TY - JOUR
T1 - A feasibility study of utilizing a cadaveric training model for novel robotic bladder cancer brachytherapy techniques
AU - Patel, Ashmi
AU - Orakwue, Chimdubem Wisdom
AU - Olek, Devin
AU - Guzman, Jonathan C.A.
AU - Lim, Kelvin
AU - Pino, Ramiro
AU - Teh, Bin S.
AU - Butler, Brian
AU - Satkunasivam, Raj
AU - Farach, Andrew
N1 - Funding Information:
Disclosures: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors report no proprietary or commercial interest in any product mentioned or concept discussed in this article.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Brachytherapy Society
PY - 2023/3/1
Y1 - 2023/3/1
N2 - Purpose: The current standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer is neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection. Although this treatment provides therapeutic benefit, it is associated with notable morbidity. Bladder sparing techniques, such as concurrent chemo-radiation, are less invasive and prioritize organ preservation in individuals with invasive bladder cancer and offer comparable disease control. High-dose-rate brachytherapy is an emerging paradigm in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. During high-dose-rate brachytherapy, radioactive sources are introduced to the area of the primary tumor through specialized catheters. The specific placement of brachytherapy catheters results in heightened effectiveness of the radiation treatment with less radiation damage to surrounding structures. For bladder-sparing therapies such as brachytherapy to rival radical cystectomy, these techniques need to be refined further by radiation oncologists. Procedure: One such modality for developing and practicing these techniques is the use of cadaveric models in innovation-focused clinical training facilities, which provide a simulated sterile surgical environment without the concern for extending intraoperative time. Findings and conclusions: The objective of this technical note is to demonstrate how clinical training facilities such as the Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education are ideal for the development, testing, and training of novel brachytherapy techniques using cadaveric models. By utilizing a network of similarly innovative training centers, research and development of brachytherapy techniques can be expedited, and novel bladder-sparing treatment methods can be implemented as the standard of care for bladder cancer.
AB - Purpose: The current standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer is neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection. Although this treatment provides therapeutic benefit, it is associated with notable morbidity. Bladder sparing techniques, such as concurrent chemo-radiation, are less invasive and prioritize organ preservation in individuals with invasive bladder cancer and offer comparable disease control. High-dose-rate brachytherapy is an emerging paradigm in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. During high-dose-rate brachytherapy, radioactive sources are introduced to the area of the primary tumor through specialized catheters. The specific placement of brachytherapy catheters results in heightened effectiveness of the radiation treatment with less radiation damage to surrounding structures. For bladder-sparing therapies such as brachytherapy to rival radical cystectomy, these techniques need to be refined further by radiation oncologists. Procedure: One such modality for developing and practicing these techniques is the use of cadaveric models in innovation-focused clinical training facilities, which provide a simulated sterile surgical environment without the concern for extending intraoperative time. Findings and conclusions: The objective of this technical note is to demonstrate how clinical training facilities such as the Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education are ideal for the development, testing, and training of novel brachytherapy techniques using cadaveric models. By utilizing a network of similarly innovative training centers, research and development of brachytherapy techniques can be expedited, and novel bladder-sparing treatment methods can be implemented as the standard of care for bladder cancer.
KW - Bladder cancer
KW - Brachytherapy
KW - Cadaver
KW - Muscle-invasive bladder cancer
KW - Radiotherapy
KW - Resident education
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U2 - 10.1016/j.brachy.2022.08.014
DO - 10.1016/j.brachy.2022.08.014
M3 - Article
C2 - 36424254
AN - SCOPUS:85142900857
SN - 1538-4721
VL - 22
SP - 195
EP - 198
JO - Brachytherapy
JF - Brachytherapy
IS - 2
ER -