New data in the Journal of Neurosurgery reinforce use of Elekta’s Gamma Knife in hypofractionated radiosurgery to treat large or complex brain tumors

Elekta (EKTA-B.ST) today announced new data demonstrating Leksell Gamma Knife^® better spares healthy brain tissue and delivers a higher radiation dose compared to linear accelerator (linac)-based delivery methods. The results, evaluating patients undergoing radiosurgery for large or complex brain tumors, were published in the Journal of Neurosurgery.

The study compared treatment planning capabilities of three radiosurgery delivery systems in 10 consecutive patients with single brain tumors who received treatment between 2014 and 2015 using Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), a type of linac-based delivery. Radiotherapy data from these patients’ prior treatments were exported to the Gamma Knife[i] or CyberKnife[ii] treatment planning systems and re-planned for delivery with Gamma Knife, CyberKnife and VMAT modalities.

Treatment replanning was conducted in a blinded and independent fashion. The three systems were compared in each patient and assessed for dose distribution, conformity index (CI, a measure of the relationship between treated target tissue and untreated healthy tissue), gradient index (GI, a measure of dose decrease outside the target area), distribution of the prescribed radiation dose and the volume of normal brain tissue receiving a radiation dose of 15 Gy, 10 Gy or 5 Gy.

Results show the three modalities had similar CI and a significant difference in GI (p<0.0002) favoring Gamma Knife. Significant differences were also observed for dose distribution, with Gamma Knife showing greater central target dosing compared with CyberKnife and VMAT. Among patients treated with Gamma Knife, significantly less healthy brain tissue received a dose of 15 Gy compared with CyberKnife or VMAT. Results were similar for Gamma Knife and CyberKnife at the 10 Gy and 5 Gy doses, and both were significantly lower than the VMAT group.

“The results of this study demonstrate that the precise beam created by the fixed radiation sources of Leksell Gamma Knife results in significant tissue-sparing benefits to patients with large or complex brain tumors,” says Lijun Ma, PhD, DABMP, FAAPM, professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco and senior author on the study. “Importantly, this benefit is achieved without compromising effective dosing to target tumor tissue.”

The study also underscores the differences in dose delivered to healthy brain tissue that can result when similar doses are delivered to the periphery of the tumor. Prior studies have shown the dose delivered to normal brain tissue increases steeply as tumor target size increases. Study results suggest that Gamma Knife reduces the dose to healthy tissue when using hypofractionated radiosurgery to treat large brain tumors. The authors note that further studies investigating the normal brain-tolerable dose of hypofractionated radiosurgery are needed to determine optimal dosing and fractionation practices.

“Results of this study show that Leksell Gamma Knife offers a highly precise, minimally invasive approach to treating large and complex brain tumors through a shortened course of therapy,” says Susan Springer, MD, Medical Affairs Manager for Elekta. “These encouraging findings support adoption of Gamma Knife as an effective treatment modality that may improve patient outcomes through sparing more healthy tissue and consequently minimizing negative side effects.”

With Elekta’s latest-generation radiosurgery system, Leksell Gamma Knife® Icon™, which includes stereotactic imaging and a new frameless motion management system, Gamma Knife treatment may be expanded to a broader range of brain lesions. For more information, visit www.careforthebrain.com.

# # #

For further information, please contact:
Gert van Santen, Group Vice President Corporate Communications, Elekta AB
Tel: +31 653 561 242, Email: gert.vansanten@elekta.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
 
Raven Canzeri, Global Public Relations Manager
Tel: +1 770 670 2524, Email: raven.canzeri@elekta.com
Time zone: EST: Eastern Standard Time
 
About Elekta
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care. Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both health care providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 6,000 hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,600 employees globally. The corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on NASDAQ Stockholm. Website: www.elekta.com Twitter: @Elekta.