September 24, 2008 - Hologic Inc. released a four-year analysis of the Hologic MammoSite radiation therapy system study, which found that breast cancer recurrence rates following the delivery of accelerated partial breast irradiation with the MammoSite system continue to be comparable to the rates reported with standard radiation therapy.
The study was presented by Peter Beitsch, M.D., of Medical City Dallas Hospital at ASTRO 2008. Beitsch and his colleagues analyzed data from patients enrolled in the American Society of Breast Surgeons MammoSite Breast Brachytherapy Registry Trial.
The researchers reported that their analysis of the overall registry population with a median follow-up of 36 months showed a three-year actuarial rate of Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence (IBTR) of 2.15 percent. Other follow-up results were also positive (0.26 percent three-year actuarial rate for axillary recurrences and 0.74 percent three-year actuarial rate for new primary cancers).
In a subset of patients (the first 400 treated), 44-month follow-up data was captured and a 93.9 percent survival rate was reported (88.9 percent disease-free and 100 percent cancer-specific). The researchers concluded that treatment with the MammoSite system resulted in low IBTR, low axillary recurrence, and acceptable cancer specific survival.
The MammoSite device is a balloon catheter that is inserted into the cavity created by a lumpectomy (the surgical removal of a breast tumor). The MammoSite radiation therapy system delivers radiation from inside the lumpectomy cavity over a course of five days. The device targets radiation to the area where tumors are most likely to recur, while reducing exposure to healthy tissue.
For more information: www.hologic.com