Mission of the Research Council
To share and advocate for research on skin cancer therapies
Dr. Lio Yu
Research Chair
Current Activities
Relating to dermatologic use of Radiation Therapy:
- Safety and Quality Assurance
- Effectiveness and cost of comparative modalities
- Access to skin ca RT technology
- Evaluation of alternative and emerging treatment modalities
- Toxicity management
- Awareness and Adoption of RT for dermatologic conditions
- Sanctioning and funding of DART research aims/priorities
Studies Supporting the Use of Radiation Therapy to Treat Skin Cancer
2024
Farber AS, et al. Geriatrics. 2024;9(5):114-127. doi:10.3390/geriatrics9050114
Retrospective cohort study to determine the freedom from recurrence rates at year 2, 4, and 6 post-treatment in patients ≥65 years (16,911 lesions) vs <65 years (3158 lesions) with nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC) treated with guideline-directed image-guided superficial radiation therapy (IGSRT).
IGSRT demonstrated a freedom from recurrence rate >99.5% at 2, 4, and 6 years post-treatment, regardless of age or gender. Patients ≥65 years did demonstrate a difference in freedom from recurrence rates when stratified by stage at 2, 4, and 6 years, with slightly poorer outcomes seen in patients with stage 2 NMSC.
Stricker JB, et al. Dermato. 2024;4:86-96. doi:10.3390/dermato4030010
Retrospective chart review of 883 patients with 1507 NMSC treated at 7 dermatology practices with IG-SRT showed 92% of NMSC lesions had daily depth fluctuations, with nearly 40% of lesions requiring at least one change during treatment.
Full dermal visualizations via high-resolution dermal ultrasound imaging informs providers of when adaptive changes in energy (kV), time dose fractionation, and dose are needed to optimize efficacy and minimize toxicity.
2023
Yu L, et al. BMC Cancer. 2023;23(1):98. doi:10.1186/s12885-023-10577-z
Logistic regression analysis comparing LC rates found in 4 studies using non–image-guided radiotherapy to LC rates of a study that used US-SRT, with stratification by histology (BCC, SCC, and SCCIS).
LC rates with US-SRT were statistically superior to those found in studies using non–image-guided radiation therapy, individually and comparatively and across histological subtypes, with P-values ranging from P<.0001 to P=.0438.
Tran A, et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023;149:6283-2691. doi:10.1007/s00432-023-04597-2
Retrospective chart review evaluating LC rates of 1243 patients with 1899 stage 0-II NMSC (BCC, SCC, and SCCIS) who received treatment with IG-SRT energies ranging from 50 to 100 kV, for a mean of 20.2 fractions, and treatment dose of 5364.4 cGy.
99.7% of patients achieved absolute lesion control after an average of 7.5 weeks of treatment, 99.6% of patients achieved stable control with >12 months follow-up, and 95% of lesions had an RTOG score of 1 or 2.
2022
Yu L, et al. Discov Onc. 2022;13:129. doi:10.1007/s12672-022-00593-z
Meta-analysis comparing LC rates of 2 seminal studies that used high-resolution dermal ultrasound-guided SRT (US-SRT) with 4 studies that used traditional non– image-guided radiotherapy (XRT and SRT) in the treatment of NMSC.
LC rates for the 2 US-SRT studies were statistically superior to the 4 traditional therapies individually and collectively. When stratified by histology, statistically superior outcomes for US-SRT were observed in all subtypes.
2021
Yu L, et al. Oncol Ther. 2021;9(1):153-166. doi:10.1007/s40487-021-00138-4
Retrospective chart review evaluating LC rates of 1632 patients with 2917 stage 0-II carcinomas.
99.3% LC rates with an industry-proven, 20-faction protocol—IG-SRT is safe and tolerable and should be considered a first-line option for NMSC.