London Scientists Explore New Radiation Delivery Technology for Cancer Treatment

LONDON, Ontario - For approximately 100 years, radiation therapy has been a vital tool in the treatment of cancers. The June issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics explains how London researchers are continuing to perfect the accuracy and efficacy of this therapy for the benefit of patients and clinicians.

A study at Lawson Health Research Institute is evaluating a new system that integrates precise radiation delivery and imaging to achieve optimum treatment of tumours. The study profiles a system called "Helical Tomotherapy."

Helical delivery of radiation to a tumour site involves technology that rotates spirally around the patient as the patient moves to a precise position within that rotation. This delivers the targeted radiation to a specific location in the body from all angles, allowing for the most effective treatment. Tomotherapy integrates this advanced delivery of radiation with computed tomography (CT) imaging. The integration of imaging allows for daily updated information about the patient’s anatomy for high precision delivery of radiation and adaptation to changes in the shape or position of tumours over time.

"Quite simply, there is great promise in delivering the optimal radiation therapy for each patient," says Dr. Glenn Bauman, a Lawson Health Research Institute Associate Scientist who is leading a multi-disciplinary research team at the London Regional Cancer Program along with Dr. Jerry Battista and Jake Van Dyk. Bauman is Director of Research for the London Regional Cancer Program at London Health Sciences Centre, as well as Associate Professor and Chair of Oncology for Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario.

"Helical Tomotherapy is an example of advances in technology working in an integrated way to improve upon a long-standing treatment – using good research to improve patient care," says Bauman.

Dr. Rock Mackie at the University of Wisconsin invented Tomotherapy. Mackie began discussions in 1998 with Van Dyk, Battista and Bauman that led to the London Regional Cancer Program purchasing one of the first three testing units for Helical Tomotherapy in 2000. This purchase was supported by the generosity of Cancer Care Ontario and donors through London Health Sciences Foundation. Following initial testing of the technology with prototype equipment, a device for clinical treatments arrived in 2004 with the first patient study commencing in September of that year.

"The clinical trials provide the opportunity to formally evaluate the benefits of this new treatment, minimize the learning curve and provide a mechanism to ensure appropriate use of the technology for the benefit of patients," says Dr. Bauman.
Ongoing clinical trials are exploring the capabilities of this technology in treating patients with cancers of the brain, prostate cancer and head and neck.

About Lawson Health Research Institute
Lawson Health Research Institute is the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care, London. It is one of the largest hospital-based research institutes in Canada and is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives by advancing knowledge of how to prevent, diagnose and treat disease.

For more information, please contact:

Andrew Kaszowski, Communications Consultant
Lawson Health Research Institute
519-646-6100 ext. 65519
andrew.kaszowski@sjhc.london.on.ca
www.lhrionhealth.ca