by
Lauren Dubinsky, Senior Reporter | April 25, 2016
A new trial that's supported by Varian Medical Systems is comparing the outcomes of treating early-stage, high-risk, operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with radiosurgery verses surgery.
It's a phase III trial called "Stablemates Trial" and will test the hypothesis that the three-year overall survival in high-risk operable patients with stage 1 NSCLC is the same or greater in patients who undergo stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), also known as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SAbR), compared with traditional sublobar resection (SR) surgery.
SBRT is a form of radiation treatment that administers an intense and focused dose of radiation to the tumor while limiting the dose to the surrounding organs. It's typically used for patients with small tumors and when surgery is not the best option.
The trial is led by physicians at the Boston Medical Center and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and currently involves 258 patients from 34 institutions. Over the next five years, the researchers will evaluate the patients' overall, disease-free and regional recurrence-free survival rates three years after treatment, post-treatment quality of life and any adverse events.
One of the other benefits of SBRT for lung cancer patients is that it offers them a non-invasive, outpatient treatment option that is easier to tolerate and that doesn't interfere significantly with their normal, everyday living activities.
SBRT has become routine for treating NSCLC that are typically less than 3 centimeters in diameter, because of its high rate of local control and limited toxicity.
In the
August issue of HCB News magazine, we explored new research that has shown that SBRT can also be used to safely treat inoperable NSCLC tumors larger than 5 centimeters.
"There has traditionally been a fear of treating larger tumors with SBRT because it's really destructive when the high dose of treatment is given, compared to most radiation that is given in gentle or smaller doses," said Dr. Neil Woody, radiation oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
"Varian believes in supporting high quality clinical research," Kolleen Kennedy, president of Varian's Oncology Systems business, said in a statement. "This clinical trial presents the opportunity to advance radiation oncology and enhance the standard of patient care by giving clinicians a noninvasive treatment option in determining the appropriate therapy for patients."
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