Scientists are exploring ways to customize the radiation dose given to lung cancer patients -
Manchester scientists working on how to safely increase the dose radiation therapy given to patients with lung cancer - potentially offer an improved local control and survival.
The standard treatment for non-small lung cancer cells is small locally advanced a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Traditionally this is provided in a one-size-fits manner, but the radiation dose can not always be enough to stop tumor growth.
The possibility of increasing the radiation dose to the cancer tissue of a patient varies and depends on the size and location of the tumor relative to sensitive organs such as the spinal cord and lung . Now researchers from the University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust - both part of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre - discussed ways to customize and increase the dose to the tumor while minimizing the effects on tissues healthy.
Dr. Corinne Faivre-Finn, a researcher at the University of Manchester and an honorary consultant at The Christie, who led the study, said: "Current standard options for the treatment of cancer non-small cell lung are associated with poor survival. We wanted to see if more advanced planning and radiation treatment delivery methods could potentially allow an increase in radiation dose. "
the group used data 20 lung cancer patients to examine whether recent radiation therapy technology - intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) -. Could be used to increase the radiation dose in lung tumors without damaging healthy organs
Their treatment planning methods ensured a safe radiation dose was delivered to surrounding organs at risk. In an article recently published in the journal Clinical Oncology, they show that IMRT has enabled an increase in radiation dose for non-small lung cancer.
"Our exploratory study suggests that the use of IMRT may allow the radiation dose to be increased :. Calculations indicate that it could lead to a 10% improvement in tumor control We start a new clinical trial, funded by Cancer Research UK, investigating the delivery of this custom IMRT treatment in patients with cancer non-small cell lung cancer. We hope to demonstrate that the increase dose delivered to the tumor will improve survival, "said Dr. Faivre-Finn.
EmoticonEmoticon