The radiation oncology team at UH Seidman Cancer Center at UH Geauga Medical Center performed the first-ever prostate cancer treatment on April 3 using a newly approved device. The device, called SpaceOAR® System, enhances the efficacy of radiation treatment by protecting organs surrounding the prostate. The device, a temporary injectable gel, received FDA clearance on April 1.
The "OAR" in SpaceOAR stands for "organ at risk." Despite many advancements in radiation therapy for destroying prostate cancer cells, a common side-effect is damage to the rectum, which is located just below the prostate. Unintended radiation exposure due to their proximity often results in complications including diarrhea, bleeding and pain.
SpaceOAR, developed by Augmenix, Inc., temporarily positions the front portion of the rectum away from the prostate during radiation treatment, creating space for protection. The device uses hydrogel, which is administered in liquid form through a needle and quickly solidifies into a soft gel to separate the two organs. Potential benefits include the utilization of dose escalation (more prostate radiation for improved cancer kill rates) and hypofractionation (fewer radiation treatment sessions), both of which should have substantial patient benefits and help reduce healthcare costs.
"Shielding the rectum from radiation allows us to increase the radiation dose used to kill cancerous cells in the prostate," said Rodney Ellis, MD, radiation oncologist at UH Seidman Cancer Center. "The SpaceOAR System represents a significant development in advancing the safety, precision and flexibility with which prostate cancer radiotherapy can be delivered. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and patients are able to return home and resume their normal activities right away."
Dr. Ellis is using the device at UH Geauga Medical Center as well as UH Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland's University Circle. UH Seidman Cancer Center was involved in the clinical research for SpaceOAR.
Chardon resident David Reeves, the patient who underwent the April 3 procedure, illustrated the treatment's success as he hurried back to his small farm that same day to finish boiling 500 gallons of maple sap. "I was so pleased that Dr. Ellis was able to offer me this new technology, enabling me to get back to my daily activities," said Mr. Reeves. "University Hospitals saved my life a few years ago when I had a heart attack so I knew I could trust in my doctors to be at the forefront of innovation."
According to the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer as the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. An estimated 220,800 new cases and 27,540 deaths are attributed each year to prostate cancer in the United States.
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