Ten years of high intensity focused ultrasound treatment for prostate
cancer
23 April 2006
Lyon, France. EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ:EDAP), supplier of high intensity
focused ultrasound treatment of localized prostate cancer, presented the
10-year Ablatherm - HIFU European experiences and a review of results of
treatments dating back to 1995 on patients who had failed prior radiation
therapy, at a special dedicated symposium during the European Association of
Urology conference in Paris, 5-8 April.
Dr. Francois-Joseph Murat of Edouard Herriot University Hospital, Lyon,
presented details of Ablatherm-HIFU results when used as salvage therapy
following external beam radiation therapy failure on more than 150 patients
between 1995 and 2006.
Patients fail radiotherapy treatment of localized prostate cancer at
rates up to 50% and have few current treatment choices, all with significant
side effects. Almost all patients are offered palliative care options —
designed to reduce symptoms and slowing disease progression but not stopping
the cancer — rather than curative solutions such as surgery or cryotherapy,
which are difficult to use in these cases and present substantial
complications making them often undesirable.
Dr. Murat's study demonstrated Ablatherm-HIFU provided a 76.5% negative
biopsy rate and PSA back to normal in local tumour control with low levels
of side effects, especially as compared to alternate therapy side effect
rates. Control of the cancer was highly correlated to the pre-radiation
cancer risk level with those patients at earlier stages showing the best
outcomes.
The results also demonstrated that specific post-radiation failure
protocols introduced for Ablatherm-HIFU in 2002 reduced the occurrence of
fistulas to zero and lowered the occurrence of incontinence to below surgery
and cryotherapy incidence rates. This confirms Ablatherm-HIFU as a
preferable choice for both limiting side effects and treating the cancer
itself as compared to other options with lower success rates and higher side
effect occurrences.
Dr. Stefan Thuroff presented a discussion on efficacy, results and safety
covering 10 years of experience based on treatments at University Hospital
of Munich, Harlaching, Germany. The 10-year experience with Ablatherm-HIFU
in Europe clearly demonstrates the clinical, technical and safety strength
compared to other treatments. In 2006 Ablatherm-HIFU is now fully accepted
as a treatment for localized prostate cancer, offering a minimally invasive
solution for patients with localized prostate cancer who cannot undergo
surgery or fail radiotherapy.
Over the past 10 years, EDAP has been fully dedicated to enhancing the
Ablatherm-HIFU bringing average treatment times now to 95 minutes following
the introduction of the advanced imaging head. Also, the company introduced
nerve-sparing applications that can preserve potency in up to 85% of
patients electing this option. A review of the first indication patient data
including patients treated in 1996 shows incontinence in less than 2% of
patients and preservation of potency in 45% of patients electing complete
prostate treatment rather than nerve sparing choices, comparing very well or
better against traditional care options. Dr. Thuroff's presentation
reiterated negative biopsy rates from 79.4% in locally advanced prostate
cancer to 93.7% in localized low to medium risk prostate cancer cases.
Dr. Gail ter Haar of the Institute for Cancer Research at the Royal
Marsden NHSF Trust, Surrey, U.K., and a principal investigator of HIFU
technology on a global scale, presented an outstanding review of HIFU
principles and applications to date as well as a summation of HIFU
technology marketed today among which the Ablatherm is a leading choice.
Specifically, the Ablatherm-HIFU addresses the localized prostate cancer
market with its best-in-class integrated imaging, industry-leading safety
features and efficient treatment. Dr. ter Haar's presentation concluded that
HIFU is becoming a choice in future therapies based on significant benefits
including its minimally invasive profile, repeatability, flexibility and
efficacy.
"These results confirm Ablatherm-HIFU is the most clinically advanced
HIFU choice in treating localized prostate cancer with excellent success,
lower side effects and better preservation of the patient's quality of life.
The studies also show Ablatherm-HIFU is fully capable of providing a
curative treatment choice for even patients in some of the most clinically
difficult situations of recurrence post radiation, where medical
professionals are often at an impasse of curative therapy," said Hugues de
Bantel, CEO of EDAP. "Our dedicated symposium event was very well attended
by urologists from around the world who are attracted to EDAP based on our
ability to provide clinical results, complete training support and
unparalleled clinical outcomes. EDAP is the only HIFU provider to have
10-year experience in localized prostate cancer treatment. Our outcomes
compare well against all established therapies. Urologists and oncologists
are increasingly inquiring about the option of offering Ablatherm-HIFU in
their clinic after seeing these demonstrated results, something no other
company can offer or represent. Our new marketing and education programs
continue to grow ever more interest and demand for Ablatherm-HIFU."
To top
|