LONDON, October 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
BTG plc (LSE: BTG), an international specialist
healthcare company, today announced that the first patient in
Malaysia was treated with
TheraSphere™ - a transarterial radioembolisation (TARE)
therapy, which targets primary liver cancer and metastatic
colorectal cancer with a powerful dose of radiation while
minimising exposure to healthy tissue.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160203/329110LOGO )
In Malaysia, primary liver
cancer is the fifth most common cancer among men and the tenth most
common cancer in the entire general population, accounting for 3.3%
of all cancers diagnosed in Malaysia, with a high mortality
rate.[1]
A multidisciplinary approach was taken with the first
radioembolisation treatment of a patient with
TheraSphere™ at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Medical Centre, with three physicians involved in the treatment.
Dr. Hairol Azrin Othman, Consultant Hepatobiliary &
Pancreatic Surgeon, said: "Radioembolisation appears to be a
feasible, safe and promising approach in the treatment of choice
for patients with unresectable HCC," while his colleague Dr.
Yazmin Yaacob, Consultant
Interventional Radiologist, stated: "We are happy to now offer
patients more options and better outcomes especially for
unresectable HCC or liver metastases". Dr. Thanuja
Mahaletchumy, Nuclear Medicine Specialist, was also part of the
treating team, and added: "TheraSphere® has opened
a new dimension in the targeted therapy of unresectable
primary and metastatic liver cancer and the properties of these
glass microspheres allow optimal dose administration to the
targeted area in liver."
TheraSphere™ glass microspheres, which are about a
third of the width of a human hair, contain targeted amounts of
radioactive yttrium90. The radioactive glass microspheres are
delivered directly to liver tumours through the hepatic artery via
a catheter, and as they penetrate the tumour via its supply of
blood vessels, they become lodged and emit lethal beta radiation
that is localized to the tumor tissue. TheraSphere™
glass microspheres have a high specific activity so fewer
microspheres need to be administered to achieve the desired dose.
As a result, they have minimal embolic
effect.[2] This allows deeper
penetration within the tumour, where the primary mechanism of
action is radiation.[2] A key
benefit of TheraSphere™ is the ability to achieve an
optimal absorbed dose in the tumour leading to improved tumour
response and better patient outcomes.
[3]-[7]
James Glasgow, General Manager,
BTG Asia, said: "We are delighted that TheraSphere™
transarterial radioembolisation (TARE) therapy is available in
Malaysia. This medical
intervention could have meaningful outcomes for certain Malaysians
diagnosed with primary liver cancer or metastatic colorectal
cancer. Malaysia is now the fourth
country in Asia where our
minimally invasive procedure is offered as an option; physicians
are already treating patients with TheraSphere™ in
Hong Kong, South Korea and neighbouring Singapore."
In Malaysia,
TheraSphere™ is available for the treatment of both
primary liver cancer (also referred to as hepatocellular carcinoma
[HCC]), and metastatic liver cancer (cancer that has spread to the
liver from another point of origin). BTG is expanding its presence
in Asia Pacific countries and
TheraSphere™ is currently commercially available in
Hong Kong, Singapore and South
Korea. The global specialist healthcare company distributes
TheraSphere™ in Malaysia through Transmedic Healthcare Sdn
Bhd.
About Liver Cancer
Primary liver cancer occurs when liver cells become abnormal and
grow uncontrollably, forming a tumour. The most common form of
primary liver cancer is called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
It is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide, with
an estimated one million new cases diagnosed each year.
Long-term infection with the hepatitis B or hepatitis C
virus, which are more prevalent in Asian countries, are a common
cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
The liver, which continuously filters blood circulating through
the body, is also susceptible to "secondary" cancers, caused when
tumours in other organs such as the colon, rectum, breast, head or
neck have spread to the liver. These tumours are also known as
liver metastases. The liver is the most common site of
metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer.
About BTG Interventional Medicine
BTG Interventional Medicine is part of BTG plc, a growing
international specialist healthcare company. As medicine moves from
major surgery to minor procedure, from the systemic to the local,
no company endeavours to do more than BTG Interventional Medicine
to help doctors in their quest to see more, reach further and treat
smarter. Our growing portfolio of Interventional Medicine products
is designed to advance the treatment of liver tumours, advanced
emphysema, severe blood clots, and varicose veins. To learn more
about BTG Interventional Medicine, please visit:
http://www.btg-im.com.
About TheraSphere™
TheraSphere™ [90]Y
glass microspheres are specifically engineered to carry far greater
power than any other [90]Y
liver-directed cancer therapy, delivering high doses of radiation
to liver tumours while sparing normal tissue. The result is a
powerful, targeted and well-tolerated therapy that may lead to
patients becoming eligible for curative therapies.
In the EU, Singapore,
South Korea and Canada, TheraSphere™ is approved
for the treatment of hepatic neoplasia. In the US,
TheraSphere™ is approved under a Humanitarian Device
Exemption (HDE) for use in radiation treatment or as a neoadjuvant
to surgery or transplantation in patients with unresectable
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who can have placement of
appropriately positioned hepatic arterial catheters. The
device is also indicated for HCC patients with partial or branch
portal vein thrombosis/occlusion, when clinical evaluation warrants
the treatment. The effectiveness of this device for this use
has not been demonstrated. For full instructions for use and
important safety information, please visit
http://www.therasphere.com.
TheraSphere™ is a registered trademark of Theragenics
Corporation used under license by Biocompatibles UK Ltd, a BTG
International group company. BTG and the BTG roundel logo are
registered trademarks of BTG International Ltd.
For further information contact:
BTG plc
Chris Sampson, Corporate
Communications Director
+44-20-7575-1595
Mobile: +44-7773-251-178
Media Liaison
Jonathan Kearney
+44-208-618-2755
Mobile: +44-7725-925-841
References:
- Ministry of Health Malaysia. National Cancer Registry
Report. http://www.care.upm.edu.my/dokumen/13603_NCR2007.pdf.
Last accessed September, 2016.
- Pellerin O, et al. Cancer Biother Radiopharm
2013;28(6):459-65.
- Riaz A, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
2011;79(1):163-71.
- Mazzaferro V, et al. Hepatology 2013;57(5):1826-37.
- Vouche M, et al. Hepatology 2014;60(1):192-201.
- Chiesa C, et al. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging
2015;42(11):1718-38.
- Garin E, et al. J Nucl Med 2015;56(3):339-46.
SOURCE BTG plc