Long-term data shows the tremendous benefit provided by a new type of radiotherapy for people with inoperable renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) with remission sustained over five years.

Long-term data shows the tremendous benefit provided by a new type of radiotherapy for people with inoperable renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) with remission sustained over five years.  

Associate Professor Shankar Siva, radiation oncologist at Peter Mac said, “The long term data supports the use of novel stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) to treat inoperable primary renal cell carcinoma.

“This type of radiation was very effective with a 92 percent cancer specific survival at 5 years. Only 5.5 percent of patients' primary kidney cancer regrew after SABR at 5-years. The treatment was also able to maintain healthy kidney function.”

The long term efficacy and safety of this treatment was presented by Associate Professor Siva at the American Society of Radiation Oncology Meeting in San Antonio, USA and has been accepted for Publication in The Lancet Oncology. 

“Renal cell carcinoma is increasing in incidence with our ageing population and unfortunately an operation to remove the cancer is not possible for many patients with kidney cancer. 

“This leaves patients, especially those with larger primary tumours, with little to no treatment options until the development of SABR and the expansion of its use into kidney cancer.

“Through the data collected as part of the International Radiosurgery Oncology Consortium of the Kidney (IROCK) we have five year follow up data from 13 centres on 190 patients with primary renal cell carcinoma treated with SABR.

“The evidence is compelling, SABR should now form part of the treatment guidelines for primary renal cell carcinoma.

“Peter Mac was a leader in pioneering this new treatment in renal cell carcinoma and we are very proud to have helped advance patient care and improve outcomes.” Said Associate Professor Siva.

Contacts:

For more information contact the Peter Mac Communications team on 0417 123 048.

About Peter Mac

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world-leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia’s only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.