The Christie carries out the first holmium-166 SIRT (selective internal radiation therapy) cases in the UK
Terumo Europe N.V. is proud to announce that The Christie in Manchester has undertaken the first cases in the UK using the holmium-166 SIRT platform.
The Christie is the largest single site cancer centre in Europe and the first UK centre to be accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre. The hospital treats more than 60,000 patients per year and is an internationally recognised centre in cancer research. This research makes a difference for people living with cancer and their friends and families. Chris Matthews, Terumo Interventional Systems’ EMEA group marketing manager for QuiremSpheres, commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with such a global centre of excellence to provide this innovative treatment for liver cancer patients in the UK. The Christie Hospital is the first centre in the UK to use the Holmium Platform and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership to drive individualised patient treatments for the future.”
Treatment with SIRT therapies of all kinds depends upon excellent multi-disciplinary collaboration, oncology, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, medical physics and the nursing and radiography team are crucial to successful patient outcomes. Dr Pavan Najran, consultant interventional radiologist and clinical lead at The Christie, commented: “The holmium-166 SIRT platform is an exciting development, providing an alternative method to deliver selective radiotherapy with the added accuracy of the work up stage and ergonomic advantages of the delivery system.”
The Holmium Platform comprises three distinct parts:
- QuiremScout holmium-166 microspheres: the first SIRT work-up product that utilizes the same technology as the therapeutic microspheres which aims to improve patient selection and advance treatment planning
- QuiremSpheres holmium-166 microspheres: the only therapeutic microsphere that is used as part of a fully integrated platform, to improve patient outcomes and advance the future of SIRT
- Q-Suite dosimetry software: tailored imaging/dosimetry software that supports pre-treatment planning, lung shunt assessment and post-treatment verification of holmium-166 SIRT
The holmium-166 SIRT platform differs from other SIRT therapies in that it uses holmium rather than yttrium. Holmium microspheres emit gamma as well as beta radiation, and are paramagnetic, and therefore visible using magnetic resonance imaging (SIRT therapies using yttrium require the use of a technetium SPECT scan to visualise tumour uptake).
In addition, holmium-166 microspheres can uniquely be used for the planning and treatment phases to accurately predict distribution of the SIRT therapy, thus permitting more accurate planning of the radiation therapy to be administered, whilst at the same time preserving healthy liver tissue. The post treatment assessment utilising the Q-Suite dosimetry software permits accurate planning and evaluation of treatment dose. Response to treatment can normally be assessed as early as 45 days.
The holmium-166 platform SIRT could be used to treat different primary liver tumours as well as liver metastases from different oncotypes.
This news story has been sponsored by the companies concerned and does not represent the views or opinions of RAD Magazine.
