Dune Medical Devices Hosts Symposium Featuring MarginProbe® System at European Breast Cancer Conference

VIENNA, March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dune Medical Devices, the manufacturer of the MarginProbe^® System, held a satellite symposium featuring discussions with experts in the field of breast cancer regarding the treatment of women with early stage breast cancer and the importance of margin assessment in breast conserving surgery. The panel conducted a thorough review of clinical experience with the MarginProbe System, designed to improve a surgeon's ability to identify the presence of cancer on the margin of excised tissue during lumpectomy.  The event was held at The European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC) in Vienna, Austria, March 21, 2012.

Symposium moderator, Alberto Costa, M.D., Editor-in-chief of the journal The Breast, and the author of more than 250 scientific publications, said, "Current data shows that cancer is still present at the margin in over 20 percent of breast cancer patients after surgery, therefore requiring an additional operation.  We have long awaited a technology that could help improve our ability to remove all of a patient's cancer in one surgery.  The MarginProbe System represents a unique breakthrough for surgeons everywhere.  I am excited about the opportunity to be directly involved in the introduction of this product to surgeons in Europe."

The symposium, titled "Intraoperative Margin Assessment: MarginProbe^®, Real-time Identification of Positive Margins for the Breast Surgeon," included results from multiple studies in over 1,000 patients throughout Europe, the United States and Israel from distinguished researchers. 

Mark Gittleman, M.D., a principal investigator in the pivotal U.S. trial of the MarginProbe System, described the significant increase in the ability of the surgeon to achieve a clear resection margin of the tumor in the breast during the first surgical intervention and to thus reduce the need for repeat surgeries. 

Marc Thill, M.D., of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lubeck, Germany presented results in patients with early stage, in situ lesions in whom clear margin status is a frequent surgical dilemma.

In addition, researchers from the University of California at San Francisco presented cost-effectiveness research that shows opportunity for significant cost-reduction associated with intraoperative use of MarginProbe System during breast conserving surgery.

Dan Levangie, CEO, Dune Medical Devices, said, "We are excited to have the opportunity to convene such a prestigious group of industry thought leaders to discuss the potential benefits the MarginProbe System can provide to patients living with breast cancer. We are committed to supporting and conducting continued research in this field and expanding the availability of this early detection device to patients throughout Europe to improve quality of life and successful surgical outcomes."

About the MarginProbe System

The MarginProbe System enables real time detection of cancer at or near the surface of excised tissue specimens during surgery for breast cancer.  Used as an addition to standard breast conserving surgery techniques, such as lumpectomy, the simple and immediate assessment performed with the MarginProbe System reduces the number of re-excisions needed.

The MarginProbe System is commercially available in Europe and is an investigational device in the U.S.

About Dune Medical Devices

Dune Medical Devices was founded in 2002 by Dr. Dan Hashimshony to realize the extraordinary medical potential of its proprietary tissue characterization technology.  Offering surgeons and radiologists the real time ability to identify cancerous tissues and react immediately, this technology holds the promise for a broad range of surgical and diagnostic applications.  The MarginProbe System is Dune's first commercial product and is commercially available in Europe.  The MarginProbe device is an investigational device in the U.S.

Dune Medical Devices is a privately held company financed by Apax Partners since 2004.  It has offices in the U.S., Israel, Germany and Switzerland.  For more information, please visit www.dunemedical.com   

Contact:
Michael Graffeo
Dune Medical Devices
[email protected]
(508) 620-2782

SOURCE Dune Medical Devices