BSD Medical Corp.(Amex: BSM) today reviewed a 9-page article still in press but already
published online (see doi:10,1016/j.ijrobp.2006.06.052) by the
International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, the official
journal of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
(ASTRO). The study results reported in the article support the use of the
BSD-2000 in hyperthermia treatments to make inoperable cancerous tumors
removable through surgery.
The article entitled, "Radiochemotherapy Combined with Regional Pelvic
Hyperthermia Induces High Response and Respectability Rates in Patients
with Nonresectable Cervical Cancer," notes that "hyperthermia increases the
efficacy of conventional radiotherapy (radiation)." It further cites the
results of research by Duke University showing that combined radiation,
chemotherapy and hyperthermia therapy yielded high response rates in the
treatment of advanced cervical cancer (a 90% complete remission was
achieved, see CANCER 2005;104:763-770, published by the American Cancer
Society). The use of the same tri-modality treatment (combining
hyperthermia therapy with radiation and chemotherapy) therefore "appears
sensible in a preoperative approach," according to the article's authors.
To test their hypothesis a research team at Charite University Hospital
in Berlin, Germany, selected a group of advanced cervical cancer patients,
whose cancers were assessed to be inoperable, as candidates for this
tri-modality treatment in a Phase II clinical trial, with the objective of
making it possible for their cancer to be surgically removed. These
patients otherwise had a very poor prognosis.
After this tri-modality treatment, which included hyperthermia, a
remarkable 21 of 30 previously inoperable patients available for evaluation
(70%) could be recommended for surgery. In addition, after further
treatments, 2 additional patients met the criteria for an operable tumor,
and another patient who had refused a complete course of radiation also
qualified, bringing the total number of patients who met the requirements
for surgical removal of their tumor to 24 (80%). Three of the 24 patients
who qualified for surgery later declined surgery and were treated by other
methods. Of the 21 patients who underwent surgery, a complete surgical
removal of the cancer (R0 resection) was achieved in 17 (81%), 2 patients
were left with some residual cancer after surgery (R1 resection) and 1
patient was determined to be inoperable during surgery. Patients receiving
complete surgical removal of the cancer had an excellent prognosis with a
3-year survival rate of 93%.
Targeted hyperthermia therapy (the use of precision-guided heat to
force cancerous tumors into hyperthermia) has been used in many clinical
trials as an additive therapy to improve cancer response in combination
treatments with radiation and/or chemotherapy. This study documents the
further potential use of hyperthermia therapy in pre-operative treatments
with the objective of allowing surgical removal of previously inoperable
cancer.
The hyperthermia system credited for treatments in this study was the
BSD-2000 with a Sigma-60 applicator, both developed and manufactured by BSD
Medical. BSD Medical is the leading developer of cancer treatment systems
used in precision-guided hyperthermia therapy. For further information
visit BSD Medical's website at BSDMedical.
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts are forward-looking statements, as that item is defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking
statements and projections or expectations of future events, including the
sale of the Company's systems based on the results of clinical trials, are
subject to risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
BSD Medical Corp
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