Mobetron’ a mobile Intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy proven successful to cure many types of cancers especially significantly reported as a treatment after a lumpectomy.
In the United States breast cancer of among women is the second leading cause of death (after lung cancer) and worldwide the highest incidence of diagnosed type of cancer. Estimated (USA) one in eight women (12.5%) will develop invasive breast cancer and one in thirty-five (3%) women will die of breast cancer. 1 Men breast cancer predominantly diagnosed less than in women. Breast cancer cells most likely develop in the ducts (ducts called tubes carry milk from the glands that produce milk to the nipple) or the glands (Produce milk after a woman has a baby) of the breast. Risk factors associated to breast cancer has numerous causes including family history of cancer, age of first pregnancy, oral contraceptives, age, use of estrogen, alcohol usage, weight, and other related evidence. 2 Estimated fifty percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer will undergo a lumpectomy a surgical procedure followed in most cases by a course of radiation therapy as part of the treatment. 3 A lumpectomy (Breast preservation, partial mastectomy, wedge resection or quadrantectomy 4) or breast – conserving surgery (BCS) leaves most of the breast intact by removing the cancerous tissue (one to fifty percent of the breast 7) and surrounding healthy tissue are removed to ensure or almost guarantee successful outcome cancer cells are gone. Also, lymph nodes (Connected to the lymphatic vessels carry clear fluid (lymph) away from the breast 6) need to be examined for cancerous cells. Following surgery, three or four – weeks later, radiation treatment begins. 5 “Most people receive 5 to 7 weeks of radiation therapy shortly after lumpectomy in order to eliminate any cancer cells that may be present in the remaining breast tissue”. 8
IntraOp Medical Corporation received Food and Drug Administration approval for mobile intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy machine (IOERT) called ‘mobetron’ (Developed by the late Dr. Jerome Vaeth, radiation oncologist and former chief of Radiation Oncology at the West Coast Cancer Foundation. 19) for the treatment and eradication of cancer. 9 The ‘mobetron’ machine is wheeled into the operating room weighing 2,800 pounds.19 The machine directly delivers a concentrated beam of electron radiation to specific cancerous tumors, while exposed during surgery (cancer site). 9 “A single dose of IOERT is equivalent to two five weeks of daily external radiation therapy (i.e 10 to 25 daily treatments)”. In many health centers IOERT proven to be more successful as a course of treatment for patients after a lumpectomy than conventional follow – up radiation treatment: Improved outcome for life expectancy, side effects are fewer, cost – effective way to treat cancer and experience better cosmetic results compared to weeks of radiation treatment. Alreene Sharwell (65 yrs old) said after undergoing intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy for lumpectomy: “I couldn’t imagine going to a plastic surgeon and having it look any better.” 10 When IORET delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the cancer site (while the patient is still in the operating room) guided by a radiation oncologist. As result healthy skin, organs and tissues are not affected because the surgeon can move the healthy organs or protect them from the field of radiation, preventing healthy organs from being damaged. Not delaying follow – up radiation treatment predicts a better long term survival rates. 12 Also, eliminating the risk waiting on average 4 – 6 weeks for radiation therapy may provide the time when microscopic tumor cells could metastases or spread to other parts of the body. 18
Studies confirm long term positive outcomes when intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy delivers a single dose of radiation treatment. The European Institute of Oncology presented during a meeting in Spain, results of an eight year randomized therapy treatment: Women that received single dose of radiation (IOERT) after a lumpectomy significant a number of patients did not require additional radiation. 11 In October 2006, during special meeting of the European Chapter of the International Society of IORT held at ESTRO25 (European Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology) conference in Leipzig, Germany, Dr. Felix Sedlmayer, (Chairman of radiation oncology at the University of Salzberg) presented positive results of a study confirming IOERT greatly reduced incidence of breast tumor recurrence, and report published in the International Journal of Cancer. During the study 190 women received IOERT during lumpectomy and 188 previously treated women undergone a lumpectomy followed by radiation treatment. After fifty-one months, women who received IOERT had no recurrence of breast cancer. However, 6.4% of women who had follow up radiation after breast cancer surgery, after eighty-one months, experienced local breast cancer recurrences. 12 Dr. Sedlmayer estimates women in the United States who undergo IORET after breast – conserving surgery could eliminate potentially 5,000 cases of local breast cancer recurrence a year. 12
Intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy cost millions of dollars to equip and construct an operating room and besides the required radiation shielding. Transporting patients to a radiology department equipped with IORET under surgery risks infection or the facility is not within practical distance to transport the patient. However, the mobile ‘Mobetron’ unit is cost affordable, encompasses the delivery of electron based radiation therapy and self-shielding intraoperative system, and does not require an operating room to undergo costly structural modifications. The ‘Mobetron’ units are currently available in many clinics in North America, Asia and Europe. 12 University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC – Hospital in Northeast Ohio) has the facility to provide ‘Mobetron’ Intraoperative Radiation Therapy treat bladder, pancreas, cervix, head and neck, colon, and rectum cancers during surgical procedures. 14 Expected in October 2008 Center for Breast Surgery, West Palm Beach Florida will receive “Mobetron’ unit. 11
Intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy has successfully treated many types of cancers including inoperative pancreatic cancer. When IORET is combined with radiation sensitizing drug (enhance the effect of radiation therapy) survival rate increases. According to Dr. Katsuyuki Karasawa, chief of radiation oncology at the Tokyo Komagome Metropolitan Hospital in Tokyo Japan, a study of forty-five patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer undergone pancreatic by – pass surgery and IOERT with radiation sensitizer, twenty-three percent lived beyond three years compared to those patients that did not undergo IORET treatment. 13 Mobetron unit successfully treated liposarcoma (Malignant tumor within deep soft tissue such as inside the thigh. 17) patient reported by Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (The James) in Columbus Ohio. 16 Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota reported according to studies utilizing intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy effectively treated patients diagnosed with advanced primary colorectal cancer. Those patients undergoing IORET had a 46 percent survival rate after five years compared to those patients who had a 24 percent survival rate without IORET treatment. 9 A European Clinical study of 651 women and men confirmed intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy treatment for rectal cancer showed 10 year survival rates of 46% and five to ten year tumor – control rates of 88% and 86 percent. 15 Also, Mayo Clinic studies shown renal cancers, and abdominal – pelvis sarcomas patients had a 25 to 40 percent survived beyond five years after undergoing intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy. 9
More information on Mobetron’ – http://www.intraopmedical.com/
References:
1.) Breast Cancer – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer
2.) Breast Cancer: The Basics – http://www.oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=3&s=5&ss=33&id=8320
3.) Lumpectomy – http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/La-Pa/Lumpectomy.html
4.) What is Lumpectomy? – http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/lumpectomy/what_is.jsp
5.) Lumpectomy – http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lumpectomy/BC00013
6.) What is Breast Cancer? – http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_What_is_breast_cancer_5.asp?sitearea=
7.) Lumpectomy- http://www.answers.com/topic/lumpectomy
8.) Lumpectomy Plus Radiation – http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/lumpectomy/plus_radiation.jsp
9.) Fact Sheet Mobile Intraoperative Electron Irradiation (IORT) – http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2002-sct/1201.html
10.) One – Day Breast Cancer Treatment Saves Lives in Less Time – http://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/2008/09/01/ara/senior_living/7651.txt
11.) IntraOp Medical Corp Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2008 Results – http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/080807/20080807005312.html?.v=1
12.) Breast Cancer Study Update Affirms Success of Intraoperative Electron-Beam Radiation Therapy (IORET) – http://salesandmarketingnetwork.com/news_release.php?ID=2014607
13.) New Study Shows Intraoperative Electron-Beam Radiation Therapy (IOERT) – When Used with Radiation Sensitizer – Can Provide Long-Term Survival in Inoperable Pancreatic Cancer – http://www.intraopmedical.com/news/press/20061115_pancreatic.php
14.) Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) – http://www.uhhospitals.org/irelandcancer/tabid/1545/Default.aspx
15.) New FDA approved mobile electron-beam system increases survival rates of women with advanced rectal cancer – http://www.news-medical.net/?id=16250
16.) Groundbreaking Medical Device Helps Woman Win a Battle Against Cancer –
http://www.fdanews.com/newsletter/article?issueId=11219&articleId=103178
17.) Liposarcoma – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liposarcoma
18.) A New Radiation Therapy Method May Enhance Breast Cancer Survival Rates –
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-26-2005/0004131230&EDATE=
19.) Portable Radiotherapy System Advances Cancer Treatment – http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-05-2005/0004227384&EDATE=
