The Accelerators Podcast

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TAP kicks off a journal club format by dissecting the phase III BART trial on adjuvant radiation therapy after radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. 

Cam Tharp, MS hosts radiation oncologists Drs. Comron Hassanzadeh and Stephanie Dudzinski to led discussion of this important trial. 

The Accelerators Podcast is a Photon Media production. For more from Matt, visit his website. For more from Simul, visit his blog, Radiation Medicine: Dollars and Sense.

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Accelerator Dr. Simul Parikh hosts urologist Dr. Riccardo Bertolo, MD, PhD, first author of a recent article on late toxicities of radiotherapy for prostate cancer: 

Real-World Burden and Management of Late Genitourinary Toxicity After Prostate Radiotherapy: Insights from IRRADIaTE, the Italian Registry of Radiotherapy-Associated Disorders and Urological Treatment & Evaluation

Online discussion about this article was... divisive.

Simul and Riccardo discuss the motivation behind the study, some limitations, and Riccardo's experience using AI for the visual abstract.

They share experiences working with urology and radiation oncology, discuss training, and explore patient selection for surgery or radiation. 

Finally, importantly, they discuss physicians as keyboard warriors, peer engagement, and social media in medicine. 

The Accelerators Podcast is a Photon Media production. For more from Matt, visit his website. For more from Simul, visit his blog, Radiation Medicine: Dollars and Sense.

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Accelerator Dr. Matt Spraker hosts Drs. Ana Kiess, Brandon Mancini, and Dustin Boothe to review radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPTs), aka theranostics. 

In part 2 of our RPT mini-series, Ana, Brandon, and Dustin share some of their experience with the practical aspects of launching a RPT program. 

We discuss collaborating with administrators to launch a program and required clinic space to deliver these therapies. General tips the clinical management of patients under treatment are also shared.

The discussion continues with a review of informed consent, radiation safety, and potential side effects patients may notice with RPTs.

We close with, Ana, Brandon, and Dustin sharing practical advice for growing a new RPT program.

Don't miss these great editorials about the economics of RPT programs:

Amdur et al., Answering the Call

Beckta et al., ROs and RP Therapy

The Accelerators Podcast is a Photon Media production. For more from Matt, visit his website. For more from Simul, visit his blog, Radiation Medicine: Dollars and Sense.

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Accelerator Dr. Simul Parikh hosts Dr. Eliane Garlock to discuss health and longevity for our patients and ourselves. Eliane is a doctor of osteopathic medicine and radiation oncology resident at VCU.

Simul and Eliane discuss the benefits of exercise, fiber and diets, smoking cessation, and alcohol as a carcinogen. They also cover supplements and complementary therapies such as vitamin D, creatine, and ivermectin. 

They close with a discussion of sleep and 3 things Eliane wants to see further studied in oncology.

Here are some other things that were discussed during the show:

• Ekelund et al., 2022. Small amounts of exercise averts deaths
• The CHALLENGE Trial
• Book Recommendation from Matt, Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz
• E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)
• The VITAL Trial
• The SUNSHINE Trial
• Trial of ivermectin and balstilimab in metastatic TNBC
• The SELECT Trial (NCI Website)

The Accelerators Podcast is a Photon Media production. For more from Matt, visit his website. For more from Simul, visit his blog, Radiation Medicine: Dollars and Sense.

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Accelerator Dr. Matt Spraker hosts Drs. Ana Kiess, Brandon Mancini, and Dustin Boothe to review radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPTs), aka theranostics. 

The first episode in this TAP miniseries starts by reviewing how we define radiopharmaceutical therapy for our patients and colleagues. We review Lutathera and Pluvicto including indications for treatment. 

We then review aspects of training and how we've collaborated with nuclear medicine and radiology in training and practice. 

We close the episode scratching the surface of RPT radiobiology, beta versus alpha emitters and BED concepts.

The Accelerators Podcast is a Photon Media production. For more from Matt, visit his website. For more from Simul, visit his blog, Radiation Medicine: Dollars and Sense.

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TAP is back with another live podcast for ASTRO 2025! Well, sort of. 

The Accelerators (Drs. Matt Spraker and Simul Parikh) didn't make it to the meeting this year and we were missing our time with our friends! 

We invited Drs. Laura Dover, Jamie Pawlowski, and Jeff Ryckman to hang out and discuss some of the new data from this year's meeting. 

Here are the studies we discussed:

1. RADCOMP
2. NRG BN001
3. NOM-ERA
4. PACE C / GU005
5. NRG GU006
6. LUNAR
7. EXTEND 

The Accelerators Podcast is a Photon Media production. For more from Matt, visit his website. For more from Simul, visit his blog, Radiation Medicine: Dollars and Sense.

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The Accelerators co-host Dr. Matt Spraker is joined by two experts in brachytherapy for brain tumors, Radiation Onocologist and CMO of GT Medical Technologies Dr. Michael Garcia, MD, MS and Neurosurgeon Dr. Simon Hanft, MD, FAANS.

We first review the origin story of GammaTile, an evolution of the practice of brachytherapy for brain tumors. 

Simon then shares how he has deployed GammaTile in his practice. We dive in to patient selection, how the design facilitates a shallow technical learning curve, and the process of prescribing and placing the implant.

Discussion then shifts to research. We review some of the published studies (see links below) that support use of GammaTile for both brain metastases and recurrent primary brain tumors, such as GBM and meningioma. We also discuss some recently completed and soon-to-open trials, including Mike's creative idea - time intensification! -  to move the needle on outcomes for glioblastoma. 

Here are some of the studies we discussed and other useful links:

• The ROADS Study 
• The GESTALT Study
• Ekhator et al., Review of GammaTile Studies 
• Prasad et al., Radiation Protection Considerations for GammaTile
• Griffin et al., Fast Neutron Therapy for GBM
• Beckham et al., GammaTile for Salvage of Recurrent Brain Mets and a nice industry summary of findings in context (BioSpace)
• Dr. Simon Hanft, Building a Successful GammaTile Program (YouTube)
• A nice Insta patient video by a Dr. Bohnen, a neurosurgeon at Matt's center

Editor's Note: TAP were compensated for this episode and GT Medical Technologies participated in planning the content. The discussions in this episode are the opinions of the participants and are not clinical advice.

Please see our website for complete information on our past and current sponsors.

The Accelerators Podcast is a Photon Media production. 

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Welcome to Season 4! 

The Accelerators (Dr. Matt Spraker and Cameron Tharp, MPH, RT(T)) kick it off with a sequel to our prior podcast on the Advanced Practice Radiation Therapist (APRT) role. 

We host friends-of-the-show Drs. Join Luh and Marsha Haley, Radiation Oncologists who bring important past experiences and unique expertise to the discussion. 

We kick off by examining some articles from the Spring 2025 issue of ASRT's Radiation Therapist:

• Caldwell and Lee, Defining Advanced Practice Radiation Therapy at MDACC
• Burch et al., Advanced Practice Role in IGSRT for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Treatment
• Beckert, Implementation of an APRT in Online Adaptive Radiation Therapy

We then explore "scope creep", a phrase used to describe mid-level healthcare provider encroachment on traditional physician roles. One example is the UPenn study comparing the interpretations of Radiology Assistants with physician residents. Don't miss the excellent YouTube review of this study by Physicians for Patient Protection. Join shares his experience with another example, California Assembly Bill (AB) 890.

Later, Join shares some discussion about the APRT among ASRT and CARROS members at the ACR 2025 meeting.

This leads to an open discussion of what APRTs should do -- versus could do -- in a radiation oncology clinic. As evidenced by Table 1 in Caldwell and Lee, the tasks are wide ranging, may replicate existing roles of US radiation therapists, and might make more sense in international markets than in the United States.

We close by reviewing Marsha's letter to the IJROBP editor in response to an APRT role scoping review. 

Here are some other things we discussed in the episode.

• Physicians for Patient Protection Website
• AMA successfully fights scope of practice expansions (2024)
• Patients at Risk Audio and Video Podcast
• Council of Affiliated Regional Radiation Oncology Societies (CARROS)
• Beckert et al., Impact of APRT for on-table adaptive radiotherapy
• Shah et al., Radiation Oncology Workforce Analysis Review
• Book recommendation: Lower Ed by Tressie McMillan Cottom
• Patients at Risk Video - Deficiencies in NP Education

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The Accelerators (Drs. Matt Spraker and Simul Parikh) host the 2025 ACRO candidates for Vice President/President-Elect in the first ever radiation oncology election debate! 

Well, it's more like a friendly discussion, but Simul asked them their opinions on 4 great topics. 

1. What differentiates ACRO from other radiation oncology societies? 
2. Can you explain ACRO's position on physician supervision of radiation oncology services over the years? 
3. Why link accreditation to payment in ROCR?
4. Should proton therapy be included in ROCR, and what is your position on the PPS exemption program? 

The Accelerators Podcast is a Photon Media production. For more from Matt, visit his website. For more from Simul, visit his blog, Radiation Medicine: Dollars and Sense.

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Accelerators co-host Dr. Matt Spraker is joined by radiation oncologists Drs. Bobby Koneru and Mudit Chowdhary for an update on low dose radiotherapy for osteoarthritis! 

Dr. Koneru is a radiation oncologist in Freeport, IL and prolific social media educator on benign indications. Dr. Chowdhary is a radiation oncologist at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, and a friend of TAP (see his prior episodes).

We start by discussing their ASTRO 2024 panel on benign indications for radiotherapy; it sounds like there was a lot of knowledge sharing among those getting started with these treatments.

Bobby and Mudit share how they built a referral network for their successful practices.

We close by discussing some practical tips and recommended educational resources. 

Here are some other things we discussed in the show, or links that may be helpful in building your benign radiotherapy practice: 

• Matt's LDRT & Benign Resource List
• Radiotherapy Academy for Benign Diseases (RT-ABC)
• Makarova et al., RCT showing LDRT reduces disability risk in OA
• English Translation of the DEGRO-AG “Radiotherapy of Benign Diseases”
• TAP reviews LDRT with Dr. Austin Dove 
• Alvarez et al., Radiotherapy for Benign Conditions Contouring Atlas
• LDRT for arthritis PRIMR video

The Accelerators Podcast is a Photon Media production.