RTOG Foundation Newsletter

April 2024

info@rtog.org

In this Issue:

RTOG 3507 Interview with Dr. Stuart Wong
RTOG 3521 Interview with Dr. Anna Spreafico
New Investigator Spotlight: Dr. Wesley Talcott
RTOG Communications Internship
RTOG Foundation Investigators Meeting Recap at #NRG2024

Principal Investigator Interview:

The ‘KEYSTROKE’ RTOG 3507 Study of Pembrolizumab plus Stereotactic Re-Irradiation for Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

The RTOG 3507, also known as the ‘KEYSTROKE’ trial, is a currently active RTOG Foundation protocol that will be accessing the safety of the combination of pembrolizumab and re-irradiation with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for patients with recurrent or new secondary primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (Safety-run in). Following the safety run-in for this study, RTOG 3507 will compare progression free survival for patients with receiving SBRT re-irradiation with or without pembrolizumab.

Interview with Stuart Wong, MD, of the Medical College of Wisconsin and Principal Investigator of RTOG 3507.

Principal Investigator Interview:

RTOG 3521 Study of Combination Toripalimab and Chemotherapy in Recurrent Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Cancer

The RTOG 3521 is a trial that is currently enrolling sites for patients with recurrent, metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma that are systemic treatment naïve. This is a single-arm, multicenter, phase IV study of the immunotherapy drug toripalimab in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine in this patient population. The primary objective of this trial is to determine the efficacy of toripalimab with chemotherapy in terms of objective response rate. A key secondary objective of this study is evaluating the efficacy of toripalimab with chemotherapy in terms of duration of response.

Interview with Anna Spreafico, MD, PhD, of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Principal Investigator of RTOG 3521.

New Investigator Spotlight:

Wesley Talcott, MD

Dr. Wesley Talcott is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and a radiation oncologist at Northwell Health. Dr. Talcott’s work focuses on the use of radiotherapy for early breast cancer and treatment recommendations for elderly patients with breast cancer. One of his current projects “Rates of problematic plan detection and factors associated with detection during Radiation Oncology physician peer review: A multi-institutional prospective study” was recently presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in October 2023.

RTOG Foundation Communications Internship

Deadline for Applications: May 1, 2024

The RTOG Foundation Communications Committee is searching for communications interns! This will be a 12-month internship, ideal for radiation oncology residents looking for ways to get involved with cancer research and other organizational activities. Interns will work with RTOG communications staff to create social media content around RTOG Foundation trials. Interns will attend virtual meetings with the communications team, RTOG Foundation Board meetings, and will also have the opportunity to attend an RTOG investigators meeting. There will be a $1000 stipend for each intern.

Please contact info@rtog.org for questions.

Please submit a cover letter and your CV to info@rtog.org by MAY 1, 2024.

More Information

RTOG Foundation Investigators Meeting Recap

RTOG Foundation (RTOGF) held our second RTOGF Investigators Meeting during the Winter 2024 NRG Meeting in Orlando Florida. Presentations included updates from all RTOGF Committee leaders on their ongoing committee initiatives, news on active and developing RTOGF studies, and special presentations by Dr. Anna Spreafico on the RTOG 3521 "TRANSPARENT" trial and Dr. Neil Desai on the new investigator experience.

Did You Know?

There are several ways you can participate in RTOG Foundation as a member site, an industry collaborator, or by enrolling in one of our studies. Read more on our website about how you can partner with RTOG Foundation.

Learn more at www.RTOG.org/Partners