Louisville CyberKnife has treated over 100 patients in its first year through a partnership with the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, allowing doctors to collaborate across specialties. The center's medical director notes this collaboration gives patients access to multiple specialists. Additionally, the American Society of Radiation Oncology recently endorsed stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as a first-line treatment for prostate cancer. A five-year study showed SBRT successfully treated prostate cancer in 97% of low-risk patients and 90.7% of intermediate-risk patients, preserving sexual function in 75% of patients. The center hopes increased research will raise awareness of SBRT as a treatment option for other cancers.
Louisville CyberKnife Highlights Benefits of Brown Cancer Center Partnership, Prostate Cancer Treatment Advancements
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September 5, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Sarah Tiambeng, Zehnder Communications, (504) 962-3731, saraht@z-comm.com
Louisville CyberKnife Highlights Benefits of Brown Cancer Center Partnership,
Prostate Cancer Treatment Advancements
During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, cancer center highlights ASTRO endorsement for
stereotactic body radiation therapy
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville CyberKnife will soon mark a milestone with the treatment of more than
100 patients in its first year of operation. The center opened last year through a partnership with the
James Graham Brown Cancer Center to offer noninvasive stereotactic body radiation therapy using
CyberKnife® technology.
As a partner of the Brown Cancer Center, Louisville CyberKnife is part of the KentuckyOne Health
network, which allows the center’s physicians to employ a multidisciplinary approach to patient care
by collaborating with doctors across specialties, including radiation oncologists, surgeons and
medical physicists to determine the best method of treatment for cancer patients.
“This type of collaboration gives patients access to multiple cancer specialists with a broad range of
expertise,” said Louisville CyberKnife medical director Dr. Shiao Woo. “We strive to offer the best
options for each specific patient and allow for open communication between doctors and patients.”
In addition to its collaborative efforts for patient treatment, the center has worked to contribute to the
growing body of research examining SBRT treatment for tumors throughout the body. Louisville
CyberKnife radiation oncologist Dr. Neal Dunlap is currently overseeing a clinical trial examining
SBRT treatment for lung cancer in patients who have previously received prior chest radiation.
Additionally, the American Society of Radiation Oncology recently endorsed SBRT as a first-line
treatment option for prostate cancer, which ranks as one of the center’s most frequently treated
diseases.
ASTRO’s endorsement stems from various research confirming the efficacy of SBRT for treating
prostate cancer. A recent 5-year study of low-risk and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients
treated with CyberKnife SBRT showed the procedure successfully treated the disease. At the five-
year mark, 97 percent of low-risk patients and 90.7 percent of intermediate-risk patients remained
cancer free. Sexual function was preserved in 75 percent of patients. For more information about this
study, click here.
“Results of clinical trials such as these show CyberKnife SBRT is a viable method of treatment for
prostate cancer,” Dr. Woo said. “As research grows, we hope to increase awareness of this treatment
option and further our knowledge of its applications for other cancers throughout the body.”
Though the name conjures images of knives and scalpels, CyberKnife treatment requires no incisions
or sedation and no overnight hospital stay. During the procedure, very precise, high doses of
radiation are delivered to tumors with sub-millimeter accuracy.
2. Treatment is completed in five or fewer sessions, and patients typically experience few to no side
effects following treatment. Dr. Woo said many patients are drawn to the CyberKnife procedure’s
minimal interruption to day-to-day life.
Louisville CyberKnife at the Brown Cancer Center is located at 529 S. Jackson St., Louisville, Ky.
40202. For more information, call (502) 217-8200.
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