The Australian-led TRANSFORM trial has found that stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) can delay the need for more toxic treatments, such as hormone therapy and chemotherapy, in men with metastatic prostate cancer.
Icon Cancer Centre Radiation Oncologist and Principal Investigator of the TRANSFORM trial, Dr Patrick Bowden says this breakthrough offers a promising new approach that preserves the quality of life for patients by avoiding the severe side effects commonly associated with traditional therapies.
“By using stereotactic radiation therapy, treatment escalation to hormone therapy and chemotherapy could be delayed by two years in just over half of the participants and five years for one in four men who had not yet started hormone therapy,” Dr Bowden said.
“This is in comparison to the standard of care, where all men would usually be recommended immediate hormone therapy.”
“There were no significant side effects associated with stereotactic radiation therapy,” Dr Bowden said.