ATLANTA, July 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- During the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer, leading users of Elekta Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) technology presented their findings on the use of SBRT to treat early stage, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The most common form of lung cancer, NSCLC arises from a number of causes, including active smoking, passive smoking (secondhand smoke), and exposure to other carcinogens.
In an oral presentation, Dr. Andrew J. Hope, Radiation Oncologist, Princess Margaret Hospital (Toronto, Canada) discussed the experience of a multinational consortium of Elekta collaborators that has treated operable, early stage lung cancer. Titled, Outcomes of operable patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) treated with image guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (IG-SBRT), the consortium found that the 505 tumors in the 483 operable patients declining a thoracotomy and subsequently treated with IG-SBRT had overall survival and cancer-specific outcomes similar to reported surgical series. With the condition that additional follow-up would be required, the data support continued investigation of IG-SBRT, suggesting that IG-SBRT is potentially an equivalent alternative to surgery in operable patients with early stage lung cancer.
According to Dr. Hope, this finding supports ongoing clinical trials that are comparing non-invasive radiation treatments, such as IG-SBRT, with surgery. “It may be that someday, patients could choose between a thoracotomy or a completely non-invasive approach to cure early stage lung cancer*.”
Dr. Hope is a member of the Elekta Lung Research Group (ELRG), an international collaboration of physicians and physicists that is evaluating clinical outcomes in early stage NSCLC patients. To date, they have accumulated data on more than 500 such patients and identified medical and technical factors that affect tumor control and toxicity. Their collective experience is among the largest multinational series of patients treated with IG-SBRT to date.
The ELRG includes participants from William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan; Princess Margaret Hospital; Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Julius-Maximilians University of Wurzburg in Wurzburg, Germany; and The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek hospital in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Advanced Elekta SBRT technology used today includes Elekta Axesse and Elekta Synergy® S treatment systems, as well as Symmetry and Intuity software**. Symmetry is a breakthrough technology that enables highly accurate, yet completely non-invasive lung tumor treatments without requiring additional intra-fraction radiation imaging. Intuity ensures that the positions of both the tumor and nearby healthy critical structures are accounted for. These two innovations contribute to a more patient-friendly and safe treatment.
*ACOSOG Z4099/RTOG 1021: Phase III Study of Sublobar Resection versus Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in High Risk Patients with Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Radiotherapy Form
**Symmetry and Intuity are feature sets of XVI R4.5. Approval of indications may vary between different countries. Additional regulatory clearances may be required in some markets.
About Elekta
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.
Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible today.
Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group.
Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please visit www.elekta.com.
SOURCE Elekta