treatment for patients with metastatic liver cancer at CMC-Northeast
in Concord. SIR-Spheres® microspheres, manufactured by Sirtex, is the
only fully FDA-approved radiation microspheres for treating colorectal
cancer that has metastasized to the liver.
"As a physician, I want every tool at my disposal to help patients as
they battle cancer," said Dr. Jason Swenson, Interventional
Radiologist with Charlotte Radiology. "This technology allows an
additional opportunity to extend life."
At least 60 percent of the nearly 150,000 Americans diagnosed with
colorectal cancer every year will see their cancer spread to the
liver. And most liver tumors cannot be surgically resected. Metastatic
liver cancer is almost always fatal, with up to 90 percent of patients
dying from liver failure. Microspheres therapy has emerged as an
effective treatment option.
"SIR-Spheres microspheres is a powerful weapon against one of the
deadliest forms of cancer," said Dr. Eric A. Wang, Chief of Vascular &
Interventional Specialists at Charlotte Radiology. "SIR-Spheres
microspheres are proven to extend patients' lives and, just as
importantly, allow patients to maintain a good quality of life."
SIR-Spheres microspheres are microscopic radioactive spheres that can
be delivered by the millions directly to the tumor. Microspheres
contain the radioactive isotope yttrium-90, which delivers beta
radiation to the tumor. Microspheres selectively target liver tumors
with a dose of internal radiation up to 40 times higher than
conventional radiotherapy - while sparing healthy tissue. Recent
studies in chemo-refractory patients with colorectal liver metastases
reported a median survival range of 10.5-to-13 months, compared with
three-and-a-half months for untreated patients. Many of these patients
had stopped responding to standard chemotherapy regimens or were
unable to tolerate them any longer.
"Since 2006, we have been providing a wealth of interventional
oncology treatments and we are excited to have SIR-Spheres available
to patients at Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord," Wang
said.
Ongoing research medical research and peer-reviewed published papers
indicate yttrium-90 microspheres may also be effective in treating
other forms of liver tumors. These include tumors from hepatocellular
carcinoma and liver metastases from other primary sources such as
breast cancer. Treatment for these types of tumors with SIR-Spheres
microspheres is still under study by the medical community and has not
yet received FDA approval.
SIR-Spheres microspheres therapy is minimally invasive and is
performed on an outpatient basis with minor side effects. For more
information visit www.charlotteradiology.com or www.sirtex.com.
About Charlotte Radiology:
Since 1967, Charlotte Radiology has been considered the
area's imaging experts and is one of the largest and most progressive
radiology groups in the country. The practice consists of over 90
board certified radiologists with training in a range of specialties
including Body Imaging, Emergency Radiology, Interventional Radiology,
Mammography, Musculoskeletal, Neuroradiology, Nuclear Medicine,
Pediatrics and Teleradiology/Nighthawk Imaging. The practice owns and/
or operates 12 breast imaging centers, 2 Vein & Vascular Centers, 7
freestanding outpatient imaging centers and provides radiologist
coverage to several hospitals in NC including numerous Carolinas
Healthcare System facilities.
