An innovative cancer treatment made of luminescent chemotherapy-filled beads injected into tumors through the wrist is now available for patients with inoperable and difficult-to-treat liver cancer. The Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH) has become the first in the country to offer the minimally invasive treatment using the M1 LUMI Bead loaded with doxorubicin, a chemotherapy agent.
The M1 LUMI beads were designed with technology that allows for real time tracking of the bead's location during embolization procedure. During the procedure, interventional radiologists use a catheter to thread the beads into the blood vessels that lead to the tumor. Doctors can see where the beads are placed and confirm its placement will block the blood flow feeding the tumor, causing it to shrink over time. The device was approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2015. Mount Sinai participated in comprehensive clinical evaluation of the LUMI Beads.
"This is a game-changing tool," said Edward Kim, MD, Director of Interventional Oncology and Associate Professor of Radiology and Surgery in the Division of Interventional Radiology at The Mount Sinai Hospital. "In the past, we had no way to verify where the beads were placed in the blood vessels or whether they remained in the intended location over time. Now we can see the location, and adjust if a portion of the tumor has been missed while the patient is on the table without repeating the procedure. This is what we call precision targeting of tumors."
Liver cancer is one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers, with few useful surgical or therapeutic options. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for nearly 746,000 deaths each year. Mount Sinai's Liver Cancer Program is a pioneer in the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. The Program is on the forefront of the most advanced surgical techniques; interventional treatment protocols; and surveillance programs for patients at risk for developing liver cancer.
"This new tool exemplifies precision medicine and is a new standard of care in cancer treatment. This is a very exciting time in cancer research and treatment," Dr. Kim said.
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