Dwight Babcock, Chief Executive Officer, IsoRay commented, “We are excited to have growing evidence that Cesium-131 isotope seeds continue to perform so well against aggressive cancers throughout the body and specifically now metastatic brain cancer. We believe our marketing efforts will be enhanced by teaming up with medical industry thought leaders as they seek better solutions and outcomes for their patients. As we continue to develop our product offerings internally with support from industry leaders, our message is clear and the medical community is becoming increasingly aware of the innovative alternative our Cesium-131 products offer to cancer patients.”
Dr A Gabriella Wernicke, Radiation Oncologist and Dr Theodore H Schwartz, Neurosurgeon, with Weill Cornell, were two of the co-authors of the publication, which stated, “The use of post resection permanent Cesium-131 brachytherapy resulted in no local recurrences and no radiation necrosis.”
The study followed 24 patients enrolled between 2010 and 2012, with a median 19.3 month follow-up period. Each patient had stranded Cesium-131 seeds implanted at the resection of a brain metastasis. During the follow-up period, study participants had 100 per cent local (resection cavity) freedom from progression (FFP) and 93.8 per cent one-year regional FFP. While patients with metastatic brain cancer experience significant hazards to survival (overall one-year survival rate in this study was 50 per cent), the excellent local control of the surgically removed and Cesium-131 treated brain tumour, along with the lack of significant complications and the improved quality of life compared to other radiation therapy approaches, represents an important step forward in managing these difficult cases.
Babcock said, “Commercialisation requires published studies, like this one, that are peer reviewed, providing patients and family members with new insights into technological advances being made to treat these dreaded diseases. Leaders in the medical arena recognise and rely on the reported results in such publications, providing a means to stay abreast of these new and powerful weapons now available in the battle against cancer. As with this latest publication on metastatic brain cancers, I believe Cesium-131 is now a proven solution that can meet patient needs.”
IsoRay’s various products, including Cesium-131 seeds, sutured seeds, stranded mesh and the GliaSite� radiation therapy system, give physicians the ability to directly place a specified dosage of radiation in areas where cancer is most likely to remain after completion of a tumour removal or by placing seeds within the prostate. The ability to precisely place a specified dose of radiation means there is less likelihood for damage to occur to healthy surrounding tissue compared to other alternative treatments. IsoRay’s cancer fighting products diminish the ability of the tumour to recur, resulting in important benefits for patients in longevity as well as quality of life.
EP News Bureau – Mumbai