“Our team will be presenting research and clinical trial results, moderating scientific discussions and presenting clinical insights,” said Katelyn Atkins, MD, PhD, interim chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Cedars-Sinai Cancer.

Atkins will present research on how the health of the thymus—a small gland in the chest that helps regulate the immune system—affects the risk of heart damage in patients receiving radiation therapy for lung cancer. She also is available to discuss a range of radiation oncology topics.

Additional Cedars-Sinai experts presenting at the conference are available to discuss news coming out of the meeting.

Cedars-Sinai Experts

Leslie Ballas, MD, professor of Radiation Oncology, will present findings from a Phase II multi-institutional study examining whether very low doses of radiation—adjusted based on how each patient responds—can treat bone metastases caused by multiple myeloma. She will also join a panel discussion of radiation therapy guidelines for bladder cancer and localized prostate cancer.

Nikhil Chakravarty, MPH, will discuss whether the timing of GLP-1 inhibitor treatment affects the risk of sudden and serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke, in men receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer.

Indrin Chetty, PhD, director of the Division of Medical Physics, will explain how using AI and other software can improve patient safety and outcomes. Chetty also will moderate a workshop on decision-making surrounding re-irradiation and present in a session on using algorithms and optimization to maximize radiation doses to tumors while sparing healthy tissue.

Tai Dou, PhD, assistant professor of Radiation Oncology, will moderate a discussion of AI-powered planning, delivery and analysis of radiotherapy treatments.

Mitchell Kamrava, MD, is a professor of Radiation Oncology and director of Brachytherapy, in which a radiation source is placed inside the body. He will discuss techniques and outcomes for microboosting—delivering a higher, targeted radiation dose to the most aggressive area of a tumor—in men with prostate cancer.

Anthony Nguyen, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Radiation Oncology and Biomedical Sciences, will moderate a discussion and present research about biomarkers in prostate radiotherapy. At the Radiation Research Society annual meeting the following week in Hawaii, he will present an invited lecture on how radiation modifies the immune system.

Stephen Shiao, MD, PhD, professor of Radiation Oncology and Biomedical Sciences and co-leader of the Cancer Therapeutics Program, will present on the microbiome’s regulation of tumor response to low-dose radiation.

Zachary Zumsteg, MD, associate professor of Radiation Oncology and Biomedical Sciences, will give an oral presentation reporting results from a Phase II prospective clinical trial investigating deintensified chemoradiotherapy following transoral robotic surgery in HPV-associated head and neck cancer.

Media Contact

To schedule an interview with a Cedars-Sinai expert, contact Christina Elston at christina.elston@cshs.org or 626-298-0702.

“These rising cancer rates are expected worldwide, and large-scale efforts need to be made to encourage lifestyle changes and develop screening programs to reduce them,” said Ju Dong Yang, MD, medical director of the Liver Cancer Program and professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai and co-corresponding author of the study.

Liver Cancer

Yang said that up to 70% of liver cancers could be prevented through lifestyle changes, because while hepatitis B and C were once leading causes of liver cancer in the U.S., they are being eclipsed.

“Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, is emerging as a leading cause of liver cancer in Western countries, including the U.S.,” Yang said. “This is a buildup of fat in the liver that is associated with diabetes, obesity, and uncontrolled high cholesterol and high blood pressure.”

Taking steps to help control these risk factors is the best way to reduce risk, Yang said.

Yang said that only about 20% of people in the U.S. with cirrhosis from hepatitis and other chronic liver conditions receive liver cancer screening, which could help improve early detection and patient outcomes. Only about 30% of liver cancers are detected at an early enough stage for cure, Yang said.

Esophageal and Gastric Cancers

Lifestyle factors and limited screening also come into play in risk for esophageal and gastric cancers, said Alexandra Gangi, MD, director of the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Jim and Eleanor Randall Department of Surgery and director of the Gastrointestinal Tumor Program.

“These tumors cause few symptoms before the cancer has spread—and they tend to spread rapidly,” Gangi said. “To reduce risk, focus on preventable issues such as obesity, tobacco and alcohol use, and diet. And if you have other risk factors such as chronic acid reflux, gastritis or family history of these cancers, speak with your doctor about screening.”

Colorectal Cancer

Everyone should be screened for colorectal cancer by age 45—but those with a family history of the disease should begin sooner, said Alessio Pigazzi, MD, PhD, director of the Division of Colorectal Surgery. Results of that first screening, along with other risk factors, will help determine how often follow-up screenings are needed.

“Late diagnosis makes colorectal cancer highly lethal, while early diagnosis leads to very high cure rates,” Pigazzi said. “To reduce risk, everyone should eat a diet focused on whole foods that are high in fiber and low in sugars and animal fats, exercise regularly, keep up with screenings, and watch for colon cancer symptoms such as frequent rectal bleeding or unexplained changes in bowel habits.”

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is another GI cancer usually diagnosed in advanced stages—with 50% of people diagnosed when the disease has already spread, said Arsen Osipov, MD, medical director of Pancreatic Cancer and Multidisciplinary Programs and Integration.

“There have been recent advances in early detection and treatment, including blood-based ‘liquid biopsy’ tests and structured screening programs for those with strong genetic risk,” Osipov said. “And multidisciplinary clinics, such as one pioneered at Cedars-Sinai, help accelerate diagnosis and treatment planning, and improve access to clinical trials and patient outcomes.”

To reduce pancreatic cancer risk, Osipov recommended paying attention to modifiable lifestyle factors similar to those for other GI cancers. He also suggested that people with chronic pancreatitis or family history of pancreatic cancer consider genetic counseling and participation in a high-risk surveillance program.

On the Horizon

Cedars-Sinai research is changing the landscape of GI cancer detection and treatment, said Katelyn Atkins, MD, PhD, interim chair and medical director of Radiation Oncology. Blood-based biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA are improving early detection and allowing for tailored treatments and better detection of recurrence in colorectal cancer—and are now being leveraged for other GI sites, Atkins said.

“Improvements in radiation oncology techniques are allowing us to deliver the therapy more precisely and better protect nearby organs, making it safer to deliver more intense and effective treatment,” Atkins said. “There is also growing use of radiotherapy as an alternative to radical surgery in rectal, esophageal and gastroesophageal cancers.” 

Biomarker-driven treatment is also improving integration of radiotherapy into treatment regimens that also include surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.  

“This shift toward more personalized, biology-driven treatment approaches helps us extend survival and preserve quality of life for patients with GI cancers,” said Robert Figlin, MD, interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer. “We will continue to work to improve treatment options and prevent cancer incidence in our community.”  

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