Latest news with #radiotherapy
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
The new technique that has ‘transformed' breast cancer treatment
A new, more targeted radiotherapy treatment for low-risk breast cancer has been adopted by the NHS, aiming to reduce debilitating side effects. The Import Low trial, involving over 2,000 women, demonstrated that limiting radiation to the tumour area is as effective as treating the whole breast in preventing cancer recurrence over a decade. Patients undergoing this partial-breast radiotherapy experienced significantly fewer side effects and changes in breast appearance compared to those receiving whole-breast treatment. Researchers from The Institute of Cancer Research and the University of Cambridge led the study, which has "transformed" the approach to early breast cancer treatment. This new method is now integrated into NHS treatment guidelines and informs international practices, with over 9,000 women in the UK potentially benefiting.
Medscape
a day ago
- Health
- Medscape
Adjuvant Triple Therapy Boosts Survival in Biliary Cancers
TOPLINE: Camrelizumab plus concurrent capecitabine and radiotherapy (combination treatment) improved overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival in patients with resectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHC) and gallbladder cancer. METHODOLOGY: Patients with EHC and gallbladder cancer have a high recurrence rate and poor survival after surgery. Existing adjuvant therapies provide limited benefit, underscoring the need for novel treatment combinations. This multicenter, randomized clinical trial investigated the safety and efficacy of chemoradiation with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in these patients. A total of 93 patients with histologically confirmed EHC or gallbladder cancer (median age, 62 years; 52% women) who underwent curative resection with stage pT2-4 or N1M0 disease were randomly assigned to either the combination treatment group (n = 46) or the observation group (no anticancer treatment unless relapse was detected; n = 47). Those in the combination treatment group received 200 mg camrelizumab intravenously every 3 weeks, followed by concurrent 1330 mg/m 2 oral capecitabine twice daily with radiotherapy (45 Gy in 25 fractions for lymph nodes and 52.5-55.0 Gy for tumor beds). oral capecitabine twice daily with radiotherapy (45 Gy in 25 fractions for lymph nodes and 52.5-55.0 Gy for tumor beds). The primary endpoint was OS, and secondary endpoints were recurrence-free survival and adverse events (AEs). The median follow-up duration was 36 months. TAKEAWAY: The combination treatment significantly improved OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.43; P = .004), with 3-year OS rate of 58.2% vs 30.5% in the observation group. The median recurrence-free survival was longer in the combination treatment group than in the observation group (26 months vs 13 months; HR, 0.46; P < .001), with the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate of 40.3% vs 17.2%. No treatment-related deaths were observed. The most common severe AEs of grade 3 or 4 were anemia (15%), radiation-associated dermatitis (11%), nausea (11%), and hand-foot syndrome (4%) in the combination group and anemia (4%), fatigue (4%), and neutropenia (4%) in the observation group. Subgroup analyses suggested patients with EHC vs gallbladder cancer and those with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score of 0 and tumors ≤ 5 cm were more likely to benefit from the combination treatment. IN PRACTICE: 'We congratulate the authors for conducting and reporting an important clinical trial that moves the field forward. Considering the current level of evidence used to guide patient management after resection, we suspect this regimen may be adopted into practice even prior to the conduct of a phase 3 trial,' Edgar Ben-Josef, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, wrote, in an invited commentary on the new research published in JAMA Oncology. 'However, we would caution that this study should be viewed not as an ending but as a building block toward studies that demonstrate an even greater level of confidence [in] more effective adjuvant regimens for patients with biliary cancers. SOURCE: The study, led by Han Xiao, MD, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, was published online in JAMA Oncology. LIMITATIONS: This study was only conducted on Chinese patients, limiting generalizability to Western populations. Although the study met the predefined 2-year follow-up for all patients, both groups showed better-than-expected OS rates, resulting in fewer endpoint events than anticipated. Additionally, the open-label design and the combination of multiple treatments might have confounded efficacy assessment for each treatment component. DISCLOSURES: This study received project grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou. The authors reported having no relevant conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Targeted breast cancer treatment 'transformational', say experts
More targeted and less aggressive radiotherapy for low-risk breast cancer could spare thousands of women the harsh side effects of the treatment, a trial has Import Low trial, led by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the University of Cambridge, found limiting radiation to the tumour area, rather than treating the whole breast, was just as study included 2,018 women across 30 radiotherapy centres in the UK, who were monitored for 10 years after technique, which has since been adopted by the NHS, has "transformed" the way the disease is treated in its early stages, researchers said. More than 37,000 women have radiotherapy for breast cancer in the UK every treatment uses radiation to kill cancer cells and is usually given after surgery to reduce the risk of the disease coming back but has a number of side Import Low trial compared three radiotherapy approaches - whole breast, partial breast and a reduced a decade, cancer recurrence rates in the group given partial radiotherapy was 3%, the same proportion as those who had been treated with a more aggressive who had targeted radiotherapy were also less likely to experience long-term changes in breast 15% reported noticeable changes at five years compared with 27% in the whole-breast radiotherapy group. Hilary Stobart, now 70, was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2008, with a 2cm tumour in her left Stobart, who was 54 at the time, was offered the chance to take part in the trial after surgery and was treated with partial radiotherapy."I had three weeks of radiotherapy but suffered no side effects, other than some soreness in my breast and nipple in the first few weeks," she said."Ten years on, I am doing fine. "Whilst I may have had some niggling worries in the early days, having seen the results of the trial, I feel positive and optimistic now. "I know that I was lucky enough back then to have had the best treatment, a treatment that other women will be routinely offered now."Charlotte Coles, chief investigator of the Import Low study, said the trial had "transformed" how early breast cancer is treated."By targeting the area around the tumour, rather than the whole breast, we have demonstrated that patients can achieve the same outstanding long-term outcomes with fewer complications," Prof Coles said."This approach is now widely adopted across the NHS, sparing thousands of women from unnecessary radiation exposure, the professor of breast cancer clinical oncology at the University of Cambridge added. Dr Anna Kirby, consultant clinical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The long term results of this study confirm that a less aggressive approach, limiting radiotherapy to the tumour rather than the whole breast, is just as effective as traditional whole breast radiotherapy."Patients receiving partial breast radiotherapy experience fewer side effects while maintaining excellent cancer control."It is hoped that more than 9,000 women in the UK could benefit from more targeted treatment. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Less aggressive treatment for low-risk breast cancer ‘just as effective'
More targeted and less aggressive radiotherapy for low-risk breast cancer could spare thousands of women from the harsh side-effects of the treatment, a trial has found. The technique, which has since been adopted by the NHS, has 'transformed' the way the disease is treated in its early stages, researchers said. More than 37,000 women have radiotherapy for breast cancer in the UK every year. The treatment uses radiation to kill cancer cells and is usually given after surgery to reduce the risk of the disease coming back. However, side-effects can include changes in breast size and shape, swelling in the arms or breast, and pain. The Import Low trial, led by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the University of Cambridge, found limiting radiation to the tumour area, rather than treating the whole breast, was just as effective. The study included 2,018 women across 30 radiotherapy centres in the UK, who were monitored for 10 years after treatment. It compared three radiotherapy approaches; whole-breast, partial-breast and a reduced-dose. After a decade, cancer recurrence rates in the group given partial radiotherapy was 3%, the same proportion as those who had been treated with a more aggressive approach. Patients who had targeted radiotherapy were also less likely to experience long-term changes in breast appearance. Some 15% reported noticeable changes at five years compared with 27% in the whole-breast radiotherapy group. Dr Anna Kirby, consultant clinical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, and reader in breast cancer radiotherapy at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: 'The long-term results of this study confirm that a less aggressive approach, limiting radiotherapy to the tumour rather than the whole breast, is just as effective as traditional whole-breast radiotherapy. 'Patients receiving partial-breast radiotherapy experience fewer side-effects while maintaining excellent cancer control.' Charlotte Coles, a professor of breast cancer clinical oncology at the University of Cambridge, honorary clinical oncology consultant at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and chief investigator of the Import Low study, said the trial has 'transformed' how early breast cancer is treated. Following the study, which is published in the Lancet Oncology, partial-breast radiotherapy has been integrated into NHS treatment guidelines. It is hoped that more than 9,000 women in the UK could benefit from more targeted treatment. 'By targeting the area around the tumour, rather than the whole breast, we have demonstrated that patients can achieve the same outstanding long-term outcomes with fewer complications,' Prof Coles said. 'This approach is now widely adopted across the NHS, sparing thousands of women from unnecessary radiation exposure. 'The results of this study have not only shaped UK clinical practice but also informed international guidelines, ensuring that women worldwide benefit from this personalised, evidence-based treatment.' Hilary Stobart, now 70, was diagnosed with ER-positive breast cancer in December 2008, with a 2cm tumour in her left breast. Ms Stobart, who was 54 at the time, was offered the chance to take part in the trial after surgery and was treated with partial radiotherapy. 'I had three weeks of radiotherapy, but suffered no side-effects, other than some soreness in my breast and nipple in the first few weeks,' she said. 'Ten years on, I am doing fine. I have no side-effects and no recurrence of disease. 'For me personally, I am very thankful to have received the lowest dose of radiotherapy. 'Whilst I may have had some niggling worries in the early days, having seen the results of the trial, I feel positive and optimistic now. I know that I was lucky enough back then to have had the best treatment, a treatment that other women will be routinely offered now.' Dr Fay Cafferty, lead statistician at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, added that the findings are 'crucial in reinforcing the long-term safety and effectiveness of partial-breast radiotherapy'. 'Long-term data is vital to ensure we know there's no greater risk of breast cancer returning after this targeted radiotherapy treatment,' she said. 'This latest analysis confirms that partial breast radiotherapy remains a safe and effective treatment option, supporting its continued adoption as the standard of care in the UK and globally.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Common breast cancer treatment could reduce risk of developing Alzheimer's, research suggests
Women who undergo a common breast cancer treatment may have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, research suggests. The neurodegenerative disorder – which affects memory, thinking and behaviour – impacts more than 900,000 people in the UK. There is currently no cure and most cases of the condition are not linked to genetics. But scientists in South Korea have found that breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy were significantly less likely to go on to develop Alzheimer's than women who hadn't received the treatment. Around one in seven women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. More than 70 per cent will be treated with radiotherapy, which uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. To investigate whether cancer treatment affects Alzheimer's risk, researchers at Samsung University analysed health records of more than 250,000 women. Around 70,000 were breast cancer survivors who had undergone surgery and treatment between 2010 and 2016. They found those who received radiotherapy were 8 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimer's than women who either hadn't had the treatment or had never had breast cancer. 'Based on these findings, we hypothesise that the risk of Alzheimer's dementia could be lowered shortly after cancer treatment,' said lead author Dr Su-Min Jeong. However, he added that this apparent protective effect faded with time. 'It may equalise as the survival period increases,' he said. Researchers believe radiotherapy may have anti-inflammatory or neuroprotective effects. It's also been shown to reduce levels of two types of brain cells linked to inflammation in Alzheimer's. Other theories suggest radiation may interfere with the formation of amyloid plaques – abnormal protein clumps found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients – or influence the immune system.
