"The results of the first phase were very encouraging and somewhat surprising," Dr. Timmerman said. "We thought patients would only tolerate lower doses of radiation since they were frail to begin with. To our delight, we were able to increase dose levels without prohibitive toxicity. In the end, the therapy should be extremely potent against that cancer."
Early stage lunch cancer traditionally is treated with surgery, conventional radiation, or both. There is a 60 percent to 70 percent cure rate for early stage lung cancer in patients undergoing surgery and a 20 percent to 30 percent cure rate for those treated with conventional radiation, which involves five weeks to six weeks of daily radiation treatments.
The stereotactic treatment plan involved only three outpatient treatments but at a much higher dose rate than conventional radiation.
The Phase I study was completed in December 2001. Phase II of the study began in January 2002 and 48 patients have been enrolled. This second phase seeks to quantify beneficial aspects of the therapy such as survival and local disease control when radiation is delivered at the highest dose levels. Individuals interested in enrolling in the study or those wanting additional information may contact Tia Whitford, R.N., at 317-278-7267.
"This study holds promise for a group of patients who had few good options," says Dr. Timmerman. "It is hoped the stereotactic treatments not only will give medically frail patients with early stage lung cancer a choice but perhaps someday be another option for a larger spectrum of lung cancer patients."
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Contact: Mary Hardin
mhardin@iupui.edu
317-274-7722
Indiana University
10-Nov-2003