Wednesday 26 March 2003
Prostate Cancer Awareness week (24 - 30 March)
A new high-tech radiotherapy trial at The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden Hospital could lead to a real improvement in treatment for prostate cancer patients.
Developed by The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden Hospital, with funding from Cancer Research UK, the new treatment uses far higher doses of radiotherapy which will be delivered over a much shorter time period using Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques.
IMRT produces radiation doses which wrap around the shape of tumours in 3D so a higher dose can be given without damaging healthy tissue. It was introduced three years ago in a trial to treat awkwardly shaped tumours which have spread to the pelvis. But this new trial, partially supported by Cancer Research UK, will be the first comparative trial to use IMRT on the majority of prostate cancer patients.
Recent research has shown that larger individual treatments given over a shorter time period maybe more effective for eradicating prostate cancer cells. By exploiting IMRT's ability to give high doses without affecting healthy tissue and to shape the dose according to the risk of cancer involvement, this new IMRT trial will reduce the treatment period by nearly half. Previously higher doses have been given by increasing the number of daily treatments, extending therapy to over 7 weeks. With IMRT the treatment period will be reduced to 4 weeks.
The trial will initially involve 150 patients, but is expected to expand nationally to treat up to 2000 men over a five year period. It is the latest in a series of trials being carried out by The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden Hospital to revolutionise the way radiotherapy is delivered to prostate cancer patients. Previous encouraging results include a reduction in side effects from 15 to 5 percent.
Dr David Dearnaley, a scientist at The Institute of Cancer Research and Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden Hospital, says:
" The trial will determine whether this treatment can be of benefit to the majority of prostate cancer patients, compared with current therapies, by reducing the length of the course of treatment and uncomfortable side effects, improving both their quality of life and perhaps their chances of survival."
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer to affect men in the UK, with 21,700 cases diagnosed each year. It kills about 9,500 men in the UK each year, which is approximately equal to 180 deaths per week.
Dr Dickon Weir - Hughes, Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive at The Royal Marsden Hospital, says: “Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer to affect men in the UK. The progress which has been made so far in improving treatments and reducing side effects is encouraging news for Prostate Cancer Awareness Week.”
Whereas conventional radiotherapy delivers single beams with a uniform dose, the IMRT technique involves beams made up of several components.
In order to vary the intensity of dosage across each component, the beams are delivered through special robotic 'leaves' known as multi-leaf collimators. These move during delivery of the beam in order to tailor the irradiation dosage to different areas of the tumour. A strict quality assurance programme is applied in order to check that the multi-leaf collimator has moved correctly.
Firstly a very accurate image of the patient's body and tumour is taken using a CT (CAT) scan and this information is fed into a high-speed computer. By directing the computer with 'importance factors' about where irradiation is most and least needed the computer calculates exactly how to deliver treatment.
Professor Robert Souhami, Cancer Research UK’s Director of Clinical Research, says: “IMRT is a new approach to radiotherapy which offers the possibility of real benefit to patients. It’s now essential to carry out trials like this one, to find out if the treatment can improve quality of life and survival.”
Professor Peter Rigby, Chief Executive at The Institute of Cancer Research comments: "The early results that we have seen from new methods of delivering radiotherapy are very encouraging so far. They have allowed us to carry out this new trial which may provide further benefit to prostate cancer patients everywhere."
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For further information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Marie MacLean
Press Officer
Institute of Cancer Research
Tel: 020 7153 5359
Email: [email protected]
Notes to editors
- The Institute of Cancer Research is home to Europe's only dedicated male cancer research centre and set up the Everyman Campaign in 1997 to raise awareness of and funds for prostate and testicular cancers.
- The Institute of Cancer Research is a world leader in cancer drug discovery and development. The Institute and the Royal Marsden together form Europe's largest cancer research, treatment and training centre.
- The Institute of Cancer Research is a centre of excellence with leading scientists working on cutting edge research. It was founded in 1909 to carry out research into the causes of cancer and to develop new strategies for its prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.
- The Royal Marsden is a specialist hospital dedicated to the treatment and care of patients with cancer and to education about cancer and its prevention. It was the world's first hospital dedicated completely to the treatment and study of the disease and was named as one of six centres of excellence in the NHS Plan. Over 30,000 patients attend its sites in Chelsea and Sutton each year from all over the UK and abroad.
- Cancer Research UK is Europe's leading cancer charity, dedicated to curing, treating and preventing the disease through world-class research. It relies almost entirely on voluntarily donations from the public to fund the vital work of its 3000 scientists, doctors and nurses. Its grants provide approximately 25 percent of The Institute of Cancer Research's total income.
Please note:
Unfortunately the press office are unable to answer queries from the general public. For general cancer information please refer to The Institute's cancer information page.