Radiation After Surgery Reduces Chance of Melanoma Returning

CHICAGO, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- High-risk melanoma patients who are
treated with radiation after surgery have a significantly lower risk of their
cancer returning to the lymph nodes (19 percent), compared to those patients
who do not have radiation therapy (31 percent), according to the first
randomized study of its kind presented at the plenary session, November 2,
2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation
Oncology (ASTRO).

"Results of this trial now confirm the place of radiation therapy in the
management of patients who have high risk features following surgery for
melanoma involving the lymph nodes," Bryan Burmeister, M.D., lead author of
the study and a radiation oncologist at Princess Alexandra Hospital in
Brisbane, Australia, said. "In some institutions, radiation treatment is
routine protocol, while in others, the protocol has been either for patients
to just be observed, or receive some type of adjuvant chemotherapy or
immunotherapy. I encourage patients with melanoma to talk to their doctors
about whether radiation should be added to their treatment plan."

When melanoma has spread from its original site to the lymph nodes, treatment
typically involves surgically removing cancerous and remaining lymph nodes in
that region, a surgery called a lymphadenectomy. This multicenter, randomized
trial examined the effects of external beam radiation treatment after surgery
for melanoma patients who had a high risk of the cancer returning to the lymph
nodes (regional recurrence).

During external beam radiation therapy, a beam (or multiple beams) of
radiation is directed through the skin to the cancer and the immediate
surrounding area in order to destroy the main tumor and/or any nearby cancer
cells that remain after surgery. The treatments are outpatient and generally
painless, much like receiving an X-ray.

From March 2002 to September 2007, 217 patients from 16 cancer centers who had
undergone a lymphadenectomy for melanoma cancer were randomized to receive
radiation treatment within 12 weeks after surgery or be observed, with a
median follow-up of 27 months.

Results of the study show there was significant improvement in the control of
regional recurrence among patients who underwent radiation therapy, compared
to the observation group.

For more information on radiation therapy for skin cancer, visit
www.rtanswers.org.

The abstract, "Adjuvant Radiotherapy Improves Regional (Lymph Node Field)
Control In Melanoma Patients After Lymphadenectomy: Results of an Intergroup
Randomised Trial (TROG 02.01/ANZMTG 01.02)," will be presented at the plenary
session at 2:15 p.m on Monday, November 2, 2009. To speak to the lead author
of the study, Bryan Burmeister, M.D., please call Beth Bukata or Nicole Napoli
November 1-4, 2009, in the ASTRO Press Room at McCormick Place West at
312-791-7005 or 312-791-7006. You may also e-mail them at bethb@astro.org or
nicolen@astro.org.

SOURCE American Society for Radiation Oncology

Beth Bukata, +1-312-791-7005, +1-312-791-7006, bethb@astro.org or Nicole
Napoli, +1-312-791-7005, +1-312-791-7006, nicolen@astro.org, both of the
American Society for Radiation Oncology