UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology Issue 4 - Flipbook - Page 23
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
altruism of veterans.
“Our veterans have been amazing in their desire
and willingness to participate in a trial that will
help another veteran,” he says.
Quest to cure lung cancer
Dr. Moghanaki hypothesizes there will be little,
if any, measurable difference between the two
treatment methods when it comes to overall
survival for people with early-stage lung cancer.
“One of the most promising things is, if this
study shows that patients who opt for SBRT do
just as well as those who choose surgery, that
opens up even more opportunities for research
and discovery,” he says. “This helps the field
move forward.”
immunotherapy and new ablation techniques
that can be administered percutaneously
(through the skin) or endobronchially (through
the throat) with robotic bronchoscopy
machines, and are eager to see how they might
work alongside surgery or SBRT.
“Our quest to cure and eradicate lung cancer
forever will require local and systemic therapy,”
Dr. Moghanaki says. “I’m optimistic that,
regardless of the results of the study, we will
have findings that expand options for patients.”
The study is expected to continue through 2027.
Visit the VALOR clinical trial site for additional
information and enrollment. ☐
Contributed by: Sandy Cohen
Photo Credit: Joshua Sudock
He and study co-chair David H. Harpole Jr., MD,
of Duke University are inspired by emerging
treatments for lung cancer, including
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