Radiosurgery Helps Treat Pancreatic Cancer

A new clinical study is the first to demonstrate the feasibility of using stereotactic radiosurgery to prevent the growth of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The findings were published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology and Biological Physics

The study, conducted by surgeons, radiation oncologists, and other medical specialists, examined the impact of delivering radiosurgery to patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The goal was to achieve local control of the tumor, defined as preventing the growth of the pancreatic tumor, without significant side effects from the radiation dose. A total of 15 patients, diagnosed with inoperable locally advanced pancreatic cancer, were treated and evaluated. Subsets of patients were treated with three different radiation doses, 15 Gy (3 patients), 20 Gy (5 patients), and 25 Gy (7 patients), in a single treatment session using the CyberKnife radiosurgery system. Patients were then assessed over a 12-week period for toxicity from the radiation and for growth of their tumor.

In all patients treated with the 25 Gy dose, the pancreatic tumor stopped growing or decreased in size, achieving the goal of local tumor control. With the lower doses of 15 Gy and 20 Gy, some patients had continued growth of their pancreatic tumor. Within the follow-up period after treatment, no significant gastrointestinal toxicity was reported for any of the patients treated, at any dose level. The authors conclude that radiosurgery is feasible for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, and that local control can be achieved at 25Gy.

"The importance of this study is that it establishes a promising role for CyberKnife radiosurgery in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The future challenge is to determine the most effective way to incorporate this treatment with other therapeutic strategies,” said lead author Dr. Albert Koong, assistant professor of radiation oncology at Stanford University Medical Center (Palo Alto, CA, USA).

Surgeons are important referral sources for identifying radiosurgery candidates and are an integral part of the treatment team, noted the researchers. With the new capability of full-body radiosurgery using the CyberKnife system, general surgery, thoracic surgery, and other surgical specialties, along with radiation oncology, are playing important roles in defining the use of this technology. CyberKnife is marketed by Accuray Incorporated (Sunnyvale, CA, USA).




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