Description
EORTC has a strong track record in initiating and conducting radiotherapy-based clinical trials across disease types. This follows the group’s strategy to challenge, re-define and develop standards of care for loco-regional treatments. Our scientific projects are designed and conducted to integrate disciplines such as imaging, translational research, quality of life and quality assurance.
The Radiation Oncology Group (ROG) is open to cooperative projects involving other EORTC groups and external cooperations, for example with neuro-oncology networks in Canada, Australia and the US. The group places special emphasis on recruiting and mentoring junior colleagues who are interested in pursuing an academic career in the field of radiation oncology.
In addition, EORTC runs an extensive Radiotherapy Quality Assurance programme (link to RTQA section) to ensure the consistency and reliability of imaging data across all EORTC clinical trials involving radiotherapy.
EORTC is also building a European network of Radiation Therapy Technologists, who are involved in clinical research and quality assurance projects.
Recruiting Clinical Trials
All clinical trials in this research field-
Phase 2-3
Trial of preoperative therapy for gastric and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma. A randomized phase II/III trial of preoperative chemoradiotherapy versus preoperative chemotherapy for resectable gastric cancer.
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Phase 3
Radiation versus Observation following surgical resection of Atypical Meningioma: a randomised controlled trial (The ROAM trial) / EORTC 1308
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Phase 3
Phase IIIb randomized trial comparing irradiation plus long term adjuvant androgen deprivation with GnRH antagonist versus GnRH agonist plus flare protection in patients with very high risk localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. A joint study of the EORTC ROG and GUCG
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Phase 3
Phase III study assessing the “best of” radiotherapy compared to the “best of” surgery (trans-oral surgery (TOS)) in patients with T1-T2, N0-N1 oropharyngeal, supraglottic carcinoma and with T1, N0 hypopharyngeal carcinoma
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Cohort
Follow-up in Early and Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Patients: An EORTC QLG-BCG- ROG Protocol
Main Achievements
EORTC research in the field of radiation oncology has resulted in many advances in the discipline and in treating certain cancers, notably:
Major improvement in overall survival for locally-advanced prostate cancer by combining radiation with three years of androgen suppression. (link to publication)
Reducing the risk for symptomatic brain metastases in small cell lung cancer with prophylactic cranial irradiation. (link to publication)
Reduced risk of relapse in early breast cancer with an additional dose of radiotherapy. (link to publication)
The definition of a contemporary Quality Assurance benchmark for radiation trials
The establishment of technical guidelines to define irradiation volumes in several cancers
Established preoperative chemoradiation as the new standard of care for the treatment of locally-advanced, resectable rectal cancer (link to publication)
Research Group
Group documents-
Chair
Wilfried Budach
Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf , Germany
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SecretarySandra Nuyts
U.Z. Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
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Treasurer
Sara Ramella
Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico
Roma , Italy
Radiation Therapy Technologists Section
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M. van Os - Rotterdam, NL
Chair
Erasmus MC Cancer Institute - location Daniel den Hoed
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M. Walczak - Kielce, PL
Secretary
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I. Kristensen - Lund, SE
Board member
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M. Rossi - Amsterdam, NL
Board member
The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni Van Leeuwenhoekziekenhuis
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B. Speleers - Ghent, BE
Board member
Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent
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H. van der Laan - Groningen, NL
Board member
University Medical Center Groningen
Notable Publications
All publications on this research field-
2019
Bringing Europe together in building clinical evidence for proton therapy - the EPTN-ESTRO-EORTC endeavor
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1991
The predictive value of cell kinetic measurements in an European trial of accelerated fractionation in advanced head and neck tumors: An interim report. Proc. Workshop on Accelerated Radiotherapy with Carbogen and Nicotinamide, Northwood, United Kingdom, June 2-3, 1991 (abs. pp. 16-18)
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1991
Non conventional fractionation in the radiation therapy of head and neck cancers. Experience of the EORTC Cooperative Group of Radiotherapy. Communication at the XIX Congresso Nazionale dell'Associazione Italiana di Radiobiologia, Torino, Italy, 1991
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1991
The EORTC Radiotherapy Group experience: Phase III trials in hyperfractionation and accelerated fractionation in head and neck cancers. Communication at the ASTRO Congress, Washington, DC, U.S.A., November 6, 1991
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1991
The EORTC accelerated regime. Proc. Workshop on Accelerated Radiotherapy with Carbogen and Nicotinamide, Northwood, United Kingdom, June 2-3, 1991 (abs. pp. 12-15)