Brachytherapy Shows Promise for Liver Cancer

Four patients in a trial in Singapore with inoperable liver cancer treated with a new type of brachytherapy demonstrated up to 60% tumor regression, and the treatment appears to be safe and effective at tumor regression.

The phase IIA trial was conducted with a total of eight patients at Singapore General Hospital with a modified form of radioactive silicon, BrachySil (32-P BioSilicon), developed by pSivida Ltd. (Perth, Australia). A computed tomography (CT) scan of tumors at the time of treatment and three months later showed significant tumor regression in all targeted lesions with a maximum regression of 60% from the dose used in the trial. The nanostructured microparticles were implanted with ultrasound and CT guidance. A multi-injector was designed to treat larger tumors with multiple implantations from a single entry.

Unlike other liver brachytherapy approaches that involve delivery by way of the hepatic artery, and in some instances result in radioactivity coming in contract with healthy tissue, this microparticle compound is administered directly into tumors, limiting radioactivity to the tumor itself. The procedure is performed without surgical intervention and under a local anesthetic, and patients were discharged the following day.

"This ‘first in man' evaluation of BioSilicon has met our expectations on safety and of the needle injection procedure. The ability of BrachySil to retain the radioactivity at the injection site is excellent news,” said Gavin Rezos, pSilvida's managing director. "Product launch for BrachySil is scheduled for 2007, following the phase IIB trial next year.”



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