Researchers present findings on treatments for prostate and breast cancer

Five studies detailed at Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO)

Researchers from the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Milton and Caroll Petrie Department of Urology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine are presenting findings from five studies of prostate and breast cancer treatments at the 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), October 3-7, 2004, in Atlanta, Georgia.

The research being detailed:

• In a finding with important implications for the design of future clinical trials for prostate cancer treatments, results from a study led by Richard G. Stock, MD, Professor Chairman of Radiation Oncology indicate that using death rates from prostate cancer as an endpoint in clinical trials will fail to differentiate differences in local treatment approaches within ten years. The study found that factors affecting the local control of prostate cancer following brachytherapy have little impact on the death rate from the disease within the first ten years following therapy. (Presentation title: “Does local control impact prostate cancer specific survival within the first 10 years following brachytherapy?”)
• A study led by Barry Rosenstein, PhD, Director of Radiation Biology Program and Professor of Radiation Oncology found a specific genetic alteration linked to related side effects in women treated for breast cancer with radiotherapy. The discovery of this genetic alteration may prove useful in identify genetic predictors associated with adverse radiotherapy response and point to the possibility of creating radiotherapy regimens specifically tailored for individual breast cancer patients. (Presentation title: “ATM sequence variants and adverse radiotherapy response in breast cancer patients”)
• A study led by Jamie Cesaretti, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology establishes a significant correlation between common genetic alterations and the development of erectile dysfunction, proctitis and urinary bother following radiotherapy for prostate cancer. (Presentation title: “ATM sequence variants are predictive of adverse radiotherapy response among patients treated for prostate cancer”)

In poster presentations:

• Nelson N. Stone, MD, Clinical Professor of Urologic Oncology, and David T. Marshall, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, confirm the importance of prostate biopsy results following brachytherapy and explore the effects of hormonal therapy given prior to brachytherapy on the severity of urinary side effects following radiation treatment.
• Dr. Armen Kassabian, M.D., and Natan Bar-Chama, M.D. will be presenting their findings on the development of erectile dysfunction following prostate brachytherapy which negatively affected by additional use of hormonal therapy.