Tumor board simulation improves interdisciplinary decision-making in medical students.

Introduction: Training of interdisciplinary clinical reasoning and decision-making skills, essential in daily clinical practice in oncological specialties, are still underrepresented in medical education. Therefore, at LMU University Hospital Munich, we implemented a didactically modified tumor board simulation with experts from five different disciplines (medical oncology, pathology, radiation oncology, radiology, and surgery) presenting patient cases into a one-week course on the basic principles of oncology. In this survey, we examined the self-assessed impact of our course on the interdisciplinary decision-making skills of medical students.

Re-irradiation treatment regimens for patients with recurrent glioma - Evaluation of the optimal dose and best concurrent therapy.

Purpose: Re-irradiation (reRT) is an effective treatment modality for patients with recurrent glioma. Data on dose escalation, the use of simulated integrated boost and concomitant therapy to reRT are still scarce. In this monocentric cohort of n = 223 patients we investigated the influence of reRT dose escalation as well as the concomitant use of bevacizumab (BEV) with regard to post-recurrence survival (PRS) and risk of radionecrosis (RN).

FET PET-based target volume delineation for the radiotherapy of glioblastoma: A pictorial guide to help overcome methodological pitfalls.

PET is increasingly used for target volume definition in the radiotherapy of glioblastoma, as endorsed by the 2023 ESTRO-EANO guidelines. In view of its growing adoption into clinical practice and upcoming PET-based multi-center trials, this paper aims to assist in overcoming common pitfalls of FET PET-based target delineation in glioblastoma.

Successful implementation of online educational lectures of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO).

Purpose: Modern digital teaching formats have become increasingly important in recent years, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, an online-based webinar series was established by the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) and the young DEGRO (yDEGRO) working group. In the monthly 120-minute courses, selected lecturers teach curricular content as preparation for the board certification exam for radiation oncology.

Principles of oncology taught in a one-week course.

Background: Growing challenges in oncology require evolving educational methods and content. International efforts to reform oncology education are underway. Hands-on, interdisciplinary, and compact course formats have shown great effectiveness in the education of medical students.

Current situation in radiation oncology residency-Results of a national survey performed by the working group Young DEGRO of the German Society of Radiation Oncology.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the current status of the radiation oncology (RO) residency programs in Germany. For this, RO residents and RO specialists were surveyed regarding the current situation of the RO residency training and the working conditions in Germany.

Methods: The Continuing Education Section of the Young DEGRO (yDEGRO) Working Group of the German Society of Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) developed a survey to assess (1) the overall satisfaction, learning objectives, and teaching methods used during training; and (2) the perception of the importance of specific disease patterns in RO training.

Prognostic Value of TSPO PET Before Radiotherapy in Newly Diagnosed IDH-Wild-Type Glioblastoma.

The 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) is gaining recognition as a relevant target in glioblastoma imaging. However, data on the potential prognostic value of TSPO PET imaging in glioblastoma are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the association of TSPO PET imaging results with survival outcome in a homogeneous cohort of glioblastoma patients.

Stereotactic radiosurgery versus whole-brain radiotherapy in patients with 4-10 brain metastases: A nonrandomized controlled trial.

Background And Purpose: There is no randomized evidence comparing whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of multiple brain metastases. This prospective nonrandomized controlled single arm trial attempts to reduce the gap until prospective randomized controlled trial results are available.

Material And Methods: We included patients with 4-10 brain metastases and ECOG performance status ≤ 2 from all histologies except small-cell lung cancer, germ cell tumors, and lymphoma.

Importance of interdisciplinarity in modern oncology: results of a national intergroup survey of the Young Oncologists United (YOU).

Purpose: Modern, personalized treatment concepts in oncology require an interdisciplinary and multiprofessional collaboration. In addition to its relevance in patient care, interdisciplinary collaboration is also becoming increasingly important in clinical research as well as medical education and resident training in oncology.

Methods: Between November 2021 and March 2022, an online survey was conducted among German early career research groups, represented by Young Oncologists United (YOU).

Systematic in vitro analysis of therapy resistance in glioblastoma cell lines by integration of clonogenic survival data with multi-level molecular data.

Despite intensive basic scientific, translational, and clinical efforts in the last decades, glioblastoma remains a devastating disease with a highly dismal prognosis. Apart from the implementation of temozolomide into the clinical routine, novel treatment approaches have largely failed, emphasizing the need for systematic examination of glioblastoma therapy resistance in order to identify major drivers and thus, potential vulnerabilities for therapeutic intervention. Recently, we provided proof-of-concept for the systematic identification of combined modality radiochemotherapy treatment vulnerabilities via integration of clonogenic survival data upon radio(chemo)therapy with low-density transcriptomic profiling data in a panel of established human glioblastoma cell lines.

High-Grade Glioma Radiation Therapy and Reirradiation Treatment Planning Using Translocator Protein Positron Emission Tomography With F-GE-180.

Purpose: Translocator protein (TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET) using F-GE-180 shows high tumor-to-brain contrast in high-grade glioma (HGG), even in areas without magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement. Until now, the benefit of F-GE-180 PET in primary radiation therapy (RT) and reirradiation (reRT) treatment planning for patients with HGG has not been assessed.

Methods And Materials: The possible benefit of F-GE-180 PET in RT and reRT planning was retrospectively evaluated through post hoc spatial correlations of PET-based biological tumor volumes (BTVs) with conventional MRI-based consensus gross tumor volumes (cGTVs).

Adult intracranial ependymoma-relevance of DNA methylation profiling for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Background: A methylation-based classification of ependymoma has recently found broad application. However, the diagnostic advantage and implications for treatment decisions remain unclear. Here, we retrospectively evaluate the impact of surgery and radiotherapy on outcome after molecular reclassification of adult intracranial ependymomas.

F-FET PET radiomics-based survival prediction in glioblastoma patients receiving radio(chemo)therapy.

Background: Quantitative image analysis based on radiomic feature extraction is an emerging field for survival prediction in oncological patients. F-Fluorethyltyrosine positron emission tomography (F-FET PET) provides important diagnostic and grading information for brain tumors, but data on its use in survival prediction is scarce. In this study, we aim at investigating survival prediction based on multiple radiomic features in glioblastoma patients undergoing radio(chemo)therapy.

Dose-escalated re-irradiation improves outcome in locally recurrent head and neck cancer - Results of a large multicenter analysis.

Unlabelled: To determine efficacy and prognostic parameters of definitive re-irradiation of locoregionally recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC).

Materials And Methods: Patients with locoregionally recurrent or second primary HNSCC undergoing re-irradiation with modern radiotherapy technique were eligible for this multicentric retrospective analysis. Main endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and locoregional control (LC).

Integrative analysis of therapy resistance and transcriptomic profiling data in glioblastoma cells identifies sensitization vulnerabilities for combined modality radiochemotherapy.

Background: Inherent resistance to radio/chemotherapy is one of the major reasons for early recurrence, treatment failure, and dismal prognosis of glioblastoma. Thus, the identification of resistance driving regulators as prognostic and/or predictive markers as well as potential vulnerabilities for combined modality treatment approaches is of pivotal importance.

Methods: We performed an integrative analysis of treatment resistance and DNA damage response regulator expression in a panel of human glioblastoma cell lines.

PET/CT-based adaptive radiotherapy of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer in multicenter yDEGRO ARO 2017-01 cohort study.

Background: Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents a highly heterogeneous disease and treatment burden. Advances in imaging modality show promising results for radiotherapy planning. In this multicentric study, we evaluated the impact of PET/CT-based radiotherapy planning on the prognosis of patients with stage III NSCLC.

Innovative radiation oncology Together - Precise, Personalized, Human : Vision 2030 for radiotherapy & radiation oncology in Germany.

Purpose: Scientific and clinical achievements in radiation, medical, and surgical oncology are changing the landscape of interdisciplinary oncology. The German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) working group of young clinicians and scientists (yDEGRO) and the DEGRO representation of associate and full professors (AKRO) are aware of the essential role of radiation oncology in multidisciplinary treatment approaches. Together, yDEGRO and AKRO endorsed developing a German radiotherapy & radiation oncology vision 2030 to address future challenges in patient care, research, and education.

Multifocal high-grade glioma radiotherapy safety and efficacy.

Background: Multifocal manifestation of high-grade glioma is a rare disease with very unfavourable prognosis. The pathogenesis of multifocal glioma and pathophysiological differences to unifocal glioma are not fully understood. The optimal treatment of patients suffering from multifocal high-grade glioma is not defined in the current guidelines, therefore individual case series may be helpful as guidance for clinical decision-making.

Simultaneous stereotactic radiosurgery of multiple brain metastases using single-isocenter dynamic conformal arc therapy: a prospective monocentric registry trial.

Background: Single-isocenter dynamic conformal arc (SIDCA) therapy is a technically efficient way of delivering stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to multiple metastases simultaneously. This study reports on the safety and feasibility of linear accelerator (LINAC) based SRS with SIDCA for patients with multiple brain metastases.

Methods: All patients who received SRS with this technique between November 2017 and June 2019 within a prospective registry trial were included.

A Privacy-Preserving Log-Rank Test for the Kaplan-Meier Estimator With Secure Multiparty Computation: Algorithm Development and Validation.

Background: Patient data is considered particularly sensitive personal data. Privacy regulations strictly govern the use of patient data and restrict their exchange. However, medical research can benefit from multicentric studies in which patient data from different institutions are pooled and evaluated together.

Peer review analysis in the field of radiation oncology: results from a web-based survey of the Young DEGRO working group.

Purpose: To evaluate the reviewing behaviour in the German-speaking countries in order to provide recommendations to increase the attractiveness of reviewing activity in the field of radiation oncology.

Methods: In November 2019, a survey was conducted by the Young DEGRO working group (jDEGRO) using the online platform "eSurveyCreator". The questionnaire consisted of 29 items examining a broad range of factors that influence reviewing motivation and performance.

Improved risk stratification in younger wild-type glioblastoma patients by combining a 4-miRNA signature with promoter methylation status.

Background: The potential benefit of risk stratification using a 4-miRNA signature in combination with promoter methylation in wild-type glioblastoma patients was assessed.

Methods: Primary tumors from 102 patients with comparable treatment from the LMU Munich ( = 37), the University Hospital Düsseldorf ( = 33), and The Cancer Genome Atlas ( = 32) were included. Risk groups were built using expressions of hsa-let-7a-5p, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-miR-615-5p, and hsa-miR-125a-5p to assess prognostic performance in overall survival (OS).