Severe toxicities were rare. Thirteen patients (0.6 percent) experienced grade 3 acute genitourinary (genital or urinary, or GU) toxicities and 42 patients (1.9 percent) experienced grade 3 late GU toxicity. There was just one late grade 4 GU toxicity (hemorrhagic urethritis) and one late grade 4 gastrointestinal toxicity (fistula-in-ano).
“These numbers are identical, if not superior, to other types of more commonly used radiation techniques,” said Dr. Kishan. “There is no evidence of worse toxicity with SBRT. We have shown that this method is both safe and effective and should be a standard treatment option for patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer.”
Ad Statistics
Times Displayed: 33220
Times Visited: 889 Stay up to date with the latest training to fix, troubleshoot, and maintain your critical care devices. GE HealthCare offers multiple training formats to empower teams and expand knowledge, saving you time and money
Each year, approximately 233,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men in the United States. The majority of those are low-risk cancers, which are eligible for a wide range of treatments, including EBRT, radical prostatectomy, brachytherapy, ADT and active surveillance. Radiation is one of the most effective options for treatment, with an overall cure rate of 98 percent.
“Fewer treatments for patients would be more convenient as well as less costly,” said Dr. Kishan. “It could also reduce missed days of work. The health care system will save money, and patients will save a lot of time and money as well. And, it can provide a significant psychological benefit, in that men can get on with their lives and put their treatment behind them.”
The abstract, “Long-term outcomes of stereotactic body radiation therapy for low- and intermediate-risk prostate adenocarcinoma: A multi-institutional consortium study,” will be presented in detail during a news briefing and an oral abstract session at ASTRO’s 60th Annual Meeting in San Antonio.
ABOUT ASTRO
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the world’s largest radiation oncology society, with more than 10,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. The Society is dedicated to improving patient care through professional education and training, support for clinical practice and health policy standards, advancement of science and research, and advocacy. ASTRO publishes three medical journals, International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, Practical Radiation Oncology and Advances in Radiation Oncology; developed and maintains an extensive patient website, RT Answers; and created the nonprofit foundation Radiation Oncology Institute.
Back to HCB News
