Proton Radiotherapy vs Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for...

Proton Radiotherapy vs Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Newly Diagnosed GBM
Published in Brain Cancer Journal · March 22, 2021

CONCLUSIONS
In this signal seeking phase II trial, PT was not associated with a delay in time to cognitive failure but did reduce toxicity and patient reported fatigue. Larger randomized trials are needed to determine the potential of PT such as dose escalation for glioblastoma and cognitive preservation in patients with lower grade gliomas with a longer survival time.

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"This important clinical trial will provide valuable insights into the complex interplay of tumour biology, drug treatment, and radiotherapy, and may point to additional opportunities for paxalisib to benefit patients with brain cancer".
Dr T. Jonathan Yang is Director of Metastatic Disease in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He completed his PhD at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands and his medical training at Yale University, before undertaking specialist training. This critical discipline of radiation oncology focuses on using radiotherapy to treat cancer, and Dr Yang is highly experienced in cutting-edge techniques such as stereotactic radiotherapy.

Dr Yang’s primary interest is in tumours of the central nervous system, including both primary brain tumours (such as glioblastoma), and metastatic brain tumours, as well as leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. He has been a pioneer in the new technology of proton beam therapy and works closely with the New York Proton Center that was established in 2019 as a collaboration between Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the Montefiore Health System. Proton beam therapy is a highly targeted form of radiation therapy that aims to selectively destroy tumour with limited damage to surrounding tissue.

In addition to his clinical practice, he is a prolific clinical researcher in brain cancer, and has particularly investigated how novel targeted pharmacological therapies can augment and support radiotherapy. One of his areas of research considers how radiotherapy can be used not just to prolong survival but also to improve quality of life, especially by minimising side effects. He has more than ninety publications and posters in the field of radiation oncology.

Dr Yang’s work has previously shown that changes in the PI3K pathway can be associated with resistance to radiotherapy in brain tumours. His research has led him to examine Kazia’s paxalisib as a potential way to augment the effects of radiotherapy, and to avoid the problem of resistance. In 2019, he launched a phase I clinical trial to examine paxalisib in combination with radiotherapy in brain metastases (NCT04192981). This important clinical trial will provide valuable insights into the complex interplay of tumour biology, drug treatment, and radiotherapy, and may point to additional opportunities for paxalisib to benefit patients with brain cancer.

Kazia's trial at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center should indicate a similllar outcome with paxalisib for newly diagnosed GBM.

Regards.