Since its inception in 1968, Saint Louis University’s Department of Radiation Oncology has been an integral part of our cancer treatment and academic medical practice. Radiation oncology works closely with SLUCare surgeons and other health care professionals to treat patients who have brain, head and neck tumors, as well as those with prostate, lung, breast and liver cancer.
The state-of-the-art Center for Radiation Medicine is located adjacent to the West Pavilion Cancer Center Outpatient Services. The Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator expanded our capabilities including techniques like respiratory gating, Rapid Arc, Calypso, Vision RT, and Cone-beam CT for faster and precise treatment.
In 2017, Saint Louis University has transitioned its Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) for brain and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) to the pinpoint accuracy of Varian TrueBeam. Our history of intra and extracranial stereotactic radiation started in 2004 with the CyberKnife and now the TrueBeam has grown to offer options of open face masks, continual optical surface monitoring, radiofrequency guidance and Cone Beam CT localization. These accurate TrueBeam treatments are non invasive, faster and gated to help the radiation avoid organs at risk and target the tumor.
Learn About Our Clinical Services
Our Faculty
John Dombrowski, M.D., Ph.D., DABR
Associate Professor
Director of Radiation Medicine
Chair of Radiation Oncology
Jeevin Shahi, M.D., FRCPC, DABR
Assistant Professor
Nabil Khater, M.S., DABR, DABMP
Chief Physicist
Assistant Professor
Bruce Walz, M.D.
Professor Emeritus
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Joint Appointments
Richard Bucholz, M.D.
Department of Neurosurgery
Major Clinical Research
- NRG/RTOG
- Children's Oncology Group (In collaboration with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital)
- Industry Related - Accuray
- Other collaborative trials with medical oncology and surgical oncology
Selected Research and Peer Reviewed Articles
J. Shahi, I. Poon, Y.C. Ung, M. Tsao, G. A. Bjarnason, N. H. Malik, L. Zhang, A. V. Louie, P. Cheung, "Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Mediastinal and Hilar Lymph Node Metastases," International Journal of Radiation Oncology · Biology · Physics , Online Publication, October 25, 2020.
J. Shahi, J. Peng, E. Donovan, J. Vansantvoort, R. Wong, T. Tsakiridis, K. Quan, S. Parpia, A. Swaminath, "Overall and Chemotherapy-free survival following stereotactic body radiation therapy for abdominopelvic olgiometastases," Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology, Volume 64, Issue 4, pgs 563-569, August 2020.
M.C.Tjong, D. Y. Mak, J. Shahi, G. J. Li, H. Chen, A.V.Louie, "Current Managment and Progress in Radiotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer," Frontiers in Oncology, Volume 10, Article 1146, July 2020.
K.M. Polednik, M.C. Simpson, E.A. Boakye, K.A. Mohammed, J.J.Dombrowski, M.A. Varvares, N.Osazuwa-Peters, "Radiation and Second Primary Thyroid Cancer Following Index Head and Neck Cancer," The Larynscope, Volume 129, Pages 1014-1020, April 2019. Epub September 12, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.27467
R.M., Meier, D.A. Bloch, C. Cotrutz, A.C. Beckman, G.T. Henning, S.A. Woodhouse, S.K. Williamson, N. Mohideen, J.J. Dombrowski, R.L. Hong, D. G. Brachman, P.W. Linson, I.D. Kaplan, "Multi-Center Trial of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Low- and Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer: Survival and Toxicity Endpoints," International Journal of Radiation Oncology · Biology · Physics (2018),doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.05.040.
S.A. Byrd, M.J. Xu, L.M. Cass, D.J. Wehrmann, M. Naunheim, K. Christopher, J. J. Dombrowski, R. J. Walker, L.Wirth, J.Clark, P.Busse, A.Chan, D.G. Deschler, K. Emerick, D.T. Lin, M.A. Varvares, "Oncologic and functional outcomes of pretreatment tracheotomy in advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A multi-institutional analysis," Oral Oncology, March 2018, 78, pages 171-176.
R. Bhatia, S. Ravulapati, A. Befeler, J. Dombrowski, S. Gadani, N. Poddar, "Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Bone Metastases: Incidence, Prognostic Significance, and Management--Single-Center Experience," Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer, September 11, 2017.
A. Hassaini, J. Dombrowski, E. Bolesta, R. Walker, M. Varvares, "Esthesioneuroblastoma with Bilateral Metastases to the Parotid Glands," Head & Neck, Volume 38, Issue 3, March 2016. Head Neck.doi: 10.1002/hed.24425.
S. Tabaie, J. Dombrowski, B. Moed, "Does Prophylactic Irradiation Port Size Affect the Extent of Heterotopic Ossification after Acetabular Fracture Surgery? A Pilot Study," Current Orthopedic Practice, Volume 25, Number 6, Pages 592-595, November/December 2014.
S. McBride, D. Wong, J. Dombrowski, B. Harkins, P. Tapella, H. Hanscom, S. Collins, I. Kaplan, "Hypofractionated Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy in Low-Risk Prostate Adenocarcinoma: Preliminary Results of Multi-Institution Phase 1 Feasibility Trial," Cancer, Volume 118, Issue 15, Pages 3681-3690, August 1, 2012.