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.
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Dr. Vapiwala named Eli Glatstein Professor »
News
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New Research for Stage III Lung Cancer
Monday, October 27, 2025
The phase III PACIFIC-2 trial showed no significant progression-free survival benefit with adding the immunotherapy drug durvalumab to concurrent platinum-based chemoradiotherapy in patients with stage III non–small cell lung cancer that couldn’t be surgically removed. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Jeffrey D. Bradley, MD, a professor of Radiation Oncology, and colleagues.
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Lower-Dose Radiation Therapy Effective in Aggressive Lymphomas
Friday, October 17, 2025
New research shows that a reduced dose of radiation therapy works just as well to keep the cancer from returning for patients with aggressive lymphomas. John P. Plastaras, MD, PhD, a professor of Radiation Oncology, noted that the findings will help physicians evaluate treatment options during tumor board discussions because “now we finally have data to inform those conversations.”
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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.