Diffusing Alpha-Emitting Radiation Therapy (DaRT) Shows Promising Results For Skin And Head And Neck Cancers
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 25, 2024 6 days, 2 hours, 32 minutes ago
Cancer News - Breakthrough in Cancer Therapy
A new type of cancer treatment called Diffusing Alpha-emitting Radiation Therapy (DaRT) is showing promising results in treating skin and head and neck cancers. This innovative therapy uses a unique approach to deliver powerful radiation directly to the tumor, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. A recent study by scientists from Hadassah Medical Center-Israel, Rabin Medical Center-Israel, University Cancer Centers, Houston-USA, West Cancer Center-Tennessee-USA, RCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST)-Italy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York-USA, Rambam Healthcare Campus-Israel, Jefferson University-USA and AlphaTau Medical-Israel that is covered in this
Cancer News report, had pooled data from four clinical trials, revealing encouraging outcomes with long-term effectiveness and safety.
Diffusing Alpha-Emitting Radiation Therapy (DaRT) Shows Promising
Results For Skin And Head And Neck Cancers.
What is DaRT?
DaRT involves the placement of tiny wires impregnated with a radioactive substance, radium-224, directly into the tumor. As radium-224 decays, it releases alpha particles that destroy cancer cells. Unlike traditional radiation therapy, which can affect a wide area, alpha particles have a very short range, targeting the tumor precisely and sparing healthy tissue.
Study Overview
Researchers conducted a pooled analysis of 81 tumors treated with DaRT across six international medical centers. These tumors included both recurrent and newly diagnosed skin cancers, as well as head and neck cancers. The median follow-up period for the study was 14 months, with some patients being observed for over four years.
Key Findings
-High Response Rates: The study found that 89% of the treated tumors showed a complete response, meaning the cancer was no longer detectable. Another 10% of tumors showed a partial response, indicating a significant reduction in size.
-Long-term Control: Two years after treatment, 77% of patients were free from local recurrence of their cancer. This rate is significantly higher compared to other types of radiation therapy. For instance, the two-year local control rate for external beam radiotherapy for recurrent head and neck cancer is about 25%, and for high-dose brachytherapy, it's around 53%.
-Safety Profile: The treatment was well-tolerated by most patients. About 27% experienced moderate side effects, such as skin irritation or infection, which were managed with conservative treatments like antibiotics and topical steroids. Importantly, no severe long-term side effects were reported, highlighting the safety of this treatment.
Advantages of DaRT
DaRT combines the benefits of localized radiation with the potency of alpha particles. Its focused approach reduces the risk of damaging hea
lthy tissue, which is a significant advantage over traditional radiation therapies. This precision is particularly beneficial for treating cancers in sensitive areas like the head and neck, where preserving healthy tissue is crucial.
Future Directions
The success of DaRT in these trials has led to further studies and trials worldwide. Researchers are now investigating its effectiveness in treating other types of cancer, including pancreatic, colorectal, prostate, breast, lung, and vulvar cancers. Additionally, DaRT is being studied in combination with other therapies, such as immunotherapy, to enhance its effectiveness and potentially offer new treatment options for patients with few alternatives.
Conclusion
The study's results demonstrate that DaRT is a safe and effective treatment for skin and head and neck cancers, offering long-term control with minimal side effects. As research continues, this innovative therapy has the potential to become a new standard of care for various cancers, providing hope for patients with challenging diagnoses.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Cancers.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/16/13/2312
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