American Society for Radiation Oncology
American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is a professional association advancing radiation oncology through education, research, standards, clinical support, policy work, and advocacy.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
The American Society for Radiation Oncology, commonly known as ASTRO, is a United States-based professional association serving the radiation oncology community. Its membership encompasses multiple clinical, technical, scientific, and nursing professions involved in the use of radiation to diagnose, manage, and treat cancer. The organization represents radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists, medical physicists, radiation oncology nurses, radiation biologists, and related specialists. Its stated purpose is to improve patient care by combining professional education and training, support for clinical practice, development of health-policy and professional standards, scientific and research advancement, and advocacy. ASTRO traces its origin to 1958, when it was established as the American Club of Therapeutic Radiologists. The organization adopted the name American Society for Therapeutic Radiologists in 1966. In 1983, it became the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and retained the acronym ASTRO. In 2008, the membership approved another name change, adopting American Society for Radiation Oncology while preserving the widely recognized ASTRO identity. The change reflected the view that “therapeutic radiology” had become outdated and potentially unclear to the general public, while “radiation oncology” more accurately described the modern specialty. ASTRO operates as a professional and scientific society rather than as a commercial healthcare provider or consumer medical brand. Its activities include continuing education, professional development, clinical-practice resources, scientific communication, and policy advocacy. The organization also supports the dissemination of research through a portfolio of peer-reviewed publications. Its principal scientific journal is the International Journal of Radiation*Oncology*Biology*Physics, widely known within the specialty as the Red Journal. ASTRO also publishes Practical Radiation Oncology, which focuses on improving the quality and consistency of radiation oncology practice, and Advances in Radiation Oncology, an online open-access journal launched in 2015 as a companion to the Red Journal and Practical Radiation Oncology. Additional educational content includes teaching cases and brief communications in radiation oncology. ASTRO's member communications include ASTROgram, a weekly electronic newsletter, and ASTROnews, a quarterly magazine. Together with its journals, educational programs, professional standards, and advocacy work, these channels give the society a role in linking clinical practice, scientific research, workforce education, and public-policy discussions. The organization reports a membership of more than 10,000 people across the radiation oncology profession. Its overall positioning is that of a specialty society and knowledge platform dedicated to improving the quality, safety, effectiveness, and accessibility of cancer care involving radiation. No information in the supplied reference material establishes a separate commercial parent, public listing, founder, or financial ownership structure.
History
ASTRO began in 1958 as the American Club of Therapeutic Radiologists, reflecting the organization’s early focus on physicians and specialists practicing therapeutic radiology. In 1966, it adopted the name American Society for Therapeutic Radiologists. The organization broadened its identity in 1983 by becoming the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, while retaining the acronym ASTRO. The 1983 naming change signaled a wider orientation toward oncology and the multidisciplinary care of people with cancer. Over time, the society’s constituency came to include not only radiation oncologists but also radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists, medical physicists, radiation oncology nurses, radiation biologists, and other professionals connected to the specialty. In 2008, ASTRO changed its formal name to American Society for Radiation Oncology. Members considered “therapeutic radiology” outdated and potentially confusing to a general audience, while “radiation oncology” was viewed as a clearer description of the field. The organization preserved the ASTRO acronym, maintaining continuity with its established professional identity. ASTRO’s work has developed across several connected areas: professional education and training, clinical-practice support, standards and health-policy work, scientific research, and advocacy. Its publishing program became an important part of that role. The International Journal of Radiation*Oncology*Biology*Physics, known as the Red Journal, serves as a major scientific publication associated with the specialty and is issued 15 times annually. In 2011, ASTRO introduced Practical Radiation Oncology, a journal focused on improving the quality of radiation oncology practice. In 2015, it launched Advances in Radiation Oncology, an online-only open-access journal intended to complement the Red Journal and Practical Radiation Oncology. The society also publishes teaching cases and brief communications. Member and professional communications include the weekly electronic ASTROgram newsletter and the quarterly ASTROnews magazine. Through these publications and its broader programs, ASTRO functions as a connection point between research, clinical practice, education, professional standards, and public policy. The organization reports a membership of more than 10,000 across the radiation oncology workforce. The supplied reference material does not identify a founder, headquarters, chief executives, commercial parent, or financial structure.
- 2015
Launched Advances in Radiation Oncology
[1]ASTRO introduced an online-only open-access journal positioned as a companion to its Red Journal and Practical Radiation Oncology.
- 2011
Launched Practical Radiation Oncology
[1]ASTRO began publishing Practical Radiation Oncology as a journal focused on improving the quality of radiation oncology practice.
- 2008
Adopted the name American Society for Radiation Oncology
[1]Members replaced the phrase “therapeutic radiology” with “radiation oncology,” judging the newer terminology clearer and more representative of the specialty.
- 1983
Name changed to American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
[1]The organization broadened its name to explicitly include oncology and retained the ASTRO acronym.
- 1966
Name changed to American Society for Therapeutic Radiologists
[1]The society adopted a more formal professional-association name while continuing to focus on therapeutic radiology.
- 1958
Organization founded as the American Club of Therapeutic Radiologists
[1]The organization was established under the name American Club of Therapeutic Radiologists, forming the institutional foundation of the modern ASTRO.
Products and positioning
A multidisciplinary professional and scientific society for radiation oncology, combining education, research publishing, clinical-practice support, standards, policy advocacy, and member communications to improve cancer care.
Peer-reviewed scientific journal
International Journal of Radiation*Oncology*Biology*Physics
Known within the field as the Red Journal, this is ASTRO’s principal scientific publication. It provides a formal channel for research and scholarly communication in radiation oncology, radiation biology, and related areas. The journal is published 15 times each year and supports ASTRO’s role in connecting scientific advances with specialist clinical practice.
Peer-reviewed clinical-practice journal · 2011
Practical Radiation Oncology
Practical Radiation Oncology, also referred to as P.R.O., was launched by ASTRO in 2011. Its mission is to improve the quality of radiation oncology practice. The publication is oriented toward applied clinical knowledge and practice improvement, complementing the more research-centered role of the Red Journal.
Open-access scientific journal · 2015
Advances in Radiation Oncology
Launched in 2015, Advances in Radiation Oncology is an online-only open-access journal and a sister publication to the Red Journal and Practical Radiation Oncology. It expands ASTRO’s scientific publishing program by providing an openly accessible venue for radiation oncology research and related scholarly material.
Electronic newsletter
ASTROgram
ASTROgram is ASTRO’s weekly electronic newsletter. It serves as a regular member-communications channel for professional information, society activities, and developments relevant to the radiation oncology community.
Professional magazine
ASTROnews
ASTROnews is the society’s quarterly magazine. It provides a periodic publication format for professional news, organizational information, and broader coverage of issues affecting radiation oncology practitioners and researchers.
Brand decisions
2015
Launched Advances in Radiation OncologyProduct launchBackground
The society expanded its publishing program and created an open-access online venue for radiation oncology scholarship.
Action taken
ASTRO launched Advances in Radiation Oncology as an online-only open-access sister journal.
Aftermath
The journal broadened ASTRO’s publication offering alongside the Red Journal and Practical Radiation Oncology.
2011
Introduced Practical Radiation OncologyProduct launchBackground
ASTRO sought to support quality improvement and applied clinical practice within radiation oncology.
Action taken
The society began publishing Practical Radiation Oncology as a dedicated journal.
Aftermath
The publication became part of ASTRO’s scientific and practice-improvement publishing portfolio.
2008
Rebranded the society around “radiation oncology”StrategyBackground
Members determined that the phrase “therapeutic radiology” was outdated and could be confusing to the general public.
Action taken
The organization adopted American Society for Radiation Oncology while preserving the ASTRO acronym.
Aftermath
The new name aligned the society more directly with contemporary terminology for the specialty and maintained continuity with its established identity.
Sources2 sources
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