SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Accuray
Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY) announced today that a prospective
study conducted at 14 French centers showed the clinical benefits
of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) delivered using the
TomoTherapy® System over volumetric modulated arc therapy with
RapidArc radiotherapy technology for patients with head and neck
cancer. At 18 months, the local control rate and cancer-specific
survival rate were significantly better in the TomoTherapy patient
group than in the RapidArc group. The study, the first to
prospectively compare clinical outcomes across radiation therapy
platforms, was published online on June 26,
2017 in the peer-reviewed International Journal of
Radiation Oncology - Biology - Physics.
The TomoTherapy System is the only radiation system specifically
designed for image-guided IMRT. Its TomoHelical™ Mode, used in this
study, provides continuous delivery of radiation beams from 360
degrees around the patient, facilitating the treatment of the
entire spectrum of head and neck tumors, regardless of shape or
size or nodal involvement.
"This is the first study to assess whether the method of
delivering IMRT impacts the results we are able to achieve. In
previous studies, we showed that TomoHelical was able to deliver
radiation dose distributions which precisely conformed to the shape
of the tumor with steep radiation fall-off outside the target,"
said Jean-Emmanuel Bibault, MD, MSc,
Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Georges-Pompidou European
Hospital, Paris. "In this new
study, we showed in a prospective, but not randomized manner, that
this had a significant clinical impact. Precision and accuracy are
especially important when treating head and neck tumors, where dose
outside the desired target may result in damage to critical
structures such as salivary glands, vocal cords, the spinal cord or
brainstem. These results should be further explored in a randomized
trial."
The study titled, "Clinical outcomes of several IMRT techniques
for patients with head and neck cancer: A propensity score weighted
analysis," provides results for 166 patients. It demonstrated:
- The TomoTherapy System's unique ring-gantry based architecture
and fast multileaf collimator, combined with its daily 3D image
guidance, enabled clinicians to deliver a highly conformal and more
homogeneous dose, contributing to better local control and
cancer-specific survival rates compared to RapidArc
-
- Further analysis suggests an even greater benefit in the local
control of larger tumors and those that have spread to a high
number of lymph nodes
- Treatment with TomoHelical also enabled delivery of
significantly reduced doses outside the tumor, leading to better
acute salivary function than with RapidArc
-
- Mouth dryness assessed by the treated patients was worse in the
RapidArc group
- Salivary disorders were more frequent in the RapidArc patient
group
"This landmark study demonstrates that the technique used to
deliver IMRT can have a major impact on patient outcomes. Two key
measures – the local control rate and cancer-specific survival rate
– reinforce the TomoTherapy® System's effectiveness in managing
head and neck tumors, results we would also expect to see with the
Radixact™ System, our next-generation TomoTherapy platform. And,
importantly, salivary function was compromised after treatment in
significantly fewer patients treated with TomoTherapy, even while
they achieved better tumor control," said Fabienne
Hirigoyenberry-Lanson, VP Global Medical and Scientific Affairs of
Accuray.
About the Study
Fourteen institutions evaluated 166 patients in this prospective
comparative study; 74 were treated using the TomoTherapy® System
and 92 using RapidArc. Randomization was not possible because of
unavailability of equipment. Inverse probability of treatment
weighting (IPTW) using the propensity score analysis was undertaken
to adjust for potential bias due to non-randomization. Even before
the adjustment the TomoTherapy platform results were better than
RapidArc as measured by local control, cancer-specific survival and
salivary function, even though significant differences in several
pre-treatment characteristics may have placed the TomoTherapy group
at a disadvantage. Loco-regional control, specific and overall
survival assessed 18 months after treatment were evaluated, as well
as long-term toxicity and salivary function.
About Accuray
Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY) is a radiation oncology company
that develops, manufactures, and sells precise, innovative tumor
treatment solutions that set the standard of care with the aim of
helping patients live longer, better lives. The company's
leading-edge technologies deliver the full range of radiation
therapy and radiosurgery treatments. For more information, please
visit www.accuray.com
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements made in this press release that are not statements of
historical fact are forward-looking statements and are subject to
the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press
release relate, but are not limited, to clinical applications,
clinical results, patient outcomes and Accuray's leadership
position in radiation oncology innovation and technologies.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from
expectations, including but not limited to the risks detailed from
time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's
report on Form 10-K, filed on August 24,
2016, the company's reports on Form 10-Q, filed on
November 1, 2016, February 3, 2017, and May
5, 2017, and as updated periodically with the company's
other filings with the SEC.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the
statements are made and are based on information available to
Accuray at the time those statements are made and/or management's
good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events.
The company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in
assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking
information, except to the extent required by applicable securities
laws. Accordingly, investors should not put undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements.
Media Contacts:
Beth Kaplan
Public Relations Director, Accuray
+1 (408) 789-4426
bkaplan@accuray.com
Jane Hauser
MSLGROUP
+1 (781) 684-0770
accuray@mslgroup.com
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SOURCE Accuray Incorporated