From: "Dr. D. Kossove" <doctordee@telkomsa.net>
To: <Ropeipert@aol.com>
Subject: Less Frequent Radiation for bone mets
Date: Thursday, December 11, 2003 11:30 PM


Date:    Thu, 11 Dec 2003 08:46:42 EST
From:    Rosalie Peipert <Ropeipert@AOL.COM>
Subject: Less Frequent Radiation for bone mets

 Less Frequent Radiation as Effective for Treatment of Painful Bone
Metastases <A HREF="http://www.acurian.com/patient/content/nws_detail.jsp?id=0900744b800276b6&cd=NEWS&camp=mlnewshtml">
According to results recently presented at the plenary session of the 2003
annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology, a
one time dose of radiation appears just as effective as more frequent dosing
in patients with breast or prostate cancer that has spread to the bones.

The researchers concluded that a lower frequency schedule of radiation
consisting of a one-time dose provided the same pain relief and survival, while
providing fewer acute side effects, as a schedule involving 10 doses over a 2-week
period, in patients with breast or prostate cancer with bone metastases. A
reduction in the necessary frequency of radiation therapy in order to control
pain in this group of patients with very advanced disease allows the patients
more time outside of treatment, less frequent travel and a possible reduction in
medical cost. Patients with painful bone metastasis may wish to speak with
their physician about radiation schedules or the participation in a clinical
trial further evaluating different radiation doses and scheduling for the
reduction in pain due to disease.

Click here: Acurian - Clinical Trial Opportunities, News and Drug Information
for over 200 Medical Conditions</A> OR      > <A HREF="http://tinyurl.com/yr2d">http://tinyurl.com/yr2d</A>

Rosalie


 MEDICAL NEWS 
 
Less Frequent Radiation as Effective for Treatment of Painful Bone Metastases 
Source: 411Cancer.com "Cancer Experts leading the way to optimal cancer care."
11/04/2003    

According to results recently presented at the plenary session of the 2003 annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology, a one time dose of radiation appears just as effective as more frequent dosing in patients with breast or prostate cancer that has spread to the bones. 

A common place for several types of cancer to spread is to the bone(s), referred to as bone metastasis. Bone metastasis can be severely debilitating to patients, ultimately causing extreme pain, to the point that patients may become unable to walk or become bedridden. Bone metastasis also increases the chance that a patient may develop a bone fracture, leading to further medical intervention, pain, immobility and medical cost. The standard treatment for bone metastasis has remained radiation therapy that is directed to the site. Bisphosphonates, which are agents that have demonstrated the ability to reduce the severity of bone metastasis are also emerging as potential therapeutic options; however, data regarding their use is limited and clinical trials are still underway to define their role in clinical use. 

Radiation therapy involves time of the patient and medical team, as the patient must receive treatment from designated radiation facilities. Researchers have been evaluating different radiation schedules and doses to maintain optimal effectiveness of radiation as treatment while providing convenience and reduction of medical costs to patients and the medical system. Recently, researchers from the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and the NCCTG conducted a multi-institutional clinical trial to directly compare a lower-dose (8 Gy) radiation schedule that consisted of just one treatment, to that of a higher overall dose (30 Gy) delivered in 10 treatments over a 2-week period. This trial included nearly 900 patients; half of whom were men with prostate cancer and half of whom were women with breast cancer. Patients were divided into two groups and treated with either the one time dose, or 10 dose-radiation schedule for painful bone metastases. Improvement in pain following radiation therapy occurred in approximately 66% of patients treated in each group. In addition, overall survival was the same between the two treatment groups, with an average duration of survival being 9 months. However, acute side effects occurred more often in the group treated with more frequent radiation (17%), compared to the group treated with one radiation dose (10%). 

The researchers concluded that a lower frequency schedule of radiation consisting of a one-time dose provided the same pain relief and survival, while providing fewer acute side effects, as a schedule involving 10 doses over a 2-week period, in patients with breast or prostate cancer with bone metastases. A reduction in the necessary frequency of radiation therapy in order to control pain in this group of patients with very advanced disease allows the patients more time outside of treatment, less frequent travel and a possible reduction in medical cost. Patients with painful bone metastasis may wish to speak with their physician about radiation schedules or the participation in a clinical trial further evaluating different radiation doses and scheduling for the reduction in pain due to disease. 

Reference: 

Hartsell W, Scott C, Bruner D, et al. Phase III randomized trial of 8 Gy I 1 fraction vs. 30 Gy in 10 fractions for palliation of painful bone metastases: preliminary results of RTOG 97-14. Proceedings from the 45th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology. Salt Lake City, UT. October, 2003. Abstract #1. 

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