HIGH-CAPACITY BRACHYTHERAPY OF PROSTATE CANCER WAS PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN P.HERTSEN MORI

At the P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute (MORI) – branch of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre (NMRRC) of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for the first time treatment of prostate cancer was carried out using high-capacity brachytherapy.

Director General of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre, Academician of Russiam Accademy of Education commenting on the introduction of this technology, noted: “High-capacity brachytherapy using the source of Cobalt-60 (C-60) is a modern high-precision method that opens up wide possibilities in the treatment of tumors of different localization: prostate gland, reproductive organs in men and women, the colon and even the pancreas. This is an important step in increasing the availability of modern methods of treatment of oncological diseases in Russia”.

The procedure was performed on two patients over 60 years of age with localized prostate cancer stage T2a. Both patients had an active lifestyle, and for them the essential criteria in choosing therapy were high efficiency of the method, minimal side effects, preservation of quality of life and fast rehabilitation. The essence of the method is the short-term introduction into the tissue of the prostate a radioactive source of high power (Co-60), which locally destroys the tumor cells without damaging the surrounding tissues and the organ itself. The method allows to reach a high dose of irradiation directly in the tumor area in a short time.

Brachytherapy can be used both in the early stages of the disease, and in localized and local forms of prostate cancer (T2-T3) – including in combination with remote radiation therapy. Each procedure requires the coordinated work of a team of specialists: doctor-radiotherapist, medical physicist, anaesthetist and nursing staff. The team is headed by an oncologist-radiotherapist, Ph.D. of Medical Sciences – Alexander Obukhov.

The patients were hospitalized for only three days and were discharged in satisfactory condition, without complications. As reported by Alexander Alexandrovich, high-power brachytherapy of the prostate gland will now be performed in P.Hertsen MORI  on a permanent basis by the quota. This will make the advanced method available to a wide range of patients.