S3036
Invited Speaker
ESTRO 2026
5425 Impact of RTT research and what matters to the patient Lynsey Devlin Radiotherapy Department, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow, United Kingdom. School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom Patient and public (PPI) involvement in research is becoming more recognised across healthcare, yet putting it into practice in a meaningful way remains challenging. RTTs are well placed to lead on this, given the close relationships they build with patients across the treatment pathway. For research to truly reflect what matters to the patient, it needs to be designed with true patient co-production. This requires careful consideration of patient inclusion methods, and a shift in how RTTs approach and lead research from study design through to dissemination. Study design is central to empowering the patient. Choosing the right methods can ensure patients are active contributors rather than passive subjects, supporting their involvement in decision making throughout the research process. PPI should be built in from the very beginning of study development and not added on at the end. How patients are reimbursed for their time and contribution also requires consideration. Clear guidance exists on this, which acknowledges the importance that involvement is properly valued and that token gestures are avoided. Real world examples of RTT led research show that meaningful PPI, from study design through to dissemination is both possible and impactful. These examples highlight how RTTs can develop their roles as researchers, advocates, and improve the quality and relevance of the evidence base, and ultimately the care patients receive. 5426 Clinical academic RTT careers in patient-centred care Yat Tsang Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada Explore the development of clinical academic pathways for Radiation Therapists and their role in advancing patient-centred care through practice-based research. • This presentation aims to • Discuss how dual clinical-academic roles position RTTs to identify research questions directly from patient interactions and translate findings back into practice.
• Highlight barriers and enablers to clinical academic careers, including time allocation, institutional support, and recognition within the profession.
5428 RIL in the era of immunotherapy/radiotherapy combination Marco Durante Biophysics, GSI, Darmstadt, Germany RIL induced lymphopenia is recognized as a negative prognostic factor in radiotherapy. We studied the relation of RIL and post-treatment recovery as a function of tumor location and radiation quality. A comprehensive database of all published RIL data during and after radiotherapy course has been created at GSI. The database is freely available on www.gsi.de/bio-alc Analysis of the database show a common trend in absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) with an exponential decrease during radiotherapy course and a fast and slow repopulation kinetics (Figure 1). There is a claer difference in ALC for different tumors location with some cancers (e.g. esophagus and liver) presenting severe RIL after radiotherapy while others (e.g. brain and breast) having higher ALC numbers at the end of the treatment. Patients treated with accelerated particles (protons or C-ions) present higher ALC than those treated with X-rays for the same location. This means that the severity of RIL can be significantly reduced using particles rather than photons. RIL data show a strong dependence on tumor site and radiation quality. Particle therapy has a sparing effect on lymphocytes: about 50% of grade 3 (G3) RIL patients after X-rays would have it reduced to G2 with charged particles (Figure 2).
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