ECU Health Medical Center was one of 32 institutions across the nation to participate in the national Randomized Controlled Trial of Resection Surgery and GammaTile versus Standard of Care clinical trial, a randomized study investigating how GammaTile therapy compares to the traditional standard of care for patients in treatment for newly diagnosed, operable metastatic brain tumors.
The study, conducted by GT Medical Technologies, determined that GammaTile therapy, which ECU Health began offering in 2019, can significantly lower rates of tumor regrowth in those patients and improve overall survival rates compared to traditional treatment, which consists of surgery and recovery before patients undergo stereotactic radiation therapy, a form of targeted radiosurgery, at the tumor site.
“The results of the ROADS clinical trial are very encouraging,” said Dr. Stuart Lee, chief, division of neurosurgery, ECU Health, and medical director of The Gamma Knife Center, ECU Health Medical Center. “Patients who underwent surgery with GammaTile saw dramatically lower rates of tumor bed recurrence and significantly improved overall survival compared to patients who had surgery followed by radiosurgery four weeks after their operation. We are proud to participate in this important clinical study which affirms ECU Health’s commitment to providing the highest level of care close to home.”
ECU Health earned GammaTile Center of Excellence Program designation from GT Medical Technologies early this year.
The designation honors institutions that demonstrate outstanding clinical skill, patient education and commitment to improving outcomes for patients with operable brain tumors.
On May 21, ECU Health celebrated treating its 100th GammaTile patient. ECU Health is one of six GammaTile treatment centers in North Carolina and was one of the first adopters of the technology in the eastern United States.
GammaTile involves placing small, bioabsorbable collagen tiles embedded with radiation sources directly into the tumor cavity at the time of surgery, allowing for immediate, localized radiation therapy. The study indicated patients who received GammaTile therapy experienced significantly lower rates of tumor regrowth, a greater likelihood of living longer without the tumor recurring and better overall survival compared to patients who received standard SRT.
“Clinical trials like ROADS give ECU Health the data we need to determine how we can offer the best possible care for patients in eastern North Carolina and a chance to share that data with other health systems across the nation,” said Jay Briley, president, ECU Health Medical Center. “Our participation in this trial reflects our commitment to leading the way in cancer care as a top performer nationwide and one of the few institutions with this capability in the state.”
