Noninvasive system shows efficacy in delivering high dose rate brachytherapy

The efficacy of the CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system in delivering complex, high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy to the prostate noninvasively without the need for hospitalization or anesthesia has been reported in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics (2008; 70:1588-97).

Early clinical outcomes of the study show a rapid reduction in PSA levels with minimal short-term side effects, according to Accuray Inc., manufacturer of the device.

The system is designed to create either a uniform distribution of radiation across the prostate or a dosing pattern similar to that of HDR brachytherapy, according to the specific treatment needs of the individual patient. During treatment, it tracks the location of the prostate, detects its position, and corrects the treatment beam angle continuously throughout the treatment for either dosing option, accounting for the motion of the prostate during the treatment.

“HDR brachytherapy is an effective, accepted treatment for prostate cancer, but adoption has been limited because it is a difficult procedure for clinicians to deliver and for patients to undergo,” said principal investigator Donald B. Fuller, MD, of CyberKnife Centers of San Diego and Radiation Medical Group. “Our study concluded that CyberKnife radiosurgery can offer the benefits of HDR brachytherapy noninvasively on an outpatient basis that is both easy to deliver and comfortable for patients.”