Treating bladder cancer with short, intensive radiotherapy reduces the risk of disease recurrence

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People with bladder cancer should be given a shorter and more intensive course of radiotherapy, say researchers, as it reduces the risk of the disease returning by 29 percent.

Researchers at the Institute for Cancer Research and the University of Manchester analyzed data from two previous clinical trials on radiotherapy treatments.

They found that taking fewer doses of radiation not only reduces the risk of the disease returning, but also reduces the number of hospital visits – reduces Covid-19 risks.

Overall, fewer doses – as a result of 12 fewer hospital visits – gave no increase in side effects compared to those who had more, but lower doses of radiation.

The authors recommend a shorter course of radiotherapy but with higher doses of radiation it should be accepted as standard practice in the NHS.

Researchers at the Institute for Cancer Research and the University of Manchester analyzed data from two previous clinical trials on radiotherapy treatments. Stock image

WHAT IS A CANCER BLADDER?

Bladder cancer is caused by a tumor developing in the lining of the bladder or muscle of the organ.

Around 10,200 new cases are detected in the UK each year and 81,400 in the US, according to figures.

It is the 10th most common cancer in the UK – but slightly more common in the US – and accounts for about three per cent of cases.

Cancer is more common in men and has a 10-year survival rate of about 50 percent. It is estimated that around half of cases are prevented.

Symptoms of the disease include bleeding in the urine, which requires more frequent or severe urination than normal and pelvic pain.

However, unexpected weight loss and swelling of the legs can also be signs of the killer disease.

Smoking and exposure to chemicals in plastics and paint at work can increase the risk of bladder cancer.

Treatment varies depending on how advanced the cancer is, and may include surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Source: NHS Choices

The study is the first to make a direct comparison between the two radiotherapy tablets currently used to treat invasive breast cancer.

The researchers said their findings supported a change in the standard of care for bladder-invasive cancer – especially due to pandemic coronavirus infection.

They found that patients who received a 20-dose course of radiotherapy delivered over four weeks, over the five years after treatment, had a 29 percent lower risk than those who received a 32-dose course. -dose over six and a half weeks.

The lower risk of disease recurrence was seen whether patients received a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, or radiotherapy alone.

Patients on the shortest course received just 55 Gy of radiation in total, compared to 64 Gy on the longest one.

Gy is a unit of measurement for determining how much radiation a person has had – It is called gray and is the content of one goule of radiation energy per kg of matter.

Professor Charlie Swanton, Chief Clinician for Cancer Research UK, said that while it is important to develop new treatments, it is also developing the ones we already have.

‘This study, when comparing two conventional radiotherapy plans for bladder cancer, found that a higher-dose survival course had a similar survival outcome to a lower-dose course, with no additional side effects.’

According to Cancer Research UK there are around 10,200 cases of new bladder cancer in the UK each year and it is the 11th most common type of cancer.

The study found no increased risk for side effects with the shortest course, and there was no significant difference in overall quality of life and survival between patients receiving both radiotherapy programs.

This led the team to conclude that the shorter course of more intense radiation produces a similar result – but uses fewer resources and fewer trips to the hospital.

They found that taking fewer doses of radiation not only reduces the risk of the disease returning, but also reduces the number of hospital visits - reduces danger Covid-19. Stock image

They found that taking fewer doses of radiation not only reduces the risk of the disease returning, but also reduces the number of hospital visits – reduces danger Covid-19. Stock image

‘Reducing hospital visits for cancer patients reduces the risk of exposure toovid-19, and is more convenient for patients, while at the same time reducing demand,’ they said.

Both trials were the largest stage III randomized clinical trials in patients with invasive bladder cancer treated with radiotherapy.

Co-director of the study Professor Ananya Choudhury, Consultant in Clinical Oncology at The Christie and Manchester University, said the results were interesting.

‘We have made great strides in understanding how radiotherapy can help bladder cancer patients,’ Choudhury explained.

‘We know that bladder cancer can progress quickly, so taking a higher dose over a shorter period of time can be of great benefit to the patient.

It is estimated that around 10,200 people have bladder cancer in the UK each year. We hope that these decisions will lead to a new level of care that will increase survival rates and extend the lives of thousands of people in the future. ‘

‘We strongly recommend widespread use of the shortest course of radiotherapy for bladder cancer,’ said co-director Professor Robert Huddart of the Institute for Cancer Research.

‘The findings are an important step forward in providing more gentle, softer treatment to patients with bladder cancer and are particularly timely in the current Covid-19 period, where there is a real need keep patients out of hospital where possible. ‘

The findings were published in The Lancet magazine.

RADIOTHERAPY: RADIATION CONVERSATION USING RADIATION TO CELLS DESTROY

Radiotherapy is a cancer treatment in which radiation is used to destroy tumor cells.

It is usually delivered as a carrier of radiation aimed at a tumor and is so powerful that the energy destroys the flesh it is aimed at.

Radiotherapy can also be done by inserting radioactive implants into the body near the cancer, or by swallowing or injecting radioactive medicine.

Because radiation does not differentiate between cancerous and healthy tissue, it can also destroy healthy meat.

This can cause side effects such as pain, soreness, fatigue, hair loss and loss of appetite.

Radiotherapy usually takes several sessions over several weeks, and can be used to try to heal a tumor or just to relieve symptoms.

It can be delivered over a shorter period of time with higher doses at each visit, or a longer period with lower doses at each cycle with similar side effects.

Source: NHS

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