A SPECIAL PUBLICATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE CANCER INSTITUTE OF NEW JERSEY NETWORK

Morristown Memorial Hospital Researcher Publishes Article in the Official Journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology

Morristown, NJ - Moderately to severely obese prostate cancer patients may have improved treatment outcomes when treated with image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) over external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) because IGRT corrects for prostate shifts, which, if not planned for, can lead to incorrect doses of radiation to the disease site, according to a study in the September 1 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).Several studies have suggested that obesity can leader to higher rates of clinical recurrence or biochemical failure rates in prostate cancer patients receiving EBRT. Researchers at the Morristown Memorial Hospital Carol G. Simon Cancer Center led by James R. Wong, M.D., chair of radiation oncology, and the Uematsu-Atsuchi-Serendipity Oncology Center in Terukuni, Kagoshima, Japan, sought to determine if these failure rates were caused by the treatment modality used rather than strictly the fact that the patients were obese. Researchers found that moderately to severely obese prostate cancer patients (i.e., with a body mass index of >35) do have larger prostate shifts during treatment, which can lead to radiation treatments not being delivered to the same spot every day, potentially compromising the treatment. The percentage of moderately to severely obese patients with a left to right shift of greater than 10mm was 21.2 percent compared to only 1.3 percent for patients of a normal weight.  Researchers also determined that the modality used does impact outcomes. IGRT allows for correction of target displacements from the planned position before radiation delivery begins, so shifts may be corrected easily and thus may lead to improved control rates for obese prostate cancer patients. This study showed that obese patients have a unique complication when it comes to planning their treatment, but that we can try to correct it simply by using IGRT instead of EBRT.

Saint Peter’s University Hospital Receives Fourth Grant from Komen to Educate High School Athlete about Breast Health

New Brunswick, NJ - Saint Peter’s University Hospital’s Community Mobile Health Services (CMHS) kicked off the third year of its Sports Breast Health Recognition and Action Program for high school female athletes in September 2009. The ongoing program is made possible by a series of four grants totaling $140,000 from the Central and South Jersey Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. The grant supports CMHS in its efforts to teach young women how to protect themselves and the women in their lives against breast cancer through early detection. CMHS nurse educators discuss risk factors for developing breast cancer and emphasize the importance of receiving regular clinical breast examinations from healthcare providers, beginning breast self examination immediately and having annual mammograms beginning at age 40. The program has grown exponentially since it was first piloted during the 2007-08 school year, and CMHS nurse educators have now visited more than 65 schools in central New Jersey and have presented the program to approximately 5,000 students to date. The most recent grant will allow the program to cover the fall and winter academic sports seasons, reach athletes in an additional 45 schools and include the Shore Athletic Conference (Colonial Valley, Greater Middlesex County and Skylands athletic conferences are currently covered).