Low-dose radiation therapy has been used for decades in Europe to treat joint pain and inflammatory conditions. OSF HealthCare Bobette Steely Hegeler Cancer Center is expanding its services to include low-dose radiation therapy for osteoarthritis.
DANVILLE - Long known for cancer care, OSF HealthCare Bobette Steely Hegeler Cancer Center is expanding its services to include low-dose radiotherapy, or LDRT, for patients living with osteoarthritis and other inflammatory or degenerative conditions affecting joints, tendons and soft tissues. The therapy uses radiation at doses far lower than those used in cancer treatment to reduce inflammation and pain. While the approach may be unfamiliar to many U.S. patients, LDRT has a long clinical history and is widely used in parts of Europe to treat noncancerous musculoskeletal conditions.
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Edie Krueger, MD
Radiation Oncologist
Hegeler Cancer Center
“People who have tried other treatments but are not ready for surgery are great candidates for LDRT,” said Dr. Edie Krueger, a radiation oncologist at Hegeler Cancer Center. “This is a safe, effective and noninvasive treatment that can significantly reduce pain and stiffness, possibly avoiding the need for surgery.”
A century-old idea gaining renewed attention
Low-dose radiation has been used for more than 100 years to treat painful inflammatory conditions, predating many modern medications and surgical techniques. For decades, it has been applied to disorders such as plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow and other degenerative joint diseases. In recent years, interest has returned as researchers reexamined its anti-inflammatory effects and potential role in managing osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 32.5 million adults in the United States. It occurs when cartilage that cushions joints gradually wears down, leading to pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. Knees and hips are most commonly affected, often limiting daily activities and quality of life. “People with painful knee osteoarthritis often face a difficult choice between the risks of side effects from pain medications and the risks of joint replacement surgery,” said Dr. Byoung Hyuck Kim, a radiation oncologist at Seoul National University College of Medicine and principal investigator on a recent clinical trial. “There’s a clinical need for moderate interventions between weak pain medications and aggressive surgery, and we think radiation may be a suitable option for those patients, especially when drugs and injections are poorly tolerated.”How LDRT works
Unlike cancer radiotherapy, which targets and destroys malignant cells, LDRT is believed to work by modulating the body’s inflammatory response. Researchers say low doses of radiation can reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and influence immune cells involved in chronic joint inflammation. The precise biological mechanism is still being studied, but current evidence suggests LDRT dampens inflammation without damaging healthy cartilage. Reviews of experimental and clinical studies have found either neutral or beneficial effects on joint tissue when low doses are used. “There is a misconception that medicinal, or therapeutic, radiation is always delivered in high doses,” Kim said. “But for osteoarthritis, the doses are only a small fraction of what we use for cancer, and the treatment targets joints that are positioned away from vital organs, which lowers the likelihood of side effects.”
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The linear accelerator at OSF is a medical device that uses microwave technology to accelerate electrons to near light speed used for cancer treatment. The TrueBeam® model pictured was installed in 2022.
