title: Technology for Innovation in Radiation Oncology.
abstract: Radiation therapy is an effective, personalized cancer treatment that has benefited from technological advances associated with the growing ability to identify and target tumors with accuracy and precision. Given that these advances have played a central role in the success of radiation therapy as a major component of comprehensive cancer care, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored a workshop entitled "Technology for Innovation in Radiation Oncology," which took place at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, on June 13 and 14, 2013. The purpose of this workshop was to discuss emerging technology for the field and to recognize areas for greater research investment. Expert clinicians and scientists discussed innovative technology in radiation oncology, in particular as to how these technologies are being developed and translated to clinical practice in the face of current and future challenges and opportunities. Technologies encompassed topics in functional imaging, treatment devices, nanotechnology, and information technology. The technical, quality, and safety performance of these technologies were also considered. A major theme of the workshop was the growing importance of innovation in the domain of process automation and oncology informatics. The technologically advanced nature of radiation therapy treatments predisposes radiation oncology research teams to take on informatics research initiatives. In addition, the discussion on technology development was balanced with a parallel conversation regarding the need for evidence of efficacy and effectiveness. The linkage between the need for evidence and the efforts in informatics research was clearly identified as synergistic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Indrin J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Chetty
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: mmartel@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Mary K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiation Oncology and Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jaffray
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California - Davis Cancer Center, Sacramento, California.
authors.forename: Stanley H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berbeco
authors.affiliation: Radiation Research Programs, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deye
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jeraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Low
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mankoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Lawrence B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ollendorf
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Proton Therapy Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Paganetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Ramon Alfredo C
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Siochi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Timmerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D061766:Proton Therapy / Q000639:trends; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000639:trends*; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000639:trends*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000639:trends*; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions