliative Radiation for a Radioresistant Histology
Subha Perni, MD - Practical Aspects of Palliative Radiation Treatment Delivery
Joanna Javor, MS, CMD, RT - Q and A
Full Panel
This activity is available from January 3, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on January 2, 2027.
This activity was originally recorded at the 2024 ASTRO Annual Meeting.
Target Audience
The activity is designed to meet the interests of radiation oncologists, physicists, radiation therapists and residents.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Understand the nuanced decision-making processes underlying combining novel therapeutics with radiation for metastatic disease.
- Become familiar with sim-less radiation workflows.
- Apply a 2x2 matrix decision tool for treatment decision making in cases where there is a radioresistant histology.
- Kavita Vyas Dharmarajan, MD, MS, is employed by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
- C. Jillian Tsai, MD, PhD, MS, is employed by the University of Toronto.
- Subha Perni, MD, is employed by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
- Joanna Javor, MS, CMD, RT, is employed by Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network.
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 relationships have been mitigated.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing education to physicians.
ASTRO is awarded Deemed Status by the American Board of Radiology to provide SA-CME as part of Part II Maintenance of Certification.
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 Enduring material 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
Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the course by the end of the qualification date. The qualification date for each course is listed in the course catalog on the ASTRO website under availability.
Participants using ASTRO's online courses to satisfy the requirement of a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program should verify the number, type and availability dates of any course before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased courses that do not align with their MOC requirement.
The course and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until January 2, 2027, regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the qualification, participants will no longer have access to the course or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove a course before the end of its qualification period.
Required Hardware/software
One of the two latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari.