MO-E-350-02: ASTRO Emerging Technology Plan

Abstract

In October 2005, the Board of the Directors of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) acted to create an Emerging Technology Committee (ETC). The mission of the Committee is: To provide a proactive resource for all stakeholders: ASTRO members and staff, industry, commercial payers, healthcare organizations, and government, in the application and integration of new and emerging technologies into the practice of radiation oncology. The Committee was formed in clear recognition of the critical role played by new and emerging technologies and procedures in the practice of Radiation Oncology, the responsibility of the Society in development of clinically and evidence‐based policy regarding those technologies and procedures, and a determination that the four ASTRO Councils should have a more clear and coherent roadmap regarding new technologies and procedures for their individual policy decision‐making and programming. A significant amount of time and effort was spent in development of policies and procedures necessary to enable smooth and consistent function of the new Committee and that would, to the greatest extent possible, avoid conflict and risk to the Society from Committee actions. Since its implementation, the Committee has initiated six projects for technology and/or procedure evaluation. These projects are: • Dose escalation and normal tissue protection in prostate cancer. • Electronic brachytherapy. • Interactive localization and tracking devices. • Proton beam radiation therapy. • Stereotactic body radiation therapy for prostate cancer. • Stereotactic body radiation therapy for non‐small cell lungcancer. The status and results of these projects will be presented in detail, as will an overview of Committee procedures.