LAKE FOREST, Ill., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirtex, a leading developer of targeted and innovative cancer therapies, is providing an educational grant to support the second annual symposium on Liver-Directed Microsphere Therapy April 27-28 at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz. The symposium is jointly sponsored by Wake Radiology Oncology Services in Cary, N.C., and Medical Education Collaborative based in Golden, Colo. It will serve as a clinical exchange forum and feature the latest clinical data on microsphere therapy for treating advanced liver cancer. Sirtex’s SIR- Spheres(R) microspheres are the only FDA approved radioactive microspheres for treatment of metastatic liver tumors.
“This year’s symposium will feature the world’s leading clinical experts on radioactive microsphere therapy,” says Dr. Andrew Kennedy, radiation oncologist and co-medical director of Wake Radiology Oncology. “It is exciting to see the growing amount of clinical research and published articles on microsphere therapy. A lot of new data will be presented at the symposium, expanding our knowledge of microsphere therapy and our ability to treat advanced liver tumors.”
Sirtex’s educational grant illustrates the company’s ongoing commitment to educating physicians and patients on the latest microsphere therapies. Sirtex’s SIR-Spheres microspheres are radioactive polymer spheres that emit beta radiation. Physicians insert a catheter through the groin into the hepatic artery and deliver millions of SIR-Spheres microspheres directly to the tumor site. The SIR-Spheres microspheres target the liver tumors, sparing healthy liver tissue. The minimally invasive procedure is performed on an out- patient basis with minor side effects. Clinical research shows that use of SIR-Spheres microspheres increases patient survival rates by an average five to six months.
“Sirtex is excited to once again be part of such an important meeting,” says Charles Rowland, president of Sirtex Medical, Inc. “We feel it is important to get the latest data into the hands of physicians who treat liver cancer patients and who continue to try to improve the lives of people with liver cancer.”
Symposium sessions will include the latest clinical data on microsphere therapy for advanced metastatic colorectal cancer, breast cancer, carcinoid tumors and other metastatic liver disease. For more information on the symposium, please visit http://www.wakeradiologyoncology.com . Members of the media interested in attending the symposium may contact Andrea Moody at 919-457-0743 or andrea.moody@fleishman.com .
About Sirtex
SIR-Spheres microspheres were developed in the 1980s in Australia and were approved by the FDA in March 2002. Sirtex has obtained regulatory approval to market SIR-Spheres microspheres in the United States, European Union, Israel and Australia. The product is marketed in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. For more information, visit http://www.sirtex.com .
SIR-Spheres is a registered Trademark of Sirtex Medical Limited.
Sirtex
CONTACT: Andrea Moody, for Sirtex, +1-919-457-0743,andrea.moody@fleishman.com
