Breakthrough Treatment for Early Stage Breast Cancer Reduces Tumor Recurrence

breast cancer center has completed treatment of the first breast cancer patient with a breakthrough new therapy for early stage breast cancer. Designed to help reduce recurrence of breast cancer, the new technology uses a miniaturized x-ray source that can deliver localized and targeted radiation treatment in virtually any clinical setting under the supervision of a radiation oncologist.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital (Marrietta, GA, USA) is the first medical center in the world to use an Axxent electronic brachytherapy system, developed by Xoft, Inc. (Freemont, CA, USA), bringing improved patient access to the new cancer treatment that is delivered more easily and conveniently.

Cleared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of early stage breast cancer, the Axxent system is designed to deliver therapy directly to cancer sites with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Eliminating the need for heavily shielded environments, it gives radiation oncologists the flexibility to deliver therapy in a wider range of clinical settings.

Data from several randomized, controlled clinical studies have demonstrated that radiation therapy is a fundamental component of treatment for breast cancer when the patient wishes to conserve her breast with lumpectomy surgery as opposed to undergoing a full mastectomy. However, more recent studies have shown that many patients opt out of receiving breast sparing surgery with radiation therapy due to time, distance, or difficulty accessing radiation therapy centers.

Use of this system provides the ability to reduce the time required for radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer from seven weeks (for external radiation therapy) down to five days. As a result, tens of thousands of patients will have greater access to therapy that is delivered more easily and conveniently. This may accelerate patient choice of breast sparing lumpectomy surgery with adjuvant radiation therapy over the alternative of a full mastectomy.

The Axxent electronic brachytherapy system, Xoft's first treatment system, is currently being used in accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. This system provides a therapeutic dose of intracavitary radiation directly to the region at risk without the complex handling and resource logistics necessary when performing brachytherapy using radioactive isotopes.


Related Links:
WellStar Kennestone Hospital
Xoft