Today, doctors have more choices than ever before in how to treat cancer, and they rely on research studies to tell them which methods will work best for their patients. However, when there is reasonable clinical evidence supporting more than one type of treatment, the best course of treatment may be unclear.

To give doctors more information about how different cancer treatments compare, PAMF radiation oncologists Robert Lundahl, Pauling Chang and Gordon Ray, along with breast surgeon Runi Chattopadhyay and urologist Daniel Yao, are partnering with the PAMF Research Institute to conduct two studies aimed at determining the best course of treatment for breast and prostate cancer patients. The study participants are recruited by their physicians.

Breast Cancer Study

The first study looks at whether partial breast irradiation (receiving radiation therapy only to the portion of the breast with cancer) is as good as whole breast irradiation (receiving radiation to the entire breast) in keeping cancer from returning to the breast.

Although whole breast irradiation is the current 'gold standard' treatment in women who have had a lumpectomy (removal of only a portion of the breast), we don’t know if this is better than only treating the portion of the breast with cancer," said Diana Hill, R.N., who is the coordinator of the studies for the Research Institute, along with clinical nurse specialist Frank delaRama, R.N., M.S.

Hill said that the study also examines which course of treatment following lumpectomy will result in the most natural breast appearance, which is an important component of breast conservation therapy.

Prostate Cancer Study

The other study looks at men who have had radical prostatectomy surgery (surgical removal of the entire prostate gland) but continue to have rising levels of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in their blood. Rising PSA levels is often a sign that not all of the cancer was removed by the surgery. The study compares three treatment options for men with rising PSA levels: radiation therapy to the prostate bed only (the body cavity where the prostate gland was located prior to removal); hormone therapy plus radiation therapy to the prostate bed; and hormone therapy plus radiation therapy to the prostate bed and to the pelvic lymph nodes.

"We ask the questions, 'Should men receive radiation therapy only to the prostate bed or should they receive radiation therapy to the prostate bed and nearby lymph nodes? Should men receive hormone therapy as well? Should these men simply be closely followed?' For men who choose active treatment, this is a good study to help us answer a few of these questions," said Dr. Lundahl.

"It is challenging for our physicians to strongly recommend a particular course of treatment to a patient when there is reasonable but conflicting data," said delaRama. "By studying different treatment options side-by-side, we can offer our patients top-notch care and contribute to the body of knowledge that will assist us in determining which course of treatment is best for our patients in the future."

Contact for Study Information

For more information about either of these studies, contact Diana Hill, R.N., by phone at 650-853-5757 or by e-mail at hilld@pamf.org.