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Is Astro putting on a “masterclass” or other seminar in “leadership” this year? .
Nope. Got pushed to next year. Reach out to me if you have thoughts/ideas on how to make it more meaningful/useful!Is Astro putting on a “masterclass” or other seminar in “leadership” this year? .
Nope. Got pushed to next year. Reach out to me if you have thoughts/ideas on how to make it more meaningful/useful!
Last thing we need is more MBAs telling us what to do.Don't do it at all. Rad onc "leadership" is running our specialty into the ground.
If you are going to do it, invite experts from outside radiation oncology like business school types who actually study leadership.
Last thing we need is more MBAs telling us what to do.
Who do you think is incentivizing them? How many MD CEOs are there? How many CFOs have MDs? Why are rad onc departments opening satellites and underpaying faculty if not to pay for the administrative bloat of all the stellar leadership (and lack of any profit center) that MBAs bring to the health care table.I'd rather those who study leadership for a living in academics tell me how to lead than rad onc MDs who managed to make chair and now congratulate themselves on their stellar leadership opening satellites and underpaying faculty.
Why kind of sick, f— attends a talk by Lou Harrison, mikey steinberg, etc about how to be a leader? Would love to know about the lapdogs who sit in the front row?I'd rather those who study leadership for a living in academics tell me how to lead than rad onc MDs who managed to make chair and now congratulate themselves on their stellar leadership opening satellites and underpaying faculty.
Exactly, Just combine the specialty with something else if the plan is for residents to do several years of Instructorships.$100-150k a year is an interesting number
You could just restart as a PGY-2 in radiology and do a few linac locums gigs every year or do preliminary CT reads for an ER
In my humble opinion the results reported at this year's ASTRO are simply premature.The results of 0815 will be presented at ASTRO Plenary next week. I won't reproduce them here but the ARR of OS is very small. 95% of deaths were due to something other than prostate cancer and based on the update from 9408 the OS curves are not likely to converge further as follow-up continues. Competing comorbidities...
Are you using decipher Rx at all for those decisions?In my humble opinion the results reported at this year's ASTRO are simply premature.
RTOG0815 was designed to test if short-duration ADT impacts overall survival in patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer receving dose escalated RT.
Here is the abstract:
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Dose Escalated Radiotherapy Alone or in Combination With Short-Term Androgen Suppression for Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer: Outcomes From the NRG Oncology/RTOG 0815 Randomized Trial
Androgen suppression can improve outcomes when added to radiotherapy (RT) for intermediate risk prostate cancer, but no study to date has reported its…www.sciencedirect.com
Bear in mind this trial included both favorable and unfavorable intermediate risk cancer patients.
So, we have a median follow-up of 6.2 years and there is no difference in overall survival. Is that surprising? I find not.
These patients have intermediate risk prostate cancer, a disease that has the potential to kill a patient only many years down the road. It is the same disease, we do not offer radiotherapy at all if the overall prognosis of the patients (due to age and comorbidities) is <10 years.
I would even advocate that if RTOG 0815 was a randomized trial testing RT or no RT in the very same patients, there would be no difference in OS at 6 years.
What is more interesting than OS are the differences in PFS.
It seems that 16% of patients in the no-ADT arm suffered a recurrence, while that number was 9% in the ADT arm.
The question is if that 7% difference in PFS will result into an OS-difference with an adequate follow-up. It's possible, but it depends on age of recruited patients and their comorbidities.
We have already omitted ADT for favorable intermediate risk cancer in our clinic for several years and RTOG 0815 does support this practice. I am looking forward to seeing how many of the patients in RTOG0815 were favorable or unfavorable risk, all the abstract tells us is that two thirds had only one intermediate-risk factor.
Unfortunately not, it's not reimbursed over here.Are you using decipher Rx at all for those decisions?
You make good points. I wonder how they came up with a 93.3% vs 90% OS improvement at 5 years. That's a NNT of 30, which is a pretty low NNT in oncology--and a kind of a high impact intervention. And I wouldn't expect that OS bump from 6 mos AAS in a high-surviving population. That's a 33% drop in the death rate. But if they had chosen 92% vs 90% OS improvement, they'd need about 3000 patients in the study; 91% vs 90% (a 10% drop in death rate), maybe 5-6000. (And in fact they did see a 91% vs 90% survival improvement, p=0.22, almost good enough in SABR-COMET-land.) So I guess they had to choose 93.3 vs 90 to keep accrual numbers manageable. On the MSKCC nomogram, a T2b, Gleason 3+4 (3/18 cores positive), PSA 9 fellow has a 99% chance of 10 year cancer-specific survival after RP (no hormone therapy). I'd give an RT patient those odds too I think. In summary, 93.3% vs 90% OS improvement at 5 years was NEVER going to happen; ultimately, I'm saying the trial was under-powered IRL (but properly powered in the authors' minds/on paper). So the results weren't premature per se, just expected. The trial was set up over-optimistically... by the prostate "experts" no less.In my humble opinion the results reported at this year's ASTRO are simply premature.
RTOG0815 was designed to test if short-duration ADT impacts overall survival in patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer receving dose escalated RT.
Here is the abstract:
![]()
Dose Escalated Radiotherapy Alone or in Combination With Short-Term Androgen Suppression for Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer: Outcomes From the NRG Oncology/RTOG 0815 Randomized Trial
Androgen suppression can improve outcomes when added to radiotherapy (RT) for intermediate risk prostate cancer, but no study to date has reported its…www.sciencedirect.com
Bear in mind this trial included both favorable and unfavorable intermediate risk cancer patients.
So, we have a median follow-up of 6.2 years and there is no difference in overall survival. Is that surprising? I find not.
These patients have intermediate risk prostate cancer, a disease that has the potential to kill a patient only many years down the road. It is the same disease, we do not offer radiotherapy at all if the overall prognosis of the patients (due to age and comorbidities) is <10 years.
I would even advocate that if RTOG 0815 was a randomized trial testing RT or no RT in the very same patients, there would be no difference in OS at 6 years.
What is more interesting than OS are the differences in PFS.
It seems that 16% of patients in the no-ADT arm suffered a recurrence, while that number was 9% in the ADT arm.
The question is if that 7% difference in PFS will result into an OS-difference with an adequate follow-up. It's possible, but it depends on age of recruited patients and their comorbidities.
We have already omitted ADT for favorable intermediate risk cancer in our clinic for several years and RTOG 0815 does support this practice. I am looking forward to seeing how many of the patients in RTOG0815 were favorable or unfavorable risk, all the abstract tells us is that two thirds had only one intermediate-risk factor.
You mean it was a trial designed to "prove" the equivalence of de-escalation?You make good points. I wonder how they came up with a 93.3% vs 90% OS improvement at 5 years. That's a NNT of 30, which is a pretty low NNT in oncology--and a kind of a high impact intervention. And I wouldn't expect that OS bump from 6 mos AAS in a high-surviving population. That's a 33% drop in the death rate. But if they had chosen 92% vs 90% OS improvement, they'd need about 3000 patients in the study; 91% vs 90% (a 10% drop in death rate), maybe 5-6000. (And in fact they did see a 91% vs 90% survival improvement, p=0.22, almost good enough in SABR-COMET-land.) So I guess they had to choose 93.3 vs 90 to keep accrual numbers manageable. On the MSKCC nomogram, a T2b, Gleason 3+4 (3/18 cores positive), PSA 9 fellow has a 99% chance of 10 year cancer-specific survival after RP (no hormone therapy). I'd give an RT patient those odds too I think. In summary, 93.3% vs 90% OS improvement at 5 years was NEVER going to happen; ultimately, I'm saying the trial was under-powered IRL (but properly powered in the authors' minds/on paper). So the results weren't premature per se, just expected. The trial was set up over-optimistically... by the prostate "experts" no less.
I think it demonstrates (ie "proves") de-escalation looks statistically un-different from escalation if not enough patients are given not enough time to have measurable events in a study. The revealing of the effects of minor interventions in CaP (adjuvant tx's e.g.) takes a lot of time. And patients. And patience.You mean it was a trial designed to "prove" the equivalence of de-escalation?
It's that time of year again!
View attachment 344877
I decided against personally attending ASTRO or paying however much money they wanted for the virtual event this year, so on the off chance it doesn't make it to Twitter, hopefully someone can post the results on SDN for the rest of us to see.
Prediction: based on my experience and conversations with the Class of 2021, I expect unemployment to remain low. I expect this to be spun as a good thing, of course, and people will say the negative projections/worry about the job market are wrong because of it.
If that is indeed the messaging academia chooses to use with us:
In no other sector of the economy would a survey sent by the trainee arm of a professional organization to 200 people before they even leave residency and start the jobs which they may have marked as "satisfactory" be held up as the best available evidence of a robust job market.
(I could obviously be wrong about what they're going to say, but I noticed on the "Agenda" slide the survey is listed under "what is going well", so I have a suspicion about where this will go)
Does employment include Instructorships and fellowships?
Doesn't look much much changes to ACGME case log requirements?
Lot to unpack on these slides but yeah - what's the impact of these changes? I feel like this is when an intern sees a potassium of 3.4 and "repletes" it to 3.6. You can tweak the numbers, but what does it mean clinically?
This. Median survival in the latest trials of de novo METASTATIC disease is 7 years. Only going to go up with parp inhibitors and other new agents. To see a CSM or OS benefit of local therapy you need probably a minimum of 15 years for any reasonably sized trial.I think it demonstrates (ie "proves") de-escalation looks statistically un-different from escalation if not enough patients are given not enough time to have measurable events in a study. The revealing of the effects of minor interventions in CaP (adjuvant tx's e.g.) takes a lot of time. And patients. And patience.
In my opinion, nearly every prostate trial I have seen is remarkably underpowered with very unrealistic expectations for differences in survival. There is a reason that Stampede provides the best data in terms of survival for localized prostate treatment (in a patient population with non-localized disease) and it is all about the competing risk story.I wonder how they came up with a 93.3% vs 90% OS improvement at 5 years.
Indeed.I think it demonstrates (ie "proves") de-escalation looks statistically un-different from escalation if not enough patients are given not enough time to have measurable events in a study. The revealing of the effects of minor interventions in CaP (adjuvant tx's e.g.) takes a lot of time. And patients. And patience.
20 Meq, damn man saved a life!Lot to unpack on these slides but yeah - what's the impact of these changes? I feel like this is when an intern sees a potassium of 3.4 and "repletes" it to 3.6. You can tweak the numbers, but what does it mean clinically?
Right. My point is, our field has decided to design trials in a way that biases results towards less treatment. This is why I think "trending towards" is a viable statement when evaluating the results. They're all underpowered or reported too soon.I think it demonstrates (ie "proves") de-escalation looks statistically un-different from escalation if not enough patients are given not enough time to have measurable events in a study. The revealing of the effects of minor interventions in CaP (adjuvant tx's e.g.) takes a lot of time. And patients. And patience.
This is crazy. You can make significantly more as a travel nurse now.I’ve heard multiple residents coming through our process cite 80-150k for many of these entry level jobs at academic institutions.
Like totally unprompted, offered up this info with an element of disgust and an element of grim acceptance.
Enough unconnected people that I have to believe it’s true.
Assuming this is true, it’s all just a Ponzi scheme to keep graduates employed and prevent the complete collapse of these residencies. However, at some point you can’t find a spot to put a person, even at 100k. How long? My bet is <5 years.
Store managers at In n' Out make $130k a yearThis is crazy. You can make significantly more as a travel nurse now.
I used to make 12/hour in high school. Big money back then, but now totally sick of their food- could never eat it again.Store managers at In n' Out make $130k a year
5 guys and shake shack stole their magic.Lies. One can never tire of animal style fries.
Different markets. If I want a 10$ burger I can do a lot better then all 3. Though I do like 5 guys Cajun fries.5 guys and shake shack stole their magic.
How it will have started
How it will be going
View attachment 344927
Long gone will soon be the days of me smiling inside when the urologists pushed for RPE in high-risk patients, knowing I would be getting a post-op referral for 33 fractions and not a primary one for 20 fractions. 🤔 🤔 🤔
In America at ASTRO this year we now have data that with fewer fractions there are more jobs, better salaries, and better job satisfaction.
So this is a WIN.
Basically medoncs are getting rates that approach this because of the shortage.Just convince your admin to pay you $150/RVU and we'll all be okay! Nothing to see here folks
View attachment 344927
Long gone will soon be the days of me smiling inside when the urologists pushed for RPE in high-risk patients, knowing I would be getting a post-op referral for 33 fractions and not a primary one for 20 fractions. 🤔 🤔 🤔
What was the hypothesized toxicity difference in this non-inferiority trial meant to accrue <300 men?
What are your thoughts on this? What would your thoughts be if the current numerical difference were statistically significant? As in, would that difference be clinically meaningful?
My thoughts are that QOL endpoints are difficult to study. SDN is not the place to provide a complete answer but the issue is how does one define a clinically meaningful difference in a QOL endpoint also considered as "minimally important difference (MID)".What are your thoughts on this? What would your thoughts be if the current numerical difference were statistically significant? As in, would that difference be clinically meaningful?
Seriously, there is numerically almost twice as much GU toxicity but it is not statistically significant?CONCLUSION: Your trial was underpowered to detect a toxicity difference
Btw Pollack doesn’t use a lot of hypofract off protocol. If a regimen can be used to capture distant pts (5 treatments etc) it will be roundly endorsed.Seriously, there is numerically almost twice as much GU toxicity but it is not statistically significant?
It's criminal that we as a field are so ready to accept non-inferiority as the benchmark for success. It does our patients an immense disservice. We could hide behind the statistics and say "toxicity is not significantly different" in order to push a narrative we want to push, but ask yourself if you'd feel comfortable receiving that treatment.
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Randomized trial of hypofractionated external-beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer - PubMed
The hypofractionation regimen did not result in a significant reduction in BCDF; however, it is delivered in 2.5 fewer weeks. Men with compromised urinary function before treatment may not be ideal candidates for this approach.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
In 2013 Alan Pollack published his hypofractionation trial. This was published less than 10 years ago. The endpoint was "To determine if escalated radiation dose using hypofractionation significantly reduces biochemical and/or clinical disease failure (BCDF) in men treated primarily for prostate cancer." The conclusion was that BCDF was similar and "there were no statistically significant differences in late toxicity between the arms; however, in subgroup analysis, patients with compromised urinary function before enrollment had significantly worse urinary function after HIMRT."
And you know what? This wasn't adopted as a standard of care.
As a field we keep shifting the goalposts and designing trials so that they can show a POSITIVE outcome rather than designing clinical trials that show a MEANINGFUL outcome. Having a poorly designed trial with a positive outcome, such as this one, actually does our patients a disservice and sets the field back. It gives us latitude to provide treatments that have worse toxicity at the expense of our patients and for the sole purpose of advancing someone's academic career. Maybe it's not an issue right now when we're still paid per fraction, but get ready to see some wild **** in a few years when APM hits.
How it will have started
How it will be going