WellStar Kennestone Hospital
and The Breast Center in Marietta directed by Philip Z. Israel, M.D.,
announced today that it 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 Axxent(R)
Electronic Brachytherapy System from Xoft, Inc., 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 is the first medical center in the world to
use an Axxent System, bringing improved patient access to the new cancer
treatment that is delivered more easily and conveniently.
"We are excited to be the first breast care center to offer this
exciting new treatment for early stage breast cancer designed to reduce
recurrence utilizing electronic, X-ray based radiation therapy," said Dr.
Kenneth Haile, medical director of the radiation oncology department at
Kennestone Hospital. "Unlike brachytherapy sources containing radioactive
isotopes, the Electronic Brachytherapy X-ray source can be turned on and
off at will, enabling it to be delivered in many clinical settings rather
than in traditional heavily-shielded environments. The result is on-demand
X-ray treatments that we expect will improve patient access to critical
radiation therapy."
Used to treat cancer for more than 100 years, radiation therapy is
administered after breast-sparing surgery to hopefully kill stray cancer
cells that might remain in the breast and is proven to reduce the rate of
local recurrences and improve long-term survival. 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 broader range of clinical settings.
Data from several randomized controlled clinical studies has
demonstrated that radiation therapy is an essential 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 the Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy 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.
"As Electronic Brachytherapy now moves into clinical practice, all
signs are that this technology represents a leap forward in cancer
treatment," added Dr. Israel, director of The Breast Center in Marietta.
"However, as important as the clinical benefits are, the true breakthrough
may relate to easy and convenient access to non-radioactive brachytherapy
for women who today opt for mastectomy or lumpectomy without radiation
therapy."
"We are proud to work with WellStar Kennestone Hospital to make this
breakthrough new treatment available to breast cancer patients," said
Michael Klein, Xoft CEO and president. "As WellStar and our other clinical
sites begin to incorporate the Axxent System into routine practice, we are
convinced that Electronic Brachytherapy represents a paradigm shift in
radiation therapy and holds significant promise to help breast surgeons and
radiation oncologists work together to provide the best possible outcomes
in a therapy that is easier and more convenient for patients."
For more information on Electronic Brachytherapy contact the radiation
oncology department at Kennestone Hospital. This treatment may not be
suitable for all breast cancer cases.
About Xoft, Inc.
Xoft is developing leading-edge new technologies for the practice of
radiation oncology through Electronic Brachytherapy, which utilizes
proprietary miniaturized x-ray tube technology. The Axxent(R) 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 solution 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.
About WellStar
The vision of WellStar Health System is to deliver world class
healthcare through our hospitals, physicians and services. WellStar Health
System includes Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, Paulding and Windy Hill
hospitals; WellStar Physicians Group; Urgent Care Centers; Health Place;
Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; and WellStar Foundation.
Axxent is a registered trademark of Xoft, Inc.
Xoft, Inc. & Wellstar Health System
wellstar
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