Study: SAVI breast brachytherapy provides better dose control
SAVI applicator's radiation dose control resulted in a low rate of toxicities, especially skin reactions, according to a scientific poster presented by Physicians at 21st Century Oncology, a developer and operator of radiation therapy centers, during the 25th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference in Orlando, Fla.
SAVI is a single-entry, multi-catheter device that delivers radiation as part of breast conservation therapy and can customize the dose according to patient-specific anatomy. By targeting the radiation more precisely, SAVI treats the tissue where the cancer is most likely to recur, while minimizing the exposure of healthy tissue such as the skin, chest wall or lungs, according to SAVI developer Cianna Medical.
Constantine Mantz, MD, lead investigator and a radiation oncologist at 21st Century Oncology, examined the toxicity levels observed in the first 90 days following radiation treatment with SAVI.
Of the 18 patients included in the study, 14 of them experienced no skin reactions, which are a common side effect of radiation therapy. Of the four patients who experienced skin reactions, all had just minor reactions that were quickly resolved, without the need for additional care.
"SAVI allows me to pull radiation dose away from the skin and lung and push it into the breast tissue where it is needed, to destroy cancer cells and prevent recurrences," said Mantz. "Our study demonstrated that SAVI's ability to shape the dose of radiation results in very low toxicity and allows more women to be treated safely with breast brachytherapy."
Nearly 60 percent of the patients in the study had tumors located close to the skin surface. That tumor location excluded them from treatment with balloon brachytherapy, an older form of breast brachytherapy.
"Roughly 30 to 40 percent of patients that I see regarding partial breast brachytherapy would not be good candidates for balloon brachytherapy because of technical restrictions, such as the tumor being located too close to the skin or lungs," said Mantz. "SAVI allows these patients, who would otherwise not be eligible, to receive breast brachytherapy because we can deliver the dose much more precisely."
SAVI is a single-entry, multi-catheter device that delivers radiation as part of breast conservation therapy and can customize the dose according to patient-specific anatomy. By targeting the radiation more precisely, SAVI treats the tissue where the cancer is most likely to recur, while minimizing the exposure of healthy tissue such as the skin, chest wall or lungs, according to SAVI developer Cianna Medical.
Constantine Mantz, MD, lead investigator and a radiation oncologist at 21st Century Oncology, examined the toxicity levels observed in the first 90 days following radiation treatment with SAVI.
Of the 18 patients included in the study, 14 of them experienced no skin reactions, which are a common side effect of radiation therapy. Of the four patients who experienced skin reactions, all had just minor reactions that were quickly resolved, without the need for additional care.
"SAVI allows me to pull radiation dose away from the skin and lung and push it into the breast tissue where it is needed, to destroy cancer cells and prevent recurrences," said Mantz. "Our study demonstrated that SAVI's ability to shape the dose of radiation results in very low toxicity and allows more women to be treated safely with breast brachytherapy."
Nearly 60 percent of the patients in the study had tumors located close to the skin surface. That tumor location excluded them from treatment with balloon brachytherapy, an older form of breast brachytherapy.
"Roughly 30 to 40 percent of patients that I see regarding partial breast brachytherapy would not be good candidates for balloon brachytherapy because of technical restrictions, such as the tumor being located too close to the skin or lungs," said Mantz. "SAVI allows these patients, who would otherwise not be eligible, to receive breast brachytherapy because we can deliver the dose much more precisely."