Titles and Affiliations
Assistant Professor
Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation
Research Area
Testing low-dose radiation as a targeted treatment for side effects caused by immunotherapy.
Impact
A type of immunotherapy drug called immune checkpoint inhibitors help the immune system attack breast cancer, and more patients now stay on these drugs for one to two years to keep the cancer under control. While this can improve survival, it also raises the risk of immune-related side effects. One growing problem is sudden joint inflammation, often in knees or hips complicating existing osteoarthritis in older women. These flares cause pain, stiffness, and trouble walking, and often force doctors to pause immunotherapy and turn to high-dose steroids or other immune-suppressing drugs. For her American Society for Radiation Oncology research supported by BCRF, Dr. Anakwenze is testing a local treatment designed to calm the inflamed joint without suppressing the whole immune system: a short course of low-dose radiation aimed only at the affected joint.
What’s Next
Dr. Anakwenze will run a clinical trial in patients with breast cancer who have experienced a flareup, giving them low-dose radiation to the painful knee or hip before restarting immunotherapy. The team will track whether flares return, changes in pain level and function, and whether the radiation allows patients to complete immunotherapy treatment. They will also study how the treatment affects immune cells and inflammatory signals in blood and joint fluid and use detailed imaging before and after treatment to identify patterns that predict who benefits most. If successful, this work could offer a practical way to reduce immunotherapy-induced pain and the need for steroid use, helping more patients complete lifesaving immunotherapy.
Biography
Chidinma Anakwenze, MD is an academic radiation oncologist and global oncology investigator focused on advancing equitable access to cancer care through research, education, and program development. Her work centers on cancer care delivery in low- and middle-income countries and expanding access to clinical trials in community-based settings, with findings presented at national and international meetings. She serves as Co-Director of the Global Oncology Track, where she leads multidisciplinary education and mentorship initiatives. Clinically, she is committed to increasing trial access in satellite locations and among underserved populations, consistently enrolling approximately 15–30% of her treated patients onto clinical trials. She has also led the development of a low-dose radiotherapy program for osteoarthritis.
