News & Events
Philadelphia CyberKnife focuses on education during Brain Tumor Awareness Month
May marks the recognition of National Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Since its establishment in 2008, community organizations and support groups celebrate this month with increased efforts to raise awareness of brain tumors, increase funding for research and educate the public on symptoms and treatment options.
The Central Brain Tumor Registry estimates 66,290 new cases of primary non–malignant and malignant brain and central nervous system tumors will be diagnosed in the United States in 2012. What patients may not know is that a large percentage of those diagnoses will be from metastatic tumors, tumors that develop from cancer cells that have spread from another part of the body.
There are more than 120 different types of brain tumors, and while not all are necessarily fatal, any brain tumor should be considered a serious health condition. Brain tumors often create increased pressure in the skull, known as intracranial hypertension. This can lead to, among other conditions, headaches, vomiting, vision problems and altered states of consciousness.
Philadelphia CyberKnife Credentialed by Radiological Physics Center
Philadelphia CyberKnife has been credentialed by the Radiological Physics Center (RPC), an organization funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to provide quality assurance auditing of dosimetry practices at institutions participating in NCI cooperative clinical trials.
The RPC assures the NCI and cooperative clinical trial groups that all participating institutions have the equipment, personnel and procedures necessary to administer radiation doses that are clinically comparable to those of other participating institutions.
“We are excited about the RPC credentialing, as it will allow us to participate in more national clinical trials analyzing the effects and efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy for adult cancers,” said Jun Yang, Ph.D, chief medical physicist at Philadelphia CyberKnife.
Philadelphia CyberKnife is a participating institution in national clinical trials conducted by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, one of nine cooperative clinical trials groups in the U.S. Philadelphia CyberKnife is one of several notable research institutions participating in the RTOG 0938 protocol – A Randomized Phase II Trial Of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy For Favorable Risk Prostate Cancer-RTOG/CCOP Study.
Other protocols in which Philadelphia CyberKnife is a participating clinical investigator include:
- RTOG 0618 Protocol: A Phase II Trial of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) in the Treatment of Patients with Operable Stage I/II Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- RTOG 0813 Protocol: Seamless Phase I/II Study of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Early Stage, Centrally Located, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in Medically Inoperable Patients
- Accuray-sponsored Multi-institute Protocol: Prospective Evaluation of CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Low- and Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer: Homogenous Dose Distribution
Chief Medical Physicist’s Research Recognized at 2012 SRS/SBRT Meeting
A research paper presented and authored by Philadelphia CyberKnife chief medical physicist Jun Yang, Ph.D. was awarded “Best Presentation” in the physics category at The Radiosurgery Society’s 2012 SRS/SBRT Meeting in California. The annual meeting brings together physicians, physicists, residents and researchers from around the world who are involved in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The meeting is designed to disseminate new scientific findings and technical innovations and expand basic knowledge relevant to clinical practice and improvement of patient outcomes.
The research paper titled “Radiation Shielding Evaluation Based on Five Years of Data From A Busy Cyberknife Center” was co-authored by other members of the Philadelphia CyberKnife clinical team including, medical physicist Jing Feng, M.S; associate medical director Dr. John Lamond; radiation oncologist Dr. Rachelle Lanciano; and medical director Dr. Luther Brady.
The team’s study analyzed the clinical treatment data of 1,400 patients treated at Philadelphia Cyberknife from June 2006 through July 2011. Dr. Yang and Feng designed a computer program that simulated a total of 680,000 clinically used pencil-thin radiation beams to calculate the distribution patterns of the radiation load in three-dimensional spaces around the treatment facility. The data was used to evaluate the general CyberKnife radiation safety guidelines.
Information patterns found in this study will assist in future facility construction by further helping to improve the design of radiation shielding structures to enhance patient, visitor and staff safety, as well as reduce construction costs.
Philadelphia CyberKnife Physicians’ Research Highlighted in Medical Publications
The research of the CyberKnife physician team was recently published in Frontiers in Oncology. Dr. Rachelle Lanciano, Dr. John Lamond, Dr. Steve Arrigo, Dr. Luther Brady, CyberKnife nurse Michael Good, and medical physicists Jing Feng and Jun Yang studied the effects of CyberKnife treatment on patients with liver metastases and liver tumors. The study, titled “Stereotactic body radiation therapy for patients with heavily pretreated liver metastases and liver tumors,” found that CyberKnife is an effective treatment option for those with liver tumors that are medically inoperable.
The Journal of Radiation Oncology published “Experience using frameless fractionated radiosurgery for the treatment of orbital and ocular tumors” by Dr. Lamond, Dr. Lanciano, Dr. Brady and medical physicist Jun Yang. The study analyzed the effects of CyberKnife treatment on patients with orbital and ocular tumors. The study found CyberKnife to be a competitive option for patients seeking treatment for orbital and periorbital tumors due to the accuracy and convenience of treatment.
To read the complete studies, see the Our Research section.
Philadelphia CyberKnife Celebrates Patient Safety Awareness Week
In recognition of Patient Safety Awareness Week, Philadelphia CyberKnife joins a nation-wide effort to encourage engagement of patients, families and the community by promoting the importance of being an active participant in the health care delivery process. MORE →
Philadelphia CyberKnife physicians honored in Main Line Today magazine’s 2011 ‘Top Doctors’
Several doctors on the Philadelphia CyberKnife physician team were recently honored in Main Line Today magazine’s annual “Top Doctors” list, which recognizes Main Line physicians in numerous specialties for their work. Those named a 2011 “top doctor” include Associate Medical Director Dr. John Lamond; radiation oncologists Dr. Stephen A. Arrigo and Dr. Rachelle M. Lanciano; and surgeons Dr. Craig Landow and Dr. Richard V. Buonocore. These doctors were recognized for their work in the areas of oncology, neurology and urology.
We’d like to congratulate these doctors on this achievement and thank them for their continued contribution to the Philadelphia CyberKnife team and community.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month A Time to Take Action
As a disease that annually takes the lives of more people than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined, lung cancer will kill more than 156,000 people in the United States this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Additionally, about a quarter of a million people will face a lung cancer diagnosis.
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month — a time to take action, quit smoking, educate loved ones and raise awareness for the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women.
Prostate Cancer: Awareness Month a Time to Learn Risk Factors
One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime while one in 36 men will die of the disease, which the American Cancer Society names as the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. This year alone nearly 250,000 men will face a prostate cancer diagnosis.
In Delaware County, about 178 of every 100,000 men are affected, compared to 153 of every 100,000 nationwide, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Internationally Recognized Radiation Oncologist Honored by Philadelphia County Medical Society
Philadelphia CyberKnife Medical Director Dr. Luther Brady was recently presented with the Philadelphia County Medical Society’s prestigious Cristol Award.
Presented annually, the Cristol Award recognizes physicians for outstanding dedication to medical science, education and charitable work. Dr. Brady received the award during a Medical Society ceremony at the Ace Conference Center in Lafayette Hill, Pa.
Delaware County Memorial Hospital’s CyberKnife Program Marks Five Years
Philadelphia CyberKnife Announces Research Progress, Operational Highlights
Philadelphia CyberKnife celebrates its five-year anniversary this month with the announcement of several milestones, including acceptance of physician research for presentation at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), an international organization comprised of more than 10,000 healthcare professionals.