Robert C. Miller, M.D.

The primary research activities of Robert C. Miller, M.D., are focused on testing existing medications to determine if they can be used to reduce the negative symptoms associated with radiotherapy. This is being done through a series of national, multi-institutional phase III randomized controlled trials performed through the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.

Additionally, Dr. Miller is leading the design of clinical trials for the Mayo Clinic Proton Beam Therapy Program.

Focus areas

• Reducing toxicity and symptoms from radiation therapy
• Diagnosis and treatment of rare cancers, such as pseudomyxoma peritonei
• Proton and carbon ion radiotherapy

Significance to patient care

Dr. Miller's research into reducing patient discomfort and toxicity from radiotherapy for cancer has been focused on radiation mucositis, enteritis and dermatitis, or radiation reactions of the mouth and throat, intestines, and skin. He and his colleagues have recently concluded successful phase III trials of agents to reduce skin reactions and oral mucosal reactions to radiotherapy. They are planning on testing probiotic preparations for preventing radiation-induced diarrhea and oral mucositis in the near future.

Through the ability of proton radiotherapy to deliver less radiation to healthy tissues when treating cancer, he and the other clinicians who will practice in the proton therapy center at Mayo Clinic hope to reduce complications from radiotherapy in a variety of ways.

Professional highlights

• Editor-in-Chief, Rare Tumors, 2009-present
• Associate Fellow, Particle Therapy Cancer Research Institute, Oxford University, U.K., 2010-present
• Chair, Membership Committee, American Society for Radiation Oncology