New data presented at the 2024 Radiosurgery Society Meeting support the use of the CyberKnife System in the treatment of high-risk and recurrent prostate cancer.
The studies expand on years of published clinical follow-up with a large number of prostate cancer patients with various stages of disease, as well as with those who were previously treated with radiotherapy – supporting the system’s versatility and value to medical care teams.
“An extensive number of peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts have been published reporting on CyberKnife prostate SBRT efficacy and tolerability. This most recent RSS data demonstrates the ongoing interest in advancing patient care with the system, based on its ability to deliver the precision and accuracy necessary to not just help men to survive prostate cancer but also to have a meaningful quality of life post treatment,” said Seth Blacksburg, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer at Accuray.
The CyberKnife System enables treatment of prostate cancer using a form of radiation therapy called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) – very precise, high doses of radiation are delivered over a shorter duration than traditional treatments. The system’s precision enables clinicians to confidently treat the prostate gland, which is situated near the sensitive bladder and rectum, with SBRT.
The CyberKnife platform offers an effective treatment option for prostate tumors in 4-5 sessions, compared to conventional radiation therapy that usually requires approximately 30-40 sessions over 8-10 weeks. Data presented at the RSS meeting showed its ability to:
- Effectively treat high-risk disease while preserving quality of life. Study authors concluded, “At the 3-year follow-up mark, favorable biochemical control was achieved, and patients had largely recovered to near baseline urinary and bowel function . . . These findings underscore the potential of SBRT as a convenient treatment option for high-risk prostate cancer, offering promising outcomes and preserving patient quality of life.”
- Provide a viable option with “a low incidence of short-term genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities” for reirradiation of locally recurrent prostate cancer.
The prostate gland can move unpredictably throughout the course of treatment. In fact, the prostate has been documented in several studies to move as much as 10 mm in as little as 30 seconds due to normal patient bodily functions – such as filling of the bladder, gas in the bowel, or even slight patient movement during the procedure making the ability to track, detect and correct for motion critically important.
The CyberKnife System, using advanced imaging and real-time artificial intelligence (AI)-driven motion tracking and synchronization treatment delivery, with the Accuray proprietary Synchrony technology, can track the tumor and continually verify its position, automatically correcting and adapting the radiation beam position for even the slightest movement. For example, if the prostate moves during treatment the CyberKnife System detects this movement and synchronizes the treatment delivery beam to the tumor’s new position in real-time.
At CyberKnife Miami our team of radiation oncologists, surgeons, medical physicists, and radiation therapists provide a level of skill and precision that matches our years of experience. They are among some of the most experienced radiosurgery specialists in the United States, which is why they are often asked to train other centers around the world on how to use the CyberKnife in the most effective way with the most positive outcomes.
CyberKnife Center of Miami was the first CyberKnife facility in Florida, the first in the southeastern US and 11th in the country. Our open-staff facility allows your physicians to collaborate on your treatment, rather than just refer you to our center. We encourage the physician who knows you best to work with our team to deliver customized treatment for your specific condition.
In nearly 20 years we have successfully treated thousands of cases. Many of our patients travel from across the country and as far away as Egypt and China for treatment at our facility. We will help coordinate your care from beginning to end and work with your insurance company to ensure coverage.
If you want to find out if we might be able to help you, call us and we will determine if you are a candidate for this therapy. It could save your life, extend your life, and preserve your quality of life while undergoing treatment.
Call CyberKnife Miami today at (800) 204-0455 or 305-279-2900 to learn more about how we can help you or a loved one.
Here’s a link to the full article in the medical journal Applied Radiation Oncology: