Accuray (NSDQ:ARAY) today released data from a prospective study comparing its TomoTherapy intensity-modulated radiation therapy system with Varian Medical‘s (NYSE:VAR), RapidArc radiotherapy system, touting a higher survival rate for patients treated with its TomoTherapy system.
Results from the study were published last month in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology – Biology – Physics.
Accuray said that the 166-patient, multi-center study was the 1st to prospectively compare clinical outcomes across radiation platforms.
In the study, 74 individuals were treated with the TomoTherapy system while 92 were treated with the RapidArc system. Loco-regional control, specific and overall survival were assessed up to 18 months post-treatment, as well as long-term toxicity and salivary function.
Results indicated that patients treated with the TomoTherapy system were better, as measured by local control, cancer-specific survival and salivary function at 18 months. The company said that further analysis indicated a greater benefit in local control of larger tumors, and those which have spread to a high number of lymph nodes.
“This is the 1st study to assess whether the method of delivering IMRT impacts the results we are able to achieve. In previous studies, we showed that TomoHelical was able to deliver radiation dose distributions which precisely conformed to the shape of the tumor with steep radiation fall-off outside the target. In this new study, we showed in a prospective, but not randomized manner, that this had a significant clinical impact. Precision and accuracy are especially important when treating head and neck tumors, where dose outside the desired target may result in damage to critical structures such as salivary glands, vocal cords, the spinal cord or brainstem. These results should be further explored in a randomized trial,” Dr. Jean-Emmanuel Bibault of Paris’ Georges-Pompidou European Hospital said in a prepared statement
“This landmark study demonstrates that the technique used to deliver IMRT can have a major impact on patient outcomes. Two key measures – the local control rate and cancer-specific survival rate – reinforce the TomoTherapy System’s effectiveness in managing head and neck tumors, results we would also expect to see with the Radixact System, our next-generation TomoTherapy platform. And, importantly, salivary function was compromised after treatment in significantly fewer patients treated with TomoTherapy, even while they achieved better tumor control,” global medical & scientific affairs VP Fabienne Hirigoyenberry-Lanson said in a press release.
Earlier this week, Accuray saw its shares slide approximately 3% after the company released preliminary earnings for its 4th quarter and fiscal year 2017.
