At Global Voices in Renal Oncology (VIRO) 2025, organized by OncoDaily, Dr. Chad Tang, Associate Professor and Radiation Oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, delivered an insightful talk on “Radiation Approaches for Oligometastatic Disease.”
Dr. Tang discussed the concept of oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma, a state between localized and widely metastatic disease, where targeted local interventions can improve patient outcomes. He highlighted historical and contemporary evidence supporting metastasis-directed therapies and compared these approaches with systemic treatments, emphasizing the balance between clinical benefit, toxicity, and patient quality of life.
The presentation showcased results from Dr. Tang’s feasibility and efficacy studies, demonstrating that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) can extend systemic therapy–free survival up to nearly three years, while maintaining low toxicity rates. He explained how careful patient selection and treatment planning are crucial to maximize benefit while minimizing side effects.
A major focus of his talk was the use of biomarkers, particularly circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), to identify patients most likely to benefit from localized radiation approaches. He also highlighted ongoing clinical trials exploring combinations of radiation therapy with immunotherapy, which may redefine treatment strategies for patients with oligometastatic renal tumors in the near future.
Dr. Tang concluded by emphasizing that multidisciplinary collaboration and precision-guided radiation therapy are key to improving survival and quality of life in patients with oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma.
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