Minimizing Potential Radiation-Related Cardiotoxicity and Treating Ventricular Tachycardia with Radioablation — Current Trends

Since heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death in the US, research is focused on utilizing a variety of techniques to minimize potential cardiac toxicity, particularly for treatment of breast and thoracic malignancies with radiation therapy. To better understand the burden of and management options for preventing radiation-induced cardiotoxicity (RIC), we are pleased to present Cardiotoxicity and Radiation Therapy: A Review of Clinical Impact in Breast and Thoracic Malignancies. This SA-CME-approved article offers a thorough examination of current literature on the clinical impact of RIC in cancers of the breast, lung and esophagus, as well as mediastinal lymphomas.

A second SA-CME review article, Noninvasive Cardiac Radioablation at Washington University: Past, Present and Future Directions for the Treatment of Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) examines the innovative use of radiation to treat VT. The authors discuss early clinical trials demonstrating the use of noninvasive cardiac radioablation with SBRT as a potentially safe, effective, and durable salvage treatment for patients with VT in which standard management has failed. This excellent review describes key lessons from the ENCORE-VT trial, usage and workflow details, and future directions for this promising modality.

The Technology Trends article, Healing Hearts: Evolution and Growth in Cardiac Radioablation, complements the ENCORE-RT report to provide further insight into this emergent treatment approach, offering added perspectives on its roots, efficacy, challenges and goals.

Beyond cardiac care, we are pleased to feature two research articles on residency websites and SRS trends for glioblastoma, two case reports, and two thought-provoking editorials.

Contest Winners

I would like to congratulate the winners of the ARO 2019 Article of the Year contests as determined by the ARO advisory board for their well-written and enlightening work:

• 2019 Review Article of the Year: The safety and efficacy of combined immunotherapy and radiation therapy by Shwetha Manjunath, MD; Jacob E. Shabason, MD, MTR
• 2019 Research Article of the Year: Effect of radiation dose escalation on overall survival in ependymoma: A National Cancer Database analysis by Jennifer Vogel, MD; Sriram Venigalla, MD; Sonam Sharma, MD, et al
• 2019 Case Report of the Year: Abscopal effect of radiation therapy in monotherapy in a patient with malignant melanoma by Catarina Martins Silva, MD; Carlos Fardilha, MD; Diana Freitas, MD, et al.

As we enter the journal’s ninth year, we extend our deepest gratitude to the authors, advisory board, and expanding peer review panel whose expertise and commitment help position Applied Radiation Oncology as a respected and useful resource in the field. To our dedicated readers, a tremendous thank you for your continued support!