David Palma: Final results of ORATOR, after completion of the full follow-up period

David Palma shared a post on X, about recent paper published in Journal of Clinical Oncology:

Radiotherapy Versus Transoral Robotic Surgery for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Final Results of the ORATOR Randomized Trial.

Authors: Anthony C. Nichols, Julie Theurer, Eitan Prisman, Nancy Read, Eric Berthelet, Eric Tran, Kevin Fung, John R. de Almeida, Andrew Bayley, David P. Goldstein, Michael Hier, Khalil Sultanem, Keith Richardson, Alex Mlynarek, Suren Krishnan, Hien Le, John Yoo, S. Danielle MacNeil, Eric Winquist, J. Alex Hammond, Varagur Venkatesan, Sara Kuruvilla, Andrew Warner, Sylvia Mitchell, Jeff Chen, Stephanie Johnson-Obaseki, Michael Odell, Martin Corsten, Christina Parker, Bret Wehrli, Keith Kwan, David A. Palma.

”Today in Journal of Clinical Oncology: Final results of ORATOR, after completion of the full follow-up period. We really need to rely on RCTs to compare treatments, and this trial will help people make informed decisions about their options.”

Anthony C. Nichols shared a post by David Palma, on X, adding:

”Plot twist! The 5-year minimum follow-up results of the ORATOR trial show that the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) curves converge mainly due to a decline in the chemoradiotherapy/radiotherapy (CRT/RT) arm at 5 years (later toxicity kicking in?). Despite the title of the paper we are reconsenting patients to obtain 10-year follow-up.”

Source: David Palma/X and Anthony C. Nichols/X

David Palma is a Radiation Oncologist and Professor at Western University. His research focuses on utilizing advanced imaging technologies to enhance radiotherapy by improving tumor targeting and enabling higher doses than previously possible. He also explores innovative imaging methods to more accurately assess tumor response following treatment.

Anthony C. Nichols, MD, FRCS(C), FACS, is a Professor in the Departments of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and Oncology at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University. He directs the Translational Head and Neck Cancer Research Program and the Microvascular Surgery Fellowship. Additionally, Dr. Nichols is the Chief of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Chair of the Head and Neck Disease Site Team at the London Regional Cancer Program.