Dr. Daly on Clinical Trials With Radiation Therapy in Lung Cancer

Megan E. Daly, MD, assistant professor of radiation oncology, UC Davis Cancer Center, discusses upcoming clinical trials involving radiation therapy for the treatment of lung cancer.

UC Davis Cancer Center is examining radiation therapy in several areas of lung cancer, Daly explains. Radiation can cause adverse events in the lung, such as radiation pneumonitis that can be treated with steroids; however, it can also be fatal.

One clinical trial is looking at the use of ventilation imaging to selectively avoid highly-functional lung regions. This is based off of vector mapping, which can be used to create ventilation weighted images in the lung. Ventilation imaging will optimize radiation plans for patients to selectively avoid highly-functional lung regions, Daly adds. This clinical trial is currently enrolling patients with locally advanced and early-stage lung cancer.