Electronic Brachytherapy A Viable Option For Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT)
October 28, 2011
Healthcare Prof:
Clinical experience using the FDA cleared Axxent? Electronic Brachytherapy, eBx(TM), Program from Xoft shows promise for the multi-disciplinary use of the isotope-free cancer treatment platform to deliver intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). Xoft will showcase a variety of investigational IORT oncology applications in the American College of Surgeons 95th Annual Clinical Congress here in Chicago, October 11-15, 2009.
IORT is actually a radiation therapy technique where a concentrated dose of radiation is delivered to a cancerous tumor site for the duration of surgery right after the tumor is removed. Because the target and standard tissues might be clearly identified during surgery, IORT may enhance targeting accuracy, thereby increasing dose to the target and reducing dose to vital structures. For breast IORT, the shorter treatment time is generally more convenient for patients than the seven-week course of external beam-therapy, and could boost patient compliance.
“We are very pleased with the strong interest from clinicians around the country to investigate multi-disciplinary approaches for use of Electronic Brachytherapy to deliver IORT for breast and other cancers,” said Michael Klein, president and CEO of Xoft. “Currently, we’re supporting studies investigating spine, inter-abdominal and breast applications, and as far more oncologists and surgeons understand this powerful tool, we expect to see studies investigating treatments for pancreatic and other recurring cancers.”
“At Small Firm of Mary Hospital, we have treated a number of patients making use of breast IORT with excellent outcomes. Combined with information from European studies showing comparable results to whole-breast irradiation and other forms of APBI, we think these preliminary results are quite encouraging and deserve the attention of American breast surgeons,” stated Olga Ivanov, M.D., breast surgeon and medical director for Small Firm of Mary’s Comprehensive Breast Wellness Center.
The Xoft eBx Method uses a miniature X-ray source instead of a radioactive isotope to deliver radiation to the breast from within a balloon catheter. The low energy and rapid dose fall-off of the electronic source permit remedy in typical operating rooms, with minimal shielding required. Lightweight and mobile, the system may be moved easily among multiple ORs.
“I think that giving a single fraction of radiation in the time of surgery will be advantageous since it will allow all of the radiation to be delivered before any remaining tumor cells have a chance to grow. It also intensifies the dose to the part of the breast at highest danger for recurrence. My hope is that the availability of IORT will decrease the number of patients who decide to be treated with surgery alone despite the fact that radiation has been shown to be an essential component of remedy and increases overall survival,” stated Adam Dickler, M.D., radiation oncologist at Little Firm of Mary Hospital.
Available for therapy of early stage breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and skin cancer, the Axxent eBx Program is also FDA-cleared for IORT (intra-operative radiation therapy). As a platform technology, the Axxent System is created to deliver non-radioactive therapy directly to cancer sites with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Utilizing a proprietary miniaturized X-ray source and robotic controller, the system might be employed to deliver radiation in minimally shielded therapeutic settings. Therapy may be performed without the need for a shielded room, allowing the radiation oncologist and other medical personnel to be present during remedy delivery which minimizes patient anxiety.
“In breast cancer, we know there is a large segment of patients, often the elderly and girls who live longer distances from radiation centers, who do not comply with their prescribed radiation therapy after lumpectomy or who choose to have a mastectomy instead of pursuing breast conserving therapy. For these tens of thousands of ladies, IORT may possibly an important choice to improve access to therapy together with increase outcomes,” added Klein. “What will be essential whether or not it really is breast or an additional oncology application, is that the treatment is directed using a multi-disciplinary approach, involving specialists in radiation oncology, surgery and pathology.”
About Xoft, Inc.
Xoft develops Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx) systems based upon miniaturized X-ray tube technologies for the practice of radiation oncology in virtually any clinical setting, eliminating the need to have for heavily shielded environments. The Axxent? therapy platform offers a therapeutic dose of radiation directly towards the region at danger with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and without the complex handling, resource logistics and costs associated with employing radioactive isotopes. Xoft aligns using the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) directive to seek alternatives for radioactive medical isotopes. Commercially accessible for treatment of early stage breast cancer, skin cancer and endometrial and rectal indications, the Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy Program is also cleared for use within the therapy of other cancers or conditions exactly where radiation therapy is indicated.
Axxent is actually a registered trademark and eBx is really a trademark of Xoft, Inc.
Source: Xoft, Inc
Filed under: French Village