Stereotactic radiation of prostate cancer in 7 instead of 39 sessions

Radiotherapy uses high-energy beams to kill prostate cancer cells. It is a treatment option for nearly all cancer stages, from early-stage tumours to more advanced and metastatic prostate cancer.

Our radiation oncology team at Amethyst Radiotherapy, represents the largest pan-European network of high-tech radiotherapy centres. Our doctors are committed to providing cutting-edge radiation therapy treatments that effectively target cancer while minimising the risk of side effects. One of these innovative methods is hydrogel spacers.

This technique involves the use of an absorbable gel that temporarily creates a gap between the prostate and rectum, significantly reducing the risk of bowel radiation during treatment. Hydrogel spacers also improve tumor targeting, reducing the total number of treatment sessions from 39 to 7.

This means that you can complete your treatment in 2.5 weeks instead of 8 weeks. The method is used for localised prostate cancer and is performed on an outpatient basis every 2nd working day. A treatment takes about 10 minutes and is painless.

Attached is the example of the first patient we treat using this method. You can see the dose by the very precise color that surrounds the prostate, as well as the white color of the spacer gel that pushes the rectum away from the prostate.

Radiation techniques available at Amethyst Radiotherapy include:

Image guided VMAT radiation therapy

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is one of the most advanced techniques of external radiotherapy. It involves the use of a linear accelerator machine that rotates around the patient while he lies down. The machine precisely delivers radiation doses to the tumor site while limiting the amount of radiation received by the healthy tissues surrounding it.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)

Amethyst Radiotherapy is among the few private centres in Europe offering SBRT radiotherapy, and the only one in Austria. SBRT is a cutting-edge radiotherapy technique that can comprise the radiotherapy treatment into a few sessions, by delivering higher radiation doses safely and efficiently. SBRT is an efficient treatment option both for metastasis/lymph nodes as well as for small PET positive relapses for patients that had radiotherapy previously.

Author: Dr. David Kuczer
Literature: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)31131-6/fulltext