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:
At the Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Radiotherapy Working Group meeting, the group created guidelines to determine when and how to use radiation treatments in the plan of care for pediatric cancer patients who are diagnosed with low-grade gliomas. The guidelines determined that radiation treatment, often proton therapy due to the limited dose to healthy body tissues, remains the most effective treatment for pediatric low-grade gliomas. However, every treatment plan requires a multidisciplinary decision-making process to determine the best treatment option for each individual patient.
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:
Rhabdomyosarcomas are a common type of cancer that is found in the soft tissues of the body. This is most common in very young children. Unfortunately data in the past has shown that infants younger than 24 months old have been found to have higher recurrence rates of cancer and lower survival rates than older children. The ARST1431 clinical trial data was analyzed by these authors who found that the latest data is promising in that the very young children with rhabdomyosarcoma are now having similar outcomes as older children also diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. The use of radiation, combined with the usual surgical technique called delayed primary excision, are thought to have contributed to these improved outcomes.
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:
For children diagnosed with head and neck cancers, radiation is often an integral part of the treatment plan. However, since children’s bones are still growing and their bones are more susceptible to the effects of radiation, facial deformation is often seen after radiation treatment. Pediatric radiation oncology experts from around the world worked together to assess the data on facial deformity outcomes. Their key takeaway was that standard assessment tools are needed to better report the facial deformity outcomes seen by young children who receive radiation in the head and neck region.
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 shorter course of treatment of around 28 days was developed and may be recommended for low-risk and intermediate-risk people with prostate cancer. Now, even after a decade of follow up, 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? (Brad – is he still with us?), 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.