"Possibility of Tumor Improvement with Radiation Therapy in Metastatic Cancer Patients Carrying Mutant Genes"

Gangnam Severance Professor Jisuk Jang's Research Team
Analysis of Radiation Therapy Response Rates in Metastatic Cancer Patients with Mutant Genes
Suggesting Possibility of Personalized Radiation Targeted Therapy for Metastatic Cancer Patients

From the left, Professor Jang Ji-seok, Professor Kim Kyung-hwan, Professor Ahn Jung-bae, Professor Kim Han-sang.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Domestic researchers have presented findings that radiation therapy can enhance tumor improvement effects in metastatic cancer patients carrying mutant genes. Attention is focused on whether this can become an alternative to increase the cure rate of metastatic cancer patients.

Professor Jang Ji-seok of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital, Professor Kim Kyung-hwan of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Yonsei Cancer Hospital, and the oncology team of Professors Ahn Joong-bae and Kim Han-sang announced on the 21st the results of a study revealing the impact of ATM and BRCA1/2 mutant genes on radiation sensitivity and treatment response in metastatic cancer patients.

The research team analyzed the response rate to radiation therapy targeting ATM and BRCA mutant genes in 66 patients (91 lesions) who underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) among metastatic cancer patients treated with radiation therapy at Yonsei Cancer Hospital from October 2013 to February 2019.

The group of patients with mutations in both ATM and BRCA1/2 genes showed a partial response (tumors reduced by more than 30%) or complete response (tumors completely disappeared) rate of 80% after radiation therapy. This figure is more than four times higher compared to the group without any mutant genes.

The complete response rate (no evidence of cancer detected after treatment) of tumors treated with radiation therapy was also significantly higher. The complete remission rate in the group with mutations in both ATM and BRCA1/2 genes was 60%, markedly higher than the 2% observed in the group without mutations.

There was also a large difference in the duration of sustained radiation therapy response. The median duration of response was 18 months in cases with mutations in both ATM and BRCA1/2 genes, whereas it was only 4.5 months in cases without mutations.

Professor Kim Kyung-hwan explained, “This study confirmed that the effectiveness of radiation therapy can vary depending on next-generation sequencing (NGS) results,” adding, “This suggests that personalized treatment, previously considered applicable only to chemotherapy, can also be applied to radiation therapy.”

Professor Jang Ji-seok added, “Radiation therapy for metastatic cancer is feasible only when the number of lesions is small, and even then, various clinical factors such as cancer type and other treatment options must be comprehensively considered,” emphasizing, “More clinical research is still needed.”

The study results were published in the international academic journal ‘Cancer Research and Treatment.’

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