Accuray (NSDQ:ARAY) today released data from a study exploring the use of its CyberKnife system used in stereotactic radiosurgery procedures for patients with trigeminal neuralgia, touting rapid and long-lasting pain relief with minimal side effects.
Results from the study were published in the journal Neurosurgery, the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company said.
“This study is important because it reinforces that CyberKnife SRS provides unique benefits in the treatment of TN. Pain management goals were achieved and bothersome complications were rare even though a less invasive approach to delivering radiation was used. Importantly, we used a consistent treatment protocol for each patient that resulted in reproducible outcomes. This should provide confidence to other clinicians that they, too, can achieve similar clinical results,” Dr. Pantaleo Romanelli of Milan, Italy’s Centro Diagnostico Italiano said in a prepared statement.
Data from the 138-patient study indicated that pain relief was achieved in 93.5% of patients after a median delay of 3 weeks after treatment with the CyberKnife system, Accuray said.
Stable pain control was maintained by 76% of patients three years after the first treatment, with the remainder of patients attaining pain control after a second treatment.
A total of 78.9% of patients reported being completely pain and medication-free within six months post-treatment, while 93.5% of patients were able to to decrease pain medication dosage throughout their follow-ups and eventually cease pain medication.
Results also indicated that 18.1% of patients developed some sensory disturbance, with 68% experiencing the onset of complications after their second treatment, which Accuray said is a typical side effect following re-irradiation.
“The frameless CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system delivers radiation beams from multiple unique angles (non-isocentric approach) with sub-millimeter accuracy. The reproducibility of the delivery technique resulted in excellent clinical outcomes for the patients with a non-invasive technique, unlike Gamma Knife. This study confirms the long lasting effect of one single fraction treatment delivered with the CyberKnife system,” Accuray global medical and scientific affairs VP Fabienne Hirigoyenberry-Lanson said in a press release.
Earlier this month, Accuray saw shares rise after the medical device maker beat expectations on Wall Street with its 2nd quarter earnings results.
