IsoRay Inc. (AMEX: ISR), a medical technology company and innovator in seed brachytherapy and medical radioisotope applications, today announced the presentation video by Cornell Weill demonstrating their techniques in the successful treatment of metastatic brain cancers using IsoRay's patented Cesium-131 (Cs-131) sutured seeds.
Dr. Theodore H. Schwartz and Dr. Gabriella Wernicke , both of Weill Cornell Medical Center, presented their findings for the membership of The Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO), titled "The study of Neurosurgical Resection and Intra-operative Cesium-131 Radio-isotope Brachytherapy in Patients with newly Diagnosed Brain Metastases," available at http://www.isoray.com/assets/Updated_SNO_Poster.pdf. In the study, which showed Cesium-131's relative effectiveness in treating these tumors compared to other common treatments, the seeded sutures were placed within the resected tumor bed at the time of surgery to provide immediate radiation therapy to it and to a margin depth of 5 mm which is dosed to prevent tumor reoccurrence.
A metastatic, or secondary, brain tumor is one that begins as cancer in another part of the body. Some of the cancer cells may be carried to the brain by the blood or lymphatic fluid, or may spread from adjacent tissue. Metastatic brain tumors are often referred to as lesions or brain metastases. Metastatic brain tumors are the most common brain tumors.
IsoRay CEO Dwight Babcock says this multi institutional study will greatly advance the awareness to take on difficult cancers throughout the body utilizing the company's Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds and liquid isotopes. "We are advancing our domestic and international goal of creating widespread awareness and adoption of Cesium-131 in hopes that these experiences will ultimately make it a standard of care. The exceptional results that have been realized by Cornell in metastatic brain cancer have already garnered the interest of 5 major medical centers which have expressed interest I participating in the multi institutional study. We believe Cesium-131's ability to fight cancer and improve the quality of life for the men, women, and children who are battling these devastating cancers distinguishes it from other treatment options."
IsoRay is the exclusive manufacturer of Cesium-131. The pioneering brachytherapy therapy is one of the most significant advances in internal radiation therapy in 20 years. Cesium-131 allows for the precise treatment of many different cancers because of its unrivaled blend of high energy and its 9.7 day half-life (its unequaled speed in giving off therapeutic radiation).
In addition to its CMS codes, Cesium-131 is FDA-cleared and holds a CE mark for international sales in seed form for the treatment of brain cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, ocular melanoma cancer, colorectal cancer, gynecologic cancer, head and neck cancer and other cancers throughout the body. The treatment can be deployed using several delivery methods including single seed applicators, implantable strands and seed sutured mesh, and several new implantable devices.
Study defines three subtypes of Chiari type-1 malformation to guide treatment