A
manufacturer of a miniature x-ray system has just received
permission to conduct a clinical study to determine whether
breast cancer patients would benefit from
receiving radiation
therapy
during a lumpectomy procedure (surgery to remove
a breast lump). Currently, most lumpectomy patients undergo six to
seven weeks of radiation therapy following recovery from their
surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. If the new treatment
proves successful, a "boost" of radiation during surgery may
eliminate the need for weeks of post-operative radiation
treatment.
The study will be conducted at Middlesex Hospital in London, England, but medical
centers in the United States and other European countries are also expected to
participate. Surgery Professor Michael Baum of Middlesex Hospital believes the Photon
Radiosurgery System (PRS) that will be used in the study shows promise. Conservative
treatment of breast cancer (lumpectomy) may not require radiation therapy that involves
the entire breast, said Baum in a Photoelectron Corporation press release.
Based on his previous research, Baum said that delivering targeted
intra-operative radiation therapy has proven to be safe and
feasible.
The study will investigate whether a single "boost" of
radiation therapy delivered directly to the area of the breast where
the tumor was removed will eliminate the need for any additional
radiation therapy after surgery. Baum and other researchers believe
the treatment would dramatically change the way the majority of
breast cancer patients are treated. Currently, many women who have
lumpectomies must re-arrange their schedules and often travel far
distances to receive radiation treatment sessions. Dr. Jayant
Vaidya, a colleague of Baum, believes intra-operative radiation
therapy offers new hope to millions of breast cancer patients who
are currently unable to obtain radiation treatments.
Currently, most women who have lumpectomies are treated with
external beam
radiation for
at least six weeks following their recovery from surgery. External
beam radiation is delivered from a source outside the body directly
onto the breast. Patients are typically treated with radiation five
times per week in an outpatient clinical setting. Side effects vary
from patient to patient but may include fatigue,
neutropenia (low white blood cell count),
breast swelling or tenderness, a feeling of heaviness in the breast,
a sunburn-like appearance of the breast skin, and loss of appetite.
Radiation therapy that is delivered once during the same procedure
as the breast lump is removed would eliminate the duration of these
side effects.
Another form of
radiation therapy called brachytherapy (or internal radiation) is
currently being developed to use on breast cancer patients.
Brachytherapy involves placing radioactive substances directly into
the breast tissue next to the cancer. Ten to 20 plastic catheters
(tiny tubes) are surgically inserted into the breast tissue next to
the tumor area to help guide the radioactive materials to the
correct area of the body. Brachytherapy has the potential to reduce
the amount of time a lumpectomy patient must undergo radiation
therapy from six weeks to one week.
Additional Resources and
References
Return to Breast Health News
Archives |
