A pioneering study conducted at Beilinson Hospital in Israel has revealed a potential breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment that could significantly reduce the number of radiation sessions required for effective treatment.
The research comes as the Israel Cancer Association projects that 2,800 men will receive prostate cancer diagnoses in 2024, with approximately 530 fatalities expected. The disease remains the most prevalent cancer among Israeli men and ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality.
The groundbreaking research, led by Dr. Elisha Freedman, director of urinary system cancers and clinical radiation research at the Davidoff Center's radiotherapy institute at Beilinson Hospital, focuses on reducing radiation treatments to just two sessions for early-stage patients.
In the initial phase, researchers studied 20 patients who underwent the abbreviated two-session treatment protocol. The results showed no unusual side effects, with treatment outcomes matching those of the traditional five-session approach. Significantly, no cancer recurrence was observed during the 18-month follow-up period.
"This transition to two radiation sessions represents a significant advancement in patient care," Dr. Freedman explained. "We're seeing fewer side effects, reduced hospital visits, and increased treatment capacity. This could revolutionize treatment globally. Given the psychological impact of treatment, reducing radiation sessions appears highly promising, which helped secure approval for expanded research."
The treatment particularly benefits intermediate-risk patients not requiring hormonal therapy, who comprise the majority of prostate cancer cases. The findings, published in the prestigious International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, have led to an expanded third phase involving 502 patients, comparing outcomes between two-session and five-session treatment groups.
