Conclusion:
CyberKnife® radiosurgery represents an extremely attractive therapeutic option as monotherapy for early stage prostate cancer patients, seemingly addressing the shortcomings of virtually all other local therapy options, creating surgical precision but without the hospitalization, and requiring far less investment of time compared with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). This treatment is currently best administered under the direction of an approved clinical trial until further experience is gained, validating the curative potential of this treatment technique, and its sharp therapeutic margin dictates careful patient selection when used as monotherapy.
CyberKnife® radiosurgery is also a useful boost technique in advanced cases, in combination with EBRT, creating dosimetry coverage comparable with HDR brachytherapy boosting, but without the indwelling plastic tubes.
Pending further investigation, CyberKnife® radiosurgery may also evolve to a useful new option for patients with locally recurrent disease following external beam radiotherapy, who have previously had limited further safe and effective treatment available.
|
