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The Prostate Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) Course concluded recently, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing advancements in prostate cancer treatment. The event attracted over 220 attendees from 20 countries, including prominent radiation oncologists and medical physicists eager to exchange knowledge and insights.
Over the course of two days, participants delved into the latest developments in SBRT. The conference featured a lineup of esteemed speakers who shared their expertise on crucial topics such as patient selection, treatment efficacy, and innovative planning techniques.
Dr. Jonathan Haas from NYU’s Perlmutter Cancer Center opened the conference by discussing the evolving role of SBRT for varying risk levels of prostate cancer. He stressed that SBRT is increasingly recognized as a standard treatment for localized prostate cancer, including for more aggressive disease, where combination therapy with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) can help improve local control and decrease recurrence.
In a comparative analysis, Dr. Richard Stock from Mount Sinai Health, New York, shared insights on the long-term outcomes of SBRT versus traditional modalities like brachytherapy. He pointed out that while brachytherapy has a long track history, SBRT continues to demonstrate excellent, durable biochemical control rates, with longitudinal follow-up data continuing to accrue. He highlighted SBRT as highly desirable to many patients, with what appears to be a milder side effect profile, and particularly compelling for patients not interested or ineligible for the more invasive brachytherapy. Listen to Dr. Richard Stock give his perspective on the meeting.
Prof. Nicholas van As from the Royal Marsden, London, presented Level 1, randomized data from the PACE-B trial, supporting SBRT as a non-inferior option to conventional radiotherapy in terms of effectiveness with very modest toxicity. He advocated for its adoption as a new standard of care for patients with low to favorable intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer. Listen to Prof. Nicholas van As explain the PACE trials.
Prof. Robert Timmerman, UTSouthwestern, Dallas, explored dose variability in SBRT and emphasized the potential of both higher and lower dose strategies to yield excellent treatment outcomes. He underscored the necessity of tailoring treatments to individual patient needs, though he acknowledged that this level of individualized dosing remains non-standard.
Additionally, Prof. Mack Roach III, University of California, San Francisco, illuminated the transformative role of PSMA PET imaging in enhancing treatment precision for prostate cancer, advocating for its integration with systemic therapies to optimize patient outcomes. He highlighted excellent outcomes with treating patients with SBRT for localized disease and for cases of oligometastatic or recurrent progression.
The conference concluded with an optimistic outlook for the future of SBRT in prostate cancer management. With ongoing research and advancing technologies, experts foresee SBRT becoming a cornerstone of treatment options that offer patients effective, non-invasive care with high cure and patient satisfaction rates.
Accuray was proud to be the platinum sponsor of the event, which has become a key platform for innovation in cancer care. Attendees left the course with new knowledge and enthusiastic anticipation for the next Prostate SBRT Course in 2025.