Physicians and scientists from the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center will present new clinical trial findings and research at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting, detailing advances in personalized radiation therapy, genetic risk testing, and targeted radioligand treatments for prostate, bile duct, and head and neck cancers. According to UCLA Health, the presentations highlight a broader shift away from one-size-fits-all radiation schedules toward individualized care informed by tumor biology and patient genetics.
Genetic Testing Reduces Side Effects in Prostate Cancer Patients
A validated genetic test called PROSTOX can identify men with prostate cancer who face a higher risk of developing long-term urinary side effects following stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), according to research led by Dr. Joanne Weidhaas, professor of radiation oncology and vice chair of molecular and cellular oncology, alongside Dr. Amar Kishan, executive vice chair of radiation oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The test examines inherited genetic differences that influence how patients respond to radiation. In a prospective clinical trial cited by UCLA Health, using PROSTOX to guide treatment reduced the risk of moderate to severe urinary side effects by steering high-risk patients toward a longer course of conventional radiation instead of SBRT. An evaluation of four clinical trials including 457 men revealed that individuals flagged as high risk by PROSTOX faced roughly a 36-fold greater probability of experiencing late urinary complications than those determined to be low risk. Kishan will present the findings on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 3:45 p.m. in Room 210.
MRI-Guided Radiation Aids Bile Duct Cancer Transplant Candidates
Dr. Trudy Wu, assistant professor of radiation oncology at UCLA, conducted a 14-year retrospective analysis showing that MRI-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) provides strong and lasting local control for patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma while they await liver transplantation. The study reviewed 38 patients who received MRI-guided SBRT followed by chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy at UCLA. Among them, 11 patients ultimately underwent liver transplantation and achieved a significantly longer median overall survival of about 150 weeks, compared with 94 weeks for those who did not receive a transplant. More than one-third of the transplanted patients had no remaining cancer detected in the liver at surgery. Wu will present these findings on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 259.
Targeted Radioligand Therapy Delays Recurrent Prostate Cancer Progression
Radiation oncology resident Dr. Esther Yu will present a comparative study evaluating treatments for men whose prostate cancer has returned in a limited number of locations. Led by Kishan and Dr. Nicholas Nickols, assistant professor of radiation oncology, the study compared metastasis-directed SBRT alone against SBRT combined with either 177Lu-PSMA radioligand therapy or hormone-blocking drugs. Both combination approaches significantly delayed cancer progression compared with SBRT alone, pushing the median time to progression to 19.4 months for SBRT plus radioligand therapy and 21.7 months for SBRT plus hormone therapy, versus 6 months for SBRT alone. Grade 3 or higher side effects occurred in 10% of patients receiving the radioligand combination compared with 21% of those receiving hormone therapy. Yu is scheduled to present the research on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 8:05 a.m. in Room 253.
Genetic Markers Predict Side Effects and Survival in Head and Neck Cancer
Weidhaas will present data from a study of 171 head and neck cancer patients treated with radiation and cisplatin in a large clinical trial, demonstrating that inherited genetic markers can predict both severe treatment side effects and overall survival. The research found that models combining genetic markers with clinical factors outperformed clinical information alone in forecasting short- and long-term side effects. The models identified patients at higher risk of dying within four years, showing a median survival of 2.25 years compared with 4.46 years for those predicted to be at lower risk. Weidhaas will present the study on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 9:15 a.m. in Room 156.
UCLA Faculty Honored with Top ASTRO Awards
In addition to clinical presentations, the meeting brings major organizational recognition to UCLA faculty members. The Awards Ceremony on Sept. 29 will feature the presentation of the 2026 ASTRO Gold Medal—the highest distinction bestowed by the organization—to Dr. Daniel Low, professor and vice chair of medical physics research and innovation within the department of radiation oncology. Additionally, Dr. Luca Valle, associate professor of radiation oncology, was selected to receive the 2026 ASTRO-PCF Young Investigator Award from ASTRO and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Dr. Jie Deng, assistant professor-in-residence of radiation oncology, received an American Cancer Society Clinician Scientist Development Grant co-sponsored by ASTRO and designated in honor of Dr. Felix Feng.
What is the PROSTOX test?
PROSTOX is a validated genetic test that examines inherited genetic differences to identify prostate cancer patients who face an elevated risk of long-term urinary side effects following stereotactic body radiation therapy.
How does MRI-guided SBRT help bile duct cancer patients?
It provides lasting local tumor control while patients undergo systemic therapy and wait for a donor liver, helping eligible candidates maintain disease control until transplantation.
What did the recurrent prostate cancer study find regarding radioligand therapy?
Combining SBRT with targeted radioligand therapy significantly delayed cancer progression compared with SBRT alone while limiting the need for hormone-blocking drugs.
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