FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Xoft, Inc., developer of the Axxent(R) Electronic Brachytherapy System, a proprietary cancer treatment platform, announced that it has awarded an educational grant for an Industry Satellite Symposium focused on Electronic Brachytherapy at the upcoming American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) meeting. The symposium, scheduled for October 28, 2007, will focus on Electronic Brachytherapy (EBT) as an emerging technology for the treatment of early stage breast cancer. The grant recipient and symposium organizer is Northwest Imaging Forums, a developer of continuing medical education curriculum.
The program, “Electronic Brachytherapy: Putting the Accent on Access,” is intended to educate radiation oncology professionals about this novel new technology that utilizes a miniature 50kv x-ray source in high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy procedures. It will provide a comparison of EBT to conventional iridium sources that it is designed to mimic and potential clinical advantages of this electronic x-ray source. For example, because EBT dose penetration levels are significantly lower than traditional isotopes, and because the source is electronic, the room shielding requirements are minimal and the treatment can be delivered in a variety of clinical environments with the therapist in the treatment room, offering patients emotional and physical comfort.
“Because Electronic Brachytherapy represents a new method for delivering radiation therapy for the treatment of early stage breast cancer, education is essential to support clinical adoption,” said Vivek Mehta MD, director, Center for Advanced Targeted Radiotherapies at the Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle and symposium chairman and moderator. “This technology appears to offer a number of clinical advantages which could make accelerated partial breast irradiation treatment more accessible to the large population of women with breast cancer who currently do not receive any form of radiation therapy treatment due to limited access. This CME course gives radiation oncology professionals the information and case reviews needed to fully evaluate the technology and its potential benefits.”
The faculty also includes Adam Dickler, MD, radiation oncologist, Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, IL., Kenneth Haile, MD, radiation oncologist, Wellstar Hospital in Marietta, GA, and David E. Wazer, MD, professor and chairman of Radiation Oncology, Brown University School of Medicine in Providence, RI.
Educational objectives include comparing the Electronic Brachytherapy x-ray source to iridium and other radioactive isotopes currently used in brachytherapy procedures; reviewing various applicator devices and certain patient criteria for appropriate candidates for EBT; and evaluating and comparing actual clinical case studies utilizing EBT. In addition, physician attendees will learn about the clinical experience with EBT to date as well as potential future applications of the technology. For physicians, this educational activity is certified for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. This program has also been submitted for approval of 1.5 hours of Category A CE credit (evidence of continuing education) for ARRT technologists by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and has been submitted for accreditation approval to the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB).
This CME activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of The Institute for Medical Studies (IMS) and Northwest Imaging Forums (NIF). IMS is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
About Xoft, Inc.
Xoft is developing leading-edge new technologies for the practice of radiation oncology through Electronic Brachytherapy, which utilizes proprietary miniaturized x-ray tube technology. The Axxent(R) Electronic Brachytherapy System, Xoft’s first treatment system, is currently being used in Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. This solution provides a therapeutic dose of intracavitary radiation directly to the region at risk without the complex handling and resource logistics necessary when performing brachytherapy using radioactive isotopes.
Axxent is a registered trademark of Xoft, Inc.
CONTACT: Chris K. Joseph, +1-510-339-2293, chris@ckjcomm.com, for Xoft,
Inc.
