The four-year outcomes showed excellent local tumor control and disease-free survival rates of 88.4 percent and 74.6 percent, respectively
A significantly higher rate of pathological complete response (pCR) was reported in the group of patients who received a simultaneous integrated boost compared to those who did not receive the boost. pCR is an indication of how well the treatment is working, with those patients achieving a pCR experiencing reduced rates of local recurrence and better overall survival
"The results of our analysis are encouraging because they indicate that patients with advanced rectal cancer may have a better option for effectively treating their disease. Further studies are needed, however we believe that highly conformal radiation doses delivered with TomoHelical in combination with daily image guidance may become the new standard of care for pre-surgical treatment in patients with advanced rectal cancer," said Dr. Berardino De Bari, assistant professor and radiation oncologist in the radiation oncology department, CHUV.

Listen to Dr. De Bari share his experience using the TomoTherapy System at this link.
Targeted radiation boost helps maintain patient quality of life
In another study, clinicians at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, People's Republic of China, published results of their advanced rectal cancer study titled, "Concomitant dose escalation with image-guided TomoTherapy® in locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer: a single-center study," in Cancer Management and Research. Highlights of the study include:

The clinical team used TomoHelical™ to simultaneously deliver daily radiation treatments and a targeted radiation dose boost to the primary tumor, to improve outcomes and quality of life in patients with advanced rectal cancer
TomoHelical treatment was able to significantly reduce the volume of the tumor, while minimizing dose to surrounding organs-at-risk. This enabled surgeons to perform sphincter-preserving surgery while removing the remaining tumor in 80.1 percent of patients in the study, thereby increasing the chance of maintaining normal bowel function and preserving quality of life
Treatment resulted in positive outcomes with 95.5 percent of patients showing local tumor control and 70.9 percent exhibiting no signs of cancer five years after the radiation therapy procedure

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