New Therapies Increasingly Being Used To Treat Liver Cancer

Main Category: Liver Disease / Hepatitis
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 29 Aug 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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According to Millennium Research Group's (MRG) US Markets for Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices 2008 report, embolization particle therapies such as radioembolization spheres are increasingly being used to treat liver cancer. Over the next five years, these radioembolization procedures are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of almost 20%, as a result of increased reimbursement coverage and adoption of these techniques at the institution level. Introduction of radioembolization spheres to a facility, however, is not a simple process, requiring a coordinated effort by the physicians and the administration of a given institution.

Traditionally, liver cancer is treated by surgical resection of tumors or liver transplantation. Many tumors, however, are not suitable for resection; and liver transplants are infrequent. Chemotherapy with cytotoxic drugs can be used in cases where surgery is contraindicated; however, it is an extremely grueling process for the patient to endure. Alternatively, liver-directed particle embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that employs catheter-based techniques to deliver particle therapies that inhibit blood flow to the inoperable tumor. In addition, these embolization particles can be combined with chemotherapeutic drugs or radioactive components to better target the liver, allowing patients safer, less invasive cancer treatment.

"Unlike systemic chemotherapy, which affects the whole body, liver-directed therapies allow for a stronger, more targeted treatment of the cancer, resulting in shorter hospital stays and fewer complications," says Darren Navarro, Senior Analyst at MRG. "As more clinical evidence is released supporting device efficacy, radioembolization spheres will increasingly be accepted by physicians, institutions, and private insurance providers as a viable treatment option for inoperable tumors of the liver."

The US Markets for Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices 2008 report includes coverage of industry competitors such as Biocompatibles, BioSphere Medical, Boston Scientific, Cook Medical, Cordis, ev3, MDS Nordion, MicroVention, Micrus Endovascular, Sirtex Medical, and Terumo Medical.

About Radioembolization Spheres

Radioembolization spheres are currently used to treat hepatic cellular carcinoma (HCC) and metastatic colorectal liver cancer in the US. HCC is a primary liver cancer that originates in the liver, and is often linked to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and liver cirrhosis, whereas metastatic colorectal liver cancer is a secondary cancer that forms in the bowel and moves to the liver.

About Millennium Research Group

Millennium Research Group (http://www.MRG.net), a Decision Resources, Inc. company (http://www.DecisionResources.com), is the global authority on medical technology market intelligence and the leading provider of strategic information to the health care sector. The company provides specialized industry expertise through published reports, ongoing Marketrack(TM) projects, and customized solutions.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Millennium Research Group
http://www.mrg.net

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