US-based radiation oncology firm Accuray has reported positive data from its study of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) using CyberKnife System while treating low-risk and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients.
The CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system serves as a non-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous tumours.
The treatment involves delivery of beams of high-dose radiation to tumours while ensuring accuracy.
During a radiation treatment for prostate cancer, CyberKnife continually tracks and corrects the radiation beam in accordance to the movement of the prostate gland, thereby reinforcing its precision.
The prospective 21-centre study administered non-coplanar robotic dose-escalated SBRT to 309 cancer patients using the CyberKnife System with real-time tracking of implanted fiducials.
It intended to determine the safety and efficacy of applying SBRT across multiple communities, regional and academic institutions, as well as determine the efficacy of this dose-escalation would result in five-year disease-free survival rates compared to historic controls.
SBRT is indicated for prostate cancer patients offering a non-invasive shorter course of treatment. It is cost-effective and provides patient satisfaction by reducing discomfort and inconvenience.
Swedish Cancer Institute at Northwest Hospital and study lead investigator Robert Meier said: “SBRT provided better cancer control with few side effects, and required only five short treatments, without the need for surgery.
“The CyberKnife System’s real-time image guidance, non-coplanar beam delivery, and sub-millimetre accuracy enabled clinicians across multiple centres to achieve consistent, excellent dose control, with reduced toxicities compared to other radiotherapies.”
Study results observed that 97% of low-risk and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients exhibited cancer control five years after receiving SBRT with the CyberKnife system while further validating the feasibility of the usage of dose-escalated prostate CyberKnife SBRT as a treatment methodology.
