Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-10-11DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.059
Nicolò Cogno PhD , Keyur D. Shah PhD , Felix Ehret MD , Chris Beekman PhD , Heiko Enderling PhD , Robert J. Dawson MSc , Wesley E. Bolch PhD , Helen A. Shih MD , Harald Paganetti PhD , Ibrahim Chamseddine PhD
Purpose
Brain radionecrosis (RN) is a significant late toxicity of radiation therapy, yet its progression remains challenging to predict because of patient-specific factors. This study develops a mechanistic model to simulate RN expansion focusing on vascular heterogeneity.
Methods and Materials
A 3-dimensional cellular automaton (CA) model was developed to simulate RN progression, based on the assumption that vascular heterogeneity drives its spatial dynamics. Patient-specific vasculature maps were generated by registering a synthetic brain phantom to magnetic resonance imaging-derived segmentations. Microvessel length density (Ld) was estimated to account for regional vascular heterogeneity. The model parameters—RN progression rate () and necrotic neighborhood threshold ()—were inferred using sequential Monte Carlo approximate Bayesian computation. Probability risk maps were validated against follow-up (FU) imaging from 3 independent cases, with voxelwise agreement assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis.
Results
The model successfully predicted RN expansion patterns, achieving area under the curve values of 0.87 to 0.95 in validation cases. Simulated necrotic regions exhibited anisotropic expansion influenced by local vascular density, supporting the vascular hypothesis. Patient-specific posterior distributions for progression rate reflected wide interpatient variability, whereas the necrotic neighboring effect had a narrower range. The model consistently identified high-risk voxels, with predicted necrotic regions overlapping observed RN in FU imaging.
Conclusions
This study presents a mechanistic model that integrates vascular heterogeneity to predict RN progression, providing interpretable, patient-specific risk maps. It extends RN evolution modeling beyond dose-based metrics, potentially aiding in refining treatment planning and adaptive FU strategies to minimize radiation-induced toxicity.
{"title":"A Mechanistic Model of Brain Necrosis Progression Based on Vascular Heterogeneity","authors":"Nicolò Cogno PhD , Keyur D. Shah PhD , Felix Ehret MD , Chris Beekman PhD , Heiko Enderling PhD , Robert J. Dawson MSc , Wesley E. Bolch PhD , Helen A. Shih MD , Harald Paganetti PhD , Ibrahim Chamseddine PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Brain radionecrosis (RN) is a significant late toxicity of radiation therapy, yet its progression remains challenging to predict because of patient-specific factors. This study develops a mechanistic model to simulate RN expansion focusing on vascular heterogeneity.</div></div><div><h3>Methods and Materials</h3><div>A 3-dimensional cellular automaton (CA) model was developed to simulate RN progression, based on the assumption that vascular heterogeneity drives its spatial dynamics. Patient-specific vasculature maps were generated by registering a synthetic brain phantom to magnetic resonance imaging-derived segmentations. Microvessel length density (<em>L<sub>d</sub></em>) was estimated to account for regional vascular heterogeneity. The model parameters—RN progression rate (<span><math><mi>k</mi></math></span>) and necrotic neighborhood threshold (<span><math><msub><mi>ρ</mi><mi>t</mi></msub></math></span>)—were inferred using sequential Monte Carlo approximate Bayesian computation. Probability risk maps were validated against follow-up (FU) imaging from 3 independent cases, with voxelwise agreement assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The model successfully predicted RN expansion patterns, achieving area under the curve values of 0.87 to 0.95 in validation cases. Simulated necrotic regions exhibited anisotropic expansion influenced by local vascular density, supporting the vascular hypothesis. Patient-specific posterior distributions for progression rate reflected wide interpatient variability, whereas the necrotic neighboring effect had a narrower range. The model consistently identified high-risk voxels, with predicted necrotic regions overlapping observed RN in FU imaging.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study presents a mechanistic model that integrates vascular heterogeneity to predict RN progression, providing interpretable, patient-specific risk maps. It extends RN evolution modeling beyond dose-based metrics, potentially aiding in refining treatment planning and adaptive FU strategies to minimize radiation-induced toxicity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14215,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics","volume":"124 3","pages":"Pages 842-855"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145286157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
As reirradiation becomes increasingly common due to longer patient survival, accurately mapping previous radiation dose is essential to balance toxicity and tumour control. Image registration (IR) is widely used to align previous dose distributions with current anatomy. However, significant anatomic changes between treatment courses pose unique challenges, and it remains unclear how existing IR practices—largely developed for other contexts—translate to reirradiation. This systematic review aims to report on what is currently being done in the field regarding the use of IR for dose mapping in reirradiation scenarios, identify methodological gaps, and propose recommendations to improve reproducibility and clinical utility. We performed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis-compliant search for full-length articles (PubMed and Scopus) and conference abstracts (ScienceDirect and American Association of Physicists in Medicine, AAPM) that explicitly referenced IR for dose mapping in reirradiation. Each article was reviewed by ≥2 independent reviewers, with key data extracted on IR approaches and evaluation strategies. As of mid-May 2025, 34 articles and 30 abstracts were selected. Most studies lacked comprehensive evaluation: about one-third reported geometric accuracy metrics, and few included dosimetric assessments or uncertainty estimation. Multimodal reirradiation, nonexternal beam techniques, and pediatric populations were notably underrepresented. Based on the synthesis of current literature and expert consensus, we propose 3 clinical and 10 research recommendations to support reproducible research and clinical practices. Clear and consistent reporting of registration methods, geometrical, and dosimetrical assessments are essential to improve the reliability of dose mapping and to support safer, evidence-based use of IR in the reirradiation setting.
{"title":"Dose Mapping Using Image Registration for Reirradiation: A Systematic Review","authors":"Chelmis Muthoni Thiong’o MPhil , Angela Davey PhD , Ane Appelt PhD , Madalyne Day BRT , Pauline Dupuis MSc , Serena Monti PhD , Jaime Perez-Alija MSc , Theodora Skopidou MSc , Stina Svensson PhD , Eliana Vasquez Osorio PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As reirradiation becomes increasingly common due to longer patient survival, accurately mapping previous radiation dose is essential to balance toxicity and tumour control. Image registration (IR) is widely used to align previous dose distributions with current anatomy. However, significant anatomic changes between treatment courses pose unique challenges, and it remains unclear how existing IR practices—largely developed for other contexts—translate to reirradiation. This systematic review aims to report on what is currently being done in the field regarding the use of IR for dose mapping in reirradiation scenarios, identify methodological gaps, and propose recommendations to improve reproducibility and clinical utility. We performed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis-compliant search for full-length articles (PubMed and Scopus) and conference abstracts (ScienceDirect and American Association of Physicists in Medicine, AAPM) that explicitly referenced IR for dose mapping in reirradiation. Each article was reviewed by ≥2 independent reviewers, with key data extracted on IR approaches and evaluation strategies. As of mid-May 2025, 34 articles and 30 abstracts were selected. Most studies lacked comprehensive evaluation: about one-third reported geometric accuracy metrics, and few included dosimetric assessments or uncertainty estimation. Multimodal reirradiation, nonexternal beam techniques, and pediatric populations were notably underrepresented. Based on the synthesis of current literature and expert consensus, we propose 3 clinical and 10 research recommendations to support reproducible research and clinical practices. Clear and consistent reporting of registration methods, geometrical, and dosimetrical assessments are essential to improve the reliability of dose mapping and to support safer, evidence-based use of IR in the reirradiation setting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14215,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics","volume":"124 3","pages":"Pages 765-798"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145286160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.11.021
Kanta Ka MD, MPH, Abel Cordoba MD, Renaud Schiappa M.Sc, Nicolas Martz MD, Sophie Espenel MD, Alexandre Escande MD, PhD, Nicolas Demogeot MD, PhD, Jean Michel Hannoun-Levi MD, PhD, Cyrus Chargari MD, PhD
{"title":"In Reply to May et al","authors":"Kanta Ka MD, MPH, Abel Cordoba MD, Renaud Schiappa M.Sc, Nicolas Martz MD, Sophie Espenel MD, Alexandre Escande MD, PhD, Nicolas Demogeot MD, PhD, Jean Michel Hannoun-Levi MD, PhD, Cyrus Chargari MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.11.021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.11.021","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14215,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics","volume":"124 3","pages":"Pages 869-872"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.11.056
Michael Oertel MD, Fabian M. Troschel MD, Hans Theodor Eich MD, PhD
{"title":"In Regard to Huang et al","authors":"Michael Oertel MD, Fabian M. Troschel MD, Hans Theodor Eich MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.11.056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.11.056","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14215,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics","volume":"124 3","pages":"Page 880"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-10-02DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.052
Jacob P. Sunnerberg PhD , David I. Hunter MS , Austin M. Sloop MS , Armin D. Tavakkoli AB , Petr Bruza PhD , Rongxiao Zhang PhD , Jiang Gui PhD , Lesley A. Jarvis MD, PhD , Harold M. Swartz MD, PhD , David J. Gladstone ScD , P. Jack Hoopes DVM, PhD , Brian W. Pogue PhD
Purpose
To determine the timescale for ultra high dose rate (UHDR) radiation delivery that dictates FLASH normal tissue sparing and elucidate its relationship to in vivo oxygen dynamics. A split-dose experiment was used to determine the transition time below which the observation of the FLASH sparing effect is preserved.
Methods and Materials
A 25 Gy dose was split into 2 deliveries (12.5 Gy), with varied interruption times. Albino B6 mice received flank skin irradiation in 8 groups: single-beam UHDR (25 Gy at 415 Gy/s), single-beam conventional dose rate (CDR) (25 Gy at 0.15 Gy/s), or split-beam delivery with 2 lower-dose UHDR beams (12.5 Gy at 415 Gy/s) separated by 0.1, 1, 5, 15, 25, or 120 seconds. Skin damage was scored daily for 31 days, with mixed-effects analysis comparing damage progression across cohorts. Real-time tissue pO2 was monitored using the phosphorescence-lifetime probe, Oxyphor PdG4. Radiolytic oxygen consumption per unit dose (gO2) and reoxygenation rates were quantified.
Results
Single-beam UHDR significantly spared skin versus CDR. In split-dose groups, this sparing effect showed a transition at longer interbeam intervals. Damage progression remained significantly lower than CDR and comparable to single-beam UHDR (P > 0.16) for interruptions <15 seconds. Longer intervals progressively lost tissue sparing. Oximetry indicated an average tissue reoxygenation lifetime of 7.7 ± 1.1 seconds. At the delivery of the second beam, pO2 remained lower when interbeam times were shorter than the reoxygenation period, but recovered fully for longer interruptions. The gO2 values correlated with baseline tissue pO2.
Conclusions
Observation of the FLASH sparing effect requires delivery within a critical temporal window that is similar to the timescale of tissue reoxygenation kinetics. The transition time for loss of the FLASH sparing effect in skin roughly corresponds to a diffusion timescale for oxygen, from capillaries to the cells. Although not conclusively demonstrating a mechanism, this unique finding supports the likelihood that local oxygen depletion or consumption underlies the FLASH tissue sparing effect observed in vivo, with important implications for clinical implementation and the timescale needed for multibeam FLASH radiation therapy.
{"title":"Timescale of FLASH Sparing Effect Determined by Varying Temporal Split of Dose Delivery in Mice","authors":"Jacob P. Sunnerberg PhD , David I. Hunter MS , Austin M. Sloop MS , Armin D. Tavakkoli AB , Petr Bruza PhD , Rongxiao Zhang PhD , Jiang Gui PhD , Lesley A. Jarvis MD, PhD , Harold M. Swartz MD, PhD , David J. Gladstone ScD , P. Jack Hoopes DVM, PhD , Brian W. Pogue PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.052","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.052","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To determine the timescale for ultra high dose rate (UHDR) radiation delivery that dictates FLASH normal tissue sparing and elucidate its relationship to in vivo oxygen dynamics. A split-dose experiment was used to determine the transition time below which the observation of the FLASH sparing effect is preserved.</div></div><div><h3>Methods and Materials</h3><div>A 25 Gy dose was split into 2 deliveries (12.5 Gy), with varied interruption times. Albino B6 mice received flank skin irradiation in 8 groups: single-beam UHDR (25 Gy at 415 Gy/s), single-beam conventional dose rate (CDR) (25 Gy at 0.15 Gy/s), or split-beam delivery with 2 lower-dose UHDR beams (12.5 Gy at 415 Gy/s) separated by 0.1, 1, 5, 15, 25, or 120 seconds. Skin damage was scored daily for 31 days, with mixed-effects analysis comparing damage progression across cohorts. Real-time tissue pO<sub>2</sub> was monitored using the phosphorescence-lifetime probe, Oxyphor PdG4. Radiolytic oxygen consumption per unit dose (g<sub>O2</sub>) and reoxygenation rates were quantified.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Single-beam UHDR significantly spared skin versus CDR. In split-dose groups, this sparing effect showed a transition at longer interbeam intervals. Damage progression remained significantly lower than CDR and comparable to single-beam UHDR (<em>P</em> > 0.16) for interruptions <15 seconds. Longer intervals progressively lost tissue sparing. Oximetry indicated an average tissue reoxygenation lifetime of 7.7 ± 1.1 seconds. At the delivery of the second beam, pO<sub>2</sub> remained lower when interbeam times were shorter than the reoxygenation period, but recovered fully for longer interruptions. The g<sub>O2</sub> values correlated with baseline tissue pO<sub>2</sub>.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Observation of the FLASH sparing effect requires delivery within a critical temporal window that is similar to the timescale of tissue reoxygenation kinetics. The transition time for loss of the FLASH sparing effect in skin roughly corresponds to a diffusion timescale for oxygen, from capillaries to the cells. Although not conclusively demonstrating a mechanism, this unique finding supports the likelihood that local oxygen depletion or consumption underlies the FLASH tissue sparing effect observed in vivo, with important implications for clinical implementation and the timescale needed for multibeam FLASH radiation therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14215,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics","volume":"124 3","pages":"Pages 831-841"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145228456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.042
Cong Bo MD , Zhenhuan Lv MPharm , Hong Zhang MMed , Xianmin Hou MMed , Yinxin Wang MBBS , Jing Liu MD , Xue Meng MD
Purpose
Intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) may preserve the immune response more effectively than intensity modulated photon radiation therapy (IMRT) owing to its dosimetric advantages, making it a potentially superior modality in immunotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical benefits of IMPT versus IMRT during immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment.
Methods and Materials
We retrospectively analyzed the data of 466 patients (IMPT group, n = 109; IMRT group, n = 357) who received radiation therapy (RT) during ICI therapy between July 2022 and September 2024. Propensity score matching was applied to balance clinical characteristics. The primary endpoint was the duration of response (DoR). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) and post-RT adverse events. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to calculate survival curves and identify independent prognostic factors. The threshold used to dichotomize post-RT lymphocyte count was 0.5 × 109/L.
Results
Baseline clinical characteristics were balanced after propensity score matching. The IMPT group showed significantly longer median DoR (17.7 vs 5.7 months; P = .0001) and PFS (18.8 vs 6.8 months; P < .0001) than the IMRT group. Multivariable regression revealed IMPT to be an independent predictor of improved DoR (hazard ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.21-0.55; P < .0001) and PFS (hazard ratio, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.25-0.52; P < .0001). Subgroup analyses suggested greater benefit of IMPT over IMRT in patients with a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥4, lung cancer, advanced-stage disease, or those receiving palliative, thoracic, or abdominal/pelvic RT. Higher post-RT lymphocyte counts in the IMPT group showed potential correlation with improved DoR and PFS. Additionally, the IMPT group had fewer grade ≥2 post-RT adverse events (P = .012).
Conclusions
IMPT is linked to enhanced efficacy of ICIs, compared with IMRT, by improving DoR and PFS with tolerable adverse effects. Higher post-RT lymphocyte counts may be associated with improved survival in patients receiving IMPT during ICI therapy. These findings suggest that IMPT may be a preferable option for preserving immune function, thereby optimizing outcomes during immunotherapy.
{"title":"Proton Therapy May Reduce the Risk of Cancer Progression During Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Intensity Modulated Proton Versus Photon Radiation Therapy","authors":"Cong Bo MD , Zhenhuan Lv MPharm , Hong Zhang MMed , Xianmin Hou MMed , Yinxin Wang MBBS , Jing Liu MD , Xue Meng MD","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) may preserve the immune response more effectively than intensity modulated photon radiation therapy (IMRT) owing to its dosimetric advantages, making it a potentially superior modality in immunotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical benefits of IMPT versus IMRT during immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Methods and Materials</h3><div>We retrospectively analyzed the data of 466 patients (IMPT group, n = 109; IMRT group, n = 357) who received radiation therapy (RT) during ICI therapy between July 2022 and September 2024. Propensity score matching was applied to balance clinical characteristics. The primary endpoint was the duration of response (DoR). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) and post-RT adverse events. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to calculate survival curves and identify independent prognostic factors. The threshold used to dichotomize post-RT lymphocyte count was 0.5 × 10<sup>9</sup>/L.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Baseline clinical characteristics were balanced after propensity score matching. The IMPT group showed significantly longer median DoR (17.7 vs 5.7 months; <em>P</em> = .0001) and PFS (18.8 vs 6.8 months; <em>P</em> < .0001) than the IMRT group. Multivariable regression revealed IMPT to be an independent predictor of improved DoR (hazard ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.21-0.55; <em>P</em> < .0001) and PFS (hazard ratio, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.25-0.52; <em>P</em> < .0001). Subgroup analyses suggested greater benefit of IMPT over IMRT in patients with a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥4, lung cancer, advanced-stage disease, or those receiving palliative, thoracic, or abdominal/pelvic RT. Higher post-RT lymphocyte counts in the IMPT group showed potential correlation with improved DoR and PFS. Additionally, the IMPT group had fewer grade ≥2 post-RT adverse events (<em>P</em> = .012).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>IMPT is linked to enhanced efficacy of ICIs, compared with IMRT, by improving DoR and PFS with tolerable adverse effects. Higher post-RT lymphocyte counts may be associated with improved survival in patients receiving IMPT during ICI therapy. These findings suggest that IMPT may be a preferable option for preserving immune function, thereby optimizing outcomes during immunotherapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14215,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics","volume":"124 3","pages":"Pages 733-744"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-09-23DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.034
Kimberly A. Luddy PhD , Jeffrey West PhD , Mark Robertson-Tessi PhD , Bina Desai PhD , Andrew Ojeda MS , Hannah Newman , Veronica Estrella MS , Taylor M. Bursell , Sarah Barrett PhD , Jacintha O’Sullivan PhD , Laure Marignol PhD , Robert A. Gatenby MD , Joel S. Brown PhD , Alexander R.A. Anderson PhD , Cliona O’Farrelly PhD
<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Evolution-informed therapies exploit evolutionary consequences of drug resistance to inhibit treatment resistance and prolong time to progression. One strategy, termed an evolutionary double-bind, uses an initial therapy to elicit a specific adaptive response by cancer cells, which is then selectively targeted by a follow-on therapy. Although the concept of an evolutionary double-bind has long been hypothesized in cancer, it has not been measured. Here, to our knowledge, we present the first example of a quantifiable double-bind: radiation therapy (RT) with natural killer (NK) cells. RT induces lethal double-strand DNA breaks, but cancer cells adapt. Although this increases resistance to DNA-damaging agents, it also enhances expression of NK cell ligands creating an obvious choice for a double-bind strategy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods and Materials</h3><div>We investigated this potential evolutionary double-bind through in vitro studies and evolution-based mathematical models. Using multiple prostate cancer cell lines, we evaluated surface and soluble NK ligand expression following RT. In vitro competition experiments were performed with an isogenic radiation-resistant cell line model. We introduced a two-population Lotka-Volterra competition model, consisting of radiation-sensitive and radiation-resistant populations modeling intrinsic growth rates with fixed carrying capacity and inter-specific competition terms.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Alterations in NK cell ligands resulted in a twofold increase in sensitivity to NK cell-mediated killing with selective targeting of RT-resistant cells. These dynamics were framed mathematically to quantify the double bind. RT alone slowed overall growth but strongly selected for RT-resistant cells. NK cell therapy alone suppressed the RT-resistant population, but with a surviving population of radiation-sensitive cells. Model simulation predicted that optimal tumor control would be achieved through initial RT followed by NK cells. Subsequent experiments confirmed the model prediction.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We conclude that RT and NK cell-based immunotherapy produce an evolutionary double-bind. This multidimensional approach addresses the immediate challenge of treatment resistance and lays the groundwork for the development of personalized treatment regimens tailored to the evolving dynamics of individual tumors.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Clinical experience demonstrates that prostate cancer has a remarkable capacity to evolve resistance to all currently available treatments resulting in progression and, ultimately, patient death. Resistance mechanisms often come at a fitness cost placing cells in a bind when competing with surrounding cells. A carefully chosen secondary drug can introduce a double-bind targeting the adaptive resistance mechanism. This manuscript provides the first direct experimental evidence quantifying an “evolutionar
{"title":"Evolutionary Double-Bind Treatment Using Radiation Therapy and Natural Killer Cell-Based Immunotherapy in Prostate Cancer","authors":"Kimberly A. Luddy PhD , Jeffrey West PhD , Mark Robertson-Tessi PhD , Bina Desai PhD , Andrew Ojeda MS , Hannah Newman , Veronica Estrella MS , Taylor M. Bursell , Sarah Barrett PhD , Jacintha O’Sullivan PhD , Laure Marignol PhD , Robert A. Gatenby MD , Joel S. Brown PhD , Alexander R.A. Anderson PhD , Cliona O’Farrelly PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Evolution-informed therapies exploit evolutionary consequences of drug resistance to inhibit treatment resistance and prolong time to progression. One strategy, termed an evolutionary double-bind, uses an initial therapy to elicit a specific adaptive response by cancer cells, which is then selectively targeted by a follow-on therapy. Although the concept of an evolutionary double-bind has long been hypothesized in cancer, it has not been measured. Here, to our knowledge, we present the first example of a quantifiable double-bind: radiation therapy (RT) with natural killer (NK) cells. RT induces lethal double-strand DNA breaks, but cancer cells adapt. Although this increases resistance to DNA-damaging agents, it also enhances expression of NK cell ligands creating an obvious choice for a double-bind strategy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods and Materials</h3><div>We investigated this potential evolutionary double-bind through in vitro studies and evolution-based mathematical models. Using multiple prostate cancer cell lines, we evaluated surface and soluble NK ligand expression following RT. In vitro competition experiments were performed with an isogenic radiation-resistant cell line model. We introduced a two-population Lotka-Volterra competition model, consisting of radiation-sensitive and radiation-resistant populations modeling intrinsic growth rates with fixed carrying capacity and inter-specific competition terms.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Alterations in NK cell ligands resulted in a twofold increase in sensitivity to NK cell-mediated killing with selective targeting of RT-resistant cells. These dynamics were framed mathematically to quantify the double bind. RT alone slowed overall growth but strongly selected for RT-resistant cells. NK cell therapy alone suppressed the RT-resistant population, but with a surviving population of radiation-sensitive cells. Model simulation predicted that optimal tumor control would be achieved through initial RT followed by NK cells. Subsequent experiments confirmed the model prediction.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We conclude that RT and NK cell-based immunotherapy produce an evolutionary double-bind. This multidimensional approach addresses the immediate challenge of treatment resistance and lays the groundwork for the development of personalized treatment regimens tailored to the evolving dynamics of individual tumors.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Clinical experience demonstrates that prostate cancer has a remarkable capacity to evolve resistance to all currently available treatments resulting in progression and, ultimately, patient death. Resistance mechanisms often come at a fitness cost placing cells in a bind when competing with surrounding cells. A carefully chosen secondary drug can introduce a double-bind targeting the adaptive resistance mechanism. This manuscript provides the first direct experimental evidence quantifying an “evolutionar","PeriodicalId":14215,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics","volume":"124 3","pages":"Pages 702-716"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145148974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.10.042
Daniel W. Golden MD, MHPE
{"title":"After Burnout: Reigniting the Flame","authors":"Daniel W. Golden MD, MHPE","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.10.042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.10.042","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14215,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics","volume":"124 3","pages":"Pages 588-594"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.038
Shane R. Stecklein MD, PhD , Roberto Salgado MD, PhD , Julia R. White MD , Bruce F. Kimler PhD , Rachel Yoder MS , Joshua M. Staley MS , Anne P. O’Dea MD , Lauren E. Nye MD , Deepti Satelli MD , Gregory J. Crane MD , Rashna Madan MD , Maura F. O’Neil MD , Andrew K. Godwin PhD , Harsh Pathak PhD , Qamar J. Khan MD , Joyce O’Shaughnessy MD , Priyanka Sharma MD
Purpose
The radiosensitivity index (RSI) is a validated gene expression-based biomarker that can predict intrinsic radiosensitivity and has been shown to be associated with local control in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treated with upfront surgery. Currently, most patients with TNBC receive neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST). Whether the RSI predicts response to NAST and how the RSI and predicted radiosensitivity are altered by exposure to NAST is unknown.
Methods and Materials
Total RNA was extracted from pretreatment core needle biopsy specimens from 197 patients with TNBC treated on the NeoSTOP (NCT02413320) and NeoPACT (NCT03639948) trials. Total RNA was also extracted from paired post-NAST (residual disease) tumor tissue in 58 patients. A published algorithm using 10 genes was used to compute the RSI for each tumor. Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) were scored on pretreatment and post-NAST samples by an expert breast pathologist according to international consensus guidelines. CIBERSORTx was used to impute leukocyte fractions in samples using RNA-sequencing data.
Results
Cluster analysis of RSI genes in pretreatment samples revealed immune-depleted and immune-enriched groups, and this classification was strongly associated with sTIL infiltration (P < .0001) and likelihood of achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) (P = .001). RSI showed associations (false discovery rate q < 0.01) with M0 and M1 macrophages, CD4+ memory resting, CD4+ memory activated, CD8+, and follicular helper T-cells, activated natural killer cells, naïve and memory B cells, and resting dendritic cells on CIBERSORTx leukocyte deconvolution. In the entire cohort, NAST-induced change in RSI was variable, but among initially RSI-immune-enriched tumors that did not achieve pCR, there was a significant decrease in predicted radiosensitivity between paired pretreatment and post-NAST samples. NAST-induced reduction in sTILs and naïve B cells may be associated with this decrease in radiosensitivity.
Conclusions
Pretreatment RSI cluster identity is associated with the degree of immune enrichment and response to NAST in TNBC. Initially immune-enriched TNBCs that do not achieve a pCR to NAST exhibit a decrease in predicted radiosensitivity compared with paired pretreatment tumors.
{"title":"Analysis of the Radiosensitivity Index in Paired Preneoadjuvant and Postneoadjuvant Therapy Triple-Negative Breast Cancer","authors":"Shane R. Stecklein MD, PhD , Roberto Salgado MD, PhD , Julia R. White MD , Bruce F. Kimler PhD , Rachel Yoder MS , Joshua M. Staley MS , Anne P. O’Dea MD , Lauren E. Nye MD , Deepti Satelli MD , Gregory J. Crane MD , Rashna Madan MD , Maura F. O’Neil MD , Andrew K. Godwin PhD , Harsh Pathak PhD , Qamar J. Khan MD , Joyce O’Shaughnessy MD , Priyanka Sharma MD","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.038","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.09.038","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The radiosensitivity index (RSI) is a validated gene expression-based biomarker that can predict intrinsic radiosensitivity and has been shown to be associated with local control in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treated with upfront surgery. Currently, most patients with TNBC receive neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST). Whether the RSI predicts response to NAST and how the RSI and predicted radiosensitivity are altered by exposure to NAST is unknown.</div></div><div><h3>Methods and Materials</h3><div>Total RNA was extracted from pretreatment core needle biopsy specimens from 197 patients with TNBC treated on the NeoSTOP (NCT02413320) and NeoPACT (NCT03639948) trials. Total RNA was also extracted from paired post-NAST (residual disease) tumor tissue in 58 patients. A published algorithm using 10 genes was used to compute the RSI for each tumor. Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) were scored on pretreatment and post-NAST samples by an expert breast pathologist according to international consensus guidelines. CIBERSORTx was used to impute leukocyte fractions in samples using RNA-sequencing data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Cluster analysis of RSI genes in pretreatment samples revealed immune-depleted and immune-enriched groups, and this classification was strongly associated with sTIL infiltration (<em>P</em> < .0001) and likelihood of achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) (<em>P</em> = .001). RSI showed associations (false discovery rate <em>q</em> < 0.01) with M0 and M1 macrophages, CD4+ memory resting, CD4+ memory activated, CD8+, and follicular helper T-cells, activated natural killer cells, naïve and memory B cells, and resting dendritic cells on CIBERSORTx leukocyte deconvolution. In the entire cohort, NAST-induced change in RSI was variable, but among initially RSI-immune-enriched tumors that did not achieve pCR, there was a significant decrease in predicted radiosensitivity between paired pretreatment and post-NAST samples. NAST-induced reduction in sTILs and naïve B cells may be associated with this decrease in radiosensitivity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Pretreatment RSI cluster identity is associated with the degree of immune enrichment and response to NAST in TNBC. Initially immune-enriched TNBCs that do not achieve a pCR to NAST exhibit a decrease in predicted radiosensitivity compared with paired pretreatment tumors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14215,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics","volume":"124 3","pages":"Pages 717-725"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145181895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}