Leading Radiation Oncologists Available to Comment on ASTRO Meeting Research
BWH researchers find annual PSA test may save lives and new breast cancer treatment should only be used in a select population of women
| Who: |
Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) radiation oncologists and researchers |
| What: |
These experts are available to comment on new treatment findings and controversial topics in the field of radiation oncology to be presented at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s (ASTRO) 47th Annual Meeting in Denver, CO, October 16 – 20, 2005. ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 8,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. |
| Why: |
BWH radiation oncologists and researchers are presenting the results of two compelling studies. The first demonstrates the viability of PSA as a prostate cancer-screening tool. The second indicates that a new treatment for breast cancer may only be effective in a small, select group of patients. |
Evidence to Support that Serial Screening Decreases Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality
Location: Room 304, Colorado Convention Center
Jason A. Efstathiou, MD PhD, a Harvard Radiation Oncology resident at BWH and DFCI found that yearly PSA (prostate-specific antigen) screening may help save lives. Specifically, men who undergo this routine screening are three times less likely to die from prostate cancer. Efstathiou studied 1,492 men who, between 1988 and 2002, were diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer and then treated with a radical prostatectomy (RP) only to experience PSA failure. The researchers found that among this group, 841 men had yearly PSA tests before their cancer diagnosis. These men, overall, had lower PSA levels and therefore less aggressive disease, as compared to 611 men who were diagnosed by other methods. In addition, researchers found that among those men who underwent annual screening, prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) after disease recurrence was significantly lower – men who have an annual PSA test will have a 3.6 percent chance of dying from the disease, compared to 11.3 percent in the general population.
According to Efstathiou, this study may shed light on what long-awaited and definitive randomized screening trials may show.
Variability Among Breast Radiation Oncologists in Delineation of the Post-Surgical Breast Lumpectomy Cavity Volume
Location: Room 201, Colorado Convention Center
According to Daniel M. Landis, MD, PhD a radiation oncology resident at the Harvard Radiation Oncology Program which including BWH/ DFCI, the current standard of treatment for women with breast cancer is lumpectomy and whole-breast radiation – requiring daily treatment for six weeks, or mastectomy. More recently, radiation oncologists have been studying a newer treatment – accelerated partial breast radiation (APBI) – which promotes breast conservation and reduces treatment time to approximately one week. However, there is concern among radiation oncologists that inability to correctly identify the target volume (the lumpectomy cavity plus a margin for subclinical disease) would lead to tumor recurrence.
In this study, Landis and colleagues investigated variability among physicians in identifying the radiation target volume. Four BWH/DFCI radiation oncologists who specialize in breast oncology outlined the target volume of 34 patients who underwent whole breast treatment. The physicians reviewed the scans and defined the target volume as if they would have for the APBI protocol. Computer-run assays were used to compare the volumes amongst the physicians. The group found that even amongst these experts, there was significant disagreement of the target volumes. On average, the volumes overlapped by 77 percent and were offset in space by an average of 2.8 mm. Longer time from surgery to radiation planning predicted for more variability in defining the cavity. This study indicates that in cases where the cavity is not clearly defined, additional knowledge of the preoperative tumor location will be paramount for the success of APBI.
Please contact BWH Media Relations for more information at (617) 534-1600 or BWHMediaRelations@partners.org.
BWH is a 747-bed nonprofit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of Partners HealthCare System, an integrated health care delivery network. BWH is committed to excellence in patient care with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery. The BWH medical preeminence dates back to 1832 and today that rich history in clinical care is coupled with its national leadership in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, dedication to educating and training health care professionals, and strength in biomedical research. With $370M in funding and more than 500 research scientists, BWH is an acclaimed leader in clinical, basic and epidemiological investigation - including the landmark Nurses Health Study, Physicians Health Studies, and the Women's Health Initiative. For more information visit www.brighamandwomens.org
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