Single-Fraction Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy for Primary and Extracranial Oligometastatic Cancers

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is a precise, high-dose radiation technique used for primary and metastatic tumors.
• Single-fraction SABR presents advantages like reduced hospital visits, enhanced patient convenience, improved sustainability, and lower costs.
• Balancing these benefits against toxicity, side effects, and patient survival (progression-free and overall) is crucial.

Approach:

• This review analyzes studies evaluating the efficacy of single-fraction SABR for primary lung, prostate, renal, and pancreas tumors, as well as oligometastases.
• It explores the biological rationale for SABR and its adaptation to single-fraction regimens.
• Future directions, including SABR combination with immunotherapy and technological advancements, are discussed.

Key Points:

• Lung cancer is the most common tumor type treated with single-fraction SABR, with expanding applications.
• The review synthesizes current clinical data on single-fraction SABR efficacy across different tumor types.
• Biological principles supporting SABR are examined in the context of single-fraction delivery.

Conclusions:

• Single-fraction SABR demonstrates potential for treating various cancers, offering significant patient and healthcare system benefits.
• Further research and technological innovation are key to expanding SABR's scope and optimizing treatment outcomes.
• The review concludes by summarizing existing clinical evidence for single-fraction SABR.