New Surgical Device receives stellar reviews from breast cancer experts at International Meeting

ORLANDO, Fla. - A new surgical device enables breast cancer patients to be treated with dramatically improved targeting (precision) of radiation when being treated for breast cancer. Findings were presented at the 18th SIS World Congress on Breast Healthcare. The congress was co-hosted by the Senologic International Society (SIS) and the American Society of Breast Disease (ASBD).

A detailed report headed up by Linda Ann Smith, M.D., breast surgeon at Comprehensive Breast Care in Albuquerque, N.M., describes the value of more accurately targeting the site of breast cancer removal. Dr. Smith and co-author Robert Kuske, M.D. documented clinical outcomes achieved when using the new three-dimensional surgical implant (BioZorb™, Focal Therapeutics, Inc.).


Dr. Kuske, of Arizona Breast Cancer Specialists, is the pioneer of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), a five-day alternative to conventional, more lengthy whole-breast irradiation for many early-stage breast cancer patients. BioZorb was used in combination with APBI for many patients in the study.

In the 41 cases summarized in the report, the FDA-cleared device assisted physicians in identifying with greater ease and precision the exact location in the breast that required radiation. The treatments are delivered after surgery in order to decrease the chances of cancer recurrence. Using the implant to visualize the site of breast tumor removal helped to define the radiation treatment volumes, and this resulted in an average decrease of 55%. The authors noted that having the implant helped to ensure that the appropriate amount of radiation was delivered to the proper location and it allowed them to confidently exclude radiation exposure to nearby normal tissue.

"To make sure breast cancer patients receive the most precise treatment possible with the lowest possible dose, the marking method must be clear and reliable from both the surgeon's and radiation oncologist's point of view," said Dr. Smith. "The marker we studied is well designed from both of these perspectives. It was easily implanted, using techniques that all surgeons know. It then remained in position and defined the site of tumor removal so that the radiation oncologist could precisely target the radiation."

The authors found that with the new 3-dimensional marker device in place, they were able to more precisely prescribe the desired dose of radiation, regardless of which delivery method of radiation was prescribed for patients - including sophisticated methods that have been pioneered by Dr. Kuske.

More HCB News