May 2008
UCSD Patient and Faculty Featured in San Diego Union Tribune
An article in the April 19th issue of the San Diego Union Tribune featured a Moores Cancer Center Radiation Oncology patient who benefits from the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery Transportation Program.  This program consists of volunteer drivers, some of whom are themselves cancer patients or relatives of cancer patients, who help transport oncology patients to and from their treatments and other medical appointments.  In this article entitled They’re Riding to Recuperation, one of our patients, Michael Wilson, was interviewed along with Dr. Ajay Sandhu, Medical Director and Chief of the Urological Cancer Service in our Department (see photo).  Transportation is a major barrier to receiving radiation therapy, particularly among elderly. Such programs go along way to help patients receive the treatments they need.  Click here to see the entire article.   

May 2008
New UCSD Faculty Awarded Young Oncologist Essay Award
Loren Mell MD, who will be joining the UCSD faculty in July 2008, was awarded a Young Oncologist Essay Award at the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Radium Society held May 3-7 at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel Resort in Dana Point, California (see photo).  His essay entitled Factors Associated with Non-Cancer Mortality in Early Breast Cancer: A Competing Risks Analysis, was one of four essays receiving this prestigious award.  Other award winners included James Yu (Yale University), Mark McDonald (Emory University) and Beth Beadle (MD Anderson Cancer Center).  Dr. Mell will serve as Co-Director of the Division of Technologic and Medical Research and also as Co-Director of the Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies (CART), the technologic research arm of the Department of Radiation Oncology. See related story May 2008 UCSD Faculty Present at American Radium Society Meeting.

May 2008
UCSD Faculty Present at American Radium Society Meeting
Arno J. Mundt MD, Department Chair, and two new UCSD faculty members, Loren Mell MD and Joshua Lawson MD, presented at the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Radium Society held May 3-7 at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel Resort in Dana Point, California (see photo).  Dr. Mundt moderated the Monday Morning Scientific Session on Gynecologic Cancers and Lymphoma as well as hosted a symposium on Cervical Cancer at which he presented on the role of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) in cervical cancer patients.  Dr. Mell (who will be joining the faculty in July 2008) presented on factors associated with non-cancer mortality in women with early stage breast cancer, and Dr. Lawson (who will be joining the faculty in September 2008) presented on treatment planning in lung cancer.  

April 2008
Dan Scanderbeg runs 112th Boston Marathon
Dan Scanderbeg, chief medical physics resident, ran in the 112th annual Boston Marathon on April 21st , 2008 along with roughly 25,000 other participants. With the near perfect weather conditions and a slight headwind for the duration of the course, Dan set a new personal record for a marathon with a time of 2:52:54. The course started in Hopkinton, a rural town west of downtown, and traveled east into the city finishing near the John Hancock Tower in Copley Square. One of this year’s race participants was 7 time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, who is seen running along side Dan in the picture on the right.

April 2008
UCSD Researchers Participate in Varian Research Partnership Symposium
Steve Jiang PhD, Director of the Division of Technologic and Medical Research, and Arno J. Mundt MD, Department Chair, participated in the Varian Research Partnership Symposium in Austin Texas.  Designed to provide interaction between Varian Management, Marketing, Engineering and Varian Research Partners such as UCSD, the symposium was attended by researchers from around the world who have research partnerships with Varian, including MD Anderson Cancer Center, Stanford University, and Harvard University.  Dr. Jiang presented an update of his work on markerless respiratory gating in lung cancer using Machine Learning techniques and Dr. Mundt presented an overview of the image-guided adaptive RT program in gynecologic cancers.  The conference was held at the Austin Hyatt Regency adjacent to the famous Congress Avenue Bridge, home to over 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats, the largest urban population of bats in the world. Each night beginning in February, scores of tourists gather to watch as the bats head out in search of insects at sunset (see photo).  

April 2008
UCSD Researchers to Present at AAPM Meeting
Many post-docs and students in the Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies (CART) in the Department of Radiation Oncology will be presenting their work at the upcoming Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) to be held in Houston Texas in July.  In all, 11 abstracts were accepted as 4 oral presentations and 7 posters.  These presentations span a wide variety of topics including motion management and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT).  Abstract authors include Lily Tang PhD, Tong Lin PhD, Neelam Tyagi PhD, Laura Cervino PhD, Alex Mackenzie, John Lewis and Nan Hu.  Steve Jiang, Ph.D., Co-Director of the Division of Technologic and Medical Research, serves as the Co-Director of CART.  Loren Mell MD, who will be joining the faculty in July, has been named Co-Director of CART.    

April 2008
UCSD Inaugurates SAVI Brachytherapy School
The inaugural class for radiation oncologists and medical physicists interested in learning to perform breast brachytherapy using the SAVI intracavitary device was held in the Radiation Oncology Conference Center in the Moores Cancer Center earlier this month.  Taught by Catheryn Yashar MD, Chief of the Breast Cancer and Brachytherapy Services, Medical Physicist Roger Rice PhD and Medical Physics Resident Dan Scanderbeg PhD, along with representatives from Cianna Medical, the manufacturer of the SAVI device (see photo), the 2-day, hands-on course focused on all aspects of SAVI treatment including patient selection, treatment simulation and planning, treatment delivery and quality assurance.  The SAVI School is the first of several planned courses to be taught in the UCSD Learning Center on the La Jolla campus and will be held several times per year.  Other courses will highlight other technologies including IGRT and stereotactic body and brain radiosurgery.

April 2008
UCSD Investigators Publish Commentary in the Cancer Journal
An invited commentary by Loren Mell M.D., Co-Director of the Division of Technologic and Medical Research, and Arno J. Mundt M.D., Department Chair, will appear in the upcoming issue of the Cancer Journal.  Entitled Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy in Gynecologic Cancers: Growing Support, Growing Acceptance, their commentary highlights a recent clinical study of IMRT in cervical cancer patients reported by investigators in Taiwan and discusses the current status and future directions of IMRT research in gynecology. Dr. Mundt pioneered the use of IMRT in the treatment of women with gynecologic tumors and, together with Dr. Mell, has published numerous outcome reports, book chapters and reviews on the subject.  Currently at the University of Chicago, Dr. Mell will be joining our department in July 2008.    

April 2008
UCSD Proton Technology Advisory Group Meets in Dallas
The UCSD Proton/Particle Working Group which consists of representatives from the UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Center and the University are rapidly moving forward with plans to develop a Proton Center on the La Jolla Campus of UCSD.  This month the Proton Technology Advisory Group (TAG) consisting of physicians, physicists and administrators from various academic proton centers throughout the United States including Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Florida met in Dallas (see photo) to help select the equipment vendor for the UCSD project. Earlier, representatives of the UCSD Working Group travelled to the University of Florida and the University of Pennsylvania to tour their facilities (see March 2008 UCSD Proton/Particle Working Group Visits University of Florida Proton Center and September 2007 Press Release Announces UCSD Proton/Particle Treatment and Research Center for additional details).

April 2008
UCSD Faculty Provide Staff Oncology Lectures
Dr. Mary Ann Rose, Medical Director of the new Radiation Oncology Encinitas Treatment Center, has implemented a lecture series for the UCSD Radiation Oncology Department Staff.  This series highlights different cancers, focusing on their causes, presenting symptoms, workup and treatment, including the role and process of radiotherapy.  This series provides valuable information for our staff members who are intimately involved in the care of patients from scheduling their consultation and other appointments, to obtaining authorizations and scheduling radiology procedures and laboratory tests.  Click here for her latest lecture on Pancreatic Cancer.  Dr. Rose joined our faculty in mid 2007 (see July 2007 Mary Ann Rose MD Joins UCSD Faculty)

April 2008
Department Expansion Design and Layout Finalized
We are pleased to announce the final design and layout of our new approximately 15,000 square foot expansion to our department, to be located adjacent to the UCSD Moores Cancer Center in La Jolla.  This facility will greatly increase our space and capacity, with new offices, new clinic space, 2 additional treatment vaults and a PET-CT for treatment planning and diagnosis.  Using the novel modular approach developed by Rad Technology, the facility is expected to begin treating patients in the fall of 2008.  An artist rendition of the new facility is shown above. Also see October 2007 UCSD Has Kickoff Meeting for New Facility for more details.

April 2008
Encinitas Radiation Oncology Center Highlighted in UCSD Newsletter
An article highlighting the ground-breaking of the new UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology Encinitas Treatment Center appeared in the March/April 2008 issue of UCSD Health Sciences News, a newsletter covering the School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the UCSD Medical Center.  The Encinitas facility is the first of several regional radiation oncology satellites planned and is expected to open in September 2008.  Dr. Mary Ann Rose will serve as the Medical Director of this center.  Click here to see the full March/April newsletter. See also February 2008 Groundbreaking Ceremony Held in Encinitas.

April 2008
UCSD Investigators Publish Breast Cancer Article
Dan Scanderbeg Ph.D., Medical Physics resident, and Catheryn Yashar MD, Chief of the Breast Cancer Service in the UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology, published on article in the April issue of Enterprise Imaging & Therapeutic Radiology Management, a print and on-line journal focusing management strategies, clinical and technologic updates and industry trend coverage for imaging and oncology administrators, physicians, and medical physicists (see below).  Entitled “About Face” the article reviewed the literature on the treatment of breast cancer patients in the prone position, a beneficial approach in select women with breast cancer particularly women with large, pendulous breasts.  UCSD routinely offers prone breast treatment in patients with breast cancer (see What’s New September 2007 Prone Breast Board Used to Improve Treatment of Breast Cancer).

April 2008
UCSD Faculty Lecture in Miami Beach
Dr. Arno J. Mundt, Professor and Department Chair, was the keynote speaker at the Aptium Radiation Oncology Best Practices Conference held at Mount Sinai Medical Center (see photo) in Miami Beach on April 17th.  Aptium specializes in the development and management of cancer centers including centers in Florida, California and New York. This conference is held yearly to review new radiation oncology technologies and approaches. Dr. Mundt spoke on the role of IMRT in the treatment of anal carcinoma, focusing on the current state-of-the-art and potential future directions.  Other speakers included Leonard Toonkel MD, Patrick Swift MD, and Anthony Berson MD.   

April 2008
Construction Underway of Encinitas Treatment Facility
Construction continues of the treatment vault at the new UCSD Radiation Oncology treatment facility in Encinitas.  Shown in the photo are workers from Weller Construction laying the foundation of the treatment vault and control room to be located in the lower level of the San Diego Cancer Center on Garden View Road.  Expected date for the first patient treatment is September 2008.  Dr. Mary Ann Rose has been recruited to be the Medical Director of this center, the first satellite facility of the UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology.  Other satellite facilities are planned throughout the greater San Diego region to better serve our patients. 

April 2008
Annual Celebrity Chefs Cook Gala
The 27th Annual Celebrity Chefs Cook Gala, benefitting the Moores UCSD Cancer Center was held on April 11th at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina.  This year’s Italian-themed black tie gala (“Bella Notte”), showcased award-winning local chefs whose signature dishes were paired with fine wines from selected wineries throughout California and beyond.  Last year alone the Gala raised over 1.1 Million for the Cancer Center including $360,000 for the purchase of AlignRT, a novel IGRT technology (see May 2007 Radiation Oncology Highlighted at Cancer Center Gala).  Local celebrity chefs included Orion Balliet (Azul La Jolla), Jean Michel Diot (Tapenade), and Damaso Lee (Trattoria Acqua).  Highlighted wineries included Chappellet, Maison Drouhin and Tantara.  Dr. Arno Mundt, Department Chair, served on the Honorary Gala Planning Committee.

April 2008
UCSD Faculty Speak at New York Roentgen Society Meeting
Dr. Arno J. Mundt, Professor and Department Chair, was an invited speaker at the Annual Meeting of the New York Roentgen Society held in New York City.  An expert in the radiotherapeutic treatment of gynecologic tumors, Dr. Mundt spoke on the role of IMRT and IGRT in the treatment of cervical and uterine cancers. Organized by Johnny Kao MD (Mt. Sinai School of Medicine), other invited speakers included Nancy Lee (Memorial Sloan Kettering), Ezra Cohen (University of Chicago), Mack Roach (UCSF), and Jeff Bradley (Washington University).  The keynote speaker was Samuel Hellman MD, an internationally recognized radiation oncologist and mentor of UCSD faculty members Arno Mundt, Kevin Murphy, and Loren Mell. Speakers stayed at the acclaimed Alex Hotel in midtown Manhattan (see photo).

April 2008
UCSD Faculty Article Highlighted in the Red Journal
A recent study by new faculty member Loren Mell MD, who will be joining the UCSD faculty in July 2008, was selected as the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Article of the Month in the April 1st issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology and Physics (also known as the “Red Journal”), the most prestigious journal in the field of radiation oncology.   Entitled an “Association between Bone Marrow Dosimetric Parameters and Acute Hematologic Toxicity in Anal Cancer Patient Treated with Chemotherapy and IMRT”, this study included authors from multiple institutions including the University of Chicago, Mayo Clinic, Emory University and UCSD.  The CME Article of the Month program highlights studies, according to the Red Journal Editors, with important information about recent advancements in cancer treatment. Bone marrow-sparing IMRT techniques are a major research focus of Dr. Mell and the subject of his recent ASCO Young Investigator Award (see March 2008 New UCSD Faculty Receives 2008 ASCO Young Investigator Grant).

April 2008
UCSD Faculty Host Pancreas Cancer Outreach Event
Arno J. Mundt MD, Professor and Department Chair, was an invited speaker at a Rebecca and John Moores Cancer Center Outreach Seminar on Pancreatic Cancer held at the UCSD Cancer Center (see photo) in La Jolla on the evening of April 10th.  Dr. Mundt presented an overview of the role and state-of-the-art of radiation therapy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.  Other speakers included Michael Bouvet MD (pancreatic surgeon), Andrew Lowy MD (pancreatic surgeon) and Tony Reid, MD PhD (medical oncologist and director of the clinical trials office).  The seminar was held in the Goldberg Auditorium and was attended by patients, families and others interested in learning about pancreatic cancer, treatment options and novel therapies available at UCSD. 

April 2008
Seventh International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications
Dr. Steve Jiang, Associate Professor and Director of Research, together with Dr. Martin Murphy at Virginia Commonwealth University, is organizing a special session on Applications of Machine Learning in Radiotherapy for the Seventh International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (ICMLA’ 08), which will be held December 11-13, 2008 in San Diego, California. Dr. Jiang is also the Local Arrangements Chair for the conference. Machine Learning has been increasingly used in radiotherapy to help accurately localize the tumors in images, precisely target the radiation to the tumors, analyze treatment outcomes, and improve treatment quality and patient safety, etc.

March 2008
Visiting Professorship at the University of Chicago
Dr. Steve Jiang, Associate Professor and Director of Research, was a Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago on March 27th.  He was invited by the Committee on Medical Physics, a graduate medical physics program jointly sponsored by the Department of Radiation Oncology and Department of Radiology.  He spoke to several faculty members and presented an overview of the state-of-the-art of image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) in the treatment of lung cancer to the students and faculty, in addition to having dinner with the faculty and lunch with students. Director of the Division of Technologic and Medical Research, Dr. Jiang is an expert in the application of advanced technologies in the treatment of lung cancer and serves as the Director of the Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies (CART), the research arm of the UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology.

March 2008
UCSD Faculty Participate in ASTRO IGRT Practicum
Dr. Arno J. Mundt, Professor and Department Chair, was an invited faculty lecturer at the 2008 American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) IGRT Practicum held in Newport Beach (see photo) at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa, March 28-30. An annual event, this symposium was attended by over 300 radiation oncologists, medical physicists and dosimetrists from throughout the country and abroad.  Together with Charlie Pan, M.D. (University of Michigan) and Peter Munro Ph.D. (Varian Medical Systems), Dr. Mundt supervised the hands-on break-out sessions for Varian users focusing on brain tumors and head & neck cancers (Day 1), thorax and abdominal tumors (Day 2) and pelvic tumors (male and female) (Day 3). Other faculty included James Balter Ph.D. (University of Michigan), John Buatti MD (University of Iowa), Laura Dawson MD (Princess Margaret Hospital) and Lei Dong PhD (MD Anderson Cancer Center). 

March 2008
Erica Kinsey Joins the Medical Physics Residency Program
We are excited to announce that our second resident has been accepted into the UCSD medical physics residency program.  The (soon to be) Dr. Kinsey is completing her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. She is also a graduate student researcher at UCSF in the Department of Radiation Oncology under Ping Xia Ph.D. Her thesis work focuses on the use of adaptive intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer.  Erica is pictured here with her husband Adam, a Scientific Advisor in the Patents and Innovation Strategy Group at the law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati. They both enjoy the outdoors and look forward to new adventures hiking and biking around San Diego, skiing at Mammoth Mountain, surfing and sailing in their 16’ Hobie Cat.  Erica will start with us in July 2008 for the two-year program.

March 2008
UCSD Faculty Lectures in China
Kevin Murphy M.D., Chief of the Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Pediatric Oncology Programs, was an invited speaker at the International Chinese Federation of Neurological Sciences Annual Meeting held in Dongguan China. He spoke on frameless stereotactic radiosurgery in primary and metastatic adult and pediatric brain tumors.  Dr. Murphy has one of the largest experiences in the world using the Varian frameless stereotactic radiosurgical approach. Sponsored by Varian Medical Systems, Dr. Murphy also lectured in Shanghai and Beijing.  He was accompanied by David Barba MD, UCSD Neurosurgeon, who spoke on the Neurosurgeon’s perspective using the Varian Trilogy Frameless approach.  Dr. Murphy is shown here in front of the Great Wall outside Beijing.  Click here for additional photos of his trip.  

March 2008
New Department Medical Director
Ajay Sandhu M.D. has been named the new Department Medical Director, overseeing the La Jolla clinical facility of the Department. Chief of the Genitourinary, Lung and Head/Neck Cancer Services, Dr. Sandhu is also Principal Investigator of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), a national cooperative group focusing on clinical trials in radiation oncology.  As Medical Director, he will oversee the policies and standards of the department, work closely with Director of Clinical Operations on quality assurance and quality improvement programs, and serve as the Department liaison with the Medical Center. Dr. Sandhu succeeds Dr. Kevin Murphy who served as Medical Director from May 2005 to March 2008. We are excited that Dr. Sandhu has accepted this key Department Leadership position.

March 2008
UCSD Faculty Speak at AAPM Southeast Chapter Meeting
Steve Jiang Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Research, was an invited speaker at the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Southeast Chapter Symposium entitled Emerging Technologies in Radiation Therapy: Impact on the Community Practice Medical Physicist http://chapter.aapm.org/seaapm/SympProg/SympProg2008.htm  held in Birmingham, Alabama (see photo). Dr. Jiang spoke on “Image Guided Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer”.  Director of the Division of Technologic and Medical Research, Dr. Jiang is an expert in the application of advanced technologies in the treatment of lung cancer and serves as the Director of the Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies (CART), the research arm of the Department of Radiation Oncology.

March 2008
|UCSD Faculty Lecture in India
Catheryn Yashar, M.D., Chief of the Breast and Gynecologic Oncology Services, was an invited speaker at a cancer symposium held at Batra Hospital in New Delhi, India.  She spoke on both IMRT for cervical cancer and treatment planning for breast cancer.  Sponsored by Varian Medical Systems, her visit was hosted by Radiation Oncologist Dr. Sapna Nangia. Pictured here are Dr. Yashar and her husband, Arnold, an orthopedic surgeon, in front of the Taj Mahal.  Click here for additional photos of her visit. 

March 2008
ASTRO and AAPM Abstracts Submitted
Multiple research abstracts were submitted by faculty, researchers and students in the Department of Radiation Oncology to two upcoming national meetings: the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM). ASTRO will be held in Boston in September and AAPM in Houston in July.  ASTRO and AAPM are major scientific meetings for Radiation Oncologists, Medical Physicists and other researchers.  Departmental abstracts focused on a wide variety of disease sites and procedures including prostate cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, stereotactic radiosurgery of the brain and spine, and Align RT for breast cancer.  These submissions represent the major commitment the Department has to clinical and translational research.  

March 2008
Dr. Murphy Joins Genelux Corporation
Kevin Murphy MD, Director of Strategy and Business Development and Chief of the Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Pediatric Oncology Programs, has been recruited to be the Chief Strategy Officer of Genelux Corporation, a La Jolla-based biomedical company and manufacturer of the novel oncolytic virus GL-ONC1.  Based on promising pre-clinical studies, Phase I/II clinical trials have been initiated in pancreatic and other solid tumors using GL-ONC1 at prominent institutions in Germany, United Kingdom and United States. Dr. Murphy will remain on faculty at UCSD where he will oversee collaborations between biomedical companies such as Genelux and the new Division of Radiation and Biotechnologies as well as the recruitment of basic science research faculty.

March 2008
New UCSD Faculty Receives 2008 ASCO Young Investigator Grant
Loren Mell MD, who will be joining our faculty in July, has been awarded the 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award. This prestigious grant is awarded to promising young oncology researchers to encourage and promote quality research in clinical oncology.  He will be awarded this grant at the 2008 Annual ASCO Meeting to be held in Chicago in early June.  Founded in 1964, ASCO is the largest professional organization in the world devoted to oncology with over 25,000 members in the USA and abroad. His grant focuses on image-guided techniques to augment bone marrow sparing in patients with cervical and anal cancer undergoing intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).  Dr. Mell has been named the Director of Medical Research and Co-Director of the Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies (CART) (see October 2007 Loren Mell MD Joins UCSD Faculty).  

March 2008
Joshua Lawson MD Joins the UCSD Faculty
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Josh Lawson is joining our faculty.  A graduate of Emory (BS ’97, MD ’03), Dr. Lawson is currently completing his residency in Radiation Oncology in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.  Dr. Lawson has considerable experience and interest in clinical research, particularly the application of novel radiation technologies including IMRT, IGRT and adaptive radiotherapy in a variety of disease sites.  During his residency, he has presented his research at numerous national and international meetings and published in a variety of radiation and oncology journals (see resume).  He will serve as Chief of the Gastrointestinal Tumor Service beginning in September 2008.  His practice will also include stereotactic radiosurgery (cranial and extra-cranial). He is shown here with his wife Erin and their new twins, Evelyn and Collier.  Erin is an Anesthesiologist specializing in pain management who will also be on faculty at UCSD in the Department of Anesthesiology.   

March 2008
Radiation Oncology Faculty Speak at Colorectal Cancer Event
Arno J. Mundt MD, Department Chair, was an invited speaker at a Colorectal Cancer Public Education Event entitled Focus on Families: Prevention, Screening and Treatment held at the Rebecca and John Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center on Saturday March 15th.  Dr. Mundt spoke on the role of Radiation Therapy in colorectal cancer and the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for the treatment of metastastic disease to the liver and lung (see photo).  Held in the Goldberg Auditorium, the event was sponsored by a generous grant from Quidel Corporation.  Other speakers included John Carethers MD, Division Chief of Gastroenterology (“Screening Strategies”), Giovanna Casola MD, Professor of Radiology (“Virtual Colonography”), Tony Reid MD PhD, Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology (“Clinical Research”), Sonia Ramamoorthy MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery (“HNPCC/Lynch Syndrome”) and Lisa Madlensky PhD, Genetic Counselor, Family and Preventive Medicine (“Genetic Testing”).

March 2008
UCSD Faculty Speak at Annual SGO Meeting
Dr. Arno J. Mundt, Department Chair, was an invited speaker at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) held in Tampa, Florida.  Founded in 1968, SGO is a national medical multidisciplinary organization of physicians specializing in the comprehensive management of female reproductive cancers.  An internationally recognized expert in the radiotherapeutic treatment of gynecologic tumors, Dr. Mundt was an invited discussant in the Cervical Cancer Plenary Session focusing on the application of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in cervical cancer. Dr. Mundt pioneered the use of IMRT in gynecology and has one of the largest experiences using this technology in these patients in the world.  

March 2008
UCSD to Purchase Xoft Electronic Brachytherapy Systems
The Department of Radiation Oncology has announced plans to purchase the Xoft Electronic Brachytherapy system for clinical and research use.  Xoft is the manufacturer of a novel, miniaturized x-ray tube technology, an alternative to conventional brachytherapy sources.  Unlike conventional approaches, the Xoft technology obviates the need for radioactive sources and room shielding. UCSD plans to use of this technology at its new Encinitas and other planned regional satellite sites.  The UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology also plans to team up with Xoft as a research partner to develop novel uses of this exciting technology.  See February 2008 Xoft Representatives Present at UCSD for additional details.

March 2008
UCSD Proton/Particle Working Group Visits University of Florida Proton Center
The UCSD Proton/Particle Working Group which consists of representatives from the UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology, UCSD Medical Center and the University visited the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute (UFPTI) in Jacksonville (see photo of a treatment room). The UCSD Working Group is currently in the process of selecting an equipment vendor for the proposed UCSD Proton/Particle Treatment and Research Center which will be on the La Jolla campus of UCSD. UFPTI is equipped by IBA Inc., other equipment vendors include Varian and Hitachi. Planning is rapidly moving forward for the UCSD Proton/Particle Facility with groundbreaking expected in 2009. See September 2007 Press Release Announces UCSD Proton/Particle Treatment and Research Center for additional details).

March 2008
San Diego Daily Transcript Highlights Encinitas Facility Groundbreaking
The official groundbreaking of our new Encinitas Radiation Oncology Treatment Facility was highlighted in a recent report in the San Diego Daily Transcript.  The Daily Transcript is a “vertical” market newspaper and website dedicated to reporting on the business of San Diego community focusing on events which concern decision-makers, movers and shakers of the San Diego region.  The article entitled “UCSD Radiation Oncology Services Come to North County” described the exciting joint venture underway between the Department of Radiation Oncology, UCSD and the Medical Center in Encinitas.  The new 7500 foot treatment facility is expected to open later this summer.  See February 2008 Groundbreaking Ceremony Held in Encinitas for additional details).

March 2008
UCSD Frameless Radiosurgery Approach for Trigeminal Neuralgia Highlighted
The UCSD Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) program and its Director, Kevin Murphy MD, were highlighted in a recent edition of AuntMinnie.com, the first comprehensive community internet site for radiologists, radiation oncologists and related professionals.  Founded in 1999, AuntMinnie.com strives to bring together radiologists, oncologists, business managers, technologists and members of industry to meet, research and collaborate on various current topics.  In an article entitled Headgear: Is Radiosurgery the Right Treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia? staff contributor Sydney Shuster reviewed all the current SRS technologies used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Dr. Murphy and his colleagues have pioneered the use of frameless SRS in these patients using the Varian Trilogy machine.  Unlike conventional frame-based techniques, their approach uses a bite block with mounted infrared markers which are continuously monitored during treatment to detect patient movement (see photo) obviating the need for a frame attached to the patient’s skull. Promising results using this technique have been achieved.  Click here to see the complete article.

March 2008
UCSD Faculty Host Urologic Oncology Course
Arno J. Mundt MD, Department Chair, was the co-Director (along with Christopher Kane MD and Frederick Millard MD) of the 1st Annual UCSD Post-Graduate Course in Urologic Oncology.  Entitled Challenging Cases in Urologic Oncology, the course focused on prostate and renal cancers and was attended by physicians and allied health care professors from throughout Southern California. Invited speakers included Alan Pollack MD PhD, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Peter Carroll MD, Professor and Chair of Urology at the University of California San Francisco, and Tomasz Beer MD, Head of Solid Tumor Oncology at the Oregon Health and Science University.  Dr. Mundt spoke on the Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) in Prostate Cancer.  Dr. Ajay Sandhu, Chief of Genitourinary Oncology in the Department of Radiation Oncology, spoke on the role of radiotherapy in early stage seminoma patients.  

February 2008
Groundbreaking Ceremony Held in Encinitas
A formal groundbreaking ceremony for the new Encinitas UCSD Radiation Oncology treatment facility was held on February 26th.  Shown in the photo are representatives from the Department of Radiation Oncology, UCSD Medical Center, the University, the San Diego Cancer Center and Weller Construction.  Expected date for the first patient treatment is September 2008.  Dr. Mary Ann Rose has been recruited to be the Medical Director of this center, the first satellite facility of the UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology.  Other satellite facilities are planned throughout the greater San Diego region to better serve our patients. 

February 2008
UCSD Faculty Serves on ACRO Board of Chancellors
Dr. Arno J. Mundt, Department Chair, is the newest member of the Board of Chancellors for the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO).  ACRO is an important professional society for American radiation oncologists with over 800 members.  At the 2008 Annual Meeting held in Miami Florida (see photo) this month, Dr. Mundt moderated a plenary session focusing on head and neck cancer and lung tumors.  A comprehensive review of the staging and treatment of laryngeal cancer was provided by Jonathan Beitler MD MBA (Emory University) and an overview of stereotactic body radiosurgery was presented by Brian Kavanagh MD (University of Colorado).  A long-time member and supporter of ACRO, Dr. Mundt also serves as co-Director of the ACRO Membership Committee.  

February 2008
Xoft Representatives Present at UCSD
Randy Holt and Mark Carol of the Xoft Corporation presented in the Department of Radiation Oncology on electronic brachytherapy at the weekly Center for Advanced Radiotherapy (CART) Seminar Series.  Xoft is the manufacturer of a novel, miniaturized x-ray tube technology (see photo), an alternative to conventional brachytherapy sources.  Unlike conventional approaches, the Xoft technology obviates the need for radioactive sources and room shielding. Recently approved by the FDA in the treatment of breast cancer, electronic brachytherapy is an exciting and novel technology has potential applications in multiple tumor sites.   

February 2008
Fox Chase Medical Physicist Presents at CART Seminar
Robert Price Ph.D., Chief Clinical Physicist at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in suburban Philadelphia, was an invited speaker at the weekly Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies (CART) Seminar Series.  His lecture focused on the treatment of prostate cancer at Fox Chase, a center with one of the largest experiences in the world using IMRT and IGRT in prostate patients.  Dr. Price reviewed his IMRT experience and described areas of current research at Fox Chase including the use of implanted electromagnetic transponders (Calypso) to track prostate motion during treatment.   

February 2008
CART Inaugurates IGRT Journal Club
The Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies (CART), the research arm of the UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology, has inaugurated a journal club focusing on image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT).  Held twice monthly in the Department of Radiation Oncology Conference Center, this journal club will highlight cutting edge research published in leading radiation oncology journals including Medical Physics, Physics in Medicine and Biology and the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics. Attendees include staff physicians, physicists, post-doctoral students and graduate students in the department.

Attendees include staff physicians, physicists, post-doctoral students and graduate students in the department (see photo).

February 2008
UCSD Faculty Participate in Annual ASTRO IMRT Practicum
Dr. Arno J. Mundt, Department Chair, and Dr. Todd Pawlicki, Director of Medical Physics and Clinical Operations, were invited faculty at the 2008 American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) IMRT Practicum held in Orlando, Florida (see photo).  An annual event, this symposium was attended by over 300 radiation oncologists, medical physicists and dosimetrists from throughout the country and abroad.  Dr. Mundt lectured on the role of IMRT in gynecologic malignancies and supervised a gynecologic IMRT hands-on session.  Dr. Pawlicki supervised several treatment planning sessions for physicists and dosimetrists. Other invited faculty included Alan Pollack MD (Fox Chase Cancer Center), Nancy Lee MD (Memorial Sloan Kettering), Avi Eisbruch MD (University of Michigan), and Ping Xia PhD (University of California San Francisco).

February 2008
UCSD Faculty Named Principal Investigator of a National Uterine Cancer Study
Dr. Catheryn Yashar, Chief of the Gynecologic Oncology Service, has been named principal investigator for the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) on a national clinical trial focusing on the treatment of women with early stage endometrial cancer.  Conducted jointly with the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), this study will compare two adjuvant approaches in stage I-II patients: whole pelvic irradiation versus chemotherapy plus vaginal brachytherapy.  All patients will undergo definitive surgery with pelvic lymph node assessment prior to randomization.  This important trial will help define the optimal approach in the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States.

February 2008
UCSD Faculty Present at Dallas IGRT Symposium
Dr. Arno Mundt, Department Chair, was an invited speaker at a Varian Medical Systems IGRT Symposium held in Dallas, Texas (see photo).  His presentation focused on the IMRT, IGRT and adaptive radiotherapy.  Attendees included radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists from throughout the southwest.  Other speakers highlighted the newest Varian technology, Rapid Arc.  Rapid Arc is a revolutionary technology whereby a highly conformal IMRT plan is delivered on a Varian linear accelerator in approximately 1-2 minutes.  Rapid Arc will be available at select centers including UCSD later this year.  

January 2008
An Article of UCSD Research Team is Selected as One of the Best
An article of Dr. Lily Tang, postdoctoral fellow, and Dr. Steve Jiang, Director of Research, has been selected as one of 30 articles that highlight the very best research published in Physics in Medicine and Biology in 2007. According to the journal, "Articles were selected for their presentation of outstanding new research, receipt of the highest praise from our international referees, and the highest number of downloads from the journal Website." Dr. Tang is the first author and Jiang is the senior author of the article that describes research on tumor motion tracking. Another article from this team was selected as one of the best in 2006 by the same journal. Click here to view the listing and article.

January 2008
UCSD Faculty Present at the Compensator Based IMRT Symposium
Dr. Steve Jiang, Associate Professor and Director of Research, was an invited speaker at the Compensator Based IMRT Symposium sponsored by .Decimal, the leading manufacturer of customized compensators for radiation oncology treatment.  Held in the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas on January 25 and 26, 2008, the conference focused on compensator-based IMRT.  Dr. Jiang spoke on SBRT/SSRT with compensators.  

January 2008
UCSD Faculty Attend RTOG Meeting
UCSD Radiation Oncology Faculty, Arno J. Mundt MD and Catheryn Yashar MD, attended the semi-annual meeting of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, a national cooperative group devoted to the study of radiation therapy in the treatment of benign and malignant tumors. The Meeting was held at the Manchester Hyatt Hotel in downtown San Diego (see photo). Drs. Mundt and Yashar are members of the RTOG Gynecologic Cancer Working Group which focuses on clinical trials for women with cervical and other malignancies. Founded in 1968, RTOG is now comprised of over 250 institutions throughout the United States and Canada and currently has over 40 active trials.  Since its inception, RTOG has sponsored over 300+ protocols with over 60,000 patients. Interested in participating in a RTOG clinical trial?  Check out the list of active protocols, several of which are open at UCSD.   

January 2008
UCSD Hosts Informed Prostate Cancer Support Group Lecture
Dr. Duke Bahn, Medical Director of the Prostate Institute of America in Ventura California was an invited speaker at the January Meeting of the Informed Prostate Cancer Support Group (IPCSG) held at the Rebecca and John Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center and hosted by the Department of Radiation Oncology.  Dr. Bahn has one of the largest experiences in the world using color-doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer (see photo).  Investigators at UCSD are exploring the application of color-doppler ultrasound as a means of targeting prostate cancer undergoing external beam radiation therapy.

January 2008
Dr. Mundt Lectures at UC Irvine
Arno J. Mundt MD, Chair of the UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology, was an invited visiting professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at University of California, Irvine.  He presented a lecture entitled “IMRT and IGRT in Gynecologic Malignancies: Current Status and Future Directions” to the Department and invited guests from the Cancer Center and Gynecologic Oncology.  Dr. Mundt reviewed the rationale and current state-of-the-art of these exciting new technologies in the treatment of women with cervical and other gynecologic cancers.  Dr. Mundt pioneered the use of IMRT in gynecologic tumors and is a frequent invited speaker on these topics in symposia and seminars throughout the United States and the world.  Interested in learning more about IMRT and IGRT in general and their application in gynecology patients? Check out the UCSD Radiation Oncology website.  

January 2008
Second Annual Department Party Held at US Grant Hotel
The 2nd Annual UCSD Department of Radiation Oncology Party was held at the historic US Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego on January 19th.  Attended by Radiation Oncology Faculty and Staff, and invited guests from throughout the UCSD Cancer Center, other departments including Medicine, Surgery, Gynecologic Oncology and Pediatrics and friends from Industry, the Party was held in the Palm Court Ballroom.  Opened in 1910, the US Grant Hotel recently underwent a $52M renovation is on the National Register of Historic Places and received the Conde Nast Award for Top Hot Hotel of the World in 2007.  

January 2008
New UCSD Faculty Receives American Radium Society Essay Award
Dr. Loren Mell, who will be joining the UCSD faculty in July 2008, will receive the Young Oncologist Essay Award at the 2008 American Radium Society to be held May 3-7 at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California (see photo).  Entitled “Factors Associated with Non-Cancer Mortality in Early Breast Cancer: A Competing Risks Analysis”, his research essay will also be presented as an oral presentation at the meeting.  Founded in 1916, the American Radium Society is the oldest society devoted to the study and treatment cancer in the world.  Members are drawn from all oncology disciplines including radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgical oncology and gynecologic oncology.  

January 2008
UCSD Hosts Varian 2008 National Sales Meeting
The Annual North American National Sales Meeting of Varian Medical Systems was held in La Jolla at the Rebecca and John Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center.  Founded in 1948, Varian is the largest manufacturer of radiation oncology equipment in the world, with over 3600 employees.  Featured speakers at the meeting included Arno J. Mundt MD, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, Kevin Murphy MD, Todd Pawlicki PhD, Mickey Goldman and Marcy Kaufman.  The Department is a frequent showsite for potential Varian customers who are interested in how the latest Varian technologies are used clinically.  Varian also sponsors a number of research projects focusing on advanced radiotherapy technologies, including IMRT and IGRT.

January 2008
MGH Researchers Lecture at CART Seminar Series
David Gierga Ph.D. and Marco Riboldi Ph.D., researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital, were invited speakers at the UCSD Center for Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies (CART) lecture series.  Their lecture focused on 3D Surface Imaging, using the AlignRT device, a sophisticated video-based image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) approach which provides the ability to perform real-time tracking of the 3-dimensional surface of a patient for both treatment setup and real-time monitoring (see photo). AlignRT is manufactured by VisionRT Incorporated and has been recently installed at the UCSD Moores Cancer Center.  UCSD Researcher Steve Jiang Ph.D., Director of CART, is focuses on the clinical utility of AlignRT in a number of disease sites including breast cancer and pediatric cancers.