CyberKnife Zaps More Tumors in Hard to Reach Places as GUH Docs Pioneer New Techniques
CyberKnife Zaps More Tumors in Hard to Reach Places as GUH Docs Pioneer New Techniques
Mar-10-06 12:00 am
Contact:
Marianne Worley
202-444-4659
worleym@gunet.georgetown.edu
Washington, DC - The procedure to insert the tiny gold chips or fiducials into cancerous tumors to be zapped with the CyberKnife has gotten safer and quicker, thanks to physicians pioneering new techniques at Georgetown University Hospital.
Before receiving the actual CyberKnife radiation treatment, patients are first fitted with tiny gold markers that direct the CyberKnife's radiation beams to the tumor with pinpoint accuracy. Three to four of these tiny gold chips, about the size of a chocolate sprinkle are inserted into or near the tumor. Traditionally those are inserted through a needle using CAT scan guidance or surgery.
The new techniques however involve no surgery and pose fewer risks like infection, bleeding or collapse of the lung to the patient. So far physicians have used these new methods for "inoperable" cancers of the lungs and those that are located anywhere along the GI tract including the esophagus, behind the heart, pancreas, liver and all the way down to the duodenum. The technique can also be used for rectal tumors.
Pulmonologist Eric D. Anderson, MD is inserting fiducials into lung cancer tumors using a video flexible bronchoscope instead of surgery. "We needed a safer way than inserting a needle into the lung or surgery from the outside of the body to insert the markers. This is exciting because no one has ever done it this way before. We essentially 'load' the end of the bronchoscope with the markers, and insert them into the tumor by going down the airway. We have data showing that it is very safe and it works well. Fatigue was the only noted side effect of CyberKnife therapy delivered to lung cancer patients so far and that is not related to inserting the fiducials."
For small peripheral lung tumors, Dr. Anderson says CT scan guidance is still the best method for inserting the fiducials.
"This is a big advance in treatment options for lung cancer. More people die of lung cancer than breast, colorectal and prostate cancer combined. This has the potential to help lengthen and improve the lives of many patients," Dr. Anderson said.
The American Cancer Society predicts more than 174,000 cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed this year alone in the United States. It is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women.
Dr. Anderson's data on fiducial placement in lung tumors using a bronchoscope was published in the Journal of Bronchology in October 2005.
Another new procedure to implant fiducials uses endoscopic ultrasound, a method that involves no cutting from the outside, carries an extremely low complication rate and is an outpatient procedure involving minor sedation.
Georgetown Gastroenterologist Nadim Haddad, MD, said, "For example a pancreatic cancer patient may have had surgery to remove a tumor years ago and then is faced with a new tumor in an area that's difficult to reach for fiducial placement. Now we can get the markers to these tumors using endoscopic ultrasound guidance and they can have CyberKnife treatment. Essentially 'surgery' without pain, blood loss or anesthesia."
Dr. Haddad says this means that he can now place these markers in any tumor in proximity to the GI tract.
Dr. Haddad's article on endoscopic ultrasound for fiducial placement has been accepted for an upcoming issue of GI Endoscopy.
Georgetown University Hospital was the sixth center in the United States to begin using the CyberKnife for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in the head, neck and spine in March 2002.
"CyberKnife has been a tremendous asset to cancer patients being treated here at Georgetown University Hospital and has revolutionized the way we treat cancer," said Dr. Anderson. "We just keep coming up with new and better ways to use the CyberKnife and that's very exciting."
Marianne Worley
202-444-4659
worleym@gunet.georgetown.edu
Washington, DC - The procedure to insert the tiny gold chips or fiducials into cancerous tumors to be zapped with the CyberKnife has gotten safer and quicker, thanks to physicians pioneering new techniques at Georgetown University Hospital.
Before receiving the actual CyberKnife radiation treatment, patients are first fitted with tiny gold markers that direct the CyberKnife's radiation beams to the tumor with pinpoint accuracy. Three to four of these tiny gold chips, about the size of a chocolate sprinkle are inserted into or near the tumor. Traditionally those are inserted through a needle using CAT scan guidance or surgery.
The new techniques however involve no surgery and pose fewer risks like infection, bleeding or collapse of the lung to the patient. So far physicians have used these new methods for "inoperable" cancers of the lungs and those that are located anywhere along the GI tract including the esophagus, behind the heart, pancreas, liver and all the way down to the duodenum. The technique can also be used for rectal tumors.
Pulmonologist Eric D. Anderson, MD is inserting fiducials into lung cancer tumors using a video flexible bronchoscope instead of surgery. "We needed a safer way than inserting a needle into the lung or surgery from the outside of the body to insert the markers. This is exciting because no one has ever done it this way before. We essentially 'load' the end of the bronchoscope with the markers, and insert them into the tumor by going down the airway. We have data showing that it is very safe and it works well. Fatigue was the only noted side effect of CyberKnife therapy delivered to lung cancer patients so far and that is not related to inserting the fiducials."
For small peripheral lung tumors, Dr. Anderson says CT scan guidance is still the best method for inserting the fiducials.
"This is a big advance in treatment options for lung cancer. More people die of lung cancer than breast, colorectal and prostate cancer combined. This has the potential to help lengthen and improve the lives of many patients," Dr. Anderson said.
The American Cancer Society predicts more than 174,000 cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed this year alone in the United States. It is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women.
Dr. Anderson's data on fiducial placement in lung tumors using a bronchoscope was published in the Journal of Bronchology in October 2005.
Another new procedure to implant fiducials uses endoscopic ultrasound, a method that involves no cutting from the outside, carries an extremely low complication rate and is an outpatient procedure involving minor sedation.
Georgetown Gastroenterologist Nadim Haddad, MD, said, "For example a pancreatic cancer patient may have had surgery to remove a tumor years ago and then is faced with a new tumor in an area that's difficult to reach for fiducial placement. Now we can get the markers to these tumors using endoscopic ultrasound guidance and they can have CyberKnife treatment. Essentially 'surgery' without pain, blood loss or anesthesia."
Dr. Haddad says this means that he can now place these markers in any tumor in proximity to the GI tract.
Dr. Haddad's article on endoscopic ultrasound for fiducial placement has been accepted for an upcoming issue of GI Endoscopy.
Georgetown University Hospital was the sixth center in the United States to begin using the CyberKnife for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in the head, neck and spine in March 2002.
"CyberKnife has been a tremendous asset to cancer patients being treated here at Georgetown University Hospital and has revolutionized the way we treat cancer," said Dr. Anderson. "We just keep coming up with new and better ways to use the CyberKnife and that's very exciting."
