SBRT Data Presented at ASTRO Shows High Efficacy in Localized Kidney Cancer; Could Become First Line Treatment if it Demonstrates Superiority Versus Surgery
11-9-23 (by: Scott Gleason) In the realm of kidney cancer treatment, a new clinical trial, FASTRACK II, suggests that stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a highly effective option for individuals unable to undergo surgery. The data, presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting, highlighted SBRT as a safe and efficient treatment for localized kidney cancer.
The trial exclusively focused on individuals with a single tumor in their kidney, known as localized kidney cancer, who were not viable candidates for surgery due to underlying health issues. All 70 participants underwent SBRT treatment, and over the subsequent years, none exhibited signs of tumor recurrence or succumbed to the disease. Remarkably, only one patient displayed evidence of cancer recurrence elsewhere in the body three years after receiving SBRT. Additionally, the trial demonstrated that SBRT had no significant impact on kidney function, providing a safe alternative for those unable to undergo surgery.
Dr. Shankar Siva, lead investigator of the FASTRACK II trial, expressed that the results were “quite exceptional and unexpected.”
For individuals with localized kidney cancer ineligible for surgery, the conventional options are limited to ablation techniques or routine monitoring. However, ablation proves less effective for larger tumors. SBRT, a noninvasive procedure, involves precise tumor mapping through imaging, facilitating the development of a treatment plan with multiple radiation beams directly targeting the tumor. The trial’s results suggest that SBRT should be the preferred treatment for those with larger tumors ineligible for surgery. Companies such as Accuray, Siemens, and Brainlab manufacture SBRT technologies that could benefit from this trend.
While the FASTRACK II trial represents a significant milestone, experts underscore the need for larger studies to directly compare SBRT against other treatment options such as surgery, providing a more comprehensive understanding of its effectiveness and safety. Dr. Siva and colleagues are already designing a trial to address this gap, potentially involving cancer centers worldwide. If these trials show superiority to surgery, SBRT could become a first line treatment for localized kidney cancer. Kidney cancer impacts about 82,000 individuals in the U.S. every year.