Spine Radiosurgery in the Management of Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastases

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) presents an interesting challenge in radiation oncology. Improved systemic therapy has significantly prolonged survival. Modern imaging has allowed practitioners to effectively identify patients with oligometastatic disease. Conventionally fractionated radiation therapy is a first-line treatment option for palliation of bone metastases, including the spine, but has limited efficacy and durability. Conventional treatment may not be sufficient in metastatic RCC because of the disease’s relative radioresistance. Improved technology, including custom immobilization and on-board treatment imaging, has allowed ultra-highdose radiation therapy, or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), to effectively treat metastatic disease in the spine. Safety and efficacy have already been established for intracranial disease and data are emerging for extracranial metastasis. Spine SRS offers local control rates and durable pain improvement in up to 90% of patients. Many series have already reported its effectiveness, and prospective multi-institutional trials are underway. Spine SRS should be strongly considered in select patients with refractory or oligometastatic disease.

Target Audience

This activity has been designated to meet the educational needs of physicians and nurses involved in the management of patients with cancer.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  • Discuss the rationale and current data to support SRS in patients with metastatic RCC
  • Identify those patients with metastatic RCC who may benefit the most from SRS treatment
Additional information
Supporters: 

No commercial support was received for this article.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 Participation
  • 1.00 Nurse
  • 1.00 Physician
Course opens: 
06/17/2015
Course expires: 
06/17/2016
Cost:
$0.00

Neil K. Taunk, MD, MS
Department of Radiation Oncology
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York

Daniel E. Spratt, MD
Department of Radiation Oncology
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York

Mark Bilsky, MD
Department of Neurosurgery
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York

Yoshiya Yamada, MD
Department of Radiation Oncology
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York

Available Credit

  • 1.00 Participation
  • 1.00 Nurse
  • 1.00 Physician

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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Required Hardware/software

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  • A device with an Internet connection
  • Adobe Reader or other PDF reader software for article and certificate viewing/printing