Faculty and trainees from the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center contributed to 14 presentations, posters, scientific sessions and educational activities at the 2026 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting in Boston.

Their work spans clinical trials designed to reduce radiation side effects, comparisons of proton and traditional photon radiation, new approaches to treating brain, breast, gastrointestinal and skin cancers and strategies to improve quality of life. Cancer Center members also helped lead scientific sessions and research education at the meeting.

Together, the presentations demonstrate the Cancer Center's involvement in clinical research, treatment innovation, quality-of-life research and educating the next generation of cancer researchers and physicians.

Featured Oral Presentation: Reducing Radiation Exposure and Toxicity in Anal Cancer

Presentation: REDEL Trial: Phase II Trial of Reduced Elective Nodal Dose for Anal Cancer Toxicity Mitigation

Lead Author: Jordan Kharofa, MD
Co-Authors:  Bailey Nelson, MD; Kyle Wang, MD; Olugnenga Olowokure, MBBS; Adam Rojan, MD; Davendra Sohal, MD, MPH; Ian Paquette, MD; Jonathan Snyder, MD; Carla Justiniano, MD, MPH; Earl Thompson, MD; Shesh Rai, PhD.

A University of Cincinnati Cancer Center-led clinical trial found that reducing the amount of radiation delivered to certain pelvic lymph nodes significantly lowered the overall burden of treatment-related side effects for people with anal cancer while maintaining high rates of cancer control.

The phase II REDEL trial, led by Jordan Kharofa, MD, enrolled 33 patients at 3 sites and tested a different approach to delivering radiation. Patients received a lower dose to lymph nodes where cancer cells might be present but could not be detected, while known tumors continued to receive higher doses.

The approach addresses a challenge in treating anal cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy can be effective at controlling the disease, but treatment can also cause significant skin, digestive, urinary and blood-related side effects. Researchers wanted to determine whether modern radiation techniques could safely reduce the dose delivered to areas at risk while continuing to treat known cancer aggressively.

Rather than measuring only each patient's single worst side effect, the researchers evaluated the cumulative burden of side effects experienced during treatment and through 90 days afterward. By that measure, patients in REDEL experienced significantly less overall toxicity than patients in a previous national clinical trial that used a higher radiation dose to elective lymph nodes.

Early cancer-control results were also encouraging. After a median follow-up of 16 months, researchers had observed no cancer recurrences in the lymph nodes treated with the lower dose. At 6 months, 97% of patients had no detectable signs of cancer during clinical evaluation. An estimated 90% of patients were alive without their cancer progressing at 18 months, and 96% were alive overall.

The study also showed where more work is needed. Patient-reported digestive symptoms were common during radiation but generally improved afterward. High-grade diarrhea, for example, decreased from 50% of patients during the fifth week of treatment to 12% at 6 months. Problems with bowel control also improved by one measure, but a separate assessment found significant bowel-control problems persisted for many patients at 6 months.

Researchers said the findings support further study of reduced-dose radiation as a way to make anal cancer treatment easier on patients without sacrificing control of cancer in at-risk lymph nodes. They also highlighted the need for additional strategies to protect bowel function and quality of life after treatment.

Read the Abstract

Other Research

The REDEL trial was one of several studies involving Cancer Center researchers presented at the 2026 American Society for Radiation Oncology annual meeting. Other research examined proton therapy for liver and brain cancers, approaches to reducing radiation-related side effects and strategies for shortening or improving radiation treatments.

Other work included:

Presentation: Initial Results of NRG Oncology NRG-GI003: A Phase III Randomized Trial of Protons vs. Photons for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

• First Author: Theodore Hong, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Co-Authors: Jordan Kharofa, MD
• Read the Abstract

Presentation: TRIDENT: Phase 3 Trial of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Therapy Concurrent with Temozolomide Radiochemotherapy Followed by Maintenance TMZ and TTFields for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma

• First Author: Wenyin Shi, MD, PhD, Thomas Jefferson University
• Co-Authors: Kyle Wang, MD
• Read the Abstract

Poster: Treated and Replanned Hippocampal Doses in Patients Receiving Photon vs. Proton RT for Favorable Grade 2-3 IDH-Mutant Gliomas

• First Author: Alyssa Davis, BS, UC Medical Student
• Co-Authors: S. Ortega; S. Johnson; M. Westerfield; T. Lo Greco; T. MacDonald; Timothy Struve, MD; L.E. Pater
• Senior PI: Kyle Wang, MD
• Read the Abstract

Poster: Multi-Institutional Analysis of Dose and Factors Associated with All-Cause Morbidity After Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Intact Melanoma Brain Metastases

• First Author: Own Snyder, BA, UC Medical Student
• Co-Authors: A. Farley; P. Lui; Timothy Stuve, MD; Jonathan Forbes, MD; N. Andaluz; Lalanthica Yogendran, MD, MPH; L.E. Pater; Rekha Chaudhary, MD
• Senior PI: Kyle Wang, MD
• Read the Abstract

Poster: Impact of Tumor Volume on Dosimetry and Sphere Conformality in Lattice Radiation Therapy

• First Author: Joana Mora, BS, UC Medical Student
• Co-Authors: A. Farley; P. Lui; Timothy Stuve, MD; Jonathan Forbes, MD; N. Andaluz, Lalanthica Yogendran, MD, MPH; L.E. Pater; Rekha Chaudhary, MD
• Senior PI: Andrew Frankart, MD
• Read the Abstract

Poster: An Institutional Experience of Radiotherapy for Sialorrhea in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• First Author: Lakhvir “Lucky” Sandhu, MD, UC Resident
• Co-Authors: N. Oakley; R. Neel; J. Jamecek; L.E. Pater
• Senior PI: Bailey Nelson, MD
• Read the Abstract

Poster:  A Multi-Institutional Pooled Analysis of Women with pT1-2N1 Breast Cancer after Mastectomy and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Only and Adjuvant Post-Mastectomy Radiation

• First Author: Sarah Sittenfeld, MD
• Read the Abstract

Poster 3572: Association Between Radiotherapy Dose to Contralateral Substructures and Post-Treatment Dysphagia in Oropharyngeal Cancer

• First Author: Mahrukh Naqvi, BS, UC Medical Student
• Co-Authors: F. Kaval; K. Danielson
• Senior PI: Vinita Takiar, MD, PhD
• Read the Abstract

Poster: Superficial Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC): Comparable Outcomes Across Fractionation Schedules

• First Author: Jessica Ortega, MD, UC Resident
• Co-Authors: V. Leonardo; William Barrett, MD; Sara Medek, MD; L.E. Pater; KP Redmond; Timothy Struve, MD; H.R. Esslinger
• Senior PI: Jordan Kharofa, MD
• Read the Abstract

Moderated Sessions & Educational Activities

Session: Right-Sizing Radiation in Early Breast Cancer: Omission, Shortening, and Targeted Approaches

• Cancer Center Moderators: Sarah Sittenfeld, MD
• View the Session

Session: QP 02: Advances in Pediatric Radiotherapy and Side Effect Mitigation

• Cancer Center Moderators: Andrew Frankart, MD
• View the Session

Session: Presidential Poster 01: Presidential Science Poster Session Showcase

• Cancer Center Moderators: David Gius, MD, PhD
• View the Session

Workshop: Grant Writing Workshop: Research Strategy Section

• Cancer Center Presenter: David Gius, MD, PhD
• View the Session