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In uveal melanoma study, brachytherapy caused fastest tumor regression
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In a study comparing treatments for uveal melanoma, a form of brachytherapy resulted in faster tumor regression than two other therapies. Increases in internal reflectivity, which is considered an important indicator of successful treatment, were comparable between groups.
Michael Georgopoulos, MD, and colleagues at the University of Vienna, Austria, conducted the study. Patients were treated with either brachytherapy with ruthenium-106 radioactive plaques (RU), fractionated high-dose gamma knife stereotactic irradiation in 2 to 3 fractions (GK) or fractionated linear-accelerator-based stereotactic teletherapy in 5 fractions (Linac).
Of 211 patients initially enrolled, 111 were followed for 3 years: 41 patients in the RU group, 37 in the GK group and 33 in the Linac group.
According to the study, all three methods resulted in “excellent” tumor control. At 3 years follow-up, there was a 69% relative tumor height reduction in the RU group, a 50% reduction in the GK group and a 30% reduction in the Linac group.
Internal reflectivity increased from around 30% preop to between 60% and 70% at 3 years postop for all three groups, the authors noted.
The study is published in the journal Ophthalmologica.