Accuray announces outcome data from CyberKnife Prostate SBRT study

Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), the premier radiation oncology company, announced today that outcome data on intermediate risk prostate cancer patients treated with CyberKnife® Prostate SBRT was presented at the American Urological Association Meeting (AUA) 2012 held in Atlanta, Ga. The prospective monotherapy study, titled, "Four Year Outcomes and Quality of Life Following Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy: A Rapid, Non-Invasive Alternative for the Treatment of Intermediate-Risk Organ Confined Prostate Cancer," expands upon prior studies to further evaluate the long term efficacy and quality of life outcomes from treatment with CyberKnife stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. The study found a 91 percent biochemical control rate at four-years, which is comparable to both surgical and non-surgical treatments for intermediate risk prostate cancer patients, while demonstrating similar to improved toxicity outcomes. 

The study consisted of 81 intermediate-risk organ confined prostate patients treated by Dr. Alan Katz at Winthrop University Hospital with a median follow-up of four years including 24 patients with a minimum of five years follow up. This study showcases the long term published data on the use of the non-invasive CyberKnife SBRT five day course of treatment for intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Most notably the study found a four-year relapse-free survival rate of 91 percent. Patients experienced mild toxicity with minimal impact on quality of life and immediate to rapid return to normal activity. These results further support the value of CyberKnife prostate SBRT to achieve high rates of long term disease control while sparing healthy tissue and critical nearby structures, thereby minimizing undesirable side effects typically associated with other treatment modalities and preserving patients' quality of life.

"CyberKnife prostate SBRT offers patients a short five-day, non-invasive treatment for organ confined prostate cancer," said Alan Katz, M.D., author of the study, currently a radiation oncologist at Flushing Radiation Oncology. "Based on our study results, patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer have an option for a less invasive alternative to invasive surgery or six to eight weeks of conventionally fractionated radiation therapy, that effectively and efficiently treats their cancer, while preserving their overall quality of life."

"This study represents positive long term outcomes of CyberKnife SBRT for intermediate-risk prostate patients, further supporting the value of this patient centric technique," said Omar Dawood, M.D., M.P.H., senior vice president of global medical affairs for Accuray. "These results add to the rapidly maturing strong foundation of published clinical evidence for CyberKnife prostate SBRT and further support the need to create head to head evidence to compare outcomes of this treatment with surgery and conventionally fractionated radiation treatments as is underway in the recently launched PACE study. We look forward to the outcomes of the PACE study, which aims to build upon these results and further support CyberKnife SBRT as a potential gold standard for the treatment for patients with organ confined prostate cancer."