Many patients with early-stage prostate cancer now have access to shorter and more convenient courses of radiation treatment thanks in part to research at The Ottawa Hospital. The treatment, known as hypofractionated radiation therapy, delivers more powerful doses of radiation in fewer visits and without compromising quality of life. With the new approach, patients complete treatment in four to five weeks, compared with eight to nine weeks for conventional radiation. An international guideline panel co-chaired by Dr. Scott Morgan recently recommended the treatment, based on clinical trials involving over 6,000 patients (including many from The Ottawa Hospital). The recommendations are published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Journal of Urology, and Practical Radiation Oncology.
“Hypofractionated radiation therapy represents a new standard of care for many patients with localized prostate cancer. Benefits include greater patient convenience and reduced cost.” said Dr. Scott Morgan, radiation oncologist at The Ottawa Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa.
Authors: Scott C. Morgan, Karen Hoffman, D. Andrew Loblaw, Mark K. Buyyounouski, Caroline Patton, Daniel Barocas, Soren Bentzen, Michael Chang, Jason Efstathiou, Patrick Greany, Per Halvorsen, Bridget F. Koontz, Colleen Lawton, C. Marc Leyrer, Daniel Lin, Michael Ray, Howard Sandler
Acknowledgements: The guideline was developed by a panel of experts from the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Urological Association. Research at The Ottawa Hospital is possible because of generous donations to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.
University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca
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Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
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ambuchanan@ohri.ca
