Publications by authors named "J W Breneman"

Purpose: The Audiovisual-Assisted Therapeutic Ambience in Radiotherapy (AVATAR) trial was a prospective multicenter study (NCT03991156) examining the combination of video immersion with radiation therapy and was successfully conducted through the collaboration of pediatric radiation oncology teams at 10 institutions independent of any pre-existing consortium. We sought to analyze and report the methodology of trial conception and development, process map, and cost.

Methods And Materials: The study enrolled patients aged 3 to 10 years preparing to undergo radiation therapy, integrated the combination of AVATAR-based video immersion with radiation therapy at each institution, and offered AVATAR use as an alternative to anesthesia, with rates of anesthesia use and outcomes of serial standardized anxiety and quality-of-life assessments assessed among the 81 children enrolled.

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Background: FLASH therapy is a treatment technique in which radiation is delivered at ultra-high dose rates (≥ 40 Gy/s). The first-in-human FAST-01 clinical trial demonstrated the clinical feasibility of proton FLASH in the treatment of extremity bone metastases. The objectives of this investigation are to assess the toxicities of treatment and pain relief in study participants with painful thoracic bone metastases treated with FLASH radiotherapy, as well as workflow metrics in a clinical setting.

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Article Synopsis
  • Brainstem injury can develop in up to 2% of children after receiving radiation therapy to the posterior fossa, potentially occurring months or even years post-treatment.
  • Young age (under 5 years) and pre-existing health issues like cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension increase the risk of this injury.
  • Radiation necrosis, which can be serious and fatal, has been linked to a specific genetic mutation (RNF213) that is also associated with moyamoya disease, hinting at a genetic predisposition to this complication.
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Background And Purpose: Emerging data suggest immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or radiotherapy (SRT) may work synergistically, potentially increasing both efficacy and toxicity. This manuscript characterizes factors associated with intracranial control and radiation necrosis in this group.

Materials And Methods: All patients had non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, or melanoma and were treated from 2013 to 2021 at two institutions with ICI and SRS/SRT.

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Article Synopsis
  • The AVATAR system is a new approach in radiation therapy designed to reduce the need for anesthesia in pediatric patients by using video distraction techniques.
  • In a trial involving 81 children aged 3 to 10 across 10 facilities, 78% successfully completed radiation therapy without anesthesia, with significant improvements in quality of life and decreased anxiety noted during treatment.
  • The study revealed success varied by age and type of insurance, highlighting the AVATAR system's effectiveness in enhancing the treatment experience for young patients.
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