Cancer Care Update: SBRT Gains Support for Prostate Cancer

Thanks to advances in prostate cancer research over recent years, there is a growing amount of support for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as a treatment option for prostate cancer.

Read below to learn more about some key milestones in SBRT prostate cancer research from world-renowned cancer organizations and researchers.

• “Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: Disease Control and Quality of life at 6 Years” Research Study – Led by radiation oncologist Dr. Alan Katz and one of the largest of its kind, this study published in 2013 evaluated hundreds of prostate cancer patients who were treated with SBRT. The study followed 304 patients for an average of five to six years post-treatment and found that 97 percent of patients with low-risk and 90.7% of patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer remained cancer-free throughout that time. The treatment was also shown to be minimally harmful, produced low levels of toxicity and reduced many common side effects. You can read more about the study and results here.

• ASTRO Policy Model Update – In 2013, the American Society for Radiation Oncology updated its position on the use of SBRT for prostate cancer. ASTRO published a model coverage policy that helps insurance companies provide insurance benefits to men for prostate cancer treatment. ASTRO attributed the change to the amount of clinical evidence surrounding SBRT as an appropriate treatment.

• NCCN Guidelines Update – In January 2014, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) updated its Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology^® to include SBRT as a treatment option for prostate cancer. You can read more about the update here.

Oklahoma CyberKnife treats prostate cancer with SBRT using highly advanced CyberKnife^® technology. To learn more about our treatment method, view our blog post here.

This is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your health care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.