Welcome to the Department of Radiation Oncology
Message from James M. Metz, MD — Chairman
Penn Radiation Oncology is dedicated to a three-part mission of excellence in patient care, basic and translational research, and the education of residents and students. We are committed to delivering excellence in every area and as such we steadfastly believe that "Excellence is Standard."
Penn Radiation Oncology is one of the most comprehensive radiation oncology programs in the world. The outstanding faculty and staff, combined with Penn’s extensive collection of advanced technology, gives patients access to nearly every treatment option available for their cancer. The broad range of radiation treatments available include Proton Therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), high-dose rate (HDR) and low-dose rate brachytherapy, partial breast irradiation, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and Gamma Knife radiation. With the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Radiation Oncology provides patient care at the Ruth and Raymond Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine (PCAM), six major hospitals, and nine community-based sites.
Read more of the Message from the Chair »
Dr. Vapiwala named Eli Glatstein Professor »
News
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Study Explores Gut Microbiome Impact on Lung Cancer Therapy
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
A research team led by Andrea Facciabene, PhD, a research associate professor of Radiation Oncology, and Steven Joel Feigenberg, MD, a professor of Radiation Oncology, found that patients with inoperable early-stage lung cancer who received the antibiotic vancomycin prior to radiation therapy had significantly better outcomes. In a pilot study, their cancer was less likely to return, and they were more likely to live longer than the patients who received radiation therapy alone.
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What to Know About Bladder Cancer After Deion Sanders Shares Diagnosis
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
University of Colorado head basketball coach, Deion Sanders announced this week he has fought—and beaten—cancer after having his bladder removed. So what are the symptoms of bladder cancer, and when is it time to call your doctor? Daniel Lee, MD, an assistant professor of Urology in Surgery, and Neha Vapiwala, MD, the Eli Glatstein Professor in Radiation Oncology, provide perspective on what a bladder cancer diagnosis looks like, and the treatments that are available.
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Combo Therapy Boosts Survival in Bile Duct Cancer
Friday, July 11, 2025
Chemoradiation plus immunotherapy improved survival outcomes for patients with surgically removeable bile duct cancer. In an editorial accompanying the study, Edgar Ben-Josef, MD, a professor of Radiation Oncology, noted that while the post-surgery combination therapy was shown to be an active regimen, the study still left unanswered questions that will need to be addressed in a phase 3 clinical trial.