A trial of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has indicated that a single high-dose session may be a safe and effective treatment for localized prostate cancer, with 92.9% of participants cancer-free after three years. The precision treatment, which uses high doses of radiation delivered from multiple directions, has the potential to significantly reduce the number of treatment sessions compared to conventional radiotherapy.
SABR is currently being rolled out in some NHS centers in England as a five-session treatment, a reduction from the typical 20 sessions required for standard radiotherapy. This advancement aims to decrease waiting lists and ease the burden on patients by minimizing hospital visits.
The early-stage trial, published in JAMA Oncology, involved 43 men with localized prostate cancer treated across five hospitals in Europe and the United States. Researchers noted that while the data is promising, larger cohorts and longer follow-up are needed to confirm the definitive role of single-fraction SBRT. They suggest the results warrant serious consideration for single-fraction radiotherapy treatments.
Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, stated that the NHS is transforming prostate cancer treatment and is already implementing the five-dose SABR. He added that the NHS will continue to monitor emerging research and is committed to providing the most effective cancer treatments.
Charities have described the reduction in treatment sessions as potentially transformative. David James, director of patient projects and influencing at Prostate Cancer Research, highlighted that reducing treatment to a single session could be significant for both patients and the NHS, provided further studies confirm its safety and efficacy. Simon Grieveson, assistant director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, echoed this optimism, noting that while the prospect of a single-session treatment is exciting, larger trials are necessary to directly compare it with current practices and ensure equivalent effectiveness and side effect profiles.
Prostate Cancer UK also emphasized the importance of ensuring men receive the appropriate treatment for their specific cancer, as some with lower-risk prostate cancers might benefit more from monitoring rather than treatment.