New development in pancreatic cancer treatment! Intelligent radiation therapy gives hope

With medical advances in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, pessimistic phrases give way to promising statements. Acıbadem Maslak Hospital Radiation Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Enis Özyar, stating that technological developments have contributed greatly to the treatment and control of pancreatic cancer with the radiotherapy method, “Before each session, the patient’s MRI is performed. the change of position in the organs is detected. The area to be irradiated is rescheduled, thus ensuring that the tumor receives high doses of radiation and the surrounding normal tissues can be protected. ” in a timely manner so that they can benefit from these new techniques “.

GIVES LATE SYMPTOMS

Every year, 450,000 people around the world are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Although this disease accounts for 2.5% of all cancers, it ranks fourth among men and women in terms of cancer-related deaths. Noting that this disease, which is more common in men in our country, progresses without symptoms. Dr Enis Özyar said: “The disease is usually noticed in advanced stages. Symptoms include weight loss, jaundice, gaseous stools, abdominal and back pain, indigestion, nausea and vomiting.

INCREASED RISK IN DIABETES

Factors that lead to pancreatic cancer are listed as tobacco use, exposure to chemicals and heavy metals, excessive alcohol use, diabetes, and gum disease. Obesity and old age are believed to be risk factors due to the slight increase in the incidence of the disease. Prof. Dr. Enis Özyar states that, according to a study, people with diabetes under the age of 50 have a 1% chance of developing pancreatic cancer within 3 years. According to another study, each 0.56 mmol / L increase in blood sugar increases the frequency of pancreatic cancer by 14%.

THE TREATMENT IS UPDATED WITH IMPROVEMENTS

Due to developments in medicine, the treatment of the pancreas is constantly updated and the treatment is organized according to the stage of the disease. The surgical method is applied in the first stage. Noting that in the second stage when tumor size is at the limit in terms of surgery, preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy increase the success rate of the surgery. Dr. Enis Özyar continues as follows:

“In recent years, radiotherapy applications have been performed with stereotaxic irradiation (SBRT), commonly known as ‘point irradiation’. This method is not used after surgery. In a disease where surgery cannot be performed but has not metastasized, treatment is first started with chemotherapy and then SBRT is applied if the disease is not yet surgical. Treatment in metastatic disease is chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, these treatments aim to extend the patient’s life span. “

SUCCESS THROUGH MRI IMAGING

Noting that for many years he hesitated on the use of effective high-dose radiotherapy in pancreatic cancer due to sensitive organs such as the stomach and duodenum. Dr Enis Özyar says that innovations have been made in the use of radiation therapy thanks to the technology of “intelligent radiation therapy”. Prof. Dr. According to information provided by Enis Özyar, unlike conventional radiotherapy treatment, the patient’s MRI scans are performed before each session and the change in the organs is detected. The area to be irradiated is rescheduled, thus ensuring that the tumor receives high doses of radiation and it is possible to protect the surrounding normal tissues. Also, in treatments, the pancreas, which is a movable organ, is kept motionless by holding the patient’s breath. Explaining that stereotaxic irradiation (SBRT) can be safely performed in this way, Prof. Dr. Enis Özyar gathers the benefits of the developments in radiotherapy for patients into five main groups.

In pancreatic cancers that have spread to the lymph node or are surgically bordering, when radiation therapy is applied with new technologies after chemotherapy surgery, the tumor control rate may increase and side effects may decrease compared to treatments applied with old techniques.

In patients with borderline surgery, preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as SBRT, may provide more successful surgeries.

In patients who cannot be operated on but have no distant organ metastases, SBRT applied after chemotherapy provides high success in local tumor control, especially when applied with an intelligent radiotherapy method.
In patients who relapse after surgery but do not have distant organ metastases, chemotherapy and high-dose ablative treatments based on simultaneous intelligent radiotherapy become important.

In metastatic patients, SBRT to be applied with smart radiation therapy is an important treatment option to reduce or stop the intense pain caused by a local disease in the pancreas.