Research

Our faculty investigators and researchers in Radiation Oncology focus on some of the most innovative discoveries and impactful areas in oncology to help bring quality treatment care options to our patients.

We have a broad-ranging clinical research portfolio of approximately 74 therapeutic trials, many that are supported by federal and state sponsors, industry partners, philanthropy and institutional awards.

Our research areas align with our clinical priorities and expertise, including but not limited to:

Proton Therapy
Stereotactic Body Radiation Treatment (SBRT)
Brachytherapy
Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Immuno-Radiation Therapy
Chemo-Radiation Therapy

Radiation Oncology Strategic Initiatives

The MD Anderson Radiation Oncology division faculty leadership have prioritized several key discovery and educational areas to focus, guide and advance translational research toward improving radiation therapies.

This is represented in the Radiation Oncology Strategic Initiatives (ROSI), which comprises six pillars: Advanced Imaging, Global Radiation Treatment Access, Immuno-Radiation Therapy, Particle Therapy, FLASH Radiation Therapy and X-Met.

These priority pillars are supported by six cross-cutting infrastructure platforms: the computational modeling program, predictive biomarkers, data science, clinical trials, education, and value, access and quality.

Radiation Oncology Clinical Research Council

Our clinical research portfolio management and study prioritization for the division is guided by the specialty sections’ leadership and the Clinical Research Council (CRC), co-chaired by Zhongxing Liao, M.D., professor in the Radiation Oncology department, and Sam Beddar, Ph.D., professor in the Radiation Physics department.

Access to Clinical Trials

Our experienced and compassionate clinical research teams support Radiation Oncology trials at the main campus, as well as in the Houston Area Locations (HALs) including West Houston, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, League City and UTMB Galveston.

Patients who are interested in participating in a clinical trial should contact their provider for guidance and additional information.

MD Anderson researchers develop novel antibody-toxin...

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed a novel antibody-toxin conjugate (ATC) designed to...

Radiation Oncology Strategic Initiatives

The Division of Radiation Oncology launched the ROSI Seed Award Program in 2017, to provide critical infrastructure and resources toward the acceleration of breakthroughs in radiation oncology research.

Learn more about the Seed Award Program

Clinical Trials

Our patients have access to clinical trials offering promising new treatments that cannot be found anywhere else.

Learn more about clinical trials

Physician Scientist and Translational Research Group

The Radiation Oncology division supports the Physician-Scientist and Translational Science Program, which bridges research efforts from diverse departments to translate to the clinic.

We facilitate robust collaboration between the clinical departments Breast Radiation Oncology, Central Nervous System Radiation Oncology, Gastrointestinal (GI) Radiation Oncology, Genitourinary (GU) Radiation Oncology and Radiation Oncology, along with the departments of Radiation Physics and other departments to bring exciting discoveries to our patients.

Beyond expanding our research efforts, the program provides mentorship to trainees, residents and junior faculty to grow their research careers. This includes providing senior mentorship and more granular assistance with grants and administration. An overarching goal of the program is to serve as a beacon of excellence for translational research in Radiation Oncology, not only for our institution, but also for the global community.

This program is deeply connected to the institution’s mission to end cancer through innovative basic and translational research done both in parallel and embedded in cutting-edge clinical trials.

Physician-Scientists Group Interests

Microbiome

Investigators are exploring how the microbiome may influence the ability of the body’s own immune system to attack HPV-laden cancer cells. Our physician scientists are assessing how changes in the microbiome affect patient outcomes to cancer therapy, such as radiation therapy. Their findings raise the possibility of manipulating the microbiome to “engineer” health and to improve responses to cancer therapies.

Immune System

Radiation therapy has been shown to negatively affect the immune system. Conversely, radiation therapy has also been shown to enhance positive responses to immunotherapy. Research on the immune-modulating effects of radiation therapy on tumors will ultimately lead to new combinations of cancer treatments and treatment regimens.

Radiation Treatment Modalities

Standard and emerging treatment modalities of radiation therapy delivery, including particle therapy (e.g., proton therapy), Gamma Knife®, brachytherapy, stereotactic body radiation treatment (SBRT), which was pioneered by our physician scientist Albert Koong, M.D., Ph.D. for treating pancreatic cancer; intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and FLASH radiation therapy. This research will help overcome significant hurdles for cancer patient’s well-being and life-extending treatment options.

FLASH Radiation Therapy

One of the latest advances in radiation therapy, FLASH delivers radiation at ultra-high dose rates, which are approximately 100 times faster than conventional radiation therapy delivery methods. FLASH radiation therapy may be one of the greatest breakthroughs in radiation therapy in decades. FLASH radiation therapy research will facilitate the translation of this paradigm-shift radiation therapy delivery method to the clinic.

Particle Therapy

Using high-energy charged particles, such as protons, in radiation therapy is considered cutting-edge due to its healthy tissue-sparing effects. It is an attractive therapeutic option for many cancer patients. A wide variety of cancers can be treated with proton therapy. MD Anderson Cancer Center was the first institution in the United States and second in the world to implement intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT).

Predictive Biomarkers

Biomarkers can be used to diagnose cancer as well as to predict cancer patient outcomes. Research on biomarkers will help identify which type of radiation therapy is best for each patient. Biomarker research in the division will lead to planning safer and more efficacious radiation therapy for cancer patients and more precisely diagnose cancer subtypes.