Dr. David Kutser is a leading specialist in radiation oncology and radiotherapy at Wiener Privatklinik. With many years of experience in the field of radiotherapy, he is part of the team at Amethyst, Austria's only private centre offering state-of-the-art radiotherapy techniques, including stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).
Dr. Kutzer specializes in precise and gentle radiation therapy methods that provide effective treatment with fewer side effects than traditional approaches. In this interview, he shares his expertise on new opportunities in radiation therapy, the role of SBRT in prostate cancer therapy, and the future of radiation oncology.
Dr. Kutzer, what role does radiation therapy play in the treatment of prostate cancer?
Radiotherapy has been an established method of treating prostate cancer for decades and is an effective alternative to surgery. Its main advantage is that it has the same effectiveness as surgery, but with fewer side effects. For example, the risk of incontinence is significantly lower, and about 70% of patients retain sexual activity after treatment.
Is radiotherapy suitable for all patients?
It is applicable in almost all stages of the disease - from early forms to advanced and metastatic cancer. Only patients with a severely narrowed urethra or a significantly enlarged prostate may need to consider other treatment options.
What technologies are used at Wiener Privatklinik for radiotherapy?
At the Amethyst Centre in the Wiener Privatklinik, we apply state-of-the-art radiotherapy methods, including:
- VMAT (volume modulated arc therapy) - precisely directs the radiation dose to the tumor, minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue.
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), an innovative technique where treatment can be completed in just two and a half weeks instead of eight.
What makes SBRT such an effective method?
It is the most advanced radiation therapy technique that offers results comparable to surgical treatment but with fewer procedures. At our center, we use an absorbable gel that creates a space between the prostate and rectum, reducing the risk of bowel damage. This reduces the total number of sessions from 40 to only 7, and in the future it may be reduced to as few as five sessions.
How do you see the future of radiotherapy versus surgery?
Both methods are equally effective and go hand in hand. In the USA, for example, the split between surgery and radiotherapy is approximately 50/50, and patients choose which approach they prefer. I expect the same trend in Europe.
