What is Stereotactic Radiotherapy?
Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) is a cutting-edge radiation therapy designed to deliver highly focused, high-dose radiation to tumours. By using advanced imaging technology, SABR targets cancerous tissues with sub-millimetre precision, sparing healthy tissue from unnecessary radiation exposure. Unlike traditional radiation therapy, which delivers lower doses over larger areas, SABR concentrates powerful beams directly at the tumour from multiple angles, ensuring maximum effectiveness.
Typically, SABR is administered in just 1 to 10 sessions, with each session lasting between 15 to 60 minutes. This short and convenient treatment schedule offers patients a non-invasive alternative to surgery, making it an attractive option for those seeking minimal disruption to their daily lives. Its precise nature also reduces side effects, making it a preferred choice for those looking to manage cancer with reduced treatment burden.
SABR differs from traditional radiotherapy in several ways. It is more focussed with less radiation exposure to normal, healthy cells. It is of shorter duration with course lengths typically being 1-2 weeks in duration, compared with conventional radiotherapy that can take as long as 8 weeks. It is also usually associated with less side effects than conventional radiotherapy. SABR is not an appropriate treatment for every cancer. If you wish to understand if it is the right treatment for you, click here.
What is Stereotactic Radiotherapy Used For?
Stereotactic radiotherapy is highly versatile and can be used in both primary cancer and when it has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).
- Primary Cancer Treatment: SABR is commonly used for early-stage tumours in organs like the lungs, prostate, liver, and pancreas. It offers a non-invasive alternative to surgery, making it especially valuable for patients who are not suitable for surgical procedures due to underlying health conditions or the location of the tumour. SABR has demonstrated similar outcomes to surgery in many early-stage cancers, achieving high rates of tumour control with fewer complications. For instance, in cases of early-stage lung cancer, SABR has shown local cure rates exceeding 90%, which is equivalent to surgery. By delivering radiation with pinpoint accuracy, SABR reduces the risk of damaging nearby vital structures, offering a safer and more convenient treatment option.
- Metastatic and Oligometastatic Cancer Treatment: ‘Oligo-‘ translates to few and oligometastatic means cancer has spread to a limited number of sites. SABR is also highly effective in treating this disease, and can be used to target each metastatic lesion individually. By focusing radiation on specific metastases, SABR can control the spread of cancer and delay the need for systemic treatments like chemotherapy, which often come with more severe side effects. SABR has been shown to significantly improve the life expectancy for people with oligometastatic cancer (link to COMET study). SABR is also showing promise in managing oligoprogressive disease. This is a state where a patient’s metastatic cancer is largely under control with systemic treatments (such as hormonal, chemotherapy or immunotherapy), but a small number of metastases start to progress. In such cases, SABR can be used to precisely target and treat the progressing sites, while allowing the patient to continue with their existing systemic treatment. This approach helps to control the disease without needing to change or escalate treatment to more aggressive options, providing patients with a better quality of life and extended disease control.
The Benefits of Stereotactic Radiotherapy
Stereotactic radiotherapy comes with numerous benefits that make it an appealing choice for patients across various cancer stages:
- Precision and Accuracy: SABR’s ability to target tumours with extreme accuracy minimises the risk of damaging nearby healthy tissues. This precision results in significantly fewer side effects compared to traditional radiation therapy, which tends to expose a larger area to radiation.
- Shorter Treatment Time: SABR treatments are completed in as few as 1 to 10 sessions, which is a substantial reduction compared to the 30-40 sessions often required with conventional radiotherapy. This shorter treatment course allows patients to return to their normal routines more quickly, without the lengthy interruption of daily hospital visits.
- Non-Invasive: As a non-surgical treatment, SABR is painless and requires no recovery time. This is particularly important for patients who may not be fit for surgery due to other health conditions, or who want to avoid the risks associated with invasive procedures.
- High Efficacy: Studies have shown that SABR is highly effective in controlling tumours, often matching or even surpassing the outcomes of surgery in certain cancers. For patients with early-stage lung, prostate, or liver cancer, SABR offers high local control rates. For those with oligometastatic or oligoprogressive disease, SABR has been proven to extend progression-free survival and delay the need for systemic therapies.
- Minimal Side Effects: SABR’s precision means that it delivers less radiation to healthy tissue, resulting in fewer and less severe side effects. Patients typically report only mild fatigue or temporary discomfort, allowing them to maintain a higher quality of life during and after treatment.
How Pinpoint Radiotherapy Can Help
At Pinpoint Radiotherapy, we specialise in advanced stereotactic radiotherapy to help patients manage cancer effectively and with minimal disruption to their lives. Our expert team uses state-of-the-art imaging and radiation technology to deliver personalised, precise treatments that meet the unique needs of each patient. Whether you’re facing an early-stage tumour or dealing with oligometastatic or oligoprogressive disease, our compassionate and dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way.
By offering advanced SABR techniques, Pinpoint Radiotherapy provides cutting-edge treatment that minimises side effects and optimises cancer control. If you’re exploring treatment options for your cancer, contact us today to learn more about how we can help you regain control of your health with personalised care.