Stephenson Cancer Center performs brachytherapy, receives $1 million to support prostate cancer awareness

Dr. Chad Glenn, Stephenson Cancer Center neurosurgeon

An OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center surgical and medical team has performed its first brachytherapy procedure for brain tumor, a process in which radioactive “seeds” are implanted around the edges of the tumor site after it has been removed.

The surgery, the first known case in Oklahoma, treats the cancer internally, rather than from an outside radiation source. It is an especially good option for patients whose cancer has been treated with multiple courses of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy has a cumulative toxic effect on nearby tissue, making repeated treatments risky.

“The benefit of brachytherapy is that it allows us to be very precise with the radiation dose,” said Stephenson Cancer Center neurosurgeon Chad Glenn, M.D., who performed the surgery and implanted the radiation seeds. “Although traditional radiation therapy is accurate and targeted, it can still spread to adjacent brain tissues or the scalp. Brachytherapy allows us to give a therapeutic dose of radiation but minimize the spread.”

Dr. Tyler Gunter

Both the tumor removal and the implanting of the radioactive seeds are performed during the same procedure. Because the radioactive seeds have a short half-life, meticulous planning was necessary to ensure they were ordered, delivered and implanted at the correct time. Glenn’s colleague in Stephenson Cancer Center Radiation Oncology, Tyler Gunter, M.D., helped to plan the surgery, using an estimated model of the tumor cavity to calculate the radiation dose and number of seeds needed, as well as ideal placement.

“Brachytherapy is an ideal technique to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation to brain tumors that have been heavily treated in the past,” Gunter said. “The dose to tumor cells adjacent to the sources is very high, while nearby uninvolved tissue receives a much lower dose, reducing the risk of side effects and complications. Because the dose near the seeds is so high, careful planning and placement is required to ensure a safe and effective treatment. The patient’s pre-treatment MRI is used to estimate the size of the area to be implanted with the radioactive seeds, and a computer program is used to determine the optimal spacing and to calculate the dose to the resection cavity and adjacent normal tissue.”

In the operating room, Glenn removed the tumor and sent a portion of it to pathologists to confirm it was malignant. Once that was verified, he began placing the radioactive seeds, which are similar to beads on a string, each about the size of a grain of rice. Glenn lined the edges of the tumor cavity with the seeds, maintaining an even spacing of a centimeter between each. The implanted seeds are considered permanent – they deliver radiation at decreasing doses over about three months, like a time-release capsule, then become inert.

“The patient is actually receiving treatment in the recovery room,” Glenn said. “Normally, patients who have a brain tumor removed will receive treatment in three or four weeks once they’ve healed. This allows us to treat someone immediately.”

Stephenson Cancer Center’s inaugural patient for brachytherapy was Hobart resident Josh Heard, whose brain tumor recurred after several previous treatments and surgeries. Heard didn’t get sick from the treatment, nor did he lose his hair. “There were many benefits to brachytherapy,” his mother, Terri Corbin, said. “We hope many more people benefit from it. Dr. Glenn is such a fantastic doctor, and everyone at Stephenson Cancer Center has gone out of their way to help us.”

The radioactive seeds, called Cesium-131, or commercially known as Cesium Blu, are produced by the company Isoray. It is the world’s only producer of Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds.

“It is very exciting to see the important step forward that Stephenson Cancer Center’s Dr. Glenn and Dr. Gunter have made in making this leading-edge targeted internal radiation treatment available to their patients who are battling this difficult cancer,” said Isoray CEO Lori Woods. “We continue to strive to bring new brachytherapy treatment opportunities to the forefront to benefit patients and the medical professionals who care for them.”

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center benefits from $1 million gift to support prostate cancer awareness

Anonymous supporters have provided $1 million to support OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center prostate cancer awareness efforts. The gift, made to the University of Oklahoma Foundation, will help fund the center’s planned Prostate Cancer Awareness Initiative, a critical addition to previous prostate cancer awareness campaigns that will further bolster Stephenson Cancer Center’s position as a nationwide leader in detecting and treating prostate cancer as well as increasing public awareness about the disease. 

“The importance of this generous gift to raise awareness of prostate cancer, assist in community outreach to our most vulnerable men and provide funding for the ability to measure the impact of these screenings on men in Oklahoma cannot be understated,” said Michael Cookson, M.D., professor and chairman of urology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and chief of urology at Stephenson Cancer Center. “This campaign will save lives.”

The gift provides a kick-start for Stephenson Cancer Center’s three-part campaign strategy that consists of a year-long marketing campaign around public education and awareness; community-driven events — including free screenings — directed toward Oklahomans who are uninsured, underinsured and socioeconomically disadvantaged; and clinical research measuring the impact of prostate cancer awareness and education on screening, detection and outcomes.

Cookson noted that prostate cancer is the “No. 1 solid tumor in men.” While this type of cancer typically grows slowly, it can be deadly. The American Cancer Society estimates that 248,530 new cases will be diagnosed in 2021, resulting in over 34,000 deaths. Physicians at Stephenson Cancer Center say that men should begin annual prostate cancer screening at age 50 and should begin earlier if family history suggests greater risk.

“While we have made significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, early detection remains very important for successful treatment, “said Dr. Robert Mannel, M.D., director of Stephenson Cancer Center. “Prevention of cancer is a major component of our mission, and we are grateful for this remarkable donation because it will extend our reach to even more men across Oklahoma.” 

The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports that one in eight men in the state will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Many of these men have a limited understanding about prostate cancer screening and little access to testing. With this awareness campaign, Stephenson Cancer Center will build upon its previous public education efforts, continuing to generate awareness and information on prostate cancer in Oklahoma. 

Stephenson Cancer Center’s Prostate Cancer Awareness supports the OU Health clinical strategic plan, which aims to serve more Oklahomans in the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. Stephenson Cancer Center treats one in six Oklahomans seeking cancer treatment and the plan is focused on ensuring few Oklahomans travel out of state to receive cancer treatment.

“Across our academic health care enterprise, we have been leaders in care delivery innovation,” said Jason Sanders, M.D., MBA, senior vice president and provost of the OU Health Sciences Center and acting chair of the Board of OU Medicine. “Increasing preventive services is a key part of those efforts. Today and into the future, we are committed to making our health services accessible to every Oklahoman who needs our care.”

The Prostate Cancer Awareness Initiative will leverage traditional and digital media outlets to educate Oklahomans about prostate cancer detection and engage the community in a dialogue about the disease. Stephenson Cancer Center has a goal of expanding community-based education among Oklahoma’s African American population in particular, for whom prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer. 

Stephenson Cancer Center plans to organize free blood test screenings to target uninsured and underserved populations, with the Department of Urology at the OU College of Medicine serving as a point of contact for education and follow-up for individuals whose tests indicate that further assessment is needed. The data collected during the campaign will inform the effectiveness of the awareness measures and provide a diagnostic pathway for men who are identified as having a potential marker for prostate cancer.

“The simple blood test performed prior to development of symptoms could be an indicator of prostate cancer,” said Cookson. “If elevated, we have developed both additional testing known as a ‘bio marker’ coupled with MRI imaging to determine if a biopsy is recommended. And, this early detection can save lives.”

As part of the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, Stephenson Cancer Center is uniquely positioned to provide statewide leadership in cancer research, education, prevention and treatment. Stephenson Cancer Center is also the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, one of only 71 in the nation.