Our Cancer Care Technologies

Our cancer centers offers various cancer care technologies for the treatment of prostate cancer:
– CT Simulation
– Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
– Cone Beam CT (CBCT) Scanning
– Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
– Radiopharmaceuticals (Xofigo & Pluvicto)

CT Simulation

Computer Tomography (CT) Simulation allows the cancer specialists to design a treatment plan specifically for the patient based on the size, location, and shape of the tumor. The patient will have three-dimensional images (CT scans) taken. These are used with the treatment planning software that helps determine how to best deliver the radiation beams while reducing damage to surrounding areas. In some cases, it may be necessary to mark the patient’s skin with a tiny marker so that the patient is perfectly realigned in the correct position for every session of radiation therapy. The need for a temporary or permanent marker will be discussed with the patient before the simulation.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an advanced form of external radiation therapy that allows us to precisely target prostate cancer cells. The CT simulation provides the radiation oncologist with an understanding of the size, shape, and location of the tumor and allows them to create a customized treatment plan.

IMRT uses many small beams of radiation (called sub-beams) versus one large beam. Each beam can be positioned individually, with varying intensities of radiation. This enables us to precisely target the tumor area with a high dose of radiation while ensuring as little damage as possible to surrounding healthy tissues.

Cone Beam CT (CBCT)

Cone Beam CT (CBCT) scans are a form of IGRT that allows the radiation therapy team to obtain a CT image of your treatment area prior to each daily treatment.

CBCT machines capture images while rotating around the target area, making the scans highly accurate. This, in turn, ensures that each of your daily treatments are targeted as accurately as possible.

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) combines three-dimensional images, such as CT scans and CBCT scans, with the precise technology of either 3-D or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to pinpoint and treat cancerous tumors. The images allow the cancer specialists to precisely localize the tumor each time radiation therapy is administered. This improves both accuracy of delivery and safety by reducing radiation exposure to other areas of the body, including nearby tissue and organs. IGRT is used to treat tumors in areas of the body that are prone to movement, such as the lungs, liver, and prostate gland, as well as tumors located close to critical organs and tissues.

Radiopharmaceuticals (Xofigo & Pluvicto)

Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive medications that deliver radiation therapy directly to cancer cells. For the treatment of prostate cancer, we use Xofigo (radium 223) and Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan).

Xofigo is used to treat some metastatic or advanced prostate cancer and is given intravenously. You may be a candidate for Xofigo if you previously had hormone treatment that is no longer working, aren’t eligible for the chemotherapy drug docetaxel, your cancer has spread to the bones (but not other organs), or are not being treated with abiraterone.

Pluvicto is used for the treatment of some metastatic prostate cancers and is given intravenously. You may be a candidate for Pluvicto if your cancer is PSMA+ and has spread to other parts of the body and has already been treated with other anti-cancer treatments.