Latest Radiation Oncology research

Top 7 this week

Week of 1 November 2026

1. 1

   Neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy followed by camrelizumab and chemotherapy versus standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer (UNION): a prespecified interim analysis of a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

   The Lancet. Oncology · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 25 October 2026

   In a randomized trial of 231 patients in China, short-course radiation followed by camrelizumab and chemotherapy produced 91% 3-year event-free survival, compared with 77% with standard chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy. Serious side effects were similar overall, but this prespecified interim analysis needs longer follow-up, and the regimen still needs comparison with current total neoadjuvant therapy strategies.

2. 2

   Local ablative therapy plus systemic treatment versus systemic therapy alone in oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

   International journal of clinical oncology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 28 October 2026

   A meta-analysis of 16 randomized trials involving 1,343 patients found that adding local ablative treatment lowered the hazards of progression or death by 37% and death by 32%. Benefits varied by treatment and patient subgroup, while severe side effects and pneumonitis increased; which patients gain enough to justify added treatment remains key.

3. 3

   Local ablative treatment for oligoprogression during immunotherapy in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

   Oncoimmunology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 31 October 2026

   In pooled analyses, patients with metastatic lung cancer who received local treatment for a few progressing sites while continuing immunotherapy had about half the progression hazard and a 59% lower death hazard than comparison patients. The review included 22 studies, but only four contributed to each main analysis; mostly observational, low-certainty evidence leaves the benefit uncertain pending randomized trials.

4. 4

   Model-Based Normal Tissue Complication Probability Comparison Between Proton and Photon Therapies for Brain Tumors Complying With Planning Study Guidelines

   Advances in radiation oncology · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 19 October 2026

   In planning comparisons for 66 patients, proton therapy had lower estimated risks of cataracts, memory problems, hearing impairment, tinnitus, and secondary brain cancer than intensity-modulated radiation therapy; 31 patients had at least one difference exceeding the study's threshold for clinical importance. Proton plans also showed higher estimated risks of hair loss, blindness, and brain necrosis, and whether these modeled differences translate into patient outcomes remains unknown.

5. 5

   Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: An ASTRO Clinical Practice Guideline

   Practical radiation oncology · Q1 journal · Guideline · Evidence level 1 (High) · 27 October 2026

   The guideline recommends moderate hypofractionation over conventional radiation for all risk groups, with randomized evidence showing comparable cancer control, toxicity and quality of life in less treatment time. Very short schedules are a standard option for low- and intermediate-risk disease, but their role in high-risk cancer remains less certain; patients with significant urinary problems may be better suited to moderate schedules.

6. 6

   Efficacy of an AIMP1-Derived Peptide (NeoPep-S) for Radiation-Induced Dermatitis in Breast Cancer Patients: A Prospective Randomized Active-Controlled Trial

   Aesthetic plastic surgery · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 24 October 2026

   In this small randomized trial after breast reconstruction and radiation, all 15 patients completing follow-up with NeoPep-S had complete itch resolution, compared with 4 of 8 using standard cream. Scar scores and pain also improved more with NeoPep-S, while skin barrier recovery was similar at 1 month; only 23 of 30 randomized patients completed the study, so larger trials are needed.

7. 7

   Factors Associated with Patient Interest in a Digital Exercise and Mind-Body Program for Patients Undergoing Active Cancer Treatment: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

   Cancers · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 23 September 2026

   Among 99 participants offered a 12-week digital program during cancer treatment, 88.9% registered for at least one class and 70.7% for three or more; yoga and fitness were the most popular choices. Radiation therapy was linked to fewer registrations, while age, ethnicity and employment aligned with preferences for specific classes. The small, single-arm analysis points to the value of flexible options, but does not show whether tailoring boosts engagement.

Paper of the day, last two weeks

• Radiosensitising strategies in locally advanced head and neck cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RADIANCE-NMA)

  EClinicalMedicine · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 26 October 2026

  In a network analysis of 44 trials involving 13,768 patients, four cisplatin-containing regimens improved overall survival compared with radiotherapy alone. Weekly cisplatin was favored over three-weekly cisplatin in network estimates, but the trials were designed to test non-inferiority and do not rule out equivalent outcomes; severe toxicity was common with weekly treatment, and most trials had some risk-of-bias concerns.

• Radical local treatment for patients with NSCLC following oligoprogression after chemoradiation and durvalumab

  European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990) · Q1 journal · Cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 29 October 2026

  In this retrospective study, 41 of 198 patients with locally advanced lung cancer and limited progression after chemoradiation and durvalumab received treatment to all progressing sites. Median survival after local treatment was 18.7 months, but there was no comparison group to show whether treatment improved outcomes; longer durvalumab benefit and no brain metastases were linked to better survival, and prospective studies are needed.

• Oncologic efficacy and safety of stereotactic body radiotherapy for oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer: a systemic meta-analysis

  Clinical & experimental metastasis · Q1 journal · SR of cohorts · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 3 November 2026

  Across 18 studies involving 1,105 people with oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer, stereotactic body radiotherapy was associated with 60% survival at two years and local control in 74% by two years. Severe treatment-related side effects occurred in 4.5%; results varied across disease subtypes, so which patients benefit most remains unclear.

• Clinical Efficacy of Pentoxifylline, Tocopherol, and Clodronate Therapy for Osteoradionecrosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

  Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 19 October 2026

  In pooled data from three observational studies involving 99 patients, the median time to complete mucosal healing was nine months; the share still unhealed fell from about 71% at six months to 6% at three years. All six included studies had serious or critical risk of bias and no untreated comparison groups, so whether PENTOCLO improves healing remains unknown.

• High-dose reirradiation of in-field recurrence lung cancer in the THOrax (RETHO): toxicity analysis of a prospective trial

  International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics · Q1 journal · Non-randomized trial · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 2 November 2026

  In this prospective trial of 60 patients receiving high-dose reirradiation for recurrent lung cancer, 10 developed grade 3 toxicity, including 7 with radiation pneumonitis; no grade 4 or 5 toxicity occurred over a median 26 months. Higher cumulative lung dose measures were linked to moderate or severe pneumonitis, so careful dose planning remains key.

• Outcomes of neoadjuvant chemoradiation versus chemotherapy alone for resected distal pancreatic adenocarcinoma

  HPB : the official journal of the International Hepato Pancreato Biliary Association · Q1 journal · Cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 15 October 2026

  In a national database study of 284 patients, those who received chemotherapy plus radiation before surgery had a median survival of 35 months, compared with 27 months for chemotherapy alone. Chemoradiation was also linked to more tumor downstaging and less progression, but this retrospective comparison cannot prove it caused better outcomes; prospective trials are needed.

• Long-Term Outcomes of a Prospective Study on Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Whole-Gland Salvage High-Dose-Rate Prostate Brachytherapy for Locally Recurrent Prostate Cancer

  Advances in radiation oncology · Q1 journal · Cohort · Evidence level 3 (Low) · 21 August 2026

  In this prospective study of 30 men with prostate cancer recurring after radiation, 69.6% remained free of hormone therapy at five years, but only 24.8% were free of prostate-specific antigen progression. Severe toxicity was uncommon, affecting one patient, while most relapses involved the treated prostate target; the small study leaves long-term disease control uncertain.

• Omission of Radiation Therapy is Associated with Inferior Disease Control in High Risk Early-Stage Hodgkin Lymphoma

  Blood advances · Q1 journal · Unclassified · Evidence level 5 (Expert Opinion) · 28 October 2026

  In a propensity-matched study, adding radiation was linked to higher 5-year progression-free survival in patients with bulky disease (92% vs 73%) and interim PET-positive disease (75% vs 52%). Across all matched patients, the difference was not statistically significant, and radiation brought more late toxicities; prospective trials are needed to guide risk-based treatment.

• ENZARAD (ANZUP 1303): Phase 3 Trial of Enzalutamide With Androgen Deprivation Therapy and Radiation Therapy in High-Risk Localized or Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer

  Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology · Q1 journal · Non-randomized trial · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 24 October 2026

  Among 802 participants receiving prostate radiation and 2 years of androgen deprivation therapy, adding enzalutamide did not significantly improve 8-year metastasis-free survival compared with an older antiandrogen: rates were 74% versus 72%. A prespecified subgroup receiving pelvic lymph node radiation showed a possible benefit, but the overall result was null, leaving that subgroup finding to be clarified.

• Clinical Complete Response with Dostarlimab Monotherapy in dMMR/MSI-H Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: First Results from the Global AZUR-1 Trial

  Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology · Q1 journal · Unclassified · Evidence level 5 (Expert Opinion) · 25 October 2026

  In this interim analysis, 68% of 144 patients with at least 12 months of follow-up had a clinical complete response sustained for 12 months after dostarlimab alone; the combined rate of sustained clinical or surgical complete response was 76%. No recurrences were reported among patients with complete responses, but longer follow-up and more mature independent review are needed to clarify whether treatment can replace standard care.

• Perioperative chemotherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy versus perioperative chemotherapy alone in patients with high-risk, localised pancreatic cancer (MASTERPLAN): an open-label, phase 2, multicentre, randomised trial of the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group

  The Lancet. Oncology · Q1 journal · Phase 2 RCT · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 23 October 2026

  In this phase 2 trial of 74 people with high-risk, localized pancreatic cancer, adding stereotactic body radiotherapy to chemotherapy was associated with a 32-point lower rate of local recurrence at 12 months. Severe side effects were common in both groups, with no significant difference between them; early closure and the small sample mean larger trials are needed to confirm the benefit.

Evidence summaries in Radiation Oncology

• Patterns of Failure in Head and Neck Cancer Post Chemo Radiation
• Patterns of Failure in Cervical Cancer Treatment
• Esophageal Cancer Radiation Management
• Gastric Cancer Radiation Management
• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Radiation Management
• Liver SBRT
• Liver Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy