Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer a Key Topic for Elekta Presenters at Annual ASTRO Conference

ATLANTA, July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has accepted four abstracts from users of Elekta Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) technology on the use of SBRT to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The clinicians will present their findings during presentations at ASTRO's 52nd Annual Meeting (October 31 - November 4) at the San Diego Convention Center.

NSCLC, the most common form of lung cancer, arises from a number of causes, including active smoking, passive smoking (secondhand smoke), asbestos and radon exposure. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women. Each year, primary carcinoma of the lungs affects 93,000 men and 80,000 women in the United States and 86 percent die within five years of diagnosis. The incidence of lung cancer peaks between the ages 55 and 65.(1)

"The research in which our Lung Cancer Consortium is engaged is completely consistent with ASTRO's theme this year: Gathering Evidence; Proving Value," says Joel Goldwein, M.D., Senior Vice President and Director of Medical Affairs for Elekta. "The researchers have made a number of very important discoveries, some of which I believe will be likely to change how SBRT is administered to this challenging group of patients. It doesn't get much more valuable than that."

The four papers featuring Elekta technology are:

1. Poor Pulmonary Function is not Associated with Increased Rates of Toxicity or Decreased Overall Survival after Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Results of a Multi-Institutional Analysis: Matthias Guckenberger, M.D., Jose Belderbos, M.D., Ph.D., Andrew Hope, M.D., Larry L. Kestin, M.D., Maria Werner-Wasik, M.D., Jan-Jakob Sonke, Ph.D., Jean-Pierre Bissonnette, Ph.D., Ying Xiao, Ph.D., Di Yan, D.Sc., Inga S. Grills, M.D.
2. A Collaborative Analysis of Stereotactic Lung Radiotherapy (Lung SBRT) Outcomes for Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) using Daily Online Cone-beam CT Image-Guided Radiotherapy (CBCT-IGRT): Inga S. Grills, M.D., Andrew J. Hope, M.D., Matthias Guckenberger, M.D., Larry L. Kestin, M.D., Maria Werner-Wasik, M.D., Di Yan, D.Sc., Jan-Jakob Sonke, Ph.D., Jeanne-Pierre Bissonnette, Ph.D., Ying Xiao, Ph.D., Jose Belderbos, M.D.
3. Time Interval Between Staging FDG Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Initiation of Stereotactic Lung Radiotherapy (SBRT) Impacts the Risk of Recurrence and Metastasis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Jose Belderbos, M.D. Ph.D., Andrew Hope, M.D., Larry L. Kestin, M.D., Matthias Guckenberger, M.D., Maria Werner-Wasik, M.D., Jan-Jakob Sonke, Ph.D., Jean-Pierre Bissonnette, Ph.D., Ying Xiao, Ph.D., Di Yan, D.Sc., Inga S. Grills, M.D.
4. Substantial Dose-Response Relationship with Clinical Outcome for Lung Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) Delivered Via Online Image Guidance: Larry Kestin M.D., Inga Grills, M.D., Matthias Guckenberger, M.D., Jose Belderbos, M.D., Andrew J. Hope, M.D., Maria Werner-Wasik, M.D., Jan-Jakob Sonke, Ph.D., Jeanne-Pierre Bissonnette, Ph.D., Ying Xiao, Ph.D., Di Yan, D.Sc.

The clinicians are affiliated with the University of Wurzburg, The Netherlands Cancer Institute / Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital (NKI/AvL), Princess Margaret Hospital /  University Health Network, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and William Beaumont Hospital.

Advanced Elekta SBRT technology used today includes Elekta Axesse™ and Elekta Synergy® S treatment systems and Symmetry™ and Intuity™ software. Symmetry is a breakthrough technology that enables highly accurate, yet completely non-invasive lung tumor treatments without requiring additional intra-fraction radiation imaging. Intuity ensures that not only is the tumor's position accounted for, but also the position of nearby healthy critical structures. Both innovations contribute to a more patient-friendly and safe treatment.

(1)Retrieved June 29, 2010 from the Cancer Monthly website: http://www.cancermonthly.com/cancer_basics/lung.asp

About Elekta

Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.

Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible today.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group.

Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please visit www.elekta.com.

SOURCE Elekta