M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to lead study of surgery vs. radiosurgery
Accuray has partnered with The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to launch a prospective clinical study to compare treatment outcomes in early-stage operable lung cancer.
The M.D. Anderson team will oversee the 1,200-patient study, which will be conducted across multiple healthcare sites around the world. Patient enrollment is expected to begin in early 2008. In the study, patients will be randomly assigned to traditional surgery or robotic radiosurgery with Accuray’s Cyberknife for their treatment.
“We feel the time is right to explore less invasive alternatives for early stage lung cancer patients," said Jack Roth, MD, professor and Bud Johnson clinical distinguished chair, department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at M.D. Anderson, and the study's principal investigator. "The results achieved with radiosurgery appear to be comparable to those achieved with traditional surgery for early stage lung cancer patients and a randomized clinical trial is required to accurately compare results from the two. To do so, we must use a uniform platform to assure the highest possibility of cure for these patients, which is why we are partnering with Accuray to use the CyberKnife System. The results of this study may change the way lung cancer patients are treated."
A major factor in the success of this study is selecting the most accurate method of treatment that will maximize radiation to the tumor and minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue, Roth added.
"Over the past five years clinicians have obtained excellent outcomes treating lung cancer with CyberKnife radiosurgery," said Omar Dawood, MD, vice president of clinical development at the Sunnyvale, Calif.-Accuray. "We believe the CyberKnife system's unique ability to track tumor motion and deliver radiation accurately and non-invasively make it the ideal platform for this clinical study. We are excited about this partnership with M.D. Anderson, a leader in cancer treatment, and the huge benefits this study's outcomes could have for patients with lung cancer."
The M.D. Anderson team will oversee the 1,200-patient study, which will be conducted across multiple healthcare sites around the world. Patient enrollment is expected to begin in early 2008. In the study, patients will be randomly assigned to traditional surgery or robotic radiosurgery with Accuray’s Cyberknife for their treatment.
“We feel the time is right to explore less invasive alternatives for early stage lung cancer patients," said Jack Roth, MD, professor and Bud Johnson clinical distinguished chair, department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at M.D. Anderson, and the study's principal investigator. "The results achieved with radiosurgery appear to be comparable to those achieved with traditional surgery for early stage lung cancer patients and a randomized clinical trial is required to accurately compare results from the two. To do so, we must use a uniform platform to assure the highest possibility of cure for these patients, which is why we are partnering with Accuray to use the CyberKnife System. The results of this study may change the way lung cancer patients are treated."
A major factor in the success of this study is selecting the most accurate method of treatment that will maximize radiation to the tumor and minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissue, Roth added.
"Over the past five years clinicians have obtained excellent outcomes treating lung cancer with CyberKnife radiosurgery," said Omar Dawood, MD, vice president of clinical development at the Sunnyvale, Calif.-Accuray. "We believe the CyberKnife system's unique ability to track tumor motion and deliver radiation accurately and non-invasively make it the ideal platform for this clinical study. We are excited about this partnership with M.D. Anderson, a leader in cancer treatment, and the huge benefits this study's outcomes could have for patients with lung cancer."