Research Supports CyberKnife
In 2001 the CyberKnife® System received FDA clearance for treatment of tumors anywhere in the body that standard radiation was indicated. The evolution of CyberKnife technology is clinically driven so treatment refinements are based on real results. This ensures that patients always receive the best, least invasive radiosurgery treatment available. Radiosurgery therapy is a proven treatment option and the latest tool for radiation delivery. Learn more about CyberKnife, request an appointment online.
Current Clinical Trials
Anova Cancer Care is currently participating in the following clinical trials:
- Multi-Institutional Registry for Prostate Cancer Radiosurgery (RPCR). This study is sponsored by the Florida Robotic Radiosurgery Association. Additional information can be found at the Clinicaltrials.gov website.
Case Studies
Our treatment recommendations are always based on the most current peer-reviewed research publications.
Brain Tumors
CyberKnife technology can provide localized radiosurgery treatment after brain cancer surgery without the sickness caused by conventional radiation therapy. Non-isocentric radiation beam delivery (beams that do not converge on a single point) distributes the dose to conform to irregular-shaped tumors.
The accuracy of the CyberKnife System allows delivery of large doses while avoiding critical structures. Frameless, non-invasive radiosurgery with the CyberKnife System can be delivered in a single or multiple sessions. This allows the dose to be spread over 2-5 sessions, which may reduce the risk of damage to sensitive structures such as the cranial nerves and the eye.
Relevant Intracranial Case Studies
Pediatric Anaplastic Astrocytoma
Rhabdoid Meningioma Case Study
Prostate Cancer
Treating prostate tumors with radiation therapy can be a challenge. The prostate moves unpredictably, so minimizing any movements of the prostate can help reduce unnecessary irradiation of surrounding healthy tissue. The CyberKnife System is able to continuously identify the exact location of the prostate and make corrections for any movement of the prostate throughout the course of the treatment.
Relevant Prostate Case Studies
Monotherapy for Low-Risk Prostate Cancer
Lung Cancer
Guidelines for lung cancer treatment with CyberKnife were based on prior experiences with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), a radiation therapy approach that delivers high dose radiation to a target within the body. CyberKnife is unique form of SBRT because of the Synchrony Respiratory Tracking System, which tracks and compensates for tumor movement during treatment delivery, making CyberKnife effective for tumors in the lungs.
Relevant Lung Case Studies
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Severe COPD
Spinal Tumors
The CyberKnife System treats lesions anywhere in the spine with high accuracy. Metastatic disease and vascular malformations have been treated with the CyberKnife System at all levels of the spinal column. Recent published reports show high rates of tumor control, significant pain relief, improvement in mental and physical quality of life, and low rates of complications, comparable to that observed for intracranial radiosurgery treatments.
Relevant Spinal Case Studies
Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation
Liver Cancer
Although liver cancer surgery such as resection (removal of the tumor) or a liver transplant is preferred among the treatments for liver cancer, only 20 percent of patients are candidates. Cancer centers have achieved local, liver tumor control with CyberKnife technology with single-session approaches. Other centers have treated with three sessions, noting a few mild side effects. With the introduction of the Synchrony Respiratory Tracking System, clinicians are better able to track liver tumors that move with respiration thus limiting the dose to the liver tumor and minimizing the dose to healthy adjacent liver tissue.
Pancreatic Cancer
If pancreatic cancer is resectable, meaning the tumor is localized to the pancreas without invading important surrounding structures, pancreatic cancer surgery is the treatment of choice. But only 20 percent of tumors are resectable, so alternative treatments include external beam and intraoperative radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and CyberKnife technology. Studies have shown CyberKnife treatment, equipped with the Synchrony Respiratory Tracking System, was capable of delivering therapeutic radiation with minimal toxicity to tumors in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. High rates of tumor control were obtained at the highest doses in these studies. Thus, CyberKnife radiosurgery may be considered among viable pancreatic cancer alternative treatments.
Relevant Pancreas Case Studies
Kidney Cancer
Renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) is typically treated with surgery, such as a radical or partial nephrectomy. Steotactic Body Radiation Therapy (CyberKnife SBRT), radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation and arterial embolization are kidney cancer treatments intended to selectively treat the kidney tumor and spare functional kidney tissue, which can be critical if the patient has reduced kidney function or only has one kidney. Cytokine therapy and chemotherapy have also been used, and although response rates are low, selected patients do respond to these kidney cancer treatments.
Renal cell carcinomas are not sensitive to small doses of radiation and the kidney is normally extremely sensitive to radiation. High dose radiosurgery can achieve control of small kidney tumors. The CyberKnife® System is able to deliver hypofractionation regimens which have been shown to effectively treat renal cell carcinoma metastases to the spine, lung, and brain.
Relevant Kidney Cancer Case Studies