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Purpose: The presence of women and people underrepresented in medicine (URiM) continues to be lower in radiation oncology (RO) than within the United States population, medical school graduates, and oncology fellowship applicants. The objective of this study was to identify demographics of matriculating medical students who are inclined to consider pursuing a residency in RO and identify barriers to entry that students may perceive before medical school training. Methods and Materials: A survey of incoming medical students at New York Medical College was distributed via e-mail and assessed demographic background information, interest in and awareness of oncologic subspecialties, and perceived barriers to RO. Results: Students of the incoming class of 2026 had a complete response rate of 72% (155 complete responses and 8 incomplete responses of 214 class members). Two-thirds of participants had prior awareness of RO, and half have considered pursuing an oncologic subspecialty, but less than one-fourth have ever previously considered a career in RO. Students responded that they need more education, clinical exposure, and mentorship to increase their chance of choosing RO. Male participants had 3.4 times the odds of having an acquaintance in the community tell them about the specialty and also had significantly greater interest in using advanced technologies. There were no URiM participants who had personal relationships with an RO physician compared with 6 (4.5%) non-URiM participants. The average response to “What is the likelihood that you will pursue a career in RO?” showed no significant difference between genders. Conclusions: All races and ethnicities scored a similar likelihood of pursuing a career in RO, which differs greatly from the current RO workforce. Responses emphasized the importance of education, mentorship, and exposure to RO. This study demonstrates the need for support of female and URiM students during medical school.

Studies of dose-escalated external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and low dose rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) have shown excellent rates of tumor control and cancer specific survival. Moreover, LDR-BT combined with EBRT (i.e. "LDR-BT boost") is hypothesized to improve local control. While phase II trials with LDR-BT boost have produced mature data of outcomes and toxicities, high dose rate (HDR)-BT has been growing in popularity as an alternative boost therapy. Boost from HDR-BT has theoretical advantages over LDR-BT, including improved cancer cell death and better dose distribution from customization of catheter dwell times, locations, and inverse dose optimization. Freedom from biochemical failure rates at five years for low-, intermediate-, high-risk, and locally advanced patients have generally been 85-100%, 80-98%, 59-96%, and 34-85%, respectively. Late Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grade 3-4 toxicities have also been encouraging with <6% of patients experiencing any toxicity. Limitations of current HDR-BT boost studies include reports of only single-institution experiences, and unrefined reports of toxicity or patient quality of life. Comparative effectiveness research will help guide clinicians in selecting the most appropriate treatment option for individual patients based on risk-stratification, expected outcomes, toxicities, quality of life, and cost., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the incidence and predictors of clinician-scored gynecomastia induced by 6 months of combined androgen blockade (CAB) in a randomized trial., Methods: We studied 94 men with intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer randomized to radiation plus 6 months of neoadjuvant CAB consisting of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and antiandrogen (flutamide). Patients were assessed for breast symptoms monthly as per protocol. Patients reporting breast tenderness or enlargement were then examined shirtless., Results: Median age at entry was 72.1 years. While 52 patients (55.3%) reported either breast tenderness or enlargement, only 9 patients (9.6%) were scored as having gynecomastia when examined shirtless by a single clinician. Four patients received radiation for self-reported breast tenderness or enlargement without clinician-scored gynecomastia. If these 4 had not been radiated, the total incidence of clinician-scored gynecomastia may have been as high as 13 of 94 (13.8%). No patient variable, such as age, body-mass index, and Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 score, or discontinuation of the antiandrogen, was associated with the development of gynecomastia., Conclusions: While many patients self-reported breast tenderness or enlargement with short-course CAB, the incidence of breast enlargement noticeable to an examiner when the patient was shirtless was less than 15%, which is much lower than the 60% to 80% rates typically reported with antiandrogen monotherapy. Given that the long-term risks of prophylactic breast irradiation are not well characterized, these data suggest that prophylactic breast irradiation may not be as necessary in men receiving short-course CAB., (Copyright © 2012 American Society for Radiation Oncology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This study was performed to define the rectal dose constraint that would predict late rectal bleeding requiring argon plasma coagulation (APC) following prostate brachy mono-therapy., Methods and Materials: Between February 1999 and April 2002, 91 patients with low risk prostate cancer underwent permanent I(125) radioactive seed implantation without the use of supplemental external beam radiation or androgen suppression therapy. Patients received both CT and MRI scans 6 weeks postimplant for evaluation of dosimetry. The CT and MRI scans were fused. Rectal volumes were contoured on the T2 weighted MR images. For those patients requiring APC, the date on which a patient reported rectal bleeding was recorded. A Cox regression analysis was performed to assess whether there was a significant association between the rectal volume (continuous) exceeding 100 Gy time rectal bleeding. Comparisons of estimates of rectal bleeding requiring APC were made using a 2-sided log rank test., Results: There was a significant association (hazard ratio = 5.6 [95% confidence interval: 1.3, 23.8]; P = 0.002) between the rectal volume exceeding 100 Gy and rectal bleeding requiring APC. After a median follow-up of 4.25 (1-6) years, no patient with less than a median value of 8 cc of rectum exceeding 100 Gy required APC, whereas 20% (P = 0.004) were estimated to require APC within 3 years following treatment., Conclusions: Keeping the rectal volume receiving more than 100 Gy below 8 cc will minimize the risk of rectal bleeding requiring APC following I(125) permanent prostate brachy mono-therapy.