ASTRO's Framework for Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Curriculum Development for Trainees

European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) response to the proposed ASTRO’s framework for radiopharmaceutical therapy curriculum development for trainees

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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the ASTRO board of directors approved in the fall of 2021 a new framework for radiopharmaceutical therapy curriculum development for trainees, which was published by Ana P. Kiess et al [1]. Being members of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Board, we want to comment officially on behalf of the EANM.Although the paper by Kiess et al may have its merits at trying to fill in a gap in workforce and related expertise appearing in a North American context in nuclear medicine, we think that this proposal may not be the ideal solution.

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“…The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the ASTRO board of directors approved in the fall of 2021 a new framework for radiopharmaceutical therapy curriculum development for trainees, which was published by Ana P. Kiess et al [1]. Being members of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Board, we want to comment officially on behalf of the EANM.…”

“…What Kiess et al [1] rightfully have detected is a breakthrough over the last decade in terms of a better understanding of molecular pathways in oncology, with a translation by pharmaceutical companies into new precision therapies such as immuno-therapy and, because of growing clinical evidence, progressively being better reimbursed by health authorities, resulting in a boost for improved patient treatment. In its slipstream, a growth in commercial availability and dissemination of radiopharmaceuticals helps to answer the rapidly growing clinical needs for precision medicine by offering added value imaging and related therapy.…”

A Primer on Radiopharmaceutical Therapy

“…With the exception of absorbed dose estimates, most of the aforementioned factors are not typically part of radiation oncology training. In an effort to fill this knowledge gap, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has published a suggested framework for incorporating more comprehensive RPT training into existing residency curriculum and multidisciplinary patient-centered care for implementing RPTs (18,19).…”

Letter to Editor for “European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) response to the proposed ASTRO’s framework for radiopharmaceutical therapy curriculum development for trainees.”

“…We have read the EANM response to the ASTRO framework for radiopharmaceutical therapy with great interest and endorse that there is a very solid perspective to nuclear medicine’s claim to the ownership of radiopharmaceutical therapy [ 1 , 2 ]. Generations of physicians have spent their professional and personal life learning and delivering radiopharmaceutical therapies to patients since the first use of P-32 for the treatment of leukemia and polycythemia in California by John H. Lawrence who identified the therapeutic potential of artificial radioisotopes in 1938, even before Saul Hertz in laid foundation of theranostics with radioiodine in 1941 [ 3 , 4 ].…”