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.
News
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Is One Salvage Strategy Best in Localized Prostate Cancer?
Friday, February 13, 2026
When prostate cancer returns after initial treatment with radiation therapy, several different options are available for “salvage therapy,” including high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), cryotherapy, or radical prostatectomy surgery. Another potential option is re-irradiation, or another course of radiation therapy, explained Neha Vapiwala, MD, the Eli Glatstein Professor in Radiation Oncology, and John Nikitas, MD, an assistant professor of Radiation Oncology, in a commentary for JAMA Oncology.
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Clinical Trial Aims to Improve Care for Recurrent Prostate Cancer
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Neha Vapiwala, MD, the Eli Glatstein Professor in Radiation Oncology, discussed the ongoing phase 3 INDICATE trial, which is designed to test whether adding stronger systemic therapy or targeting PET‑detected spots with radiation truly improves outcomes for men whose prostate cancer returns after surgery. The trial aims to bring clarity to a “nebulous space and really help us to figure out where do we actually benefit patients,” with more treatment, Vapiwala explained.
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Expanding the Reach of Precision Care
Monday, January 12, 2026
When the $224 million Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center opens in late 2027, it will become Penn Medicine’s fourth proton therapy center, bolstering the organization’s system-wide approach to comprehensive cancer care and supporting upgrades at the flagship location in the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine. “We aim to bring a world-class center of excellence with a goal of continuing the longstanding research efforts of Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology,” said the department’s Chief Operating Officer Fabian Marechal, MS.