Targeted Breast Radiation Device Designed to Control Cancer

A new study of breast cancer patients demonstrated that after nearly two years, the radiation given with a strut-adjusted volume implant (SAVI) controls the rate of cancer and may reduce the complications seen with alternate types of brachytherapy. This study also demonstrates the accuracy and flexibility of the device to maximize the dose to the target tissue and minimize the exposure of healthy surrounding tissue and organs.

The study was conducted at Moores University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Cancer Center (USA) and the Arizona Oncology Services (Phoenix, USA). "This is the first paper that documents the patients' status after almost two years,” said Catheryn Yashar, M.D., associate professor of radiation oncology at the UCSD School of Medicine and chief of breast and gynecological radiation services at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center (USA). "After almost two years, the patients showed that the treatment was well-tolerated without experiencing significant side effects. To date, the control rate of cancer is also very promising.”

SAVI, which consists of comfortable, flexible catheters through which radiation is given, provides personalized radiation therapy and minimizes exposure to healthy tissue after a woman who has undergone a lumpectomy to remove a cancerous tumor. Radiation specialists sometimes choose to give women internal radiation a method called brachytherapy with the goal of giving concentrated doses of radiation to regions of concern while avoiding healthy tissue.

The study's findings, reported online June 18, 2010, in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, revealed the results of 102 patients treated at a median follow-up time of 21 months. The researchers found that the SAVI appears to allow safely an increase in eligibility for patients to receive accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) over balloon brachytherapy or three-dimensional conformal radiation.

"This treatment allows us to provide internal radiation to the area without damaging the healthy tissue around the site, and minimizes radiation to a duration of only five days,” explained Dr. Yashar. "The traditional whole breast treatment usually takes approximately six weeks.”

The SAVI device was developed by Cianna Medical (Aliso Viejo, CA, USA).

Related Links:
Moores UCSD Cancer Center
Arizona Oncology Services
Cianna Medical