Xoft Inc. Showcases Electronic Brachytherapy IORT Platform at ASTRO

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Xoft, Inc., developer of the Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy, eBx System, will showcase its industry leading multi-platform IORT (intraoperative radiation therapy) capabilities here at the 52nd American Society for Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Meeting, October 31 - November 4. The Axxent System, which delivers non-radioactive, electronic therapy directly to cancer sites with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue, is FDA-cleared for treatment of early stage breast cancer, endometrial cancer, skin cancer, and for the treatment of other cancers or conditions where radiation therapy is indicated, including IORT.

Building on the growing utilization of a multi-disciplinary approach for use of the eBx System to deliver IORT for breast and other cancers, Xoft also announced that more than 60 Axxent Systems have been installed across the country and thousands of patients have been treated with Electronic Brachytherapy.

"Multiple published studies have established the clinical benefits of isotope-free, 50 kV for the delivery of IORT. This has prompted an emerging shift in the marketplace, and now many clinicians are realizing the importance of IORT as part of their RT program," said Michael Klein, president and CEO of Xoft. "The Xoft system is optimally suited for IORT. Not only is it engineered to be transportable and easy to bring to the OR, but you can actually treat in just three easy steps.

"In addition to treating breast cancer, the system has been used for endometrial, head & neck, tongue, bladder and skin cancers. We see the adoption of IORT being our key focus in 2011," added Klein.

IORT is a radiation therapy technique where a concentrated dose of radiation is delivered to a cancerous tumor site during surgery after the tumor is removed. Because the target and normal tissues can be clearly identified during surgery, IORT may increase targeting accuracy, thereby increasing dose to the target and reducing dose to critical structures. The Xoft eBx System uses a miniaturized X-ray source instead of a radioactive isotope to deliver radiation anywhere in the body. The low energy and rapid dose fall-off of the electronic source permit treatment in typical operating rooms, with minimal shielding required. Engineered to be transportable and easily moved between multiple ORs, the Xoft eBx is an excellent solution for IORT.

The ability of Electronic Brachytherapy to deliver equivalent treatment results to traditional therapies while validating its safety and performance in expanded applications was the focus of multiple papers presented at ASTRO. In the study, "Initial Results of a Multi-center Trial Utilizing Xoft Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy to Deliver Intraoperative Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Early-Stage Breast Cancer," researchers evaluated the ability to deliver intraoperative radiation therapy utilizing the balloon-based Electronic Brachytherapy. Results demonstrated that IORT using eBx was well tolerated and can be delivered effectively in a single fraction during surgery.

The study "Prospective Multi-center Trial Utilizing Xoft Electronic Brachytherapy in the Treatment of Endometrial Cancer" represents the first reported clinical results with Electronic Brachytherapy in the treatment of endometrial cancer. In the study, "The Initial Experience of Electronic Brachytherapy for the Treatment of Non-Melanomatous Cutaneous Malignancies," patients with non-melanomatous cutaneous malignancies were treated using eBx surface applicators. According to researchers, early outcomes are comparable to HDR brachytherapy and the hypofractionated approach provides patient convenience with effective early outcomes.

As a platform technology, the Axxent System is designed to deliver localized, isotope-free radiation treatment in minimally-shielded clinical settings under the supervision of a radiation oncologist to help reduce recurrence of cancer and improve survival. Utilizing a proprietary miniaturized X-ray source and mobile controller, accelerated brachytherapy and IORT treatments can be performed without the need for a shielded room, allowing radiation oncologists and medical personnel to be present during treatment, which can minimize patient anxiety.

About Xoft, Inc.

Xoft develops Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx) systems based upon miniaturized X-ray tube technology for the practice of radiation oncology in virtually any clinical setting, eliminating the need for heavily shielded environments. The Axxent® treatment platform provides a therapeutic dose of radiation directly to the region at risk with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and without the logistics and costs associated with using radioactive isotopes. FDA-cleared for treatment of early stage breast cancer, skin cancer and endometrial cancer, the Axxent System is also cleared for use in the treatment of other cancers or conditions where radiation therapy is indicated including IORT. For information, visit www.xoftinc.com.

Axxent is a registered trademark and eBx is a trademark of Xoft, Inc.

SOURCE Xoft, Inc.

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