Leslie Michelle Harrell, DO, MS

Associate Member

Research Program:

Cancer Therapeutics

Faculty Rank:

Assistant Professor

Campus:

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

College:

College of Medicine

Department:

Radiation Oncology

Cancer Research Interest

Disease Site Focus: Brain, Breast, Pediatric Oncology, Cutaneous/Melanoma
Research Focus Area: Treatment
Type of Research: Clinical
Research Keywords: Treatment, Radiation
Research Interest Statement: Cancer research encompasses diverse projects aimed at advancing treatment, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing quality of life. One area of interest is clinical research on proton therapy, which explores its indications, benefits, and potential to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissues compared to traditional radiation. Proton therapy is particularly beneficial for pediatric patients, whose developing bodies are more sensitive to radiation exposure. Additionally, innovative applications of virtual reality (VR) in cancer care are emerging, particularly to assist young patients in managing anxiety and discomfort during treatments. VR can help reduce the need for anesthesia by immersing children in calming, interactive environments, allowing them to better tolerate procedures and making treatment experiences less distressing.

“NRG-BR007: A Phase III Clinical Trial Evaluating De-escalation of Breast Radiation for Conservative Treatment of Stage I, Hormone Sensitive, HER2-Negative, Oncotype Recurrence Score = 18 Breast Cancer” (NCT04852887)