Publications by authors named "M Mierzwa"
This study explores the predictive utility of multi-time point, multi-modality quantitative imaging biomarkers (QIBs) and clinical factors in patients with poor-prognosis head and neck cancers (HNCs) using interpretable machine learning. We examined 93 patients with p16 + oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma or locally advanced p16- HNCs enrolled in a phase II adaptive radiation dose escalation trial. FDG-PET and multiparametric MRI scans were conducted before radiation therapy and at the 10th fraction (2 weeks).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFQuality and Safety Considerations for Adaptive Radiation Therapy: An ASTRO White Paper.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
October 2024
Purpose: Adaptive radiation therapy (ART) is the latest topic in a series of white papers published by the American Society for Radiation Oncology addressing quality processes and patient safety. ART widens the therapeutic index by improving the precision of radiation dose to targets, allowing for dose escalation and/or minimization of dose to normal tissue. ART is performed via offline or online methods; offline ART is the process of replanning a patient's treatment plan between fractions, whereas online ART involves plan adjustment with the patient on the treatment table.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Patients with head/neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) experience significant tumor- and treatment-related side effects. No efficient summary measure capturing the totality of side effect burden currently exists. We examined associations between a single patient-reported outcome (PRO) item evaluating side effect bother (FACT GP5, "I am bothered by side effects of treatment") with overall side effects in HNSCC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- New technologies in radiation oncology can create health care disparities, particularly affecting vulnerable patient populations, necessitating the assessment of these disparities for both existing and new technologies.* -
- A health disparity risk assessment metric was developed, allowing clinics to determine the potential disparities among patient populations and providing guidelines for addressing these disparities in technology use.* -
- This metric calculates a disparity risk priority number based on patient impact, the quality of radiation plans, and clinical reliance on technology, enabling clinics to prioritize interventions to enhance equitable care.*
Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for induction selection of definitive treatment (IS) protocols have shown excellent outcomes for organ preservation and survival in patients with T3 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). We seek to evaluate survival and organ preservation outcomes in T4 LSCC patients treated with IS protocols.
Methods: Retrospective cohort of advanced T3 and T4 LSCC patients who underwent IS protocols based upon potential for preserving a functional larynx.