NEW THERAPY IN PROSTATE CANCER FIGHT
A REVOLUTIONARY new prostate cancer treatment that drastically cuts radiotherapy sessions was revealed yesterday.
British researchers are testing techniques that allow high doses of treatment on fewer days, significantly reducing the amount of time patients spend in hospital.
The breakthrough therapy could slash the number of radiotherapy treatments men have to endure from a typical 37 to just five.
Scientists are using a speciallymade jelly to form a protective barrier between the prostate gland and other organs in the male hip.
It solidifies to create a force that pushes the organs around 0.5 inches away from each other. The extra space lowers the radiation dose affecting surrounding tissue.
As a result, specialists are able to treat the cancerous prostate with higher and more targeted doses of radiation without increasing the chances of life-changing side-effects like impotence or bowel and bladder problems.
Dr Ciaran Fairmichael, clinical research fellow at Queen’s University Belfast, where the treatment is being tested in partnership with the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, said: “Following radiotherapy there is a high risk that patients can be left with damage to neighbouring tissues.
“The insertion of the hydrogel creates a greater distance between the prostate tumour and other tissues, which allows us to concentrate the radiotherapy dosage provided to the tumour and reduce the chance of radiation harming other tissues close to the tumour like the bowel.
“This could be available on the NHS very soon but, as with all treatments, it depends on cost.
“But we think, reducing treatment to five days, we can save the NHS so much time and money that the treatment almost pays for itself.”
Radiotherapy involves directing high-energy X-ray beams at the prostate gland from outside the body.
The powerful beams damage the cells to stop them dividing and growing.
The therapy treats the whole prostate and sometimes the area around it, increasing the chances of side-effects.
To mitigate this, scientists are testing the use of Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy, in which three small gold pellets are inserted into the prostate to act as GPS signals, pinpointing exactly where the blast of radiation is needed.
The gel, known as SpaceOAR, is inserted by needle around a month before treatment starts, allowing sufferers to have a full course of radiotherapy in a fraction of the time.
The treatment, which costs £4,000, involves the administration of two solutions that solidify when mixed inside the body but dissolve naturally a few months later.
It has been tested on 20 patients and initial results have shown great promise.
Trial co-leader Dr Suneil Jain said: “Early clinical results indicate the insertion of a spacer was well tolerated by all patients.
“To our knowledge this is the first reported UK experience of a hydrogel rectal spacer system. This promising approach merits further investigation.”
Radiotherapy is measured in grays (Gy), with a normal course seeing a patient receive two Gy each day over 37 or 39 days, although some patients now receive three Gy a day for 20 days.
Benefit
The breakthrough trial uses up to eight Gy a day, given to patients over five days (spread out over two to five weeks).
Scientists use eight Gy on most of the prostate but, with the benefit of the gel, are able to give 10 Gy a day to the part most affected by the tumour. Funding for the trial came from the Movember Foundation and Friends of the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre.
Simon Grieveson, of Prostate Cancer UK, said: “One of the biggest challenges for men receiving radiotherapy is the exhausting impact of travelling to and from hospital for regular treatment over a number of weeks.
“We already know from previous research that higher dose radiotherapy over 20 sessions is just as effective as traditional lower dose radiotherapy over 37 sessions and this trial is looking to reduce those visits even further. However, by increasing the dosage, the risk of potential side-effects increases and so this study is also looking at a possible way to minimise these effects.
“While these early findings look promising we need to see the final results of this trial before we can draw any conclusions.”
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.
More than 47,000 males are diagnosed every year, equal to 129 every day.
Every 45 minutes a man dies from the disease, or more than 11,000 every year.