
Medical Physicist Ellen Yorke, left, helps radiation oncologist Karyn Goodman plan precisely targeted high-dose radiation treatments for pancreatic cancer.
Memorial Sloan Kettering has long been recognized as a pioneer in the treatment of cancer with radiation. The collaboration of radiation oncologists and medical physicists has produced the development and clinical implementation of new therapies that are “beyond the standard approaches and definitely not out of the textbook,” in the words of Radiation Oncology Department Chair Simon N. Powell.
Evolving technologies and novel enhancements, many of which were developed by Memorial Sloan Kettering medical physicists, have spurred a number of new clinical initiatives led by radiation oncologists investigating more-effective approaches. One such initiative is a new method for treating pancreatic cancer that eases the burden on patients.
A Challenging Disease
Although pancreatic cancer is relatively uncommon, it is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It usually occurs in people older than 55 but is sometimes found in younger people as well. The disease usually does not cause symptoms in its early stages, and when symptoms are felt, they are often mistaken for signs of other illnesses. Because of these factors, pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed only after it has metastasized (spread) to surrounding tissue or other parts of the body.
Radiation therapy plays a vital role in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. If the disease has invaded important abdominal blood vessels and other adjacent structures, surgical removal is impossible. The standard treatment for this type of tumor — when it has not spread to distant organs — is five and a half weeks of daily radiation, with chemotherapy given before, during, and afterward.
But this regimen can be arduous, particularly for older patients, and it has another drawback: During the radiation period, the strength of the chemotherapy must be reduced to avoid toxicity from the combined treatments. This leaves the patient with a less-aggressive system-wide therapy for more than five weeks.
Back to topHigher Doses in Fewer Sessions
Memorial Sloan Kettering radiation oncologist Karyn A. Goodman has been investigating stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), a highly precise form of radiation therapy that could shorten treatment time and potentially be more effective. SBRT uses advanced imaging technologies and sophisticated computer guidance to deliver very high doses of radiation directly to tumors. It usually can be given in five or fewer daily sessions.
A clinical trial, conducted jointly by Memorial Sloan Kettering, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, tested the safety of SBRT in about 60 patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer that had not spread. The patients were given the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine (Gemzar®), received five SBRT treatments, and then resumed chemotherapy.
The study was recently completed, and results have been very promising. “We found that patients tolerate this treatment well, with minimal side effects,” Dr. Goodman says. “One concern was that the bigger dose of radiation would cause intestinal bleeding because that occurred in prior SBRT studies done elsewhere. But our patients did not experience bleeding, and giving SBRT with gemcitabine stopped cancer growth and resulted in favorable survival rates for patients as compared with conventional treatment.”
Back to topPrecise Positioning
New imaging techniques help ensure the patient is in the same position for every session and that the target area does not shift during treatment. Dr. Goodman has collaborated extensively with medical physicist Ellen Yorke to manage patient motion. To minimize the effects of breathing, patients now wear an inflatable abdominal compression belt.
In addition, Drs. Goodman and Yorke worked to incorporate an x-ray imaging technology on the linear accelerator called IMR, which closely monitors the targeted region during radiation sessions. Tiny gold markers are implanted in the patient as landmarks, and IMR tracks any movement of the gold markers as radiation is delivered.
“We have a little circle on a screen showing where the marker is supposed to be, and if it starts to move outside that circle, we know we need to stop and get repositioned,” Dr. Goodman says.
Dr. Goodman continues to use SBRT on appropriate patients, and hopes to test SBRT head-to-head against the standard treatment in a future trial.
Comments
Ann
Jan 2, 2014 • 9:28 PM
Patricia
Apr 23, 2014 • 12:15 PM
If MSK is working with Johns Hopskins, then why doesn't MSK have a pancreatic clinic, the way JH does? Also, JH is using curcumin, which is well researched, well documented to prevent inflamation, a precursor to cancer. JH is dosing some of their patients with either I.v. Or curcumin in a nano pill. Why do I have to leave NYC & go to maryland?? I am sure their are hundreds, if not thousands of people that could benefit from a pancreatic clinic aligned with what JH is doing.
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Apr 24, 2014 • 9:33 AM
In reply to If MSK is working with Johns by Patricia
Patricia, thank you for your comment. We consulted with Dr. Steven Leach, one of our pancreas experts who recently came to MSK from Johns Hopkins, and he responds:
To my knowledge, the only work at Johns Hopkins regarding curcumin has been in mice. There have been previous trials of curcumin in human pancreatic cancer patients (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT000944450), but to date these have primarily addressed safety and to my knowledge there is no solid evidence that it improves outcome. MSKCC obviously has a very robust portfolio of clinical trials for pancreatic cancer patients and the launch of our new Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research makes it likely that this portfolio will be significantly expanding. We obviously give priority to what we consider to be the most promising new therapeutic strategies.
You can learn more about the new Center for Pancreatic Research (launching soon) that Dr. Leach refers to at this link:
http://www.mskcc.org/pressroom/press/david-m-rubenstein-gives-10-millio…
Samantha Van Ness
Sep 10, 2015 • 1:37 PM
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Sep 10, 2015 • 3:14 PM
In reply to If a pancreatic cancer… by Samantha Van Ness
Samantha, thank you for reaching out. If you would like to make an appointment with a Memorial Sloan Kettering physician to find out whether this treatment might be appropriate, please call our Physician Referral Service at 800-525-2225 or go to http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/appointment. Thanks for your comment.
Srl
Sep 16, 2015 • 3:26 AM
Thank you for your comment. The SBRT treatment described in this story is generally only recommended for pancreatic cancer that has not metastasized. If you would like to make an appointment with a Memorial Sloan Kettering physician, please call our Physician Referral Service at 800-525-2225 or go to http://www.mskcc.org/cancercare/appointment.
Manish Mehta, MD, FACS
May 9, 2016 • 8:48 PM
Memorial Sloan Kettering
May 10, 2016 • 11:25 AM
In reply to Can SBRT be considered for… by Manish Mehta, MD, FACS
Louise Shone
Jan 7, 2017 • 5:23 PM
Holly York
Jul 22, 2017 • 7:13 PM
My mom is 76 and has stage 4 Pancreatic cancer with liver metastasis. She has been doing Genzar every 2 weeks . Hopefully to control tumor from spreading or growing. We had a set back with her getting dehydrated and hospitalized for 5 days. She is having a hard time building her strength back due to not eating and nausea.That has been a huge challenge.. really our only . Her blood work looks good etc. The doctors have pretty much tried all kinds of meds for it. Is their anything you guys are giving or doing that has proved effective. Thank you so much we can not continue chemo till we get her strength back.
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Jul 23, 2017 • 10:38 PM
In reply to My mom is 76 and has stage 4… by Holly York
Dear Holly, we’re very sorry to hear that your mother is going through this. We recommend you discuss your concerns with her medical team. If you would like to find out about the possibility of her coming to MSK for a consultation, you can call 800-525-2225 or go to https://www.mskcc.org/experience/become-patient/appointment for more information. Thank you for your comment, and best wishes to you and your family.
Alicia Norton
Aug 29, 2017 • 11:44 AM
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Aug 29, 2017 • 5:56 PM
In reply to My Mama is 71 years old and… by Alicia Norton
Dear Alicia, we’re very sorry to hear about your mother’s diagnosis. MSK has a number of clinical trials for pancreatic cancer. If you are interested in learning more, you can call 800-525-2225 to talk to someone about scheduling a consultation. You can go to https://www.mskcc.org/experience/become-patient/appointment for more information. Thank you for your comment, and best wishes to you and your family.
just received an envelope in the mail from memorial sloan kettering requesting donations for cancer therapy-- cancer is a hugh business and does not have to be. diet- our environment (big business,corporations) chem trails-- government. doctors sharing their knowledge-- big money-- this has been the hidden agenda for centuries. do we want to be healthy in a real big way or just continue to lie to one another. follow the money. Happy New Year 2014- Has anyone acknowledged Fukashima and whats down the road for the globe?