UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology SUMMER 2024 - Flipbook - Page 32
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
$1.8 MILLION GRANT TO
ADVANCE PERSONALIZED
CANCER THERAPY
“Our goal is to improve the post-treatment quality of life for patients
with prostate cancer by predicting and preventing the adverse effects
of radiation therapy," said Dr. Amar Kishan. "This grant will allow us to
expand our research and bring us closer to achieving that goal.”
Investigators at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have
received a $1.8 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to advance their
work in personalizing cancer treatment. The funding helps further the team’s work
in improving the quality of life for men diagnosed with prostate cancer by predicting
and preventing significant long-term side effects from radiation treatment.
Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of prostate cancer treatment, yet patients can
still suffer from long-term side effects, such as urinary and bowel issues, that can
significantly impact their quality of life. Patients with prostate cancer worldwide
experience the highest number of years living with disability due to treatment-related
effects, highlighting the high incidence of the disease and the success of modern
therapy in achieving high cure rates.
Dr. Amar Kishan, Executive Vice Chair of Radiation Oncology at the David Geffen
School of Medicine at UCLA, is leading the team’s efforts in validating and leveraging
biomarkers that can predict which patients will experience harmful side effects from
radiation therapy. The research focuses on specific genetic markers, called mirSNPs,
which have shown promise in predicting side effects from cancer treatment.
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