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Research Overview

Dr. Brasaccio ResearchThe strong working relationship between scientists and clinicians that has evolved in the Department of Radiation Oncology has become the translational research model of the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center (JPWCC) at the University of Rochester.

The interactions between these investigators have derived accelerated clinical investigation of ideas and concepts in the laboratory. Such concepts are tested in small, high quality controlled pilot studies to determine if they should be mounted in larger clinical trials of the national cooperative groups.

It can be said that the development and conduct of pilot studies at the institutional level is the backbone of national cooperative group trials. Throughout the past several years, we have developed the resources, facilities, and support personnel to conduct Phase I and II feasibility studies while searching for efficient and effective treatment schedules and combinations. The important feature of our work has been the establishment of a mechanism for developing studies that we believe represent the leading edge in radiation oncology research.

Scholarship, in its broadest definition, and participation in research is an integral component of residency training.  In addition to benefiting from the extensive knowledge, skills and experience of our faculty, our residents enjoy opportunities to learn from and work with distinguished faculty mentors on a research project of their choice.

Resident Research Requirements

All residents must select at least one research project to work on throughout the course of their residency.  An appropriate project must be selected and discussed with the appropriate mentor.  It is expected that each resident will present their findings at departmental grand rounds.  This research should result in presentation at a regional or national forum and in publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

National multi-institutional or SMH Cancer Center Protocols:  Residents are closely involved in clinical research through the participation of the Department in several multi-institutional groups including SWOG, RTOG, and COG, as well as investigations organized within the Cancer Center.  Patients are entered on appropriate protocols, providing the attending physician the opportunity to discuss issues relevant to clinical trials including ethical considerations.  These protocols also provide the resident with current reviews of the relevant malignancy.

Clinical or laboratory based investigations:  Residents are required to initiRadiation Oncology Resident in Labate and complete a clinical or laboratory investigation during their tenure.  This may take the form of a retrospective review of a patient population or involvement in a prospective study conducted by an attending physician.  Optimally, the resident is involved in the design and conduction of a prospective investigation.  Extensive research facilities exist within the Department of Radiation Oncology and also in the Cancer Center and Medical Center as a whole.

Recent Resident Publications

  • Biswas T, Tang P, Muhs A, Ling M.  Angiosarcoma of the breast: a rare clinicopathological entity. Am J Clin Oncol (in press)
  • Biswas T, Dhakal S, Chen R, Hyrien O, Bernstein S, Friedberg J, Fisher R, Liesveld J, Phillips G, Constine L.  Involved field radiation after autologous stem cell transplant for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab era.  Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys (in press)
  • Dhakal S, Biswas T, Liesveld J, Friedberg J, Phillips G, Constine L. Patterns and timing of initial relapse in patients subsequently transplanted for Hodgkin lymphoma.  Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 75(1): 188-192, 2009 (Sept).
  • Chawla S, Chen Y, Katz A, Muhs A, Philip A, Okunieff P, Milano M. Stereotactic body radiotherapy for treatment of adrenal metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 75(1): 71-75, 2009 (Sept).
  • Chawla S, Abu-Aita R, Philip A, Lundquist T, Okunieff P, Milano M.  Stereotactic radiosurgery for spinal metastases: case report and review of the literature. Bone 45:817-821, 2009, (June).
  • Milano M, Zhang H, Metcalfe S, Muhs A, Okunieff P.  Oligometastatic breast cancer treated with curative-intent stereotactic body radiation therapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat 115:601-608, 2009 (June).
  • Biswas T, Okunieff P, Schell M, Smudzin T, Pilcher W, Bakos R, Vates G, Walter K, Wensel A, Korones D, Milano M. Stereotactic radiosurgery for glioblastoma: retrospective analysis. Radiat Oncol 4:11, 2009 (March).
  • Bylund K, Giampoli E, Singh D, Doerr T, Sahasrabudhe D, Liesveld J, Constine L. Soft tissue sarcoma in the setting of chronic cutaneous graft versus host disease after allogenic bone marrow transplantation. Cancer Invest 26:638-641, 2008 (July).
  • Chawla S, Katz A, Muhs A, Philip A. Stereotactactic body radiation therapy for primary and recurrent gastrointestinal malignancies. Proc. Radiol. Soc. North Am. 2008.
  • Sun J, Ding I, Fenton B, Yi W, Okunieff P. Immunohistochemical identification and localization of endogenous endostatin and its related peptides in murine tumors. Adv Exp Med Biol 599:147-153, 2007.
  • Katz A, Sampson M, Muhs A, Milano M, Schell M, Okunieff P. Hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for limited hepatic metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 67:793-798, 2007.
  • Tuli R, Flynn R, Brill K, Sabol J, Usuki K, Rosenberg A. Diagnosis, treatment, and management of breast cancer in previously augmented women. Breast J 12:343-348, 2006.
  • Sampson M, Katz A, Constine L. Stereotactic body radiation therapy for extracranial oligometastases: Does the sword have a double edge? Semin Radiat Oncol 15:67-76, 2006.
  • Chawla S, Tarbell N, Hudson M, Schwartz C, Fisher S, Basu S, Muhs A, Kun L, Mauch P, Mendenhall N, Constine L. Secondary bone and soft tissue sarcomas in children treated for Hodgkin lymphoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 66:S113-114, 2006.
  • Book chapter: Biswas T, Constine L, Schwartz C. Survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer: The Thyroid Gland. Ed: C Schwartz, W Hobbie, L Constine, K Ruccione.  Springer Press, 2nd edition, 2005.
  • Okunieff P, Cornelison T, Mester M, Liu W, Ding I, Chen Y, Zhang H, Williams J, Finkelstein J. Mechanism and modification of gastrointestinal soft tissue response to radiation: role of growth factors. RTOG 2003.  Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 62:273-278, 2005.
  • Hale E, Lipshultz S, Constine L. Latent cardiac injury following the double-edged sword of chemotherapy and radiation. ASCO 2005 Educational Book.
  • Biswas T, Constine L, Schwartz C. The thyroid gland. In: Schwartz C, Hobbie W, Constine L, Ruccione K (eds). Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Assessment and Management.  Springer-Verlag GmbH & Co.KG  2nd edition, 2005, pp 125-132.
  • Singh D, Yi W, Brasacchio R, Muhs A, Smudzin T, Williams J, Messing E, Okunieff P. Is there a favorable subset of patients with prostate cancer who develop oligometastases? Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 58:3-10, 2004.
  • Okunieff P, Schell M, Ruo R, Hale E, O'Dell W, Pilcher W. Long-term management of patients with multiple brain metastases after shaped beam radiosurgery: case report and review of the literature. J Neurosurg 101(Suppl 3):406-412, 2004.
  • Korones D, Padowski J, Factor B, Constine L. Do children with optic pathway tumors have an increased frequency of other central nervous system tumors? Neuro-Oncology, March 2003.
  • Biswas T, Sandhu A, Singh D, Schell M, Maciunas R, Bakos R, Muhs A, Okunieff P. Low-dose radiosurgery for benign intracranial lesions. Am J Clin Oncol 26:325-331, 2003.

Possible Research Projects 2009-10

Research Projects 2009-10 (36K pdf file)