Revolutionizing Prostate Cancer Treatment: Dr. Christien Kluwe’s New Approach to Balancing Disease Control and Quality of Life

Dr. Christien Kluwe, a radiation oncologist at Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, is advocating for a new approach to managing prostate cancer. As the most common cancer diagnosed in men with a five-year survival rate of 97%, Kluwe emphasizes the importance of balancing disease control and quality of life in treatment.

Kluwe questions the necessity of androgen deprivation therapy, such as testosterone blockers, for all prostate cancer patients. He believes that it is essential to identify those patients who would benefit significantly from a decrease in testosterone levels and tailor the treatment accordingly. Kluwe emphasizes the importance of avoiding unnecessary treatments for patients who may not derive significant benefits from such therapies.

The oncologist is exploring radiation techniques like stereotactic body radiation therapy as part of his research. This treatment method is highly precise and powerful, allowing for the delivery of high doses of radiation in a shorter period. Kluwe explained how this new technique has transformed the treatment of prostate cancer by condensing an eight-week treatment regimen into just five days, with minimal impact on healthy surrounding tissues.

With the use of tiny pellets the size of grains of rice, radiation can be delivered directly to the cancer cells over a span of five days, sparing healthy tissues from damage. This innovative approach to treatment has revolutionized the care of prostate cancer patients, offering a more efficient and effective method of managing the disease. The collaboration between TPR and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio aims to highlight scientific advancements in medicine that have the potential to improve patient outcomes.