Malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) is a complication of metastatic cancer that occurs when a tumour secondary deposit presses on the spinal cord and nerves. This pressure exposes patients to neurological damage that can result in pain, loss of muscle strength and function of one or more of the senses and in some cases paralysis of one limb or the whole body. Almost 400 people in Ireland suffer from MSCC each year and many are in palliative care at the time.
‘We found that one single dose of 10Gy of radiation therapy will deliver the same mobility and stability benefits for the patient as four doses of 5Gy (total 20Gy) of radiation therapy. Ultimately this research will reduce the burden of treatment as well as frequency of hospital visits for this patient group which is a real quality of life benefit as many are in late stages of cancer.’
The findings are being presented to more than 11,000 radiation oncologists at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO) meeting in San Francisco. It the first Irish trial ever to be featured at the plenary session of a major US medical educational conference and Pierre’s plenary presentation is one of only four selected from more than 2000 submissions from all over the world.
Commenting on the achievement, Dr Graham Love, Chief Executive at the Health Research Board says,
‘Presenting at ASTRO is like being nominated for the OSCARS in the radiation oncology world. This is an incredible achievement for Pierre and the ICORG team. Their discovery will help improve the quality of life for vulnerable patients, as well as reducing the demand for radiation services and delivering savings for the health system.’
The study was designed and managed by ICORG the All Ireland Co-operative Clinical Oncology Research Group), funded by the HRB with additional support from St Luke’s Institute of Cancer Research (SLICR)*
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