Clinical experience with the FDA cleared Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy, eBx(TM), System 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 at the American College of Surgeons 95th Annual Clinical Congress here in Chicago, October 11-15, 2009.
IORT is a radiation therapy technique where a concentrated dose of radiation is delivered to a cancerous tumor site during surgery after the tumor is removed. Because the target and normal tissues can be clearly identified during surgery, IORT may increase targeting accuracy, thereby increasing dose to the target and reducing dose to critical structures. For breast IORT, the shorter treatment time is generally more convenient for patients than the seven-week course of external beam-therapy, and may increase 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 are supporting studies investigating spine, inter-abdominal and breast applications, and as more oncologists and surgeons understand this powerful tool, we expect to see studies investigating treatments for pancreatic and other recurring cancers."
"At Little Company of Mary Hospital, we have treated a number of patients using breast IORT with excellent results. Combined with data from European studies showing comparable results to whole-breast irradiation and other forms of APBI, we believe these preliminary results are very encouraging and deserve the attention of American breast surgeons," said Olga Ivanov, M.D., breast surgeon and medical director for Little Company of Mary's Comprehensive Breast Health Center.
The Xoft eBx System 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 treatment in typical operating rooms, with minimal shielding required. Lightweight and mobile, the system can be moved easily between multiple ORs.