Current location:politics >>
Prostate cancer breakthrough means thousands of men could avoid devastating chemotherapy
politics6People have gathered around
IntroductionThousands of men a year with advanced prostate cancer could avoid gruelling chemotherapy by combinin ...
Thousands of men a year with advanced prostate cancer could avoid gruelling chemotherapy by combining radiotherapy and hormone therapy, a study reveals.
Targeting the radiotherapy to the sites where the cancer has spread can delay further progression of the disease and the need for subsequent treatments, such as chemotherapy, which can have significant impact on a person's quality of life, researchers say.
The trial demonstrated that the patients' cancer did not progress for an average of six months (6.4) and two fifths (40.1 per cent) of patients remained progression-free at 12 months.
The research was led by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and presented today at The European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) annual congress.
The Phase II trial is the first prospective trial to investigate the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients with hormone-resisistant oligoprogressive prostate cancer.
Targeting the radiotherapy to the sites where the cancer has spread can delay further progression of the disease and the need for subsequent treatments, such as chemotherapy, which can have significant impact on a person's quality of life, researchers say
Oligoprogressive cancer occurs when cells from the original tumour travel within the body to fewer than three sites, forming new tumours or lesions.
Currently, disease progression after hormone therapy treatment is taken as a sign that the cancer has become resistant to the treatment.
However, findings from the trial revealed that it may just be some tumours that are resistant, and if the tumours are treated with radiotherapy the rest of the cancer will still respond to hormone therapy.
In the national study, which took place in cancer centres across the UK, researchers investigated whether giving SBRT along with a type of hormone therapy, called androgen receptor targeted agents, to patients with oligoprogressive prostate cancer would delay the time it takes for their cancer to progress.
The patients in the study had advanced prostate cancer that was no longer responding to regular treatment.
More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average in the UK, making it the most common cancer in men. Around 12,000 men die every year from the disease — the equivalent of one every 45 minutes
They had no more than two new areas of cancer that had appeared while they were on two types of hormone therapy, after initially responding well to the treatment.
All the patients were treated with five or six treatments SBRT, which is painless and takes about 20-30 minutes for each treatment.
81 men received SBRT and most of them (67 per cent) had one oligoprogressive lesion. The areas treated were bone (59 per cent), lung (1 per cent), lymph node (32 per cent) and prostate (8 per cent).
At an average of 19.2 months, 53 (65 per cent) patients experienced progression of their disease; 32 (40 per cent) progressed within six months following SBRT treatment.
Median progression-free survival following SBRT was 6.4 months and 40 per cent of men had no evidence of cancer growth 12 months after treatment.
Researchers estimate around 2,000 to 3,000 men per year would meet the qualifying criteria above.
WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?
How many people does it kill?
More than 11,800 men a year - or one every 45 minutes - are killed by the disease in Britain, compared with about 11,400 women dying of breast cancer.
It means prostate cancer is behind only lung and bowel in terms of how many people it kills in Britain.
In the US, the disease kills 26,000 men each year.
Despite this, it receives less than half the research funding of breast cancer and treatments for the disease are trailing at least a decade behind.
How many men are diagnosed annually?
Every year, upwards of 52,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK - more than 140 every day.
How quickly does it develop?
Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs someone has it for many years, according to the NHS.
If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, a policy of 'watchful waiting' or 'active surveillance' may be adopted.
Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated in the early stages.
But if it is diagnosed at a later stage, when it has spread, then it becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving symptoms.
Thousands of men are put off seeking a diagnosis because of the known side effects from treatment, including erectile dysfunction.
Tests and treatment
Tests for prostate cancer are haphazard, with accurate tools only just beginning to emerge.
There is no national prostate screening programme as for years the tests have been too inaccurate.
Doctors struggle to distinguish between aggressive and less serious tumours, making it hard to decide on treatment.
Men over 50 are eligible for a ‘PSA’ blood test which gives doctors a rough idea of whether a patient is at risk.
But it is unreliable. Patients who get a positive result are usually given a biopsy which is also not fool-proof.
Scientists are unsure as to what causes prostate cancer, but age, obesity and a lack of exercise are known risks.
Anyone with any concerns can speak to Prostate Cancer UK's specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecanceruk.org
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Culture Capsule news portal”。http://cameroon.tom-paine.com/article-20a699302.html
Related articles
Biden speaks with Netanyahu as Israelis appear closer to major Rafah offensive
politicsWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden again urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against ...
【politics】
Read moreClosing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
politicsBenchmark U.S. crude oil for June delivery rose 37 cents to $78.48 per barrel Monday. Brent crude fo ...
【politics】
Read moreAnya Taylor
politicsAnya Taylor-Joy put on a leggy display while arriving at the Sydney International Airport in Austral ...
【politics】
Read more
Popular articles
- FBI says an infant abducted from New Mexico park has been found safe; a suspect is in custody
- Emily Ratajkowski takes a fashion risk in a ripped midriff
- Agricultural Bank of China sees loan increase of 1.2 trln yuan in Q1
- Lured by Rolling Stones performance, half
- Bank Holiday washout! Met Office issues nine
- Bugging equipment found in room where Polish government was to meet
Latest articles
Zendaya's Met Gala style: Her biggest and boldest fashion statements so far
Brooke Shields and model daughter Grier Henchy, 18, get matching tattoos with a sentimental meaning
Bugging equipment found in room where Polish government was to meet
Zendaya wows in a glamorous vintage backless dress as she attends Anna Wintour's star
Putin is starting his 5th term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Police break up pro
LINKS
- Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu shut down at least another week due to swelling in his right foot
- China to improve museum docent services
- The Hollywood daughters raiding their mums' wardrobes... so who do you think wore it better?
- FIFA seals closer ties to Saudi Arabia with World Cup sponsor deal for oil firm Aramco
- China's cultural tourism embraces immersive
- ITV adds 'discriminatory language' warning to rerun episodes of classic 80s sitcom Terry and June
- Woman, 43, accused of murdering her disabled mother
- Ariana Biermann reveals her 'second
- EU military officer says a frigate has destroyed a drone launched from Yemen's Houthi
- Family of American man believed to be held by Taliban asks the UN torture investigator for help