Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital Participates in Clinical Trial to Test Radiation Therapy Treatment in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
The first and only clinical trial in Palm Beach County utilizing low-dose radiation therapy for patients with severe respiratory symptoms
Boca Raton, FL – Patients admitted with COVID-19 at Boca Raton Regional Hospital may now enroll in a clinical trial to test a potential new treatment for the disease. The trial is named PREVENT due to its expectation of rapidly reversing the ravages of pneumonia associated with COVID-19 and preventing progression.
Researchers at Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, are currently enrolling patients for the PREVENT clinical trial that utilizes a single, low-dose of thoracic radiation to reduce the inflammatory process in the lungs of patients with severe respiratory symptoms due to the viral infection. Very low doses have been effective in treating benign inflammatory diseases. By reducing inflammation in the lungs and rapidly relieving respiratory symptoms, experts say it may improve outcomes, thereby avoiding the need for intubation and possibly preventing death. Patients diagnosed within nine days of hospital admission with pulmonary pneumonia symptoms and 50 years of age or older are eligible for the trial.
“This trial gives us the opportunity to administer potentially effective treatment before the need for ICU placement or mechanical ventilation,” said co-principal investigator, Michael Kasper, M.D., director of radiation oncology at Lynn Cancer Institute. “It has the potential to significantly ease the burden on our critical care services – opening space and staffing resources for sicker patients.”
The PREVENT trial is a multi-center clinical trial jointly led by principal investigators from Lynn Cancer Institute and The Ohio State University, the coordinating center for the trial. Similar trials using radiation for treatment of pneumonia associated with COVID-19 are being offered at other major health centers around the country and the world.
The study is one of several investigational treatments for COVID-19 being researched at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
About Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute
The Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute is one of the largest cancer centers in South Florida and is accredited as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons. The Lynn Cancer Institute treats more than 4,000 patients each year in facilities such as the Harvey & Phyllis Sandler Pavilion, the state-of-the-art cancer center. While traditional cancer treatment requires patients to travel from physician to physician and manage their own scheduling, the Sandler Pavilion centralizes services in one location. This simplifies the entire process for patients, from diagnosis and treatment, to Wellness and Survivorship programs and allows patients to focus on one thing — recovery.
More than 20 oncology physicians and a full complement of oncology professionals are on staff to serve the patients at the Lynn Cancer Institute. Patients receive treatment and services from specialists in genetics, surgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, pathology and imaging. In addition, staff includes research nurses, who improve patient access to clinical trials and the most advanced forms of treatment.
About Boca Raton Regional Hospital
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies.
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is supported by philanthropy to strengthen its mission to deliver the highest quality patient care, satisfaction and safety. If you would like to learn more about supporting the mission of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, visit our website at donate.brrh.com.
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