Accuray, a radiation oncology company has declared that a study has been published, which shows the advantages of the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System used for treatment of central lung tumors.
In the past, central lung tumors were treated with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) and needed a lot of accuracy to ensure that the risks of damaging vital structures, which include the esophagus, the airway and heart that can cause grave complications such as death.
This research work was published in theine January 2012 issue of the Green Journal and showed that the CyberKnife System, which uses the Lung Optimized Treatment and Synchrony Respiratory Tracking System helps track and rectify respiratory motion in a non-contact manner so as to perform central lung lesions with less toxicity without affecting healthy tissue, such as the trachea, esophagus, and heart while also providing high levels of tumor control.
The study was titled "Outcome of Four-Dimensional Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Centrally Located Lung Tumors," and contains a report on 56 patients of which 39 had primary lung cancer and 17 had metastatic tumors and were treated with CyberKnife lung SBRT who were not eligible for chemotherapy or surgery or had an inoperable tumor. At one year the local tumor control for the whole group was 91 % and 76 % for two years. The toxicity rate analysis showed that no serious complications were caused.
According to Joost Nuytenns from Erasmus MC - Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, it was possible to achieve tumor control for a two-year period as well as overall survival for lung tumors that were centrally located without causing complications or toxicities for patients. This was possible due to the benefits of the CyberKnife System's image guidance features and radiosurgical accuracy, the Synchrony System enables tracking of tumors located centrally as they are transmitted with respiration and rectify the position throughout treatment. Hence effective doses are possible for lung tumor treatment without impacting the surrounding tissue.
Source: http://www.accuray.com