Each research study published is one step forward to better understanding cancer and the effectiveness of cancer treatment options. Below are the latest publications by our physicians and physicists, either as primary investigators or coauthors with oncology experts from around the world. Many of the studies had University of Florida radiation oncology residents as the principal investigator: which highlights the multifaceted mission of UF as an academic medical center—clinical care, research and medical education. Incorporating training and research at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is an integral part of the UF radiation oncology residency program.
The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute physicians, physicists and contributing staff members are indicated in bold.
Read our full research portfolio here.
Pediatric Cancer
Article Title:
Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (NOPHO) Radiotherapy Working Group consensus guidelines on radiotherapy for paediatric low-grade gliomas.
February 2026
Authors:
Anna Embring, Tanja Skyttä, Jacob Engellau, Irina Kerna, Daiva Sendiuliene, Malin Blomstrand, Daniel J. Indelicato, MD, Beate Timmermann, Yasmin Lassen-Ramshad, Henriette Magelssen.
Why this is important:
This guideline, developed by the Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (NOPHO), summarizes the current consensus on radiotherapy use in pediatric low-grade gliomas, the most common childhood brain tumor. Compared to chemotherapy, radiation offers better cure rates for children with unresectable tumors but doctors must balance treatment efficacy with long-term side effects. The authors identified proton therapy as the ideal radiation modality in patients with access.
Article Title:
Intermediate Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma in Very Young Children (Less Than or Equal to 24 months) Treated on the Prior Children's Oncology Group Protocol ARST1431.
March 2026
Authors:
Katrina Winsnes, Julie A. Bradley, MD, MHCDS, Zhengya Gao, Abha A. Gupta, David H. Rothstein, Archana Shenoy, Rajkumar Venkatramani, Wei Xue, Carola Arndt
Why this is important:
This study analyzed rhabdomyosarcoma in infants and very young children (≤24 months). Among 48 patients, event‑free and overall survival were similar between the young children and older children (4‑year EFS ~56–68%). When it can be accomplished, surgery with radiation substantially lowers local failure (8.3% with surgery + radiation vs 29.2% with radiation alone in <24‑month patients). Radiation dose escalation for larger tumors did not improve control, so future work should focus on optimizing safe radiotherapy delivery and increasing appropriate use of surgery.
Article Title:
Systematic review of facial deformation following paediatric head and neck radiation therapy: A call for standardised outcome assessment and dose-response evidence.
June 2026
Authors:
Angela Davey, Lucy Siew Chen Davies, Shermaine Pan, Koen B Krommenhoek, Emma Foster-Thomas, Nanouschka H Maagdenberg, Bernadette Brennan, Frances Charlwood, Simona Gaito, Mark N Gaze, Callum Gillies, Love Goyal, Cynthia L Eccles, Daniel J. Indelicato, MD, Matthew Krasin, Henry C Mandeville, Olga Slater, Gillian Whitfield, Marinka L F Hol, Marianne C Aznar
Why this is important:
Radiation therapy for pediatric head and neck cancers often causes long-term dentofacial late effects, notably facial deformation (asymmetry, bone hypoplasia) with reported prevalence varying widely (21–97%) across cohorts. The systematic review of 25 studies (1155 children treated 1965–2022) found substantial heterogeneity in outcome assessment with inconsistent grading and limited use of standardised metrics. Radiation dose–response evidence is limited but indicates greater risk with higher doses and younger age at treatment (particularly <~5–7 years), with several studies implicating doses in the ~24–40 Gy range in increased deformation. The review highlights the need for standardised, multi-modal outcome measures, routine contouring of dentofacial structures and rigorous dosimetric analyses to establish dose constraints, improve follow-up, and inform reconstructive care.
Article Title:
Systematic Review of Late Dental Effects Following Head and Neck Radiation Therapy in Childhood Cancer Survivors.
February 2026
Authors:
Koen B. Krommenhoek, MD, Emma Foster-Thomas, BDS, MPH, Angela Davey, PhD, Lucy Siew Chen Davies, MSc, Nanouschka H. Maagdenberg, MD, Frances Charlwood, PhD, Simona Gaito, MD, Love Goyal, MD, Callum Gillies, MSc, Olga Slater, MD, PhD, Bernadette Brennan, MD, Mark N. Gaze, MD, FRCR, FRCP, Cynthia L. Eccles, PhD, Alfred G. Becking, MD, DDS, PhD, FEBOMFS, Johannes H.M. Merks, MD, PhD, Henry C. Mandeville, MD, Daniel J. Indelicato, MD, Matthew Krasin, MD, Shermaine Pan, MBChB, Marianne C. Aznar, PhD, Marinka L.F. Hol, MD, PhD
Why this is important:
Pediatric oncology experts did a systemic review of the dental complications that can occur in children following radiation treatment in the mouth, head and neck area. They looked at data from over 40 studies and over 7,000 children. Common dental issues included adult teeth that never developed, teeth developing smaller than the average size and issues with roots of teeth growing to the proper size. As the data was reviewed, they determined the need for standardized definitions for dental issues related to radiation treatment, improved assessment protocols and reporting of dental issues as well as improved education to the families of these children and recommendations for long-term dental care. The goal of this research is to improve the survivorship care of children treated with radiation for cancers in the head and neck area.
Prostate Cancer
Article Title:
Ten-year outcomes for image-guided moderately hypofractionated proton therapy for prostate cancer.
June 2026
Authors:
Randal H Henderson, MD, Curtis M Bryant, MD, MPH, Romaine Charles Nichols, Jr., MD, William M Mendenhall, MD, FACR, Christopher G Morris, MS, Mark E Artz, PhD, Perry B Johnson, PhD, Kethandapatti C Balaji, MD, Nancy P Mendenhall, MD, FACR, FASTRO
Why this is important:
Hypofractionated radiation treatment plans are courses of treatment that are shorter than the previously prescribed standard of treatment. For prostate cancer, 39 to 41 days of radiation treatment was the standard for many years. Thanks to continuous research, a 28-day treatment was developed and may be recommended for patients with low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The patients who were treated with hypofractionated radiation treatment plans still enjoy overwhelmingly high rates of disease control, minimal side effects and a very low incidence of new cancers - demonstrating that moderately hypofractionated proton therapy for prostate cancer remains a successful and patient-friendly option for prostate cancer. Stay tuned for a blog discussing this latest research in more detail.
Lymphoma
Article Title:
Comparing Organs at Risk Sparing Between Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and Pencil-Beam Scanning Plans Based on Disease Location for Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
March 2026
Authors:
Keaton Reiners, PhD, Emma Viviers, Nataly Getman, MS, Kevin Kirby, CMD, RT (R)(T), Perry B Johnson, PhD, Nancy P Mendenhall, MD, FACR, FASTRO, Yawei Zhang, Raymond B Mailhot Vega
Why this is important:
In this study, the physicians and medical physicists at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute created two treatment plans for 156 patients. One photon (conventional radiation) treatment plan and one proton radiation treatment plan. The researchers compared the radiation doses received by key organs—heart, lungs and breasts. The main findings were clear: proton therapy lowered the amount of radiation the heart, lungs and breasts received, but this advantage varied with disease location. For example, patients whose cancer was in the upper, middle or lower parts of the chest saw the largest heart sparing benefit; those with cancer in both armpits experienced the biggest lung protection; and those with bilateral near lung disease had the greatest breast-sparing effect.
Improving Cancer Treatment for Patients
Article Title:
Management of a Multi-Room Downtime Event in a Multi-System Environment: A Case Report in Proton Therapy Operations.
Feb 2026
Authors:
Perry B Johnson, PhD, Bradlee Robbert, FACHE, MHA, RT (R)(T), Trevor Fleming, R.T.(R)(T), Taylor Dillinger, R.T.(T), Kevin Kirby, CMD, RT (R)(T), Kristin Heath, DBA, MBA, MHA, Nancy P Mendenhall, MD, FACR, FASTRO
Why this is important:
During an unforseen mechanical shutdown that threatened multiple proton therapy treatment rooms at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, our multidisciplinary team rapidly adjusted our treatment operations. By prioritizing urgent cases, extending clinic hours, and shuffling schedules, we kept every treatment on track to ensure continuity of care. The adjusted workflow enabled a record setting 61 patients to be treated in a single treatment room within one day. This success reminded us of our core values—teamwork, flexibility and unwavering patient focus. We’ve written up our approach so other centers can benefit from these lessons and maintain high quality care no matter what challenges arise.