iCAD, Inc. (Nasdaq: ICAD), an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapy for the early identification and treatment of cancer, announced the first European patients have been treated with the Xoft Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy System®. Pius-Hospital Oldenburg in Oldenburg, Germany, and Hospital CUF Porto, Portugal, are the first to use the Xoft system in Europe for treating early stage breast cancer. This announcement was made during ESTRO, the annual meeting of the European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology, taking place May 9-13 in Barcelona, Spain, where iCAD is showcasing the Xoft system.
"The installations of our Xoft radiation therapy system in Germany and Portugal reflect ongoing international progress as we expand our Xoft business into the European oncology market," said Ken Ferry, President and CEO of iCAD. "There is growing global interest in Intraoperative Radiation Therapy among radiation oncologists who want to offer patients advanced radiation therapy treatment options that minimize radiation exposure and can be completed in shorter timeframes."
iCAD's Xoft system utilizes electronic brachytherapy (eBx®), a type of radiotherapy that employs a miniaturized X-ray source to apply radiation directly to the cancerous site. eBx targets the radiation dose to the size and shape of the cancerous area, minimizing radiation to healthy tissue and organs. The Xoft system can also be used for IORT, which delivers a single prescribed, targeted dose of radiation during surgery directly to the tumor cavity.
"Pius-Hospital Oldenburg is committed to providing cutting-edge treatment options in oncology, such as IORT, and we are excited to be the first hospital in Europe to offer the Xoft system to our patients with early stage breast cancer," said Professor Dr. Rudy Leon De Wilde, Medical Director at Pius-Hospital Oldenburg.
"Hospital CUF Porto, is thrilled to be the first center in Portugal to offer breast cancer patients the option of partial breast irradiation during surgery with the Xoft system," said Fleming Oliveira, MD, Head Surgeon and Breast Team Coordinator. "Historically, radiation therapy for breast cancer has required weeks of daily treatments, which can be a burden on the patient's life and, in some cases, affect the patient's ability to comply with the treatment. With the Xoft system, patients are treated with a full course of radiation immediately following a lumpectomy procedure, allowing patients to get back to their normal routine and active lifestyles more quickly."
iCAD's Xoft system is an isotope-free radiation treatment that can be used in virtually any clinical setting (including the operating room where IORT is delivered) under radiation oncology supervision. The Xoft system is also approved for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), which can be delivered twice daily for five days. The system is relatively small in size, highly mobile, and does not require a shielded environment, allowing the physician to remain in the room during treatment.
The Xoft system received CE Mark Approval in 2010, which permits sales and marketing of the system throughout the European Union. The Xoft system is also cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of conditions where radiation is indicated, including early stage breast cancer, skin cancer, and endometrial cancer.
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