Seattle Scientists Publish Results of Neutron Therapy Study for Mesothelioma, According to Surviving Mesothelioma

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Cancer Monthy

Apr 13, 2015, 07:00 ET


Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) April 13, 2015 -- Doctors at one of the few U.S. cancer centers to offer “fast neutron” radiotherapy have concluded that the method is no better than standard radiotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Surviving Mesothelioma has just posted details of the new study. Click here to read the story now.

Radiation oncologists studied the case records of 30 mesothelioma patients who underwent fast neutron radiotherapy, a method that targets cancer cells with high-energy neutrons instead of protons or electrons, between 1980 and 2012.

“Treatment with fast neutron radiotherapy did not significantly improve outcomes, even when used in a trimodality regimen,” writes lead author Shilpen Patel, MD, of the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology, found an overall survival rate of 20.3 months among mesothelioma patients who had fast neutron radiotherapy– not significantly better or worse than other therapy regimens.

“While this study does not suggest that there is no role for neutron radiotherapy in mesothelioma treatment, it is clear that this treatment modality is not the answer many mesothelioma patients are hoping for,” says Surviving Mesothelioma’s Managing Editor, Alex Strauss.

To learn more about neutron therapy and its potential role in mesothelioma treatment, see Fast Neutron Radiotherapy Not an Answer for Mesothelioma now available on the Surviving Mesothelioma website.

Patel, SA et al, “Fast neutron radiotherapy in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma”, February 2015, American Journal of Clinical Oncology, pp. 47-50. http://www.researchgate.net/publication/271330438

For nearly ten years, Surviving Mesothelioma has brought readers the most important and ground-breaking news on the causes, diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. All Surviving Mesothelioma news is gathered and reported directly from the peer-reviewed medical literature. Written for patients and their loved ones, Surviving Mesothelioma news helps families make more informed decisions.

Michael Ellis, Cancer Monthy, http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com, +1 (919) 570-8595, [email protected]