Hidden Residual Cancer Behind Clear Scans Linked to Poorer Outcomes: Research
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Synopsis
A recent study reveals that while radiotherapy is effective for many cancers, it can leave behind residual cancer cells that may not show up on scans, leading to worse patient outcomes. This calls for a reevaluation of treatment success criteria and follow-up practices to ensure comprehensive patient care.
Key Takeaways
- Radiotherapy can leave behind residual cancer cells.
- Many residual cancers are undetected on scans.
- Residual disease correlates with poorer long-term outcomes.
- Biopsies may reveal cancer missed by imaging.
- Rethinking treatment success evaluation is crucial.
New Delhi, March 22 (NationPress) Although radiotherapy is an exceptionally effective treatment for cancer -- beneficial for approximately 60 percent of all cancer cases -- it can result in residual cancer that may remain hidden behind seemingly clear scans, ultimately leading to poorer outcomes, as revealed in a recent study.
Residual cancer refers to the microscopic traces of cancer cells that persist after treatment. These remaining cells are often undetectable in scan images, which can be misleading, according to researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center in the United States.
In an editorial published in the journal Oncotarget, the researchers noted that this “residual disease” is more prevalent than previously thought and correlates with unfavorable long-term outcomes.
“Residual cancer is detected on histology in 40 percent of lung cases, 57-69 percent of renal cell cancer, 7.7-47.6 percent of prostate cancer, and 0-86.7 percent of hepatocellular carcinoma,” stated Dr. Muzamil Arshad from the university.
The expert urged the need for a reassessment of how success in treatment is evaluated and how patients are monitored post-therapy.
Radiotherapy, particularly a technique known as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), is commonly employed to treat cancers in the lung, liver, prostate, and various other organs.
SABR administers high doses of radiation with remarkable precision and often produces excellent results on scans.
However, the research team emphasizes that relying solely on imaging may not capture the entire situation. Follow-up biopsies conducted months or even years later frequently uncover cancer cells that imaging tests failed to identify.
This discrepancy between scan results and tissue analysis can lead to significant implications.
Research across multiple cancer types has indicated that patients with residual disease, even in small amounts, face a higher likelihood of cancer recurrence and diminished survival rates. This trend is evident in rectal, cervical, prostate, and liver cancers, among others.
In certain instances, failing to completely eradicate the tumor may allow it to metastasize to distant organs.
“A complete response on scan imaging does not necessarily mean the complete eradication of the tumor. This inconsistency can mislead both clinicians and patients into assuming that treatment was more effective than it actually was,” the editorial stated.
The editorial advocated for the more frequent use of biopsy-based tests and innovative strategies to enhance treatment effectiveness.
