Presentations at Leading Radiation Oncology Meeting Highlight CyberKnife Prostate Outcomes from Patients at More Than 40 Centers

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), the premier radiation oncology company, announced today clinical findings using non-invasive CyberKnife^® stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for the treatment of prostate cancer. Two studies presented at the 54th Annual American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Meeting in Boston were selected by ASTRO for presentation to the media at a prostate-focused press conference on Tuesday, October 30, 2012, for which the use of CyberKnife SBRT for prostate cancer represented half of the press conference's focus.

During ASTRO's Scientific Sessions, data on CyberKnife prostate SBRT for organ-confined prostate cancer was presented in the form of three podium presentations and seven poster presentations by researchers from leading U.S. academic and community-based cancer treatment centers. In these studies, all patients were treated in five or fewer, non-surgical outpatient treatment sessions – far fewer than the 40 or more patients typically receive with traditional radiotherapy or intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Overall, efficacy and toxicity findings compared favorably with longer courses of IMRT, expanding the foundation of evidence supporting the value of CyberKnife prostate SBRT for patients with organ confined prostate cancer.

Below is an overview of the three CyberKnife prostate studies selected for podium presentation by ASTRO's Review Committee:

Alan J. Katz, M.D., a radiation oncologist with Flushing Radiation Oncology in Flushing, N.Y., presented findings from a multi-center study, organized by researchers at UCLA Medical Center, of outcomes for 1,100 low, intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer treated with CyberKnife SBRT at eight centers within the United States and Italy.

Patients were followed for a median of 36 months, and close to half were followed for at least four years, as updated by Dr. Katz during his presentation. Actuarial five-year disease-free survival was 95 percent for low-risk patients, 90 percent for intermediate-risk patients and 80 percent for high-risk patients. These findings compare favorably with other surgical and radiation-based treatments.

"These findings are in line with those of the more than 800 patients I've treated personally to date, some of whom are up to seven years post-treatment," said Dr. Katz. "I am excited to see the body of long term data supporting the outcomes of CyberKnife prostate SBRT growing in support of this treatment's benefits for patients."

During the press conference, Dr. Katz also spoke to the cost-benefits of CyberKnife SBRT, which he said "is less expensive than IMRT for a payer like Medicare, which can cost the government program upwards of $40,000 for a full round of treatments in some areas."

CyberKnife SBRT for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer was the focus of a study presented by Robert Meier, M.D., a radiation oncologist with the Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle, and co-lead by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. In this multi-center study, 129 patients were treated at 21 centers throughout the United States. At a median follow-up of 36 months, the three-year disease-free survival rate, as updated by Dr. Meier during his presentation, was 99.2 percent, which is higher than those typically seen with external beam radiotherapy. The urinary and rectal side effect profile was as good as or better than other radiotherapy treatments, with comparable sexual function outcomes.

"Our study demonstrates very promising cancer control rates and few side effects, which are in line with the growing body of clinical evidence supporting the value of CyberKnife prostate SBRT," said Dr. Meier. "Through the use of image guidance and robotics, we're able to continuously track the prostate and concentrate hundreds of radiation beams into the target with sub-millimeter accuracy, which helps us effectively treat the disease while sparing nearby healthy tissue and critical structures."

Donald Fuller, M.D., a radiation oncologist from Genesis Healthcare in San Diego, presented findings from a multi-center study of 260 patients with low and intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated using CyberKnife SBRT at 17 institutions, using an approach that emulates the dosimetry of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy.

Patients were followed for up to 48 months with a median follow-up of 24 months, and found to have disease-free survival of 98.5 percent, as updated during his presentation. Urinary and rectal toxicities reported at a minimum 1 year follow-up were in line with outcomes of traditional radiation therapy and erectile function returned to baseline by 3 years, with minimal disruption after treatment.

"These findings should encourage men to explore CyberKnife SBRT as a viable alternative to surgery or other radiation treatments, such as brachytherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy," said Dr. Fuller. "Findings to date indicate we may be able to minimize the undesirable side effects typically associated with other treatment modalities and help to preserve patients' quality of life during and after prostate cancer treatment."

Additionally, seven posters highlighting CyberKnife prostate SBRT experience were presented by researchers from the University of California San Francisco, Georgetown University Hospital, and Winthrop University Hospital, as well as additional research from Flushing Radiation Oncology and Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle, further supporting the maturing body of prostate SBRT evidence.

About Accuray
Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is the premier radiation oncology company that develops, manufactures and sells personalized innovative treatment solutions that set the standard of care, with the aim of helping patients live longer, better lives. The Company's leading edge technologies – the CyberKnife and TomoTherapy Systems – are designed to deliver radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, image guided radiation therapy, and adaptive radiation therapy. To date 642 systems have been installed in leading hospitals around the world. For more information, please visit www.accuray.com.

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Statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate, but are not limited, to clinical results and patient outcomes, and the Company's leadership position in radiation oncology innovation. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including risks detailed from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's report on Form 10-K filed on September 10, 2012. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available to the Company at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.  Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Accuray Incorporated